Karon Beach, its features and how it can be dangerous. "Karon Beach", Phuket, Thailand: photos and reviews of tourists Karon in May
Conventionally divided into three parts: northern, the calmest; the central one, where there are sun loungers; the southern one, where a tourist town is located right on the coast and the main party spot is located (see). A kilometer north of it there is also tiny Karon Noi, separated from the main massif by a wooded cliff. On the way there you can stop at the main observation deck of the island. From the south it is separated and borders.
The beach is wide, along it there is an asphalt road. They are separated by a strip of greenery. In the central part it is completely treeless, and in the north it is shady, with trees. The sand is yellowish, it is famous for its crunch, the nature of which is explained in different ways: some by the abundance of salt, others by the presence of a large amount of quartz.
Northern part
Holidays on Karon Beach in Phuket It will appeal more to those who are inclined to spend quiet time. Most party places close after sunset. Well, during the day, if you are looking for peace and serenity, just walk to its northern end.
It is visually separated from the central part of the beach by a lake, which the asphalt road goes around, turning sharply to the right. The park around this freshwater body of water is another place of solitude where you can remain almost completely alone even at midday.
The town of Ka Ron, which gives the name to the beach, is also located there. Its infrastructure is well developed and aimed at meeting the needs of tourists. In addition to restaurants, bars and massage parlors, there are several attractions. For example, Wat Karon Temple, next to it there is a fair on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Entertainment
Karon Beach in Phuket is a beach holiday destination, and prices for usual entertainment there are even higher than in Patong. For example, for a half-hour jet ski ride you will be charged 1,500 baht, and water skiing will cost even more, 2,000 baht. can be quite calm about morality, there are no crazy Go Go bars and other entertainment for adults there. However, if desired, available girls can also be found in the bars of Ka Ron.
In addition to the beach, you can walk around the town, look at the Wat Karon temple, or go west, to where the traditional one for the populated areas of Thailand is installed. It is quite high - 45 meters. Another place of entertainment is the Karon View Point, located halfway to Karon Noi Beach.
Hotels
The best hotels near Karon Beach in Phuket are located in its central part. However, they do not have direct access to the sea. There are such resorts in the south and north; they are not so modern and do not provide a high level of comfort. However, this is where you can rent inexpensive housing, including guest houses, for a long period of time. You can search for offers of the most popular hotels by level of service and prices on the websites or.
Shopping
Fans of this type of entertainment will be disappointed. Ka Ron will not be able to please them with anything special. Shopping on Karon Beach focuses on Shopping Sale Karon Plaza, which is more like an indoor market. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, a native fair takes place near Wat Karon. Another shopping destination is a tourist town in the south. But if you want to buy, for example, electronics, then you should go straight to Phuket Town or Patong.
How to get to Karon
Get to Karon Beach is not a big deal. You can feel almost like you are in Sheremetyevo, the Thais will be so persistent in offering you a ride to any place. You just have to say “Karon” and you can only look at the views flashing along the sides of the road without worrying about anything else. Taxi drivers are more honest, the whole trip will cost 700 baht, and if you are traveling with a group, then it makes sense to chip in for . You will have to wait for the minivan to be fully loaded, and along the way you will get a pleasant surprise: at an intermediate stop, in addition to the 180-200 baht fare, you will be asked to pay another 50 if you want to find yourself right at the hotel gate.
We do not advise you to travel from Patong to Karon on foot. The distance according to the map is only 5 kilometers, but along a winding mountain road. You may not be able to overcome it. Therefore, it is better to take a traditional transport - a motor scooter with a body (), for a trip they will charge at least 200 baht. If you are alone, you can ride as a passenger on the back seat of a motorcycle or scooter.
At the beginning of 2018, a bus route was launched to Karon directly from Phuket Airport.
Karon Beach in Phuket is a famous beach throughout Thailand, located in the west of the island, it is located between the equally famous beaches and Kata, which is popular among tourists from all over the world.
