Phuket boasts numerous beaches – each with its own unique charm that draws tourists. However, some beaches are rather ordinary, and Kamala Beach falls into that category. Kamala Beach Phuket falls into the latter category. In this article, we’ll discuss Kamala, how to get there, and other important points.
Beach information
Length (m): 1500
Cover Type: Sand
Water Temp (°C): 27
Cleanliness (1-10): 7
Crowdedness (1-10): 6
Infrastructure: Moderate infrastructure
Best Season: Nov–Apr
Waves Level: Moderate
Lifeguards Available? yes
Children Friendly? yes
Reviews
Photos
General Information
So, Kamala Beach is located north of Patong and south of Surin. Laem Singh and Kalim are located at both ends of the beach. You can clearly see the beach’s location on the map below.
The shoreline is 2.5 km long and about 30 meters wide. During low tide, the beach’s width expands.
You can’t really call this place deserted; the tourist flow doesn’t dry up even in the off-season (May, June, July, August, September), when the coast experiences noticeable waves. In high season (November, December–April), the number of visitors rises, but there’s always room to spare, if you catch our drift.
You won’t find as many Europeans here as on Patong or Kata. The main crowd is tourists who come to Thailand to spend the winter, though there are also some package-tour visitors.
Despite the presence of many tourists, it’s not correct to call Kamala Beach “noisy,” let alone compare it with Patong. It’s more fitting to draw a parallel with Bang Tao, which is more “rural” than Kamala and less crowded.
Kamala Beach is conventionally divided into three parts:
- Southern
- Central
- Northern
Vacationers’ reviews are consistent about the swimming conditions in the southern part — it’s not recommended. Large boulders and sharp rocks exposed during low tide make it not just unsuitable for swimming but downright dangerous (you can easily injure your foot). In the past, this part of Kamala Beach was used as a mooring place for fishing boats.
The central area is the most tourist-friendly and well-prepared in that sense, offering all the necessary beach infrastructure.
The north, in turn, is also loosely divided into two parts—closer to the center and the far northernmost stretch.
The first part is considered the wildest: modern conveniences haven’t reached here yet, but people have. A small river of unknown origin flows at the boundary between these two sections.
The far northern part of the beach belongs to the territory of Café del Mar Phuket and Novotel Phuket Kamala Beach.
As for vegetation, there’s plenty of it here. Kamala has many casuarina trees (somewhat like a “coniferous” species popular in Thailand). Thanks to the large number of trees, there’s a lot of shade on the beach in the first half of the day. People who enjoy sunbathing later in the afternoon should be cautious, as the Thai sun can be quite deceptive.
We recommend reading our overview article: Phuket Beaches.
Water Entry and Shore
As mentioned earlier, the southern part is not suited for swimming because of the many rocks and the relatively shallow water. Additionally, on some days, local residents “park” their fishing boats in the southern part of Kamala, creating an inconvenience.
The central and northern parts of the beach, on the other hand, are excellent for both lazy lounging in the water and more active swimming. The water gradually deepens, so you don’t have to wade far out, but you also don’t have to walk far out (as you do in the south). There are no rocks here—only sand on the bottom, which is quite firm. 
In summertime, waves can reach impressive heights due to the reef along the perimeter of the beach and Kamala’s exposure to the wind. 
The wind generates large waves that, upon hitting the underwater reef, don’t subside but instead rise several meters high. So, swimming at Kamala Beach during the summer can be extremely dangerous — keep that in mind. 
The sand here is white and feels like fine salt. In bad weather, it turns grayish, but its texture remains the same.
The central part of the beach is clean, with regular maintenance. However, in the southern and wilder northern parts, you might find small debris because the cleaning crews don’t always make it that far. 
If you read reviews of Kamala, it’s considered one of the cleanest beaches on the island. Perhaps that reflects the demographic (generally older crowd), or maybe there are other factors.
Facilities and Amenities
For some time now, sun loungers have been forbidden on every beach in Thailand because they spoil the coastline’s appearance. Therefore, you’ll only find loungers on hotel grounds or outside the official beach zone.
However, local entrepreneurs have come up with ways to work around the ban by slightly altering how they rent out beach gear. Instead of deck chairs, they rent out mattresses with a sand-built “headrest.” Sometimes the entire mattress is placed on a small sand mound. Paired with an umbrella, this setup rents for 100–150 baht. 
Compared to a sun lounger, this structure has one significant drawback—it wears out quickly.
There are three paid shower spots on the beach, evenly spaced out. The cost is low, only 20 baht, but they’re as simple as can be—just a barrel of water with a hose sticking out of it (there’s one next to Nanork Seafood Café, near the bridge between the wild northern part and the central part). 
The more or less “normal” shower cabins can be found in the central part and to the north.
If you’re fundamentally against paying, there’s a free shower at the Sunprime Resort if you get lucky and can use it.
Restrooms at Kamala are also paid—10 baht.
Kamala Beach Phuket has everything you need for a comfortable vacation: shops, massage salons, street-food stalls, cafés and restaurants, rental services for watersports equipment, and more. 
Kamala Beach massages are affordable both in price and location. Massage tables are set up right on the beach. Prices range from about 300 baht up to 1,000 baht; on average, a session costs around 400–500 baht.
Cafés are mainly located in the central area, directly opposite the beach. A narrow concrete strip separates them from the shoreline, and dining in one of these venues lets you admire the sea view. Photos and videos from here turn out great. Proximity to the sea doesn’t affect prices—they’re about the same as elsewhere: an average lunch for two is around 500 baht. 
Parking for motorbikes is improvised and located in the “wild” part of the beach. Because a concrete fence separates the beach from a concrete wall, people park their “steeds” along that wall. 
Past the fence, you’ll reach an area dominated by street-food stalls. You can buy ready-made Thai dishes, fruit juices, pancakes, and other tasty treats here.
Prices for Thai-style pancakes range from about 30 to 120 baht each. 
Among other activities, you can learn to cook authentic Thai food at Kamala.
If you’re a fan of active recreation and know how to surf, the best time to come is summer, when the waves are huge. But you must be extremely cautious, as Kamala is considered one of the more challenging beaches for surfing.
In small souvenir shops, you can buy or rent gear for diving or snorkeling to explore the reef. 
Kamala Beach is famous for the Phuket FantaSea show, tickets for which can be purchased at any local tour office.
For those who enjoy quiet strolls, the local temple is another Kamala attraction worth visiting.
Since Kamala is between Patong and Surin, a major road runs about 400 meters from the shoreline, lined with supermarkets and cheaper cafés (the farther from the beach, the cheaper it is to eat). 
Accommodation
Accommodation prices vary widely because even on the first line you can find options for wealthy travelers as well as those who prefer mid-range hotels.
If you want to be closer to the sea and don’t mind paying less for an area not ideal for swimming (like the southern part), you’ll at least get a magnificent window view.
In the central part of Kamala Beach, there are many high-end hotels, most of them located on the inland side of the road. In addition to great views, they offer many extra services for their guests.
The north isn’t lagging behind and is gradually being developed. The north is gradually being developed, and several hotels have begun to appear in this area.
If proximity to the sea isn’t crucial, consider renting a hotel on the second or third row back, where prices are much lower.
If hotels aren’t your thing and you’d rather have an apartment or condominium, you can browse special offers for Kamala below.
How to Get There
Reaching Kamala is easy because it’s located on the main road connecting Patong and Surin. It’s about a 40-minute drive from the airport, and roughly 20 minutes from Phuket’s main party hub, Patong.
So, you can vacation at Kamala Beach year-round. The key is deciding what kind of experience you want. For a calmer vibe, come in winter; if you want something more active, summer is your season.
