Kamala Beach can truly be called an urban beach in every sense of the word. It’s located in the central part of Phuket island on its western side and north of the famous Patong beach.
Essentially it’s the coastline of the town with the same name which consists not only of tourist buildings but also houses of ordinary residents.
Beach Overview
This beach isn’t small with a length of about 1.2 miles (2 км) while being quite narrow 65-100 feet (20-30 м). For a long time Kamala was a quiet and peaceful place. The beach served as a harbour for fishing boats and as a resting place for Thai people. There were very few tourists.
However in recent years you can increasingly find older people who have chosen this quiet and peaceful spot as their second home. It makes sense as all the comforts of civilisation are at hand while the sea is just a stone’s throw away. Besides those who’ve moved here there are now many package tourists as well.
The sand at Kamala is white similar to grains of salt. Many hotels are located along the beach line and the beach areas next to them belong to these hotels. Consequently the quality of sand and cleanliness can vary significantly. The beach is popular but much less noisy than Patong or Karon.
In my view it’s somewhat similar to Bang Tao, meaning it’s relatively peaceful and a bit village-like but there are plenty of people. Cleanliness at Kamala is also fine. Only the southern “wild” part might have lots of rubbish.
Swimming
The southern part of the beach isn’t very suitable for beach holidays. The shore there is rather dirty with many stones and boulders. Local fishermen often leave their boats parked there. Also the southern part has quite a gradual entry and you can walk a long way before reaching depth.
In the central and northern parts where there are umbrellas and sunbeds the entry becomes less gradual the closer you get to the north. The wide line of Kamala bay favours winds that create large waves. Towards the north of the beach they rise to heights of up to 10 feet (3 м) and as they approach the shore they hit a network of underwater reefs and surge even higher.
During the monsoon season red warning flags appear on the beach. It’s dangerous to swim at this time. Strong waves can hit you and carry you far from shore.
Sunbeds and Shade
There aren’t that many sunbeds on the beach. In the most visited areas of the beach (centre and north) you can rent a sunbed with an umbrella for the standard 100 baht. Hotels that have their private sections of Kamala often put out additional rows of sunbeds which are only available to guests of that hotel.
The beach can change dramatically in different seasons. In high season the entire beach from centre to north is one large field of sunbeds. There are many swimmers in the water and the waves are calm and smooth.
In low season there are few sunbeds and even after a half-hour walk you might not find a single one. There’s virtually no natural shade on the beach except by the outermost row of sunbeds adjacent to trees and in the first half of the day when the sun isn’t so high yet.
Beach Photos
North of Kamala (right)
South of Kamala (left)
Amenities
The beach itself has all the Thai beach attributes. Massage salons tent cafes mini-markets and hundreds of sellers of cheap souvenirs clothes and beach accessories. You can not only shop there but also rent underwater diving equipment and explore the northern reefs.
In addition according to many surfers the steep waves are an excellent source of adrenaline but only experienced specialists should attempt to conquer them. If you’re an excellent surfer then Kamala will be your Everest during wave season. Numerous available motorboats boats and kayaks are also waiting for you on this beach.
Some tourists rent a boat and sail to one of the neighbouring beaches which are more attractive for holidays. But you can not only ride on boats but also behind them with a parachute or on a “banana”. Relaxation at Kamala isn’t limited to typical entertainments.
Hotels offer yoga schools (meditating on one of Kamala’s rocks against the backdrop of the rising sun is worth a lot) and authentic Thai massage salons. There are Thai cooking schools where they really will teach you to cook Thai food excellently.
The combination of beach and civilisation gives Kamala undeniable advantages. You can walk through the village visit the Friday Market where a large selection of goods not only beach-themed is presented. There’s also a mini-Lotus’s and a small Big C here.
A trip to Kamala Temple will also leave you impressed but the most interesting place is the Fantasea Show (Phuket FantaSea) – this is an incredible and the largest show on the island. In my opinion it’s more geared towards children although adults will find it interesting too.
Hundreds of performers elephants and other exotic animals will tell you an interesting story under the evening sky. But Phuket Fantasea isn’t limited to the performance. It claims to be the largest amusement park in Phuket.
There are many cafes attractions games similar to fun carnivals and of course shops. The architecture of the Elephant Palace and other buildings is a feast for the eyes and impressive.
The park itself is filled with helpful staff who will take care of you (tell you where the most interesting entertainments and other joys of life are). This park is located in the central part of the beach just 1000 feet (300 м) from the shore.
Accommodation
The entire shoreline (1st row) is occupied by expensive hotels if we’re talking about the central part of the beach. And hotels occupy all the space from the shore to the main road which runs far from the shore. In the northern part of the beach there are almost no hotels along the shore instead there are empty lots surrounded by fences (future hotels?).
And there all hotels will be across the road from the beach and their density is also low. As for prices – the farther from the shore the cheaper which is logical. You can even find a hostel at a price from 200 baht per bed.
On the other hand elite hotels from whose rooms an unsurpassed view of Kamala Bay opens up can cost more than 15 thousand baht per night. Besides price appearance is also an important factor.
Here Kamala also offers a wide choice. There are modern grotesque hotels made of glass and white stone and there are cosy mini-bay pools with wooden houses forming their own special system.
- Novotel Phuket Kamala Beach – Sha Extra Plus 4
- Dengs Kamala Beach Resort 3
- Kamala Beachfront Apartment
- Clear House Resort
- Andara Resort & Villas
- Cape Sienna Gourmet Hotel & Villas 4
- Ayara Kamala Resort & SPA 5
How to find the beach
You can get to the cosy town beach of Kamala from the airport by taxi in about 40 minutes. If you’re renting your own transport you need to follow the signs located on the main routes of the island.
As a reference point it’s worth remembering that Kamala is located north of Patong and northwest of Phuket town.
