What to Do in Kata Beach?
Kata Beach packs a lot into a 1.5-kilometre stretch of soft white sand. In high season the water is calm and good for swimming and sunbathing. In the monsoon months it picks up the surf that has made Kata the main surfing beach on the island.
There is more than the beach, though. You can try the artificial wave at Super Surf Kata, play the dinosaur-themed Dino Park Mini Golf, or do the usual water sports like parasailing and jet skiing. There are spas and beachside massages for after a long flight or a day out, the old Wat Kitti Sangkharam temple from 1832 to visit, and the Kata Night Market for food and souvenirs.
The Beach
Kata Beach runs 1.5 km of soft sand with clear blue water in high season, December to April. There is natural tree shade, drink vendors, beachside massages from around 300 Baht, and small Thai restaurants at the south end. You can rent beach chairs on parts of the sand, and there is still plenty of open space.
The sea is fine for swimming in high season, but low season, June to November, brings strong rip currents. Watch the red flags and take them seriously. Those same waves are what turned Kata into Phuket’s main surfing beach, with annual surf contests and riders coming from all over.
Dino Park
Dino Park is a Jurassic-themed mini golf course between Kata and Karon beaches. The 18 holes run through prehistoric jungle settings with life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, including a roaring T-Rex. You play around swamps, lava caves and an erupting volcano that puffs smoke and flames, and there is a Flintstones-themed restaurant for afterwards.
Super Surf Kata
Super Surf Kata is an artificial wave where you can try surfing, wakeboarding or kiteboarding without the risks of the real thing. Two high-pressure water streams run up an inclined slope, giving enough lift to ride on about ten centimetres of water over a soft, rubbery surface, so falls do not hurt. Beginners start on bodyboards or small flow boards, with trainers and safety ropes on hand.
Wat Kitti Sangkharam (Kata Temple)
Wat Kitti Sangkharam, known locally as Kata Temple, has served the area since 1832, so close to 200 years. It is about a kilometre inland from Kata Beach on Patak Road. The recently renovated buildings are painted in bright red, yellow and orange. The grounds hold an ordination hall with Buddha statues, monks’ quarters and a local school. The temple also looks after Phuket’s Big Buddha statue on nearby Nakkerd Hill, and it works as a real community centre away from the beaches.
Surfing in Kata
Kata is Phuket’s best-known surf beach, with the better waves at the southern end near The Boathouse. It works at most tides, though mid-tide is best, and the season runs May to October. It suits beginners through to advanced surfers and rarely gets crowded in low season. Several surf shops rent boards right on the sand, and a few surf schools run lessons.
Kata Noi Beach
Kata Noi is the quieter beach just over the headland from Kata, with soft white sand and clear water in high season. The small bay stays fairly calm and away from the bigger crowds. The northern end has beginner surf in low season, and it is close to Karon Viewpoint for the wide views. Three resorts sit along the beachfront: Katathani Beach Resort, The Shore and Mom Tri’s Villa Royale. Up on the hillside, bars like After Beach Bar and The Sundeck are good for a sunset drink over the bay.
Parasailing
Parasailing is available but not recommended for safety reasons, as some fatal accidents have occurred. If you still want to try, here is how it works, and it can be a bit surprising. You are strapped into a parachute on the beach while the speedboat lines up perpendicular to the shore. On the pilot’s signal you run a short distance towards the sea, helped by the team. Then the surprising part: as you take off, a crew member grabs the ropes of the parachute and hangs above you for the whole flight, with no safety gear at all. Quite a sight, but apparently they never fall.
Kata Night Market
Behind Club Med on Muang Patak Road, Kata Night Market runs daily from noon until 11 pm. It is a food-court-style market, rows of small stalls doing grilled meats, seafood, pad Thai and fried rice. Fruit vendors sell mango sticky rice and banana roti, and there is an ice cream stall that puts on a loud, theatrical show. If you are feeling brave you can try fried insects, grasshoppers, silkworms and crickets, or pay a small fee just to photograph them. The bazaar side sells light elephant pants and T-shirts for 100 to 150 Baht.
Open: noon – 11 pm, daily
Address: Muang Patak Rd, Tambon Karon, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83100
Tree Bay Clubhouse
Tree Bay Clubhouse is on the hillside below Karon Viewpoint, with wide views over three southern bays: Kata Noi, Kata and Karon. The two-storey restaurant is built around a big circular platform under a curved bamboo and leaf roof, which makes it stand out. There is a central bar for cocktails and terrace seating for the views. Book ahead if you want an edge table, especially for sunset.
The Sundeck
The Sundeck is a hillside rooftop lounge above Kata Noi, between Kata and Nai Harn near Karon Viewpoint. It serves Mediterranean-style food alongside cocktails, sangria and a decent wine list, with DJ music and sofas. It is open daily 11 am to 10 pm and is at its best for a sunset over Kata Noi Bay.
The Commune
The Commune is a seaside terrace bar set above the rocks between Karon and Kata, popular for ocean views and photo spots along its staircases and decks. It is at the end of a narrow lane off Laemsai Road and pulls a young crowd, with neighbours like A Blanket & A Pillow and Laem Sai Cup Cafe nearby. Drinks and light bites come out on the main terrace beside a small pool. There is a 180 Baht entrance fee credited back against what you order, to put off photo-only visitors. Parking is tight, scooter spaces fill fast and cars face awkward U-turns, so it is easier to walk up from the beach.
Ska bar
Ska Bar is a small but iconic reggae bar built in the shade of a huge tree, right on the beach at the south end of Kata. It is a great spot to end a day on the sand, even if reggae is not your thing. The mood is relaxed and the bay view is lovely, and while you cannot quite see the sunset from the bar, you can watch the colours of the sky reflect on the wet sand.
Fira Rooftop
Fira Beach Club is a large rooftop venue high above Kata Noi Beach, with wide panoramic views and a Mediterranean-style, upmarket feel, though it sits well back from the beach itself. It is open 11 am to 10 pm, with day beds for 2 to 8 guests, VIP cabanas and private rooms for bigger groups. The second floor has KIPO restaurant, where Chef Ramon Verano does coastal Mediterranean dishes with local ingredients, plus the DOXA sky bar known for sunsets and cocktails. Prices are on the high side, and parking can be tricky.
Your Kata Beach Travel Guide
