Lifeguards on the beach
Lifeguards are stationed on Kamala Beach; swim near them.
Kamala Beach
Kamala · west coast
A long, wide bay north of Patong with soft sand, tree shade and calm, shallow water from December to April, lined with casual beach restaurants and two beach clubs.
Also written Hat Kamala, Kamala Bay, Kamala Beach Phuket, Ao Kamala · หาดกมลา · Пляж Камала
Kamala Beach in photographs
A beach restaurant on the sand. Sunset seen from a beach bar.
- Sand
- Soft, pale golden sand
- Water entry
- Shallow, clear water in high season
- Shade
- Casuarina and palm shade
- Food
- Restaurants and bamboo bars on the sand
- Children
- Lifeguards, playground, theme parks
- Sunset
- Beach clubs facing the sunset
About Kamala Beach
Kamala is a long, wide bay on Phuket's west coast, one bay north of Patong over the hill, with soft pale sand, casuarina and coconut trees along the back and headlands at each end. In the high season the sea is very shallow and clear, and the pace is much slower than in Patong or Kata, which makes it a favourite with families and couples.
The village grew out of a Muslim fishing community, and fishermen still work the bay. Behind the beach a narrow lane runs parallel to the shore with small restaurants, bars, massage shops and tailors, and a larger road behind it carries supermarkets and everyday shops. On the sand, a strip of casual restaurants and tiny bamboo bars serves breakfast, grilled chicken and sunset cocktails.
The north end is the smartest part, with the InterContinental's Pine Beach Bar and Café del Mar, one of Phuket's best-known beach clubs. The south end has parked fishing boats and streams that sometimes run brown into the sea, so most people swim in the north and centre. In the evening, Phuket FantaSea and Carnival Magic, two large theme parks, sit just inland.
Kamala Beach, north to south
The north end: beach clubs
The widest, best patch of sand, below the InterContinental and Novotel, with Pine Beach Bar, Café del Mar and a small playground; calm and shallow in the high season.
Good
- The best sand and water on the beach.
- Beach clubs for a day bed or a sunset drink.
- A playground for children.
Less good
- Beach-club prices; busy at sunset and on Saturday nights.
Families in the daytime, couples and friends at sunset.
The centre: restaurants on the sand
A strip of casual beachfront restaurants and bamboo bars, with the Kamala Beach Resort, a lane of shops and massage parlours just behind, and loungers on part of the sand.
Good
- Cheap, relaxed meals by the sea.
- Bamboo bars with low-priced sunset cocktails.
- Everything within walking distance.
Less good
- Busier with tables and vendors than the north end.
Anyone who wants lunch and a swim in one place.
The south end: fishing boats
The local end of the bay, with fishing boats pulled up on the sand, a row of cheap guesthouses and streams that sometimes run brown into the sea.
Good
- The most local atmosphere.
- Cheap places to stay close to the sand.
Less good
- Less attractive water, with streams and boats.
Budget travellers and those who like village life; swim further north.
Things to do at Kamala Beach
Sunset seen from a beach bar. Palms, a beach umbrella and the water. The beach under the palms.
Swimming · dry season
Swim in shallow, clear water
From December to April the sea is very shallow and clear, best at the north and centre of the bay.
Food and drink
Classic Kamala beach lunch
Grilled chicken, sticky rice and som tam at Smile Bar, a simple restaurant a few steps from the sand.
Food and drink
Breakfast on the sand
Lillo Island, in the row of restaurants on the central beach, is a favourite for a slow breakfast by the sea.
Nightlife
Café del Mar
Pool, beach beds, wood-fired pizzas and DJs from 11:00 until late; loungers and beds work on a minimum spend.
On the sand
An afternoon at Pine Beach Bar
The InterContinental's beach bar puts loungers on the widest part of the sand, facing the sunset head-on.
Nightlife
Bamboo bar sundowners
Tiny bamboo bars in the middle of the beach serve good cocktails at low prices, the cheapest sunset seats on the bay.
Food and drink
Modern Thai at Jaras
The InterContinental's fine-dining Thai restaurant near the beach, listed in the Michelin Guide.
Family
Phuket FantaSea
A cultural theme park with a shopping village, a buffet hall and a huge stage show of Thai legends, acrobatics and pyrotechnics; evenings only.
Family
Carnival Magic
A night-time carnival park with millions of lights, a river parade and a funfair zone; Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings.