Karon Beach has all the necessary beach and tourist infrastructure. There are markets here where you can buy fruit, food, things, souvenirs, there are small shops, many cafes and restaurants with good cuisine.
Neighboring beaches are within walking distance. Religious and cultural attractions are located nearby. You can get from the beach to Phuket Town by bus or minibus. Karon Beach offers very affordable and affordable prices.
Brief description of the beach
Karon Beach is divided into two parts. Little Karon or Karon Noi is located in a bay, so it is hardly noticeable to others, and Big Karon, which will be discussed in the article. They are separated from each other by a cape and located at a distance of 3 km.
Both parts of Karon Beach have white sand and clean, clear sea water. But the tourist infrastructure on Karon Noi is not very developed. If you want to be away from the public and are not too fancy, it will suit you.
Here we will talk mainly about Big Karon Beach. This is the longest beach in Phuket, as well as the most popular and beloved among tourists and local holidaymakers. Its length is more than three km.
The beach is covered with fine white sand, sometimes with a golden hue. Despite the popularity of Karon Beach, due to its length, you can always find a free and fairly secluded place to relax and sunbathe.
The beach is quite clean and the cleaning services are efficient. There are many merchants walking around here throughout the day, offering their goods to vacationers, sometimes quite intrusively. There are also many photographers here offering photos with animals.
North, center and south of Karon Beach
Most of the hotels, shops, bars and restaurants are located in the northern part of Karon Beach. There is most entertainment here, so at night the public flocks to the north of the beach.
In the center there is a beautiful green area and a small pond where you can see the Golden Dragon, a local cult attraction. And in the south of Karon you can find the famous “singing sands”.
When walking on the sand, they make a specific sound, similar to human singing. This is due to the fact that these sands contain a lot of quartz. The same singing effect was found in the sand on Bang Tao Beach, but there it is less pronounced.
Near Karon Beach there is a large green strip where many vacationers hide from the direct rays of the hot Thai sun. This is not very convenient, because... There are many rather biting insects living in the grass, causing inconvenience.
Palm trees and other trees provide shade, but to take a place under them, you need to come to the beach early in the morning. The main way to escape the scorching sun is to rent a sun lounger or umbrella. Renting 2 sun loungers and 1 umbrella for the day costs about 200 Thai baht or $6.24.
Sea water
Karon Beach is not located in a bay, but on the open seashore, so from time to time serious waves appear here, as well as underwater sea currents that are dangerous for swimmers. But this happens in Phuket during the monsoon period, i.e. in summer.
In the High season, the sea water on Karon Beach is calm, soft, transparent and clean; it warms up to +27C - +29C. The shore on the beach is flat, there are no stones under the water, which is good for children. But it gets deep close to the shore, which is good for adult swimmers.
Parents should remember that periodically during the high season, small waves appear on the surface of the sea and sometimes underwater sea currents occur. Therefore, you need to be as careful as possible when swimming with children.
While at sea, you will periodically feel that someone is pinching your skin. It's not dangerous, but a little unpleasant. Experts believe that this is the effect of coastal marine plankton on human skin.
About once every two weeks, the water near the shore of Karon Beach is renewed. First, small waves appear in the afternoon, and overnight the water is completely cleared, becoming clear and slightly cooler.
There is a medical center on Karon Beach where you can get emergency medical care if required. There are rescue towers installed here, and rescuers work on them throughout the day. In the event of an emergency, you will certainly be rescued.
The beach is equipped with toilets and showers. Showers cost 20 Thai baht or 62 cents, and toilet visits cost 10 Thai baht or 31 cents. There are often quite long queues near toilets and showers.
In the center of Karon Beach, in the emerald-colored park, there are several playgrounds for children where kids can play while adults swim. There is also a small sports ground where adults can exercise.
Entertainment on Karon Beach
There are many beach and water recreational activities that you can indulge in while relaxing. There are special grounds for basketball and volleyball on and near the beach.
