Kata Beach and things to do
Kata beach is among the best beaches along the Kata Noi peninsula on Phuket’s west coast. Among them, there is a family-friendly soft sand paradise, fun attractions, great restaurants, and first-class hotels. There are even a couple of small shopping hubs and fun nightlife areas, making it the full pack.
We have prepared this article to serve as a quick guide when you first visit this ideal Kata beach Island in Phuket, Thailand. We have gathered essential information such as what to do, where to stay, places to hang out at night, where to eat, and more. Read on to find out!
Surfers flock to catch Kata’s waves from May until October, and the beach is alive with sunseekers from November to April. The hills behind Kata Noi and the viewpoint to the south of the port, meanwhile, are perfect places to watch the sunset at every time.
Kata beach is located twenty kilometers from town, and beautiful Kata is a picturesque gem, its clear water flanked by hills, and picturesque offshore Pu Island. At its northern and southern ends, Kata maintains a village feel and is perhaps more family-oriented, quieter than Patong’s one-kilometer long beach.
The main road runs to Kata Noi Beach from Kata center at the end of near Karon Beach. You can find many shops in the Kata center which sell tourist gifts. You can divide these shops into Gift, Wear, Music, and Massage — well-priced restaurants with good food. Bars continue down the road to Kata beach.
There are hotels than meet the eye, and you’ll find even more guesthouses to wander around for a few days. This doesn’t mean Kata’s packed with high-rise hotels.
Kata beach has healthy swimming and has no droppings. Children and non-swimmers are free. But always take caution of the flags that fly. If it’s not safe to swim, they’ll let you know. On the right side of the beach, there is a coral reef that goes out to Poo (crab) Island. Looking right on the beach, you may see local fishers on the rocks trying to catch their supper.
Kata beach things to do
Some of Kata Beach’s best things to do are all around its stunning 1.5km-long beach and the Andaman Sea. The beach is among the prettiest areas of Phuket, shaded by Pandanus and tropical almond trees. You will enjoy surfing, paddleboarding, scuba diving, snorkeling, and swimming.
There’s enough to see and do on land as well, with spectacular views and popular sports facilities. This Phuket laidback part is certainly a place for successful travelers and families. Check out below our list of things to do in Kata Beach, and you’ll see why it’s one of our favorite island beaches.
Karon Viewpoint
Karon Viewpoint is one of Phuket’s most visited viewpoints. You can take in views of the beaches of Kata Noi, Kata Yai, and Karon. Located between the beaches of Nai Harn and Kata Noi, as a staple of many tour itineraries, this is busy most days of the year.
Karon Viewpoint has plenty of parking spaces at it. Usually, people park on the roadside when the area gets a little crowded. You will find stands for drinks and snacks, along with a large gazebo (with seats), which provides ample shade.
Kata Noi viewpoint bars
On a winding and hilly road between Kata Beach and Nai Harn Village are some of Phuket’s most spectacular viewpoints. Somewhere Kata Noi, you will find several adjacent hillside bars/restaurants–After Beach Bar, Chang Cafe & Restaurant, Baan Chom View, and Som Tam Yay Tik–offering vast Andaman Sea views. You get about the same angle as the popular Karon Viewpoint, less the crowd.
Dino Park Mini Golf Park
Dino Park is a mini-golf course as well as a restaurant situated between the beaches of Karon and Kata. There are many massive and lifelike cement sculptures of dinosaurs on the 18-hole course, along with an erupting volcano and a theme restaurant.
It is best to visit the open-air Dino Park Phuket in the evening because of Phuket’s high humidity and heat. Wear repellent mosquitoes dress light and pack some bottled water.
Surf House Phuket
Surf House Phuket gives you the chance to ride the waves day-to-night, whatever the weather. To the right of the wave pool is a trendy and busy café / restaurant. As a decorative theme, it has bamboo trimmings, buffeted concrete floors, heavy wooden furniture, and wall-mounted mini surfboards.
Surf House Phuket, situated on Kata Beach, is based on a high-pressure, wave-generating machine that throws a 4-inch deep water sheet up a sloping beach. Beginners can hold onto a safety guide rope held by a member of the staff. If they fall or fall, the artificial waves ensure that they fall up rather than down.
Kata Noi
Kata Noi is a cozy little bay about 2.2 km south of beach Kata. Apart from relaxing, walking along the shore, snorkeling and swimming, there’s not much to do in this area. Katathani Phuket Beach Resort ‘ occupies’ most of the beach space, small bars, and rows of sunbeds operated by locals.
