Karon

Karon runs for around three kilometres between the headlands that separate it from Patong to the north and Kata to the south. The beach is wide and steeply shel…Karon runs for around three kilometres between the headlands that separate it from Patong to the north and Kata to the south. The beach is wide and steeply shelving, backed by a grassy dune and a broad beach road rather than the tight shopfront strips found in Patong.

Most of the accommodation sits inland of the dune road or at the two ends of the bay. The northern end, around the Karon Circle, holds the older village core with the temple, the twice-weekly Karon temple market, the bus stops and the bulk of the small restaurants and bars. The southern end runs into Kata, and the two are effectively continuous on foot.

Karon draws a mix of long-stay European visitors, families and Russian-language tour trade, and the restaurant scene reflects it, with Thai kitchens, Scandinavian and German rooms and a spread of seafood grills. The dune keeps the beach quieter than Patong even in peak weeks. Swimming is best November through April; the monsoon months bring strong shore break and rip currents on this stretch.