Surfing · monsoon months
Low-season surf
When the monsoon swell arrives, Kamala has waves for surfers; stay within sight of the lifeguards.
Food and drink
Rooftop tapas at Casa Boho
A Latin American rooftop at the Hyatt Regency above Rayee Beach, just south, with daybeds by an infinity pool for sunset.
A day at Kamala Beach
Walk the bay in the cool of the morning to the south end, where fishermen still work from their boats.
In the high season the water at the north end is shallow, calm and clear; swim near the lifeguards.
Half a grilled chicken with sticky rice and som tam at Smile Bar is the classic Kamala beach lunch. Smile Bar & Restaurant
Pine Beach Bar at the InterContinental has loungers and easy music, and no dress code; beds fill first in high season. Pine Beach Bar
Café del Mar fills up fast at sunset with DJs and cocktails; book a bed at weekends. Café del Mar Phuket
Phuket FantaSea's stage show, or Carnival Magic's river parade and lights on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings. Phuket FantaSea
Our Kamala Beach score
4.4out of 5
A relaxed family beach holiday with lunch on the sand and a sunset beach club nearby.
A long, wide bay of soft sand with casuarina and palm shade, shallow clear water in the high season, lifeguards and one of Phuket's best rows of casual beachfront restaurants. The south end is let down by streams of brown water and parked fishing boats, and the sea is rough in the monsoon.
The character of the beach
A profile, not a mark: where Kamala Beach sits on four scales, and what it is known for.
- Lively
- For children
- Surf
- Snorkelling
Lifeguards on duty · Soft pale golden sand
What is good about Kamala Beach
Made for families
Shallow, calm water from December to April, shade along the beach, lifeguards on duty and a small playground near the north end.
Lunch with your feet in the sand
A strip of casual restaurants along the central beach serves breakfast, grilled chicken with sticky rice and seafood, a rare luxury in Phuket.
Café del Mar
The Ibiza brand's beach club at the north end has a pool, day beds and DJs, busiest at sunset and on Saturday nights.
Sunset bars for every budget
From the InterContinental's Pine Beach Bar to tiny bamboo bars with cheap cocktails, the whole bay faces the sunset.
Calmer than Patong
Patong's nightlife is 10 km away over the hill; Kamala's evenings stay slow and quiet.
Before you swim at Kamala Beach
Swim when the flags allow
Check the flags before you go in, especially from June to November, when the sea is often rough.
Calmest from December to April
From December to April the sea is shallow, calm and clear; from June to November the waves are bigger and suit surfers.
Swim in the north or centre
Streams sometimes run into the sea at the south end; the water is clearest in the north and centre.
Fishing boats in the south
Fishing boats are often parked at the south end; swim away from them.
Beach clubs, bars and restaurants on Kamala Beach
4 places open on the sand in September 2026, walked south to north, then the road behind the beach and a few minutes inland. A price level is what one visit typically costs a person.
The north end: beach clubs
Café del Mar Phuket
Beach club · on the sand · 11:00–02:00 by phuket101; Google Maps showed 11:00–00:00 on Wednesday
The Phuket club of the Ibiza-born Café del Mar brand, at the quiet north end of Kamala Beach.
Pine Beach Bar
Beach club · on the sand · opens 08:00; Google Maps showed closing at 23:00 on Wednesday
The InterContinental Phuket's beach bar on the sand at the north end of Kamala Beach.
Jaras
Restaurant · the road behind · daily 12:00–21:30
The Thai restaurant of the InterContinental Phuket Resort on Kamala Beach, listed in the MICHELIN Guide.
The centre: restaurants on the sand
Smile Bar & Restaurant
Restaurant · on the sand · 13:00–22:00 on Wednesday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
A beach bar and grill on the sand at Kamala, which began in 2000 as a drinks kiosk on the beach.
Lillo Island Restaurant & Bar
Restaurant · on the sand · daily 08:00–23:00
A restaurant and bar on the sand in the central part of Kamala Beach, open from breakfast to sunset dinners.
A few minutes inland
Phuket FantaSea
Entertainment · a short drive · Fridays and Saturdays only, from 17:30; the show at 20:30
An evening cultural theme park in Kamala built around a large stage show, with a buffet restaurant and funfairs.
Carnival Magic
Entertainment · a short drive · Monday, Wednesday and Saturday only, 17:30–23:30; the main show at 21:00
A night-time theme park on Kamala Beach next to Phuket FantaSea, opened in 2022, built around lights, parades and Thai carnival themes.
