Kamala, Phuket
Kamala is a quiet, low-key beach town just north of Patong, relaxed, increasingly upscale and popular with families and long-stayers who want calm within easy reach of the action.
Kamala
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A few of our favourite spots across the island right now.
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Kamala Beach is the calm, low key alternative 9km north of Patong: about 2km of sand, quiet water and a village that has resisted becoming a strip.
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Cafe Del Mar Phuket is an Ibiza born beach club on Kamala Beach, Phuket with an infinity edge pool, sunbeds and daybeds, sunset DJ sets and wood fired food.
Daily 11:00 until late
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hom is a MICHELIN Selected restaurant inside Kamala's InterContinental resort in Phuket, led by a Portuguese chef with a bold, fermentation-heavy menu.
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Jaras is a MICHELIN Selected Thai contemporary restaurant inside Kamala's InterContinental resort in Phuket, named after the owner's beloved grandmother.
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A THB 1,000 Keemala day pass in Phuket: the Tropical Escape gives you the jungle resort's pool, pool bar and shower facilities for the afternoon.
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Talung Thai at Paresa resort is a MICHELIN Selected Thai restaurant in Kamala, Phuket, with clifftop views over the Andaman Sea and refined Southern Thai food.
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Kamala Gym is an open-air CrossFit-style gym with a pool, cold plunge and steam sauna. Sauna and cold plunge day access from THB 300, full 1-day pass THB 400.
Gym daily 07:00-20:30; Pool & Sauna daily 09:00-20:30
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Laem Singh Beach is the boulder framed cove you can no longer drive to: the staircase is shut, so it is a rocky walk or a small boat from Surin Beach.
Kamala
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Kamala
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Best of Kamala by category
Kamala sits on the west coast between Patong and Surin, and its appeal is simple: a pleasant, swimmable beach and a slow, local pace, with Patong's energy only a short drive away when you want it.
The vibe and who it suits
Kamala is mostly residential and refreshingly unhurried, which makes it a favourite with families, couples and long-stay visitors who find the resort strips too much. The northern end of the coast here is nicknamed "Millionaire's Mile" for its clifftop luxury villas, and the area has grown noticeably more upscale in recent years, while the village itself keeps a genuine Thai-Muslim community feel.
The beach
Kamala Beach is a relaxed, sandy bay, good for swimming in high season and quieter than Patong or Kata. As with every west-coast beach, green-season surf and rip currents can be dangerous, so obey the flags. See our Phuket beaches guide for more on seasonal conditions.
What it's known for
Kamala is home to Phuket FantaSea, the island's big cultural theme-park show, and to Cafe del Mar, an upscale beach club on the sand. It's a calm, family-oriented alternative to the busier towns, with enough dining and services to be self-sufficient.
What you'll find here
Accommodation ranges from modest guesthouses to the luxury villas and resorts of the northern headland, so browse our hotels for the full spread. There's a good choice of low-key restaurants and beach clubs, gentle nightlife, and easy access to island tours.
Getting around
The village and beachfront are walkable, but a scooter or taxis help for wider exploring, the coastal road to Patong is hilly. Patong is roughly 15 minutes to the south, and Surin and Bang Tao are a similar distance north, so Kamala makes a handy midpoint on the northwest coast. The airport is around 40 to 50 minutes north. As on all the west-coast beaches, the calmest, clearest sea comes in high season (November to February); the green season is quieter and cheaper, with livelier surf and occasional heavy rain.
Browse the Kamala listings below, or step back to the Phuket overview to compare it with the island's other beaches.