The dry season
December to April: very shallow, calm, clear water, the best months for families, and Café del Mar's big beach parties from November. Book villas early for Christmas and New Year.
Kamala
District
A former Muslim fishing village with a long, shallow bay, two famous beach clubs, evening theme parks and villa-lined headlands, one hill away from Patong.
Kamala in photographs
Kamala. Kamala.
- Children
- Shallow, calm water from December to April
- Quiet
- Quiet evenings, Patong over the hill
- Food
- Beach restaurants to Michelin-listed Thai
- Nightlife
- Two beach clubs and evening theme parks
- Views
- Viewpoints over Kamala and Laem Sing
- Access
- Four Smart Bus stops
About Kamala
Kamala is a subdistrict of Kathu district on Phuket's west coast, about 10 km north of Patong over the hill. Its 18.9 km² hold six villages, from Bang Wan and Ban Nuea to Nok Lay and Naka Kamala. Choeng Thale lies to the north, Patong to the south, Kathu to the east and the Andaman Sea to the west.
The Kamala hills close the valley on three sides and open onto a wide bay of soft pale sand. The old name, from the Malay for a deep bay, became Kamala, 'lotus', in the 1940s. The village grew from Muslim fishermen and farmers: mixed orchards of durian, jackfruit and rambutan still cover the slopes, and fishing boats still work the south end of the bay.
Kamala was among the places hit hardest by the 2004 tsunami. A memorial park near the beach, with a 10 m wire sphere called Heart of the Universe, opened in 2006. Since then the rice fields have turned into homes and hotels, and two lanes behind the beach fill with small restaurants, tailors and massage shops.
The north end of the bay is the smart end, with an international resort and one of Phuket's best-known beach clubs; the headlands carry villas, the southern road called Millionaire's Mile among them, and Laem Sing's cove lies over the northern point. Inland, two evening theme parks draw the crowds; the nights in the village itself are quiet.
What is good about Kamala
A family bay
In the high season the water is very shallow and clear, best at the north end and the centre; lifeguards watch the beach and there is a small playground near the north end.
Slower than its neighbours
Kamala's pace is much slower than Patong's: a compact village where most people walk, with Patong's nightlife 15 to 20 minutes away when wanted.
From grilled chicken to fine dining
Casual restaurants on the sand serve breakfast, grilled chicken and som tam; the InterContinental's Jaras is listed in the Michelin Guide.
Beach clubs and big shows
Café del Mar and Pine Beach Bar at the north end, and Phuket FantaSea and Carnival Magic just inland, are where Kamala's evenings happen.
Two roadside lookouts
Kamala Viewpoint, just north of town, shows the whole curve of the bay; further on, Laem Sing Viewpoint looks straight down on the cove. Both are free.
On the airport bus line
The airport Smart Bus stops at the InterContinental, Kamala Muslim Cemetery, Phuket FantaSea and Big C Kamala, for a flat 100 THB (2026).
Things to do at Kamala
Kamala. Kamala. Kamala.
Swimming · dry season
Swim at the north end
From December to April the north end and the centre of the bay are shallow, calm and clear; the south end has fishing boats and streams, so swim further north.
On the sand
Café del Mar
The Ibiza beach-club brand at the north end: a pool with a swim-up bar, beach beds and DJs. Open 11:00 to 02:00 in the high season, to midnight in the low season; beds come with a minimum spend.
On the sand · dry season
Pine Beach Bar
The InterContinental's barefoot beach bar on the widest part of the sand, with loungers and day beds facing the sunset.
Family
Phuket FantaSea
Kamala's evening cultural theme park: a shopping village, a giant buffet and a stage show of Thai legend, acrobatics and fireworks.
Family
Carnival Magic
Next to FantaSea: millions of lights, a river parade and a funfair, open only on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings.
Culture
The tsunami memorial park
A small palm park near the beach around Heart of the Universe, a 10 m sphere of wave-shaped wire by Udon Jiraksa, unveiled in 2006 for the victims of 2004. Free.
Nature
Kamala Viewpoint
Stop on the coast road just north of the village, on the left heading out, for the whole curve of Kamala Beach below.