Vacationers can fly over the sea with a parachute, ride a jet ski, “banana” or “tablet”. The entire standard set of beach activities is available. There are also water skis and boots, a zorb, a water catapult, etc.
Evening and night entertainment here is not as vibrant as in Patong, but this beach cannot be called boring like Kamala. Karon is the golden mean. All the most interesting things in the dark happen not on the beach, but on the streets of the city of Karon.
When evening comes, vacationers stroll along the embankment and go to cafes, pubs, and restaurants. After refreshment, everyone goes to Karon Beach to enjoy the sun together. Here, every evening sunset has an unearthly beauty.
Most of the entertainment venues in the town of Karon are located on its two main streets. One of them runs along the beach and is essentially its embankment; the entire resort community takes a promenade here, and the second goes around the beach.
The embankment is a road where cars drive, and narrow sidewalks where groups of tourists walk. On the other side, along the street there are cafes, restaurants, bars, where vacationers periodically go to have a snack and a little drink.
Here you can visit the outdoor bar, which serves alcoholic drinks by the bucketful. You can order a bucket of the simplest and cheapest beer or wine, or the same volumes of alcohol from world brands.
Among tourists coming to Phuket, Karon Beach is known as an excellent place for active recreation and evening entertainment. Colorful sunsets are visible from this beach in all their splendor. In the evening hours, many tourists like to walk along the coastline, enjoying the new coolness, the light sea breeze and the views of the sun hiding behind the horizon.
Karon is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand and is highly valued by beach lovers from different countries. It is popular among Europeans, Americans and Australians. It is noteworthy that in 2008 Karon was ranked eighth among the best beaches in the world.
The long coastline in the area of Karon Beach is usually divided into two parts. Little Karon (Karon Noi Beach) is a small cozy bay with a coral reef. Big Karon Beach ends near Cape Sai, separating it from Kata Beach.
Karon's white sand with a yellowish tint contains quite a lot of quartz, which is why it creaks when walking. Sometimes this sound, very reminiscent of crunching snow, is referred to as “sand singing” or “singing sands”. Another reason for Karon's popularity is the steady wind and waves that get stronger from July to September. They attract surf lovers from all over the world to this part of Phuket. In addition, Karon Beach is suitable for families with children. The clean sandy shore, gentle entrance to the water and flat bottom have long been appreciated by fans of family holidays.
The southern part of Karon is home to many beautiful coral reefs that stretch to Kata and Bu Island. The north is more settled. This is a place of noisy youth parties. Restaurants, shops and cafes are open here. And on the streets leading to the beach there are chain stores “Seven-Eleven” (“7-11”).
Weather Features
You can relax on Karon Beach all year round. Every month this corner of Phuket reveals itself in a special way, sometimes contrary to weather forecasts. Spring, winter, autumn and summer on Karon Beach are attractive in their own way. And every season has its fans.
A special feature of the Thai climate is that there are no sudden temperature changes throughout the year, and the air warms up evenly from +28 to +33ºС. The heat on Karon is never long or sweltering, and the sea is always very warm. The high tourist season begins on this beach in November, subsiding by April. During this period, the water in the sea is very clean, it is not so hot, and there is little precipitation, so all beach hotels are crowded with tourists.
From late spring to mid-autumn, low season begins on Karon. This is the period of monsoon rains when the climate becomes humid and hot. Tropical showers occur mainly at night. And during the day, the bright sun quickly evaporates the fallen moisture.
At the beginning of summer, Karon Beach is usually stormy, and monsoon winds constantly blow from the southwest. Large waves along the Andaman coast lift sand from the bottom, and the sea water becomes cloudy. Swimming at this time on Karon is not recommended, as a strong reverse current can carry even the most experienced swimmer into the ocean. Unfortunately, despite the warning signs (red flags), every year there are brave souls on Karon who swim quite far. And during the summer monsoon period, several people drown.
Resort infrastructure
Finding accommodation to suit every taste and budget for tourists coming to Karon is not difficult. There are places where couples with children, lovers of luxury holidays or groups of young people can comfortably accommodate. However, you won’t be able to rent an inexpensive hotel right on Karon Beach.
