Are you considering visiting Phuket’s Karon Beach? If so, you’ve reached the right spot! 

In this article, we will highlight Karon Beach and its offerings. This comprehensive travel guide to Karon includes information on the beach’s activities, dining options, lodging options, and many more!

Geography of Karon

Karon Beach can be found on Phuket’s west coast, south of Patong and north of Kata.

With a length of 3 kilometers, it is the second-longest tourist beach in Phuket.

Additionally, Karon is divided into three areas: the lake area, the Karon Center (a small town), and the coastal road that leads to Kata Beach and finishes at a hill.

What to See in Karon

Karon provides guests a wonderful long peaceful length of sand with plenty of beach umbrellas available for rent. It provides a stunning view of the sunset because it faces west.

Also, there is a pretty massive Tin Miner’s statue near the roundabout at the northern end that is worth a brief glance.

Explore the northern end of Karon Beach.

The beach becomes more magnificent, calm, and spacious as you travel north along Karon Beach.

If you want the beach to yourself, head to the extreme northern end of Karon Beach, where it is quieter and less crowded.The water here is stunningly pure with a gorgeous greenish/blue hue.

Additionally, the northern portion of Karon Beach is largely undeveloped and is bordered by Nong Harn Lake, Phuket’s largest beachside park with a great exercise/jogging/cycling trail.

1. Relax at Coast Beach Club.

If you are staying in a hotel in Karon, Coast Beach Club is a great spot to hang out in the afternoon, before dinner to watch the sunset, and until late at night.

Make a pit stop at the Coast Beach Club at Centara Grand Beach Resort, which is located at the northernmost tip of Karon Beach, if you’re taking a stroll along its northern section. 

You can also enjoy a refreshing beverage while relaxing on one of the club’s plush couches while watching the sun set. At the Centara Grand Spa, you can also treat yourself to a massage or other spa service.

The Coast Beach Club offers a respectable selection of wines by the glass in addition to the standard hotel cocktails.

2. Stroll through Khlong Bangla Park.

The Khlong Bangla Park is a popular beach volleyball spot where you may practice your abilities with locals and other tourists. The Phuket Beach Volleyball Club places nets for beach volleyball here every day, and anyone is welcome to try it out (it’s free!).

In addition, a huge golden monument that resembles a combination between a dragon and a large serpent is located in Khlong Bangla Park.

Take a tour at the southern end of Karon Beach.

During the low season, which runs from April to October, you can enjoy surfing on the portion of Karon Beach that receives the most waves. Divers and snorkelers alike love the south end for these activities.

Best Things to Do in Karon

There are plenty of things to do in Karon, even though it is more serene and calm than its neighbor Patong. Below, we have listed what we believe to be the best things to do in Karon.

1. Enjoy surfing

Nice left and right waves are available at the northern end, and a little headland with more surf is located a short distance away.

Karon Beach can have some fantastic surfing waves when the winds go down and the sand banks line up. At the northern end, there is a place close to a sizable underwater pipe that has great left and right waves to surf and is surrounded by sand. 

There is also a little headland that can potentially be pretty good further north, in front of the Centara Grand Hotel.

2  Go bold and try jet skiing & parasailing

Although operating a jet ski may initially seem challenging, you’ll soon realize how simple it is if you pay attention to the guide’s instructions and observe all the restrictions.  It usually depends on the facility that offers you the activity what the minimum age is.

Jet skiing is enjoyable because it allows you to spend time with friends or family while engaging in a simple but adrenaline-pumping activity that lets you enjoy the sun and waves.

You can find several jet ski operators at Karon Beach; just make sure to spot the licensed ones.

Karon Beach offers a variety of exciting and entertaining watersports. When the sun isn’t too scorching, enjoy parasailing here in the morning. 

3. Go for snorkeling and diving.

Karon is an excellent place for diving and snorkeling because of its variety and colorful marine life.

There are many dive trip providers in Karon but before diving and snorkeling in Phuket, always ask the locals for advice.