Kata Noi is one of Phuket’s most famous surf spots, particularly May through October.
Kata Snorkeling and Diving
Kata Beach snorkeling and diving provides some of Phuket’s best snorkeling and diving. In between the northern tip of Kata Beach and the nearby Koh Pu, there is a small coral reef that has fascinating marine life. You can buy cheap snorkeling equipment from stalls around Kata Beach, but if you want to discover the undersea world, sign up for scuba diving lessons.
Kata Night Market
Kata Night Market is a shopping area lined with a large food court and mostly tourist-oriented stalls. Located on Patak Street, the giant gorilla and Hulk sculptures cannot be missed by the entrances to the city.
You can find lots of good food and souvenir shops. Kata Night Market offers very traditional items such as herbal remedies, t-shirts, bags, flip-flops, souvenirs, swimwear, beach toys, and local artworks.
Stand-up paddleboarding
Excellent for stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) is the warm and clear waters around Phuket, especially Kata Beach. You need a few tries on the surfboard to balance yourself, use the lengthy-handle paddle, and start moving your board as per the flow. Throughout the high season, SUP is best tried when the Kata Beach waters are calm and dry.
Surfing on Kata Beach
Kata Beach is Phuket’s surfing capital. There are two surf shops as well as seven beach outlets in Kata, where you can rent aboard. Renowned for its waves, this is the logical venue for the largest yearly surfing competition on the island. For many, the beach’s southern end (outside Kata Beach Resort) offers Phuket’s best board riding, and that’s why Kata Beach can sometimes get rather busy.
Also, it’s cool, multicultural, and laid back the vibes you get while surfing the waves or just relaxing. Afterward, several surfers enter the volleyball net, and there is even a surfer’s bar nearby.
In Kata Beach, beginners and advanced riders can have fun with a max. Height of two meters. If you want to experiment surfing in a super-safe environment beforehand, try out Phuket Surf House’s new Flow Rider simulator machine, a cool venue that opened in 2013. Kata Beach hosts international surfing contests annually.
Wat Kitti Sangkharam (Kata Temple)
Wat Kitti Sangkharam (Kata Temple) lies at the foot of a wooded mountain in the eastern part of Kata. The Buddhist temple can be traced back to 1832 and has a wonderful hall of ordination which houses a statue of Lord Buddha, a pavilion of the monastery, dormitories of monks, and a primary school.
Wat Kitti Sangkharam is an impressive sight in most of its houses, with vivid and new colors. Make sure you put on a modest dress during your tour.
Kata beach nightlife
Kata Beach has plenty of nightlife options. Kata is the perfect combination between the two–less hectic than Patong, more lightweight than Karon. Most of the evening venues here are designed for families and couples with cafés and restaurants outside.
Kata Beach’s best nightlife features an eclectic selection of venues suitable to satisfy most of all. It features from the stylish atmosphere of a trendy beach club to the laid-back atmosphere of a cool Reggae bar on the beach. Kata Beach surely has something for your taste.
After Beach Bar
After Beach Bar is a short drive up the steep hill from south Kata by Boathouse–you will see a group of parked cars clinging precariously to the hill outside three very ad-hoc restaurants/bars. These are Small Viewpoint, After Beach Bar, and Baan Chom View.
After Beach Bar, itself is an establishment in the center. Here, the sun setting in the Andaman is followed by the almost non-stop rhythm of Bob Marley tunes on the stereo and dreadlocked Rastafarians make up the staff. Décor consists of wagon wheels, Thai, and (of course) Jamaican flags shelving raw planks.
The handwritten picture menu is in Thai, Russian, and English. It includes a good long list of cocktails at just about reasonable prices a variety of bottled beer, Thai and foreign dishes with even a few dishes from the distinctive northeastern cuisine of Thailand.
Heaven Rooftop
Heaven Restaurant & Bar Phuket is a lovely bar and restaurant with spectacular Andaman Sea views from the rooftop deck and main dining room. Heaven Restaurant & Bar Phuket lets you enjoy at reasonable prices a host of local seafood delicacies made in the traditional, local way.
Enjoy the extensive menu and delicious offers as you watch the three bays of Kata Noi Beach, Kata Beach, and Karon Beach–the perfect place to watch the sunset in the distance at a Phuket evening.
