Karon Beach

Beach
Luxury

Karon is three kilometres of wide sand between Patong and Kata, so even on a busy day you can put your towel down away from everyone. It is quieter than Patong and a good base for families.

At a glance

Best for: Space — 3 km of wide sand, quieter than Patong
Watch for: A steep drop-off and low-season surf
Market: Tuesday and Friday, 4 to 10pm, at Wat Karon
Mosque: None in Karon — Patong about 7 km

Crowds: Busy but wide enough to spread out
Swimming: Red flag means out; steep drop-off, low-season surf
Mosque: None listed in Karon Beach. See the mosque guide
Halal: 1 place in the halal guideask before you order

Karon Beach, Phuket

Chanalai Hillside Resort

Rates we hold with the hotel, taxes in · dates first

The beach

Busy but wide enough to spread out, with sunbeds and food along the road. The sand famously squeaks underfoot.

The shore drops off sharply in places and the surf builds in the low season, May to October. Watch the flags; a red flag means stay out.

Markets and food

Karon Temple Market is held in the grounds of Wat Karon on Tuesday and Friday, 4pm to 10pm: grilled meats, fruit and cheap clothes, with monks and incense around you. It is the only real market on the Kata–Karon coast.

Navrang Mahal is Karon’s smarter Indian room, and its fish curry uses Andaman catch. Ask about halal before you order.

The nearest mosque

There is no mosque in Karon or Kata. Masjid Nurul Islam in Patong is about 7 km north of Karon, ten to fifteen minutes by car outside rush hour.

At a glance

Things to do in Karon Beach

The beach

Markets and food

The nearest mosque

Where to stay