The central part of the resort development here is occupied by expensive 4-5-star hotels: Hilton, Centara Grand, Novotel, Beyong Resort, Centara Karon, Karona Resort, Le Meridien, Movenpick, Karon Princess, Phuket Orchid Resort and others. Many hotels in Karon do not have their own access to the sea, but are separated from the coastline by a road. Beyond this road are almost all the large hotel complexes, and the wide beach strip remains free of development.
More budget holiday options on Karon are offered by numerous mini-hotels, guest houses and condos, from which you can walk to the beach in 2-5 minutes. They are mainly built on the second coastline, in the northern and southern parts of the beach.
Karon Beach is considered public. It is very convenient that there is a pedestrian (bicycle) path stretching almost along the entire beach line.
In the north of Karon, on Patak Road, near the Karon Circle, there are most restaurants, bars, cafes, travel agency offices, clothing markets, pharmacies and other establishments. Exchange offices are located mainly on hotel premises. In addition, restaurants and travel agencies operate in the south of Karon on a small street that connects the beach to the main road. From here you can get to Phuket town by regular buses that depart hourly (fare 30 THB).
The problem of “where to eat” on Karon simply does not exist. In the area of this beach you can find both expensive and quite budget restaurants and cafes. Here they serve dishes of European, Thai, Indian, Italian, Mexican and Scandinavian cuisine. There are also places on Karon that serve perfectly cooked seafood and steaks. Most local restaurants have a relaxed, family atmosphere that appeals to all travelers.
Shopping on Karon is inferior to Patong. Although there are shops here, their range is significantly lower than in those located on the neighboring beach. There are no large shopping centers on Karon and they do not sell electronics and household appliances. It is customary to buy clothes here at the Shopping Sale Karon Plaza store, which rather resembles a one-story indoor market.
It is convenient to move around the territory of Karon Beach by songthaew - pickup trucks equipped with a covered body for transporting passengers. Travel on them costs 20 THB. You can also take these songthaews from Karon to Kata Beach. Many travelers who come here prefer to rent motorbikes and move along the beach and around the island on their own.
The tourism infrastructure on Karon is constantly developing - new hotels and shops are being built and old ones are being reconstructed. The embankment has recently been improved. Locals love this corner of Phuket and try to keep it clean. And special services are responsible for cleaning the spacious beach strip.
Hotel deals
Beach activities
For tourists coming to Thailand for a beach holiday, Karon has all the conditions. Here you can rent umbrellas and beach chairs (100 THB) to sunbathe in peace. There is no shade from trees on this beach. The only exception is a small area in the south of Karon, where casuarina pines and coconut palms grow.
There are several spas available to vacationers on Karon Beach, and there are also places where you can get a good massage. In the evenings, bars and restaurants in Karon welcome lovers of music, dancing and noisy pastimes. The nightlife here is always in full swing!
For those who like to fight the waves and wind, a surf station has been built on Karon, where experienced instructors work and you can rent boards. Those interested can also rent jet skis, go water skiing, ride a banana boat, or ride a parachute behind a boat.
There are several good places for snorkeling and diving near Karon Beach. In the area of the beach there are several dive centers that organize boat trips with dives for tourists. However, connoisseurs of the underwater world should definitely take into account that in summer and early autumn there can be dangerous currents in the area of this Phuket beach.
From Karon Beach, boats take tourists to amazingly beautiful corners of nature - the Similan and Surin Islands, as well as to the islands of Phi Phi, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. In addition, Karon sells excursion tours around Phuket. So, by staying on this beach, if you wish, you can easily explore all the sights of the Thai resort and the surrounding islands.
Sights of Karon
Karon has the largest park on the island and Nong Harn Lake. This is a place where vacationers enjoy running, fitness and cycling. It is quiet here, and there are absolutely no working shops or restaurants.