Casa Boho
Restaurant · a short drive · 12:00–22:00 on Wednesday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
A Latin American restaurant on the pool deck of the Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort, on the hillside above Kamala Bay.
A&B Café Coffee and more
Café · daily 08:00–18:00
A small, homely café in Kamala on a quiet pedestrian lane a couple of minutes from the beach.
Bangkok Phuket Clinic Kamala
Health · daily 09:00–20:00
A walk-in clinic of Bangkok Hospital Phuket in Kamala.
Bella Vista Kamala
Restaurant · 08:00–22:00 on Sunday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
An Italian restaurant on Kamala's beachfront strip, between the beach road and the sand, beside Smile Bar.
Big C Market Kamala
Shops · 08:00–22:00 on Sunday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
A Big C Market, the chain's supermarket format, in Kamala.
Casa del Tacos
Restaurant · 16:00–01:00 Sunday to Thursday; 15:00–02:00 Friday and Saturday
A halal French-tacos restaurant in Kamala, two minutes' walk from Kamala Beach, with a terrace and takeaway.
CityCare Clinic
Health · Monday to Friday 09:00–18:00
A private medical clinic in Kamala offering general and family medicine.
Hom
Restaurant
A fine-dining restaurant at the back of the InterContinental Phuket Resort in Kamala, reached through a garden walkway, where a Portuguese chef cooks around fermentation; listed in the MICHELIN Guide.
Kamala Beach Viewpoint
Viewpoint
A roadside lookout on the coast road just north of Kamala, over the whole of Kamala Beach.
Kamala Gym
Gym · daily 07:00–20:00
An open-air gym in Kamala with a recovery focus: a pool, a sauna and an ice bath alongside the weights.
Kamala Horse Riding Club
Sport · 09:00–18:00 on Monday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
A stable for beach rides on Kamala, also trading as Imron Farm.
Kamala Market
Market · Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 14:00–21:00
A small market in a palm grove in the north of Kamala, shady and cool.
Kamala Village Market
Market · Wednesdays and Saturdays, late afternoon to about 19:00 (guide text; its info box says Monday and Friday 15:30–19:00)
A small local market on the main road about 100 metres from the southern entrance of Kamala, for locals rather than tourists.
Merlin Divers Phuket
Water sports · 08:00–19:00 on Monday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
An SSI dive centre on Kamala Beach, about 20 metres from the sand, rebuilt after the 2004 tsunami.
Mizu Teppanyaki
Restaurant · lunch à la carte 12:00–15:00; dinner set menu 18:00–20:00, daily
A teppanyaki restaurant by the pool of Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort in Kamala, where the chefs cook at the table.
Munchy Burgers
Restaurant · 17:00–02:00 on Sunday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
A casual burger and pizza place in Kamala Square on Soi Pachak, in the middle of Kamala.
Nanork Seafood
Restaurant · opens 08:00 (phuket101)
A long-established local Thai restaurant right on Kamala Beach, facing the sea.
Sainamyen International Clinic Kamala
Health · daily 09:00–20:00
A walk-in international clinic of the Sainamyen group in Kamala.
A small Buddhist monastery (samnak song) in Kamala, listed on Google Maps as a temple.
SILK Restaurant & Bar
Restaurant · 07:00–22:00 on Sunday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
The restaurant and bar of the five-star Andara Resort on Layi Naka Lay Road, Kamala, set by the pool.
Talung Thai
Restaurant · daily 12:00–23:00
The Thai restaurant of Paresa Resort, on a clifftop above the sea at Kamala, with a sunset terrace; listed in the MICHELIN Guide.
Tengoku
Restaurant · Monday and Thursday–Sunday 18:00–22:00
A Japanese dinner restaurant in the InterContinental Phuket Resort at Kamala, in a traditional Japanese style.
The Memory Cafe at Kamala
Café · Tuesday–Sunday 07:30–16:00
A home-like coffee shop in Kamala run by its owner and barista, Sin, who tends its cactus garden.
Tops Kamala
Shops · 08:00–00:00 on Sunday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
A Tops supermarket in Kamala.
Villa Market Kamala
Shops · 08:00–22:00 on Sunday (Google Maps shows one day; the other days to check)
A Villa Market supermarket of imported and local goods in Kamala on the west coast.
Wat Baan Kamala
Temple
The local temple of Kamala, small and well kept, where people from the area make merit and hold ceremonies.