Snorkelling and diving · dry season
Laem Sing's hidden cove
Over the northern point, a cove of golden sand among granite boulders, reached by boat or a rock path from Surin; look down on it first from Laem Sing Viewpoint.
Snorkelling and diving · dry season
Snorkel at Rayee
Just south of Kamala, Rayee Beach has a house reef a few metres from the sand.
Food and drink
Thai fine dining at Jaras
The InterContinental's modern Thai restaurant near the beach, listed in the Michelin Guide; book ahead.
Food and drink
Breakfast on the sand
The row of beach restaurants in the centre of the bay serves slow breakfasts, grilled chicken with sticky rice and som tam.
Food and drink · dry season
Rooftop sunset at Casa Boho
A Latin American rooftop with an infinity pool at the Hyatt Regency, high above Rayee Beach: tapas and cocktails as the sun goes down.
Shopping
Kamala village market
A small working market on the main road near the southern entrance to Kamala, open twice a week in the late afternoon: fruit, vegetables, fish and food to take away.
Surfing · monsoon months
Monsoon waves
From June to November the bay gets bigger waves that suit experienced surfers; swim only when the flags allow.
A day at Kamala
Walk the sand while it is cool and the fishing boats come in at the south end.
Swim at the north end, then a slow breakfast at a beach restaurant in the centre of the bay. Lillo Island Restaurant & Bar
Drive past Kamala Viewpoint to Surin and take the small boat to Laem Sing's cove; bring cash. Kamala Beach Viewpoint
A bed at Pine Beach Bar or by the pool at Café del Mar. Pine Beach Bar
Watch the sun set from the sand at the north end, or from the rooftop at Casa Boho above Rayee. Casa Boho
Phuket FantaSea any evening, or Carnival Magic on Monday, Wednesday or Saturday; otherwise dinner in the lane behind the beach. Phuket FantaSea
Places in Kamala
Our picks
Café del Mar Phuket
Beach club · Kamala BeachThe Phuket club of the Ibiza-born Café del Mar brand, at the quiet north end of Kamala Beach.
Pine Beach Bar
Beach bar · Kamala BeachThe InterContinental Phuket's beach bar on the sand at the north end of Kamala Beach.
Phuket FantaSea
Theme park · Kamala BeachAn evening cultural theme park in Kamala built around a large stage show, with a buffet restaurant and funfairs.
Carnival Magic
Theme park · Kamala BeachA night-time theme park on Kamala Beach next to Phuket FantaSea, opened in 2022, built around lights, parades and Thai carnival themes.
Kamala Beach Viewpoint
Viewpoint · Kamala BeachA roadside lookout on the coast road just north of Kamala, over the whole of Kamala Beach.
Laem Sing Viewpoint
Viewpoint · Laem Sing BeachA roadside lookout on the coastal road between Kamala and Surin.
Jaras
Restaurant · Kamala BeachThe Thai restaurant of the InterContinental Phuket Resort on Kamala Beach, listed in the MICHELIN Guide.
Lillo Island Restaurant & Bar
Restaurant · Kamala BeachA restaurant and bar on the sand in the central part of Kamala Beach, open from breakfast to sunset dinners.
Smile Bar & Restaurant
Restaurant · Kamala BeachA beach bar and grill on the sand at Kamala, which began in 2000 as a drinks kiosk on the beach.
Casa Boho
Restaurant · Kamala BeachA Latin American restaurant on the pool deck of the Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort, on the hillside above Kamala Bay.
The Oak Waldorf Steiner Educational Center Phuket (Oak WISP)
A small Waldorf–Steiner and Forest School centre in the jungle of a quiet village in Kamala, with a baby centre from age 1, a kindergarten for ages 3 to 6 and a mixed-age primary class from 7.
Bangkok Phuket Clinic Kamala
Clinic · Kamala BeachA walk-in clinic of Bangkok Hospital Phuket in Kamala.
Sainamyen International Clinic Kamala
Clinic · Kamala BeachA walk-in international clinic of the Sainamyen group in Kamala.
Temples
Samnak Song Charoen Tham (Kamala)
Buddhist temple · Kamala BeachA small Buddhist monastery (samnak song) in Kamala, listed on Google Maps as a temple.
Wat Baan Kamala
Buddhist temple · Kamala BeachThe local temple of Kamala, small and well kept, where people from the area make merit and hold ceremonies.