Karon Circle
The Karon Circle, built at the northern end of the beach, serves as an excellent landmark. In the center of it there is a sculpture that symbolizes the three traditional activities of the island - fishing, agriculture and tin mining. Extensive tin mining brought wealth to this Thai resort, the income of fishermen and today plays a large role in the economy of Phuket. And, in addition, in many parts of the island, including on the slopes above the beaches of Karon, there are profitable rubber plantations.
Not far from the traffic intersection, 0.5 km from the beach, a Buddhist temple was built on Patak Road. You can visit it any day, but it is most crowded on Tuesdays and Sundays, when the local market opens nearby.
Near the Marina Phuket Resort hotel there is a “Dinopark mini-golf”, which delights both adults and children (Karon Road, 47). Here you can have a good walk and take interesting photos. Dinopark welcomes guests daily from 10.00 to 00.00.
The beautiful green grounds include a modern 18-hole mini golf course. The real decorations of the dino park were the figures of prehistoric animals - dinosaurs, a volcano that was active every half hour, and a 12-meter waterfall. In the evenings, this corner of Karon is beautifully illuminated. The dino park has a themed bar-restaurant, which is decorated in a cozy cave. Here guests can try European and Thai cuisine, as well as drink cocktails and freshly squeezed juices.
A special canal has been laid across almost the entire Karon beach, designed to protect the shore and the hotels located on it from the destructive force of the tsunami. The walls of this canal were lined with beautiful tiles, and small graceful bridges, romantic gazebos and sculptures of mystical creatures were installed along it. In the evening, this engineering structure is also beautifully illuminated.
From Karon Beach you can clearly see the Big Buddha statue, installed on a hill 400 m high above the shore. The large 45-meter monument is considered one of the most revered places in Phuket, and therefore its visit is included in almost all sightseeing tours of the island resort. From the site near the Big Buddha there are wonderful views of the picturesque Thai island and the sea surrounding it. From Karon Beach to Big Buddha you can get there in 15 minutes by motorbike, songthaew or taxi. Respecting Buddhist traditions, you should not go on such an excursion in beachwear. Near the monument there is a small market selling Thai souvenirs.
How to get there
Karon Beach is located on the western coast of the island, 20 km from Phuket town and 45 km from the local airport. From here you can reach Karon in about an hour. A ride in a yellow metered taxi will cost 650 THB. The ordering counter for this taxi is located outside the airport building. Other taxis take you from the airport to Karon Beach for 700-1000 THB.
On a regular minibus, the journey will cost 200 THB. In addition, at the airport you can purchase a transfer voucher to Karon, which costs 750 THB. Many hotels located along Karon Beach offer their clients a transfer for 1000 THB.
Personal experience: what are the pros and cons of Karon? Why has it become the favorite beach of Russians? Our review, rating and advice on Karon.
You are planning to vacation on the island of Phuket in 2019. The questions arise: which beach to choose? Which one is considered the best? Where is the cleaner sea? This article will answer your questions about the most popular Phuket beach among Russian tourists - Phuket Karon Beach.
Karon Beach Rating
| Criterion | Grade |
| Privacy | 6 |
| Silence on the beach | 7 |
| Nature | 8 |
| Water purity | 9 |
| Cleanliness of the beach | 8 |
| Entering the water | 8 |
| Sand | 10 |
| Shadow | 5 |
| Beach infrastructure | 5 |
| Resort infrastructure | 8 |
| final grade | 7,4 |
Atmosphere
Privacy (6 out of 10). There are plenty of people here, mostly families with children. Entirely Russian. But the beach is wide and long, there is always a secluded corner.
Quietness on the beach (7 out of 10). Tourists behave quietly and calmly. There is a secondary road next to the beach; there is little traffic on it.
Nature (8 out of 10). The bay is picturesque, you will relax with a view of two small islands.
Beach quality
Water purity (9 out of 10). When the sea is calm, the water is cleaner than in Patong.
Cleanliness of the beach (8 out of 10). There is natural debris, but not much.
Entering the water (8 out of 10) gentle, but the sea is deep. There are no rocks or reefs.
