Kamala

Kamala lies on the west coast between Patong and Surin, separated from Patong by a headland road with viewpoints over the Kalim coast. It keeps a village charac…Kamala lies on the west coast between Patong and Surin, separated from Patong by a headland road with viewpoints over the Kalim coast. It keeps a village character that most of the west coast has lost, built around a long-standing Muslim fishing community with a mosque at the centre of the settlement.

The beach runs about two kilometres, with the quieter northern end fronted by resorts and the southern end holding the village, the beachfront restaurants and the local trade. The main road behind carries small supermarkets, laundries, massage shops, motorbike rental and a spread of Thai and international restaurants. A Friday market sets up in the village.

The hillside north of Kamala has seen significant resort and villa development, and the Phuket FantaSea cultural theme park sits inland from the beach road. Kamala suits visitors who want a beach base with everyday amenities but not the density of Patong, which is around fifteen minutes away by road. Swimming is best November to April; the monsoon brings surf and flagged conditions.