Waterfalls
Bang Wan Waterfall
WaterfallA waterfall in the hills of Kamala, listed on Google Maps as a tourist attraction.
Restaurants
Bella Vista Kamala
Restaurant · Kamala BeachAn Italian restaurant on Kamala's beachfront strip, between the beach road and the sand, beside Smile Bar.
Casa del Tacos
Restaurant · Kamala BeachA halal French-tacos restaurant in Kamala, two minutes' walk from Kamala Beach, with a terrace and takeaway.
Hom
Restaurant · Kamala BeachA 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.
Mizu Teppanyaki
Restaurant · Kamala BeachA teppanyaki restaurant by the pool of Hyatt Regency Phuket Resort in Kamala, where the chefs cook at the table.
Munchy Burgers
Restaurant · Kamala BeachA casual burger and pizza place in Kamala Square on Soi Pachak, in the middle of Kamala.
Nanork Seafood
Seafood restaurant · Kamala BeachA long-established local Thai restaurant right on Kamala Beach, facing the sea.
Cafés
A&B Café Coffee and more
Café · Kamala BeachA small, homely café in Kamala on a quiet pedestrian lane a couple of minutes from the beach.
Baanrai I Talay Cafe
Café · Kalim BeachA hillside café on the old mountain road from Kamala to Patong, about 500 m from Keemala, with a view over Kamala Bay.
The Memory Cafe at Kamala
Café · Kamala BeachA home-like coffee shop in Kamala run by its owner and barista, Sin, who tends its cactus garden.
Shops
Big C Market Kamala
Supermarket · Kamala BeachA Big C Market, the chain's supermarket format, in Kamala.- No photograph yet
Tops Kamala
Supermarket · Kamala BeachA Tops supermarket in Kamala. 
Villa Market Kamala
Grocer · Kamala BeachA Villa Market supermarket of imported and local goods in Kamala on the west coast.
Markets
- No photograph yet
Kamala Market
Night market · Kamala BeachA small market in a palm grove in the north of Kamala, shady and cool. 
Kamala Village Market
Fresh market · Kamala BeachA small local market on the main road about 100 metres from the southern entrance of Kamala, for locals rather than tourists.
Health
CityCare Clinic
Clinic · Kamala BeachA private medical clinic in Kamala offering general and family medicine.
Gyms
Kamala Gym
Gym · Kamala BeachAn open-air gym in Kamala with a recovery focus: a pool, a sauna and an ice bath alongside the weights.
Water sports
Merlin Divers Phuket
Dive centre · Kamala BeachAn SSI dive centre on Kamala Beach, about 20 metres from the sand, rebuilt after the 2004 tsunami.
Sports
Kamala Horse Riding Club
Riding stable · Kamala BeachA stable for beach rides on Kamala, also trading as Imron Farm.
- The zone
- A home and its rent
- A place, as the list numbers it
Homes and places on the map
Buddhist temple
Buddhist temple
Viewpoint
Viewpoint
Waterfall
Beach club
Beach bar
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Seafood restaurant
Restaurant
Restaurant
Fine dining
Restaurant
Supermarket
Supermarket
Grocer
Night market
Fresh market
Clinic
Gym
Dive centre
Theme park
Theme park
Riding stable
Homes in Kamala
Every budget: guesthouses in a row behind the southern part of the beach, beachfront resorts at the north end, condos and houses in the valley, and luxury villas on the headlands, including Millionaire's Mile towards Rayee.
13 homes for rent in KamalaKamala through the year
The monsoon months
June to November: bigger waves and red flags on many days; surfers come, the beach clubs keep shorter hours and the evenings are very quiet. Heavy rain falls between May and October.
Kamala with children
Kamala is one of Phuket's mainstream family choices: a shallow, shaded bay with lifeguards, a compact village to walk, and two evening theme parks inland, with Patong's crowds a hill away.
- The north end and the centre of the bay are shallow and calm from December to April.
- Lifeguards watch the beach; swim near them, and avoid the south end where streams run in.
- A small playground near the north end, and the memorial park, give a break from the sand.
- Phuket FantaSea and Carnival Magic make a big family evening.