Sand (10 out of 10) amazing: small and creaks like starch. The color is almost white, slightly yellowish.
Shadow (5 out of 10). There is a life-saving strip of trees and palms in some areas of the beach. There is shade on the beach only until noon, then you will have to rent a sun lounger with an umbrella or hide under palm trees.
Beach infrastructure
Rating: 5 out of 10. As in the case of Patong, we give Karon a big minus: there is only 1 toilet and shower in the northern part, there are no changing cabins. There are no cafes or restaurants on the beach, only across the road. You can buy food and drinks from merchants. Prices in cafes and restaurants on the first line - from 70 baht for rice with meat. Visit the Yummy restaurant in the north of the beach - they have great noodles with seafood.
Rip currents and large waves are not uncommon during the rainy season on Karon, so warning flags are posted.
There are two children's playgrounds and exercise equipment - it's not all about eating and lying around. The exercise machines are not popular, but we noticed some activity. The beach has standard water activities: parasailing, jet skis, banana boat rides, beach volleyball courts.
Resort infrastructure
Rating: 8 out of 10. The resort is developed and there is no shortage of cafes, shops, restaurants and night markets.
Entertainment at the resort. There is no variety like in neighboring Patong. At the resort you will find excursions, massage parlors, karaoke, bars and clubs. Among the attractions are the Karon View Point, Wat Karon Temple and the Big Buddha statue. For children - mini golf in the Dino Park.
Night life. There is one on Karon Beach, but the resort cannot compete with Patong.
Shopping weak. Visit the Shopping Sale Karon Plaza and the night market at Wat Karon Temple (Karon Temple Night Market).
Food on Karon
Tourists write that food prices on Karon Beach are higher than on Patong. It seems to us that they are the same. Of course, it all depends on the level of service and the status of the establishment. We ate at a coastal restaurant: seafood noodles from 90 baht, fried squid - 120 baht, fried rice with garlic (garlic rice) - 60 baht.
Karon Beach Hotels
On Karon Beach you will find hotels of different price categories - and even close to the beach. Here are examples of hotel prices:
|
Prices in high season 2019 |
Low season prices 2019 |
|
| Guesthouses away from the sea | from 16$ | from 16$ |
| Guesthouses closer to the sea | from 22$ | from 19$ |
| 1 star hotels | from 31$ | from 20$ |
| 2 star hotels | from 16$ | from 15$ |
| 3 star hotels | from 25$ | from 17$ |
| 4 star hotels | from 41$ | from 37$ |
| 5 star hotels | from 89$ | from 89$ |
Tips for booking hotels:
- Book in advance. It’s better 3-5 months before the high season - there will be more choice and lower prices. You can book a hotel using the Roomguru search engine.
- Read reviews tourists when searching for a hotel on Karon - this way you will learn about important details.
Come on holiday to Karon in 2019 if developed infrastructure is important: there is a large selection of hotels, cafes and restaurants. It's not as noisy as Patong, but you can have fun and be entertained.
If you are not fluent in English, then you will still be comfortable on Karon Beach - almost every second vacationer at the resort speaks Russian.
There are also conditions for families with children: children's menus in restaurants, playgrounds, entertainment. But entering the sea is not convenient for children - the depth quickly begins.
Why has Karon Beach become so popular among Russians? We think it's about the peace, tranquility and some intimacy of the resort. There is less nightlife here, there is no busy road near the beach, but the infrastructure is developed almost like in Patong.
Karon is a long 5 km stretch of white sand and an impressive selection of restaurants, bars and nightclubs. However, it is never overcrowded with tourists, which is actually quite good.
Distinctive features of the beach are clean water, a well-groomed embankment and high-quality landscaping of the coastal strip. Special services employees monitor cleanliness and order.
During the monsoons, the sea is stormy and you can’t swim; children are even more forbidden to get into the water. If there are red flags along the beach, then it is better to move to neighboring Kata or Patong Beach, where the water is more or less calm throughout the year.
