WINDOW on Phuket: Kamala Beach, Phuket – Family Calm with a Local Soul

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Phuket Beach Guide: Kamala Beach – Family Calm with a Local Soul

What is Kamala Beach like?

Kamala Beach is one of Phuket’s most welcoming coastal stretches, a gently curving bay backed by casuarina trees, coconut palms, and a town that still feels Thai. Located just south of Surin Beach, it blends relaxed tourism with village rhythms. The beach is wide, walkable, and well-suited to families, long-stay guests, and anyone seeking an easygoing atmosphere close to daily life.

Quick Facts

📍 Location: West coast Phuket, just south of Surin Beach
🚗 Access: Easy road access with multiple parking points
🏊‍♂️ Swimming: Calm in high season; watch for currents in low season
🍜 Food/Facilities: Beach vendors, cafes, restaurants, 7-Eleven, market stalls
🌴 Shade: Natural tree line along most of the beach
🧘‍♀️ Best For: Families, long-stay guests, casual travelers
🕒 Best Time to Visit: Morning swim or late afternoon walk
🐕 Dogs Allowed: Commonly seen, unofficially tolerated

How to Get There

Kamala Beach is 15–20 minutes north of Patong and 10 minutes south of Surin Beach. The beach is directly off the main coastal road, with several access points and free parking. The central beachfront promenade connects shops, cafes, and footpaths, with no need for a car once you arrive.

📍 Google Maps: Kamala Beach https://maps.app.goo.gl/Jvi3CqdsLMEA36FG7

What Makes Kamala Beach Special

Kamala has an ease and openness that makes it instantly comfortable. It’s not about exclusivity—it’s about space, simplicity, and staying a while. Small beach bars, fruit stalls, tailors, and massage huts line the back of the beach. In the morning, locals do tai chi; in the evening, tourists sip coconuts as kids play in the shallows.

• Gentle Tourism: Less developed than Patong, more real than Surin
• Local Color: Markets, food carts, and daily Thai life within walking distance
• Safe Swimming: Calm slope and mostly open shoreline

Kamala Beach: A Story of Everyday Resilience

Kamala Beach isn’t showy, but it has stories in its sand.

• Before 2004: A sleepy fishing village with local tourism
• 2004 Tsunami: Kamala was one of the worst-hit areas; rebuilt slowly
• 2010–2020s: Growth of family hotels, expat communities, and small businesses
• 2025: Still developing, but retains its local flavor, even as new condos rise quietly in the background

Kamala is a beach that lives with the people. You’ll see monks at sunrise, fruit vendors by lunch, and para-gliders above by afternoon.

Activities & Local Highlights

• Swimming & Sunbathing: Safe, wide beach ideal for relaxed days
• Massage & Footpaths: Shaded trails and massage huts at regular intervals
• Parasailing & Banana Boats: Light water sports available in the center section
• Temples Nearby: Wat Kamala and the tsunami memorial park offer quiet perspective
• Evening Vibe: Walk the beachfront as the sun sets behind the headland
• Markets: Kamala Night Market (every Friday and Saturday), plus day stalls near the beach

Nearby Beaches

• Surin Beach: Smaller, more polished, with new development
• Laem Singh (trail access): Hidden beach reachable via cliff trail or boat
• Patong Beach: Busy nightlife and shopping, 20 minutes south

Closing Reflection

Kamala Beach offers an atmosphere you don’t find in every Thai beach town—peaceful but alive, open but grounded. It’s where tourists return year after year not for luxury, but for belonging. Kamala doesn’t try to impress—it just feels good to be there.

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Written by Mads D

Photography by Mads D

Learn more about Mads D:KamalaBeachEstate.com/mads-d