Ska Bar
This iconic Ska Bar is tucked away at the southern end of Kata Beach, among the huge granite boulders. It’s run by dreadlocked Rastafarians, as the name implies, with a keen sense of business as this place hopes most nights–many make the sunset hour a priority. The sounds are mostly reggae with a twist of hip-hop and R&B and a cool Chang Beer drink of choice.
Ska Bar is set on different levels connected by wooden terraces and passages between them; it’s quite small so it can easily feel busy, but that’s an asset as there’s a strong sense of camaraderie with lots of welcoming drinkers. There are even fire dancers on the beach to keep things amazing.
Surf House Phuket
Surf House Phuket is the dream of every surfer: a spot where you can ride the waves every day, whatever the weather. Surf House Phuket is a world for itself with an adjacent bar and restaurant and is tremendously popular as a result. Located at Kata Beach by the Kata / Karon administrative offices, Surf House features the Kata area’s only surf machine.
Besides the pool area, there is a trendy and busy café / restaurant on the side with cool sounds, bamboo trimmings, buffeted concrete floors, heavy wooden furniture, and wall-mounted mini surfboards. A bigger restaurant on the rooftop with beach views provides a great sundowner location and a fun place to spend a night. If you’re in the company of a young international crowd searching for a California-style demanding aqua-adventure, then Surf House Phuket is just the best place to be.
Kata beach hotels
Kata Beach’s best hotels are well located around one of Phuket’s favorite destinations. Situated on the west coast of Phuket, it features two beaches-Kata Yai and Kata Noi-and a wide range of restaurants, boutiques, nightlife entertainment venues, and family-wide recreation options.
The accommodation scene of Kata Beach is also quite remarkable due to its eclecticism: from budget guesthouses to mid-range hotels to high-quality resorts, something is there for everyone.
We researched the best hotels in Kata Beach, and our finding fits the description perfectly. You will find the best Kata has to offer in terms of accommodation choices; look no further into our finding surely, there is a hotel for you.
The Shore at Katathani
The Shore at Katathani is a merge of beachside villas at the southernmost end of wonderful Kata Noi Beach. It is an idyllic location tailor-made for lovers of peace and those who appreciate the heady mix of beach, luxury, and tranquility.
In this resort, children under the age of 12 are not allowed to stay. Katathani’s The Shore accommodation consists of 130sqm Seaview Pool Villas, 260sqm Two-Bedroom Pool Villas, and 130sqm Pool Villas.
Villa facilities are generous and include individually operated air conditioning, safe deposit box, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen satellite TV with entertainment system, stocked mini-bar, de la-suite bathroom including toiletries and hairdryer and sandal bathrobe, and of course a huge infinity pool with beach and mountain views.
The Baray Villa by Sawasdee
The village, The Baray Villa, is situated on Phuket’s west coast, on Kata Beach’s golden sand. With three swimming pools and a Jacuzzi, this villa provides spacious and opulent accommodation for visitors wishing to enjoy Phuket’s finest in comfort and style.
The Baray Villa is a triple-access villa with 14 excellent guest rooms with a double-bedded upper bedroom and a total living space of 106 sqm. They feature 42-inch LCD TV, two shower rooms, two toilets, one sink, two wardrobes, individually operated air conditioning, an iPod dock, free tea and coffee making facilities are some of the facilities included.
Katathani Phuket
Katathani Phuket Beach Resort is a special place in the hearts of many return visitors and has always proven to be popular year after year. The resort comprise479 low-rise guest rooms and suites all with private balconies and ocean-facing terraces, pools, or tropical gardens.
Katathani still has a tangible family atmosphere with two separate wings, six swimming pools, and huge grounds and an adjacent 850-meter long beach. There are six restaurants in the resort and five bars. Upstairs from Chom Talay’s main dining room, La Scala offers excellent Italian contemporary fare in a classic setting with live piano music.
Beyond Resort
Kata Kata Beach Resort & Spa is a 275-room four-star resort located on one of Phuket-Kata’s most picturesque beaches. The resort is designed in classic Thai lines with a large open lobby, and this resort offers bold lines, high ceilings, great restaurants, and a chic seaside look and feel.
The properly named Atrium Coffee Shop & Terrace serves breakfast with all-day dining comprised of international and Thai cuisine and evening live music. In contrast, Peppino Italian Restaurant and Pub serve delicious Italian delights.
The Poolside Bar is the best-looking place in the resort with its mix of turquoise pool, tropical foliage, and sea views, and it remains open until 11:30 pm. At the same time, the Coffee Mill, next to the Atrium outlet, offers a good selection of cakes and patisseries.
Kata beach restaurants
Kata Beach’s best restaurants include a wide selection of dining options, including a few excellent top-of-the-range restaurants that fall into the’ it doesn’t matter because we’re on vacation’ kind of price bracket. The region has many restaurants serving local and international cuisine, usually at tourist prices.
Generally speaking, the top-class choices are located in southern Kata, with the mid-range family restaurants in northern Kata and the area in between dedicated to large, open-sided family-oriented establishments that accommodate visitors rather than locals. Here are Kata Beach’s Top Best Restaurants.
Villa Royale
It is one of the gastronomic gems of Phuket. Set on an eye-catching rocky headland which divides beaches of Kata Yai and Kata Noi, Villa Royale’s Mom Tri’s Kitchen offers fine dining in an exotic setting.
Whether dining at midday above the white-spotted turquoise waves crashing on the granite boulders below, or at night on the restaurant’s lower deck almost within walking distance of surfing, Mom Tri’s combination of Thai fusion dishes and royal Thai cuisine combined with an extensive wine cellar is a great experience.
Restaurant Kata Rocks
Restaurant Kata Rocks is a chic place to dine, overlooking the sparkling Andaman coast. It’s connected to the eponymous Kata Rocks, one of Phuket’s premier resorts, and everything about this property is modern and chic.
Phuket has few cooler locations than this, with a white on a white, minimalist design scheme. Situated a short walk from both the Kata Noi and Kata Yai beaches, the restaurant is situated on a steep headland, offering sweeping ocean views.
Wok Pagoda Kitchen Phuket
Wok Pagoda Kitchen provides an enticing range of fusion dishes with sweeping views, a fantastic selection of wines and reasonable prices. Mom Tri’s Kitchen’s sister establishment, the world-renowned chef, works his culinary magic with fresh ingredients to create the perfect mix of traditional Thai cuisine and Western classics, incorporating twists from other parts of Asia.
On the Rock
This restaurant is situated right by the sea on the grounds of the beautifully verdant Marina Phuket Resort at the end of a rocky Jutland.
On the Rock is an enticing alternative to, well, just about anywhere in Kata or Karon, with good service and the main seafood menu, as well as a broad range of wines.
Some dishes, like the clay pots with seafood in them, are worth the try. It is good to book a table in advance and to get there for sunset if possible-the colors must be seen to be believed.
Leonardo Da Vinci Restaurant
Leonardo Da Vinci Restaurant is an elegant place to taste Italian cuisine of exceptional quality. The resort has undergone a recent renovation, the menu now focuses heavily on fresh seafood, skilfully prepared by experienced Chef Enzo, from Rimini’s Italian coastal town.
The restaurant looks contemporary, with indoor and outdoor dining spaces that use warm colors and stylish design to recreate Italy’s sophistication near Kata Noi Beach. As well as being attentive and polite, the service staffs are as knowledgeable and passionate about the food as the chef, providing an in-depth dining experience.
Kata beach to Phuket airport
There are buses, but they only go to Phuket Town at 20 km / h max. Thus, if you’re on one of the beaches, the only way to avoid a taxi or minivan is to take the public bus to Phuket Town and then another public bus to Phuket airport from there.
The affordable way to get from Kata Beach to Phuket Airport (HKT) is by driving rt, which costs six and takes 43 min. The quickest and reliable way to get from Kata Beach to Phuket Airport (HKT) is by taxi that costs $35-$ 45 and takes 43 min.
Is Kata Beach Safe?
Kata beach is a safe tourist place to be. Locals are soft, friendly, and welcoming, proud of their beautiful part of the world and of the tourism that it attracts.
Kata beach is centered on families and family activities and is a great holiday and steam place for children and parents.
Can you swim at Kata Beach?
Yes, Kata beach water is considered safe, however as always, if you’re not a good or confident swimmer, know your limits when it comes to sea swimming, and always wear a water sports life jacket. The locals know their beautiful beach very well, so you can always ask for the best time to swim safely and for the best fun activity.
How far is Kata Beach from Patong Beach?
The distance from Patong beach to Kata Beach is about 8 km.
How far is Kata Beach from Phuket Airport?
The distance from Phuket Airport (HKT) to Kata Beach is 32 km on a straight line, while the road distance is 46.2 km.
Why is Phuket so famous? Here we come up with a list of many ideas why!