
Kata Beach Overview
Kata Beach is a 1.5-kilometre stretch of beach located about 20 kilometres from Phuket Town. This beach is located directly south of Karon Beach and is adjacent to the quieter Kata Noi Beach. Kata Beach is a busy beach, but it is much less hectic than Patong Beach and retains a more village-like charm compared to Patong. Different parts of Kata Beach are suited for different things, as tourists will see if they walk along the entire strip of beach.
For example, the northern end of the beach is mostly pure beach area where you can rent sun loungers and umbrellas to relax or even bring along your own beach mat to soak up all that beautiful sun. You will find many vendors along the whole beach selling food and beverages, as well as beach massage parlours where you can get amazing Thai-style massages to loosen up your tired muscles. If you are bringing young children to the beach, you may want to hang around close to the southern end of the beach where the sun is less intense later in the day, and where you can easily access toilets and shops.
In general, the waters of Kata Beach are safe for swimming and there are no sudden drop-offs in the water that could endanger your children or non-swimmers in your group. However, if you spot red warning flags along the beach, don’t go into the water as it is a warning that the rip tides can be dangerous at this area. The seas of Kata Beach in Phuket are the most pleasant to frolic in between the months of November and April, though surfers may enjoy the rougher waters brought on by the monsoon seasons between May and October.