What it costs to live near Kamala Beach
6 months or more
Apartments
฿30,500/ month
median of 5 · from ฿20,000
Villas
฿169,500/ month
median of 1 · from ฿169,500
Townhouses
฿80,000/ month
median of 2 · from ฿75,500
- The zone
- The waterline
- Chosen step: The zone
- A home and its rent
- A place, as the list numbers it
Homes for rent near Kamala Beach
6 months or more
- homes for rent nearby
- 14
- within a 13-minute walk of the sand
- 6
- the nearest home to the sand
- 130 m
Kamala covers every budget: cheap guesthouses in a row along the southern part of the beach, beachfront hotels such as the Kamala Beach Resort, Novotel and InterContinental, and luxury resorts and private villas on the hillsides, including the road south to Rayee known as Millionaire's Row.
Homes by type
Rent a month
8 homes in the beach zone
1‑bedroom apartment in Kamala, Sunset Villas
฿30,500/ month
130 m to the sand · 2 min on foot
- Workspace
Studio apartment in Kamala, Sunset Villas
฿20,000/ month
150 m to the sand · 2 min on foot
- Rooftop pool
- Workspace
1‑bedroom apartment in Kamala, Casuarina Park
฿32,500/ month
380 m to the sand · 5 min on foot
- Sea view
3‑bedroom townhouse in Kamala, Sunset Villas
฿80,000/ month
690 m to the sand · 9 min on foot
- Sea view
4‑bedroom villa in Kamala, Coral Heights
฿169,500/ month
720 m to the sand · 9 min on foot
- Rooftop pool
- Workspace
2‑bedroom apartment in Kamala, Sunset Villas
฿40,500/ month
730 m to the sand · 9 min on foot
All homes near Kamala Beach (14)
6 of 8 shown here.
Around Kamala Beach
Every place inside the beach zone, by category: choose one to see its places, nearest the water first, each numbered as its mark on the map.
- Bella Vista Kamala40 m from the sand · 1 min on foot
- Nanork Seafood40 m from the sand · 1 min on foot
- SILK Restaurant & Bar230 m from the sand · 3 min on foot
- Hom230 m from the sand · 3 min on foot
- Tengoku260 m from the sand · 3 min on foot
- Munchy Burgers340 m from the sand · 4 min on foot
- Casa del Tacos470 m from the sand · 6 min on foot
- Mizu Teppanyaki690 m from the sand · 9 min on foot
- Talung Thai2.4 km from the sand · 30 min on foot
- A&B Café Coffee and more390 m from the sand · 5 min on foot
- The Memory Cafe at Kamala990 m from the sand · 12 min on foot
- Big C Market Kamala320 m from the sand · 4 min on foot
- Villa Market Kamala350 m from the sand · 4 min on foot
- Tops Kamala400 m from the sand · 5 min on foot
- Kamala Market410 m from the sand · 5 min on foot
- Kamala Village Market760 m from the sand · 9 min on foot
- Bangkok Phuket Clinic Kamala350 m from the sand · 4 min on foot
- Sainamyen International Clinic Kamala480 m from the sand · 6 min on foot
- CityCare Clinic740 m from the sand · 9 min on foot
- Kamala Gym860 m from the sand · 11 min on foot
- Merlin Divers Phuket70 m from the sand · 1 min on foot
- Carnival Magic460 m from the sand · 6 min on foot
- Phuket FantaSea500 m from the sand · 6 min on foot
- Samnak Song Charoen Tham (Kamala)90 m from the sand · 1 min on foot
- Wat Baan Kamala90 m from the sand · 1 min on foot
Kamala Beach by month
The season · December to April
Calm sea, clear water
December to April: very shallow, calm, clear water, perfect for families. Café del Mar runs its big beach parties from November to April.
The monsoon · May to November
Waves, walks and red flags
June to November: bigger waves and surf for experienced surfers; swim only when the flags allow. The beach clubs stay open with shorter hours, and the evenings are very quiet.
| Month | The sea |
|---|---|
| Jan | Calm |
| Feb | Calm |
| Mar | Calm |
| Apr | Calm |
| May | Changing |
| Jun | Rough |
| Jul | Rough |
| Aug | Rough |
| Sep | Rough |
| Oct | Rough |
| Nov | Changing |
| Dec | Calm |
Calm: swim any day Changing: check the flags Rough: monsoon swell, red flags on many days
Kamala Beach with children
Kamala is one of Phuket's best family beaches. From December to April the water is shallow and calm, trees give shade all day, lifeguards are on duty, and the tourist strip is compact enough to walk everywhere. Two evening theme parks are just inland.
