Southern Thailand · beach area

Kamala

Stay for a quieter pace than Patong while keeping restaurants and beach services close.

People swimming and relaxing along a sandy Phuket beach backed by palms and a forested hillside

The feel of the place

A Phuket beach village with a relaxed feel and resort options.

Kamala brings a sandy bay, village restaurants and resort accommodation together in a generally slower Phuket base. Casual venues and beach clubs provide evening options without Patong’s scale of nightlife. Choose your stay area carefully around main roads and lively venues if quiet is a priority.

Keep in mind

The dining and nightlife choice is smaller than in Phuket’s busiest bases. Wider island exploring needs rides, and the areas beside main roads or lively beach venues can still be noisy.

Get to know Kamala

What is Kamala like?

Our editorial assessments · Select a factor to see how we scored this place.

Why we rate Kamala 8/10

Kamala’s sandy beach sits beside the village and resort area, making a relaxed beach day convenient.

What we assess

Beach appeal, convenient access and variety during a beach-focused stay, within the destination itself.

Why we rate Kamala 7/10

The bay, forested headlands and nearby coastal viewpoints create an attractive setting, though resorts line parts of the shore.

What we assess

The visual impact of natural surroundings and how central those landscapes are to a typical stay.

Why we rate Kamala 3/10

The village has local temples and everyday Thai life, but visitors mainly choose Kamala for its beach and resort atmosphere.

What we assess

The variety, depth and practical access to historic places, temples, architecture, traditions and cultural experiences during a typical stay.

Why we rate Kamala 6/10

Thai food, seafood and international restaurants are easy to find, with less choice than Phuket Town or Patong.

What we assess

Food quality, variety, distinctive local cooking and how readily visitors can find good places to eat, regardless of price.

Why we rate Kamala 5/10

Beach clubs and casual bars offer a few lively evenings, but the scene is smaller and more relaxed than Patong.

What we assess

The choice, variety and liveliness of evening venues, their opening hours and how easily you can enjoy a typical night out.

Why we rate Kamala 7/10

Kamala is generally calmer than Patong, with quieter stays outside the busiest beach-club and main-road areas.

What we assess

How easily you can enjoy a peaceful stay, considering traffic, nightlife noise, crowds and practical quieter bases.

Why we rate Kamala 7/10

Boat tours and island excursions can be arranged, though most departures require transport to a larger pier.

What we assess

The variety of worthwhile sea-island trips, convenient departures, journey times and flexibility under normal operating conditions.

Why we rate Kamala 7/10

The village and beach are walkable, and taxis, tuk-tuks and tours cover common Phuket outings.

What we assess

Freedom to explore without renting a scooter, using walking, public transport, taxis, tuk-tuks, ride-hailing or boats; transport price is assessed separately.

Why we rate Kamala 6/10

Local meals and modest accommodation are available, though resort pricing and island-trip transfers increase the full-trip cost.

What we assess

How easily you can enjoy a typical stay on a modest budget, including simple accommodation, food, realistic transport and characteristic activities.

Scores out of 10 · Higher means more of that characteristicAbout these scores

How to read the scale
Scores describe how strongly a destination offers each characteristic. They are editorial assessments, not visitor ratings.

Higher does not always mean better
A higher nightlife score means a livelier scene. A higher quietness score means a calmer atmosphere. The right balance depends on your trip.

Plan your trip

When to go

See how temperature, rainfall and travel conditions change through the year. Select a month to focus on your travel dates.

Selected month conditions for Kamala
FactorKamala
Average daytime high 33°C
Monthly Rainfall 50 mm
Rainy days 5.6
Crowds High
Stay prices High
Sea conditions Calm
Average daytime high 34°C
Monthly Rainfall 24 mm
Rainy days 3.4
Crowds High
Stay prices High
Sea conditions Calm
Average daytime high 34°C
Monthly Rainfall 81 mm
Rainy days 7.5
Crowds High
Stay prices High
Sea conditions Calm
Average daytime high 34°C
Monthly Rainfall 135 mm
Rainy days 11.7
Crowds Moderate
Stay prices Typical
Sea conditions Calm
Average daytime high 33°C
Monthly Rainfall 237 mm
Rainy days 18.9
Crowds Low
Stay prices Low
Sea conditions Rough
Average daytime high 33°C
Monthly Rainfall 249 mm
Rainy days 18.6
Crowds Low
Stay prices Low
Sea conditions Rough
Average daytime high 32°C
Monthly Rainfall 240 mm
Rainy days 19.1
Crowds Low
Stay prices Low
Sea conditions Rough
Average daytime high 32°C
Monthly Rainfall 309 mm
Rainy days 19.5
Crowds Low
Stay prices Low
Sea conditions Rough
Average daytime high 32°C
Monthly Rainfall 350 mm
Rainy days 21.7
Crowds Low
Stay prices Low
Sea conditions Rough
Average daytime high 32°C
Monthly Rainfall 336 mm
Rainy days 22.7
Crowds Low
Stay prices Low
Sea conditions Rough
Average daytime high 32°C
Monthly Rainfall 178 mm
Rainy days 15.9
Crowds Moderate
Stay prices Typical
Sea conditions Variable
Average daytