Phuket offers guests a fairly diverse vacation experience, ranging from bustling beaches with wild parties to serene, so-quiet-you-can-hear-a-pin-drop coastal relaxation. Right in the middle between these two extremes lies Kata Beach Phuket.
Beach information
Length (m): 1500 
Cover Type: Sand 
Water Temp (°C): 28 
Cleanliness (1-10): 8 
Crowdedness (1-10): 7 
Infrastructure: Full infrastructure 
Best Season: Nov–Apr 
Waves Level: Moderate 
Lifeguards Available? yes 
Children Friendly? yes
Reviews
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General Information
On Phuket, Kata Beach serves as a turning point between high-energy parties and calm relaxation. ‘Kata Beach’ is the collective term for two segments: the larger Kata Yai and the smaller Kata Noi. In this article, we focus on Kata Yai, the main part of the beach. On the map, you can clearly see how the beach’s convenient geographical location allows visitors to reach any part of the island in a short time.
Kata Yai Beach confidently takes third place in the ranking of Phuket’s best beaches because it’s not overly pushy and relatively accessible. Several factors explain this. Its tranquility is due to the lack of numerous late-night entertainment venues (there are some, but not in Patong-like numbers), its distance from the main tourist hub, and the nature of local development (the central access point to Kata is limited because a large hotel is situated there).
The coastline extends about 2 kilometers in length and ranges from 70 to 50 meters in width. It does attract a lot of people, as it’s popular, and most visitors come via package tours because it’s comparatively cheap and falls under the “slightly more upscale” tour category (still within reason).
As previously noted, central access to the beach is limited due to the Club Med Phuket hotel, so you can freely enter from both sides. But be aware that on the right side, there’s a somewhat foul-smelling creek emptying into the sea, with a path alongside it—so we don’t recommend swimming exactly at that entrance. On the left, there’s no such concern. The mentioned hotel doesn’t block access to the beach itself, but rather to the street running parallel to it.
Calling a Kata Beach vacation “budget-friendly” in the usual sense isn’t quite accurate (first, because Phuket isn’t inherently cheap, and second, the only place cheaper might be Patong).
We suggest you take a closer look at our article, the main beaches of Phuket.
The Beach and Water Entry
Kata Beach boasts fine white sand that feels pleasantly soft underfoot—unlike the squeaky texture sometimes experienced on Karon Beach. This fact raises many questions, considering that Karon is just over a rocky outcrop, within walking distance. Why does Karon’s sand squeak while Kata’s does not?
The area is pretty clean and well-maintained—were it not for the foul-smelling creek, one might rank it number one. Regarding cleanliness, it’s raked daily from early morning, minimizing the risk of cutting your foot on anything sharp. Sandcastles here are easy to build as the sand is quite pliable.
The water entry is gently sloping with no sudden drop-offs. The sandy, compact seabed ensures that your feet remain firmly on top. You reach noticeably deeper water approximately 10–15 meters from shore during high tide, while at low tide, this distance extends to about 50–70 meters. There are no stones or sharp objects on the bottom.
During the peak season (December to April), waves are typically gentle—ideal for families—whereas in late October to early December, waves can reach significant heights. Even in low season (May through August), visitors (including surfers) still flock to Kata Beach.
Like Karon, Kata also has so-called rip currents. You’ll find warning signs along the coast (across from spots where these natural phenomena have been observed).
The main downside is the unpleasant odor strongly detectable on the right side of the beach. But during high season, that doesn’t really deter holidaymakers, and Kata Beach is wildly popular.
Beach Infrastructure
Due to recent regulations to preserve the natural look of the coastline, traditional sun loungers are banned on many Thai beaches. At Kata Beach, you can still rent a combination of an umbrella and a mat, which serves as a substitute for sunbeds. The rental fee is typically around 200 baht per day.
However, Thai businessfolk are undeterred by such restrictions. Some have come up with ways around it: from the sand, they create a small elevated mound topped with a mat (the downside being it’s made of sand, so it won’t last long). You can rent a mat and umbrella combo for 200 baht per day.
Shade is limited at Kata Beach, which is why umbrella rentals are popular. Trees are more abundant along the edges—particularly on the left side—while the central area, including the right side where a creek is present, offers less natural shade.
Kata Beach has several lifeguard towers where you may also catch some shade. You’ll find the most shade here in the morning; in the afternoon, shade is only available near the greenery.
Ironically, the best spot to swim is directly opposite the center of Club Med Phuket, which is quite understandable—people look for shade and want to avoid odors, and that’s found on the left side.
Entertainment
If lying in a starfish position under the blazing sun isn’t your style—your soul craves active pursuits, or you’re already tanned enough that sunbathing is passé—there’s a lot to do here.
One challenge at Kata Beach is that the demand for water activities such as banana boat rides, parasailing, and jet skiing often exceeds supply. It’s common to encounter queues during peak times, so plan accordingly.
Activities available at Kata Beach include:
- Jet skiing
- Parasailing and paragliding
- Flyboarding
- Boat rides
- Kayak rentals
- Snorkeling and diving equipment rentals
- Surfing
If you’re new to surfing, Kata has a surfing school, but it’s not located right on the beach—it’s on a small islet about 500 meters from the shore.