- Two walk-in clinics in the village open daily 09:00 to 20:00; a Waldorf school works here; the big hospitals are 25 to 35 minutes away.
Getting to Kamala 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 is on the west-coast road, 15 to 20 minutes over the hill from Patong and 35 to 45 minutes from the airport and from Phuket Town. The airport Smart Bus runs through it.
- The Smart Bus. The airport Smart Bus stops at the InterContinental, Kamala Muslim Cemetery, Phuket FantaSea and Big C Kamala: a flat 100 THB, hourly (2026).
- Grab and taxis. Taxis and ride apps are easy to find; pre-book for late-night rides.
- By scooter. Traffic is lighter than in Patong; the easiest way to Surin, Laem Sing and the viewpoints.
- On foot. The village is compact: the beach, the two lanes behind it and the north-end clubs are all within walking distance.
Parking. No public car park is named in our sources; for the north end, use the resorts' drop-offs, and for Laem Sing, park behind Surin Beach.
Who will love Kamala, and who will not
Will love it
- Families with small children: shallow water, shade and lifeguards in the high season.
- Couples who want sunsets, beach clubs and quiet nights.
- Retirees and long-stayers over fifty, a large part of Kamala's foreign residents.
- Villa renters: the headlands, Millionaire's Mile among them, carry some of Phuket's grandest homes.
- Residents who want the beach a few minutes away and a village feel without Patong's intensity.
Will not
- Party seekers: beyond the beach clubs, the village is quiet at night; Patong is 15 to 20 minutes away.
- Tight budgets: a one-bedroom rents for about 18,000 to 45,000 THB a month (2026).
- Year-round swimmers: from June to November the waves and red flags often close the sea.
Tips for Kamala
Swim north, not south
The north end and the centre have the best water; streams and fishing boats make the south end less appealing.
Check Carnival Magic's days
Carnival Magic opens only on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings; Phuket FantaSea opens in the evening too.
Minimum spend, not rent
At Café del Mar you do not pay for a bed; you agree to spend a minimum on food and drink.
Cash for Laem Sing
The boat from Surin costs 100 THB a person, and the cove's one restaurant takes cash only.
Ride the Smart Bus
A flat 100 THB takes you to the airport or Patong from four stops in Kamala; buses run hourly (2026).
Dress for the village
Kamala has a long-standing Muslim community as well as Buddhist temples: cover up when you leave the beach for the village or a place of worship.
Walk the back lane
The narrow lane one block behind the beach is pleasant in the evening, with small restaurants, bars and massage shops.
Clinics in the village
For everyday problems, two walk-in clinics in Kamala open daily 09:00 to 20:00; the big private hospitals are 25 to 35 minutes away.
Questions about Kamala
Where is Kamala in Phuket?
On the west coast, between Surin to the north and Patong to the south, about 10 km from Patong over the hill. It is a subdistrict of Kathu district, 18.9 km² with six villages.
Is Kamala good for families?
Yes. From December to April the bay is shallow and calm, especially at the north end, lifeguards watch the beach, and two evening theme parks are just inland.
Kamala or Patong?
Kamala is calmer, smaller and more family-minded, with beach clubs rather than a bar strip; Patong has the nightlife and is 15 to 20 minutes away.
How do I get from the airport to Kamala?
By taxi in 35 to 45 minutes, or on the airport Smart Bus for a flat 100 THB (2026); it stops at the InterContinental, Phuket FantaSea and Big C Kamala.
When is Carnival Magic open?
On Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings only. Phuket FantaSea, next door, is an evening park too.
Is there a tsunami memorial in Kamala?
Yes. Kamala was badly hit in 2004; a memorial park near the beach holds Heart of the Universe, a 10 m wire sphere by Udon Jiraksa, unveiled in 2006.
How much is rent in Kamala?
About 18,000 to 45,000 THB a month for a one-bedroom and 40,000 to 65,000 THB for a three-bedroom villa (2026); rents have firmed in 2026.
How do I get to Laem Sing Beach?
There is no road down. From the south end of Surin Beach, take the small boat (100 THB a person, 2026) or walk the 15 to 20 minute rock path at mid to low tide.
Can you swim in Kamala in the rainy season?
Only on calm days and between the lifeguards' flags. From June to November waves are bigger and red flags are common.