Kata Beach - Phuket Travel Guide

This place can be divided into three parts – the long Kata Yai beach in the north, the smaller and quiet Kata Noi beach in the south and Kata Center, which is the town located away from the beaches.

Kata Yai

Kata Yai is about a kilometer long beach, which is smaller and quieter than Patong beach. It is considered a safe beach for swimming, even for children and beginners. Always pay attention to the warning flags that are flown to warn swimmers. On the right side of the beach, there are coral reefs that run all the way to the small green island called Poo Island. While lazing around the beach, you can watch local anglers trying to catch their day’s supply.

Kata Noi

This beautiful little beach lies hidden in the south and is less crowded. The lion’s share of this minuscule beach is occupied by the huge resort of the Kata Thai group. There are a few smaller budget hotels and resorts in the area.

Kata Noi doesn’t offer any facilities in the way of nightlife. So if you want to escape from the world for a few days, this is the right place. Even during peak season, the place is not crowded. During lean periods, you may have the entire beach to yourself. However, during off-season, the sea may be rough and it is advisable not to venture out into the sea.

Kata Center

Kata Center is a hustling-busting place crowded with restaurants, bars, shops, internet cafes and travel agencies. The place offers a variety of budget accommodations like hotels and guesthouses. They give discounts, if you are renting the place for a week or a month.

Kata center has restaurants that cater to all kinds of tourists. The best part of these eateries is that they are not very expensive. The bars around here attract wild crowds, which result in high noise levels during night hours. Hence, consider this, before renting rooms here.

Getting around

Taxis and tuk-tuks are the best choices and their fares are similar.

Places to see

For the first –time traveler, local market is a must-see. This is open only on Thursdays and is located off main Kata Road. Locals buy spices and fish from this market. An old man shelling coconuts using an ancient-looking dangerous machine is a curiosity here.

In the jungle close by, there is a sauna. You will find this place if you walk for 10 minutes along the Kata-Chalong Bay Road. There is a kettle-shaped copper boiler, a pool and a café here.

Things to do

Located on the north end of the bay, there is a safe diving and snorkeling area. For more information, visit Phuket-Diver. They also give information on equipments for the expedition. There are facilities for SNUBA diving, which is considered safer and inexpensive than scuba diving.

Kata beach offers excellent opportunities for surfing.