Kata Beach

Towards the southern end of Phuket is Kata Beach, which is divided into Kata Yai and Kata Noi. Both beaches offer stunning scenery and a relaxed atmosphere.

Kata Yai Beach

This is the larger of the two beaches. The bay is very picturesque with Koh Pu (Pu Island) at the northern end. Half of the beach is bordered by a road, while the southern half has a few resorts right on the beach. Club Med occupies a large portion of the land behind the beach road towards the northern end of the beach, keeping that end of the beach fairly quiet.

Due to its fairly small size, Kata has a cozy feel about it and is great for families. There are quite a few shops, restaurants and bars around Kata Centre and between Kata Yai and Kata Noi. Kata is perhaps the best compromise between the hectic pace of Patong and some of the quieter beaches on Phuket.

Kata Noi Beach

Kata Noi only has a few places to stay and is dominated by the sprawling Kata Thani Hotel which takes up most of the beachfront. Happily, it is still possible for non-guests to access the beach and it is one of the loveliest on the island. The southern end is quite good for snorkeling around the rocks. For surfers the northern end of the beach has a decent break when the swell picks up during the rainy season.

Map

See Kata Beach map.

360º Tour

Accommodation

There is a good range of accommodation in Kata, from luxury resorts to budget guesthouses behind the beach. At the southern end of Kata Yai beginning at Kata Beach Resort there are hotels right on the beach, which are a rarity on Phuket’s west coast.

For more information see Kata hotels.

Activities

There are plenty of watersports to be enjoyed at Kata. The bay is excellent for sailing and plays host to the annual King’s Cup Regatta every December.

Kata Yai and Kata Noi are quite popular with surfers during the rainy season. You can rent all kinds of boards on the beach. It is also one of the best beaches on the island for snorkelling. Confident swimmers can try swimming out towards Koh Pu to view the beautiful coral there, although don’t attempt this during the rainy season. The area to the South of Kata Noi beach has some decent coral that is worth exploring.

Dining

There is a good variety of restaurants in Kata, especially around Kata Centre. Restaurants serving Thai, Italian, Scandinavian and of course seafood can all be found here. Restaurants right on the beach can also be found at the southern end of Kata Yai.

For more information see Restaurants in Kata.

Nightlife

Nightlife in Kata is pretty laid-back although there are quite a few bars to be found, mostly around Kata Centre. There are also a collection of beer-bars heading inland from the junction at Kata Center. However, for a big night out you are better off heading to Patong.

For more information see Kata nightlife.