From cheap to expensive diving tours, day trips to multi-day liveaboard adventures are all available.

The Mergui Archipelago in Myanmar as well as the islands Similan, Koh Phi Phi, and Surin are frequent destinations for dive excursions. Additionally, Karon offers PADI certification training.

4. Enjoy sightseeing at Karon Viewpoint

One of Phuket’s most popular viewpoints is Karon Viewpoint. It is a popular stop on many tour itineraries and is situated between Nai Harn and Kata Noi beaches. It is busy most days of the year. 

Views of the beaches at Kata Noi, Kata Yai, and Karon are available from this location.

From Karon Viewpoint, you can see a lot of what makes Phuket so renowned: a blue ocean, sweeping white-sand beaches, a little island (Koh Poo, which means Crab Island), and a backdrop of the verdant, lush tropical vegetation.

5. Pay visit to Karon Temple 

The Karon Temple, also known as Wat Suwan Khiri Khet in Thai, is a vibrant and well-kept Buddhist temple that can be found at the end of Soi Patak in Karon. 

It’s entertaining to take pictures of and explore the temple. Admire the beautiful gold-decorated rooftops and doorways and the vibrant dragons.

In addition, twice a week, the temple hosts a well-known market with a wide selection of food and trinkets. 

Here,  you can enjoy playing games, socializing with residents and visitors, and eating a lot of great Thai cuisine. You can also go shopping here, particularly for budget-friendly beach wears, handicrafts, souvenirs, and many more!

Operating hours: Every Tuesday and Friday, 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM

6. Treat yourself for a massage and spa.

Aromatherapy and massages are popular in Thailand. If you simply want to unwind and take in the ocean breeze, end your beach day with a full body massage at Centara Grand Beach Phuket or Paradox Resort.

In addition, there are numerous beach massages along Karon Beach where you can have a quick massage for a lot less money than at the resorts.

7. Give yourself a treat and enjoy shopping!

Karon Beach’s retail centers and shopping areas frequently offer the best shopping opportunities. There are no large shopping centers in the peaceful, family-friendly town, but there are designated shopping streets with dense clusters of shops. 

Aside from the Karon Temple Market, you can also visit Centre Point Village for souvenir and beach shops.

Centre Point Village is a modest shopping complex located in Karon along an 80-metre-long covered corridor. 

The plaza houses about a dozen stores and restaurants. There is a gas station, a pharmacy, a tailor, a clothing store selling clothing and accessories, and a store selling spa supplies.

Location: 194/2 Karon Rd, Karon, Muang, Phuket 83100, Thailand (Near Karon Princess Hotel on the Beach Road) 

Where to Eat in Karon

The variety of eateries in Karon Beach is largely represented on this list of the top eateries. The lengthy west coast town has a wide range of restaurants. 

Additionally, high-end eateries with a view can be found towards the beach’s southern end. On the other hand, there are international spots in the north that are reasonably priced. 

Karon offers an equally astonishing variety of cuisines. Of course,you’ll  have a lot of Thai tastes but there are also other international cuisines to choose from. 

Here, we’ve listed some of the top eateries in Karon Beach; have a peek and discover what tempts your palate!

Where to Stay in Karon

Given how big and gorgeous Karon’s beach is, it’s hardly surprising that this small town is a well-liked beach resort destination and popular place for staycations.

Thank heavens, there are several reasonably priced hotels close to the beach!

To help you in finding the right place you want, here are some of the best Karon beach hotels:

How to Get to Karon Beach

Karon Beach is around 40 kilometers south of Phuket International Airport. Taxis or Grab cars are the most relaxing and practical means of transportation from Phuket Airport to Karon Beach. 

Moreover, Karon Beach can be reached by car in 1 hour and 20 minutes from Phuket Airport.

Additionally, there are three methods to get from Karon to Bangla Road: by bus, by taxi, or on foot. The bus is the quickest option, while the cab is the most expensive.

FAQs about Karon Beach