KARON BEACH

If you are looking for an amazing beach to soak up the sun rays, Karon Beach in Phuket is an excellent option. Watch the mesmerizing sunset from the northern end of the beach, for a hassle free experience as the sky turns pink. Known as one of the longest beaches, it’s a great place to relax and hang around.

Located on the west coast of Phuket, Karon Beach is one of the longest beaches on the island, spanning 5 km of fine white sand. Less crowded than its neighbors, Karon Beach offers spectacular views of the golden sand gradually giving way to a clear blue sea.

It is famous for its wide and relaxing mini beaches featuring a great mix of lovely hotels that offer ample accommodation options to visitors. Most of the resorts in Karon Beach have excellent restaurants serving both international and Thai food. There is a wide range of activities on offer at the beach as well. Thrillophilia Thailand packages can enhance your experience, offering unique and exciting adventures. Swimming is a popular activity, but you can also enjoy snorkeling, try various water sports, and even go for a hike. It is advisable to always wear a lifejacket when participating in any motorized water sports activities, even if you have prior experience of the same. When you are ready to relax, you can enjoy a traditional Thai massage on the beach. If you want to learn a new skill during your holiday at Karon Beach, you can join a cooking class offered by several big hotels located here.

Highlights

• Karon Beach has excellent conditions for windsurfing. It is also a good place to enjoy thrilling water sports activities such as sea kayaking, banana boat rides, water-skiing, and wakeboarding.
• You can experience the fun of some good snorkeling in the waters just off the southern end of Karon Beach.
• Karon Beach has many mid-range and luxury resorts with onsite dining options serving dishes from a wide range of cuisines including Thai and Continental.
• Experience the thrill of adrenaline rushing through your veins while participating in jet skiing, a popular sport at Karon Beach.
• The beach also provides parasailing facilities, which offer a unique opportunity to enjoy the bird's view of the bay and its surroundings.
• Karon Beach has enough shopping options to keep everyone happy, even those who don’t like shopping. There are various bazaars, and night markets available for visitors to explore.

How To Reach

If you are coming from Phuket Airport, you can take a travel voucher from the transportation booth for 750 THB. The taxi will take you from within the airport and drive you to the beach. The entire journey will be less than an hour. There are also several metered taxis outside the airport that can take you to Karon for around THB 650 or less.

But if you don’t want to spend on a taxi, you can take a minibus from the airport at 200 THB that will also take you to Karon.If you are in Phuket town already, you can take a bus from the downtown market. The Karon Beach is connected to Phuket town via bus between 7.30 am to 6 pm every day.

The bus takes a circuit around the town from Patak Road to North Karon, before heading down to the beach road and then South Karon. The fare for the bus is 35 THB. You can also take a motorbike taxi from here for around THB 40.

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Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit Karon Beach is between November and April. This is considered the peak season in Thailand, because the temperatures are lower and the ocean is relatively calm. You will be able to enjoy the beach and all the water activities it has to offer in this weather. However, since it is the peak tourist season, you may have to book your accommodation well in advance. 

May to October is monsoon in the region, and Karon beach sees heavy rains at this time. As a result, the ocean is quite unstable, and has powerful waves and dangerous currents. Thus, it is not recommended to go to the beach during this time.

Recommended Read: Things To Do In Phuket In November

Other Essential Information

Places to Stay in and near Karon Beach

1. Pacific Club Resort – Located on the top of a hill just 10 minutes from the beach, this boutique hotel offers some of the most spectacular views of the sea. The rooms are airy and spacious, with each room having its own balcony. Other amenities include WiFi, flat-screen Cable TV and safety deposit box. 

The swimming pool at the beach offers 360-degree views of the beach, and there is also a spa treatment parlor within the resort, along with a well-equipped gym

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2. Mandarava Resort and Spa – This magnificent resort features rooms with separate detached areas, each with its own set of balcony and bathroom. The resort itself is encircled by lush greenery and located on a slope of a hill, overlooking the beach. Thus, all the rooms of the resort have a spectacular and spellbinding view of the clear blue waters of the sea.

3. Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort – The stunning beach resort offers a magnificent view of Karon beach from its lovely outdoor pool and air conditioned rooms. Besides the regular amenities like WiFi, cable TV, tea and coffee making facilities – this place has a variety of health and fitness options, including a gym, a spa and sauna. And what’s more, the hotel is a foodie’s dream come true with its 10 dining and bar options.