Karon Beach is also famous for the fact that the sand makes a peculiar squeaking sound when you walk. It is formed due to the large amount of quartz in its composition. Locals call Karon "Singing Beach" ("Singing Sand").
The southern part of the beach is popular with divers, snorkelers and lovers of a relaxing holiday. A picturesque cove with a coral reef is a good place to observe underwater life. The North, on the contrary, welcomes young people and fans to have a good rest. For the active and sociable - restaurants, bars, water sports centers.
The beach is 20 km from the city.
Karon is conventionally divided into three zones: the central part, the lake, and Beachfront Road.
Central Karon and Patak Road. Pathak Road is a rather tricky, winding street leading through a roundabout (Karon Circle) to the local Buddhist temple, Wat Suwan Khirikhet. It is narrow, busy, and finding a parking space is quite problematic. There are eateries and cafes of all kinds, shops, bars of all sizes and massage parlors. As all tourists do: they walk back and forth along Patak Road, looking into this or that bar, until they finally settle on one thing.
The temple is temporarily closed for reconstruction (winter 2016).
Lake. Near the ring there is a small lake. Until some time it was the subject of much controversy. There have been attempts to make this area something of an upscale area or to build a convention center here. Currently, a local fair is taking place near the lake - cheerful, crowded, but, of course, not elite, but the most democratic.
Beachfront Road. Beachfront Road, which is strictly speaking an extension of Patak Road, stretches from the lake to Kata Beach. It's just a road along the beach. It is completely occupied by resort complexes, between which small hotels and inns have managed to squeeze in.
At the beginning of the street, between the Movenpick and Woraburi hotels, there is a temporary indoor market called Night Bazaar, selling mainly T-shirts and beach items (every day from 10:00 to 23:00). The area around the intersection of Patak Road and Luang Phor Chuan Street is rich in eateries and cafes, shops and massage parlors. It is not as busy as central Karon, but for some this may be an advantage.
The southern boundary of Beachfront Road is a small hill that leads to Kata Beach (the boundaries of the two beach areas have never been clearly defined). Notable places are a restaurant on the beach, a football stadium where cricket competitions are also held, and a couple of establishments with discos that have nothing in common with the parties on Bangla Street.
Best hotels on Karon Beach
There are two first-class hotels right on the beach - Beyond Resort Karon and Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket. A little further, not on the first coastline, but across the street, there are hotels with good reviews and a huge number of rooms with sea views - Mövenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach and Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa.
In a tourist place like Karon Beach, there are no problems with choosing a place to stay depending on your budget. There are hotels for every taste and budget: from expensive luxury to modest budget. Most budget ones (rooms from 300 baht per night) are located across the road from the embankment.
Where to eat on Karon Beach
Perhaps the best view of the entire beach opens from the On The Rocks restaurant, one of the oldest in Phuket. This is an iconic place for residents: proposals are made here, romantic evenings are held, weddings and anniversaries are celebrated. For everyday lunches, choose EAT Bar & Grill Restaurant, and seafood dishes are excellently prepared at the Mama restaurant by the lake, as well as in small eateries along the embankment. For international cuisine, go to Two Chefs or Karon Cafe.
Night life
A fun party can be found in the Irish pub Angus O’Tools. Karon is literally crammed with tiny beer bars, such as Clapton Bar, and there are even entire beer streets like Bangla Road in Patong. You won’t be able to catch anything particularly outstanding on Karon, but the nightlife is still quite lively.
How to get to Karon Beach
From Phuket airport to Karon is about an hour's drive. A metered taxi costs 700 baht, and regular buses carry passengers for about 200 baht.
From Kata and Patong beaches you can get to Karon Beach by local exotic transport - tuk-tuk. The cost is about 300 baht, the journey takes 15-20 minutes from Patong, about half an hour from Kata Beach.
By renting a motorbike, you can freely move around the resort, to neighboring areas and to the capital Phuket Town. Daily rental will cost 200 baht plus refilling the tank.