Ko Pu
Even the pickiest tourist will enjoy it here.
As for beach vendors, they’re ubiquitous throughout Thailand, and here is no exception. Possibly not as numerous as on Patong, but they are noticeable and can sometimes be persistent.
The Neighborhood’s Infrastructure
When it comes to eating, shopping, or enjoying a massage, you won’t have any problems. A large number of cafés, restaurants, stores, and small markets may surprise the unseasoned tourist (especially if they’ve come from Nai Harn, Tri Trang, or Bang Tao beaches).
Indeed, on the right side, you can find a few small eateries with quite affordable prices. There’s a rumor that these “local prices” are for Thai residents, but we know better—it’s just a tourist ploy. If you want cheaper meals, explore and compare. Of course, it helps if your hotel package includes breakfast, so you’ll spend less on food. But if you’re traveling independently, just compare options…
No loud nightclubs here, so staying with children is perfectly comfortable.
Roadside stalls also provide an excellent dining alternative. At Kata Beach, they’re conveniently located right near the shore, saving on food costs. A typical European traveler loves relaxing on the sand and snacking on the spot. However, eating on the beach is currently banned in Thailand, as are loungers, so you can’t munch directly on the shore—though no one forbids eating near the beach. Generally speaking, follow the local examples (just don’t overdo it, as “others” might not always be well-mannered).
Prices are quite reasonable, on par with Patong. For example:
- One dish — 60–110 baht
- Water — 20 baht
- Juice — 30 baht
- Coconut — 30 baht
- Beer — from 50 to 120 baht
- Kebab from different meats — 30–50 baht each
Once you visit Kata Beach, the question “Where to eat?” will answer itself.
If you love shopping, there are plenty of supermarkets and shops here. Several 7/11 (Seven-Eleven) stores have opened. Between Karon and Kata, there’s the Makro supermarket with wholesale prices. Note that prices are approximate and may vary with season and location.
Makro inside
Everyone knows that in 2004, Phuket was heavily impacted by a tsunami. Kata has fully recovered from it and is now even prettier.
On the left side, on weekends, there’s a weekend market—a so-called moving market—where they sell fruit, local homemade food, clothing, and various small accessories. Prices for all goods sold there are generally lower than in the neighboring shops—at least that was the case before. Quality, of course, can be questionable, but it’s worth stopping by just to browse. You can read more about Phuket’s markets in our article.
As for massages, like many popular beaches, Kata Beach has its share of massage tables screened off from the outside world. On a hot day, you can opt for a street massage (around 300–400 baht per session).
How to Get There
Reaching the beach from the town center isn’t hard—just remember that you can only approach from the left or right sides. There is also a route near the foul-smelling creek that appears shorter, but the time saved is questionable, and your sense of smell may suffer from the creek’s aroma.
If you try going through the center (through the hotel grounds), you won’t succeed—only guests are allowed in.
If you have a rented motorbike, you can park near Kata at the edges because they have designated parking. Leaving your bike along the street is possible, though there’s no guarantee you’ll find a free spot (no matter how early you get up, someone else may have beaten you there—Murphy’s Law).
Interestingly, while the official rules designate the street along the beach as one-way, locals often treat it as two-way.
It’s about 40 minutes by car from the main island airport, and 20 minutes from Patong Beach (300 baht by tuk-tuk)—obviously, not on foot. You can only walk from Karon Beach to Kata—it’s just a short distance.
From Phuket Town’s main area, there’s a public (blue) bus departing from Ranong Road.
Below is a photo showing what the bus looks like.
Kata’s transport accessibility is excellent, no argument there.
Accommodation
Of course, we can’t skip the topic of accommodation because many are interested in hotels on Kata Beach Phuket. Let’s briefly tackle this vast subject.
Kata Beach offers a wide range of accommodations to suit every taste and budget. While premium options such as Club Med Phuket (despite its lack of direct beach access) and Kata Beach Resort & SPA provide luxurious experiences, there are also more affordable choices like Kata Happy House for budget-conscious travelers.
The photo below shows the hotel’s interior.
Let’s highlight hotels like Kata Happy House and Kata Beach Resort & SPA. The first is relatively far from the shore but has a significant advantage—low rates. The second is located on the left side of the beach and is a decent option.
The following video shows one of these hotels.
Also, according to tourist feedback, the top-rated hotels include:
- Chanalai Romantica Resort.
- Kata Lucky Villa.
- Andaman Cannacia Resort & Spa.
- Tinidee Hotel@Phuket.
- Garden Home Kata.
- Kata Bai D.
- Pure Pam Village.
These accommodations are in descending order of star rating. The higher ones are pricier, while those lower on the list are cheaper. All have high ratings from travelers.
You can always choose a hotel yourself with the tool below:
So, Kata Beach Phuket is a popular spot deserving a solid four out of five stars, given its pluses and minuses. Don’t forget to share your holiday impressions in the comments.