- Very shallow, calm water in the high season, best at the north end.
- Lifeguards on the beach; swim near them.
- A small playground near the north end.
- Phuket FantaSea and Carnival Magic for a big family evening.
- Avoid swimming at the south end, where streams run into the sea.
Getting to Kamala Beach and parking
- From the airport, by car
- 35–45 min
- From Patong, with the traffic
- 15–20 min
- From Phuket Town
- 35–45 min
Kamala sits on the west-coast road, over the hill from Patong to the south and on the way to Surin to the north. The beach lanes run parallel to the sand just behind it.
- By car. About 10 km and 15 to 20 minutes from Patong over the hill road; around 45 minutes from the airport.
- By scooter. Traffic is lighter than in Patong, and a scooter is the easiest way to reach Surin and the viewpoints.
- Grab and taxis. Grab and taxis are easy; pre-book for late-night rides.
Parking. No public car park is named in our sources. For Café del Mar and the north end, use the drop-off at the InterContinental; check parking locally elsewhere.
Who will love Kamala Beach, and who will not
Will love it
- Families with small children: shallow, calm water in the high season, lifeguards and a playground.
- Couples who want a quiet beach by day and a sunset beach club by evening.
- Long-stay visitors: a real village with markets, shops and cheap beachfront meals.
- Surfers in the low season, when the monsoon swell rolls into the bay.
Will not
- Night owls wanting clubs every night: beyond Café del Mar the evenings are quiet, and Patong is over the hill.
- Swimmers from June to November, when the sea is often too rough to swim.
Tips for Kamala Beach
Swim north, not south
The north and centre have the best water; streams and fishing boats make the south end less appealing.
Claim a bed early at Pine
Pine Beach Bar's day beds go first in high season; arrive early in the afternoon.
Minimum spend, not rent
At Café del Mar you do not pay for the bed; you commit to spending a minimum on food and drink. For a quick beer, use the free sofas and bar seats.
Check Carnival Magic's days
Carnival Magic runs only on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings; plan around it.
Walk the back lane
The narrow lane one block behind the beach is pleasant in the evening, with small restaurants, bars and massage shops.
Chairs on part of the beach
Loungers are allowed on only a small part of the sand; bring a mat if you prefer the free, chair-free stretches.
Snorkel at Rayee
For real snorkelling, go to the house reef at Rayee Beach just south, a few metres from the sand.
Questions about Kamala Beach
Is Kamala Beach good for swimming?
Yes, from December to April, when the water is shallow, calm and clear; the north and centre are best. From June to November the waves are bigger, so swim only when the flags allow. Lifeguards are on duty.
Is Kamala Beach good for families?
Yes, it is one of Phuket's best family beaches: shallow high-season water, shade, lifeguards, a small playground near the north end, and Phuket FantaSea and Carnival Magic nearby for the evenings.
Are there lifeguards at Kamala Beach?
Yes. Lifeguards are stationed on the beach; always swim near them and follow the flags.
Are there sunbeds at Kamala Beach?
Only on a small part of the beach, about a tenth of it, plus the beds at the beach clubs. The rest of the sand is free of chairs, with tree shade.
How much does a bed at Café del Mar cost?
You do not rent the bed; you commit to a minimum spend on food and drink. It starts at about 1,000 THB for a single lounger and rises to tens of thousands for the big cabanas. Free sofas and bar seats need no minimum.
Where are the best restaurants on Kamala Beach?
On the sand in the centre of the beach: casual places such as Smile Bar and Lillo Island. For a special dinner, Jaras at the InterContinental is listed in the Michelin Guide.
Is Kamala better than Patong?
For a calm beach and families, yes: the water is clearer, the pace slower and the evenings quiet. For nightlife, Patong is 10 km over the hill.
How far is Kamala Beach from Patong?
About 10 km, usually 15 to 20 minutes by car or scooter over the hill road.
Can you surf at Kamala Beach?
Yes, in the low season from about June to October, when the monsoon swell reaches the bay. Stay near the lifeguards.
What is there to do at Kamala in the evening?
Sunset at Café del Mar or Pine Beach Bar, cheap cocktails at the bamboo bars, a stroll along the lane behind the beach, or a big night at Phuket FantaSea or Carnival Magic.