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4. Movenpick Resort and Spa – Nestled amidst the lush green gardens, just a few minutes away from the pristine sandy beaches of Karon, the resort is ideal for anyone who wants to holiday in style. It has some of the most luxurious rooms in the region, along with 4 swimming pools, a kids zone, and 7 restaurants and bars.

Every room in the resort is a spacious mini-suite on its own. The décor is cozy and sophisticated, and you can enjoy the views of the gardens and the sea from the balcony. You will also get other amenities like WiFi, minibar, a safety deposit box and a refrigerator.

- Location: located on the west coast of Mueang Phuket District, between Patong in the north and Kata in the south, Phuket 83100, Thailand.

- Timing: the beach is open 24 hours and there are no timing restrictions to go here.

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Places to Eat near Karon Beach

Here are the most popular places to eat near the beach:

1. EAT Bar and Grill – If you want to enjoy Western-style grilled food, this is the place to be at. The menu at the bar is designed with tones of meaty dishes, including a wide range of drinks and cocktails – and all of them at a price that won’t burn a hole in your pocket. The chef of the restaurant is Swedish and he specializes in creating high-quality dishes with imported meat cuts combined with local ingredients.

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2. On The Rock – Located at the end of a rocky cliff of the beautiful and exotic Marina Phuket Resort, this place has extremely romantic vibes. The service is warm, and the menu is primarily seafood bases. However, you will have to reserve a table here before you go because this place gets quite crowded in the evenings.

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3. Gether – This is one of the most popular diners on Karon Beach because of the amazing reviews it has gotten in the last few years. The menu here is a mix of Swedish and English food and is perfect for people who love international cuisine. Some of the most popular dishes are Swedish meatballs, Italian pizza, Australian beef and endless Thai options.

4. Coast Beach Club – Offering a breathtaking view of the sea, this laidback resort has a cozy atmosphere – making it even more relaxing and comforting. Besides the bar restaurant, there is also the cocktail bar where you can get some delicious drinks. Also make sure you sample the delicious tapas and local cheeses here. Coast Beach Club is ideal for people who want to enjoy their meal in front of the calming waters of the Andaman Sea.

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Shopping Near Karon Beach

Here are the best shopping centers near the beach:

1. Karon’s Market – Spread in an area of nearly 1200 square meters, the market opens only on Tuesdays and Saturdays and offers some of the widest choices when it comes to local products and food items. If you want to get a glimpse of the local culture, this is the place to be at. 

Like most outdoor markets in the city, Karon’s Market opens late in the afternoon and you can find everything from T-shirts to bags, scarves, sarongs and home décor items here.

2. Karon Bazaar – Located near the beach road, the bazaar is essentially a large shopping center with a market-like flavor. It is sandwiched between Woraburi Phuket Resort and Moevenpick Resort.

Its concrete floors and neon lights give it a unique vibe, and you can find a variety of items here at a fraction of prices than the bigger markets – that is, if you know how to haggle. You can find fake bags, apparel, souvenirs, jewelry items and various knick-knacks here. You can also find some delicious local food stalls.

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3. Soi Old Phuket – Located near the Old Phuket Resort, this place offers a large selection of colorful beachwear, tropical shirts, bags, souvenirs and whatnot. There are also many boutiques and massage parlors here – if you want to get a relaxing Thai massage. The restaurants in the market offer a variety of Thai and Swedish street foods.

In the afternoon, you can find costume jewelry shops and trinkets sellers at the various stands. All of these pieces are reasonably priced, but you may have to do some bargaining to get a discount.

Travelers' Tip for visiting Karon Beach

Here are some tips that will make your visit to the beach truly unforgettable:

1. Take a taxi from the airport to Phuket town, and then go to the beach from there. It will be cheaper than other options, like if you take a bus or taxi directly from the airport. 

2. Use the ATMs wisely. Although they are available everywhere, some regions are notorious for ATM fraud. Make sure no one is looking over your shoulder while you withdraw the money.

3. If you want to book a car, do it in advance. Make sure the car is third-party insured.

4. Make sure you carry some local currency. Credit and debit cards are accepted in most hotels and restaurants, but stalls and bazaars only take cash.

5. Do not get into the water if there is a high tide. It can be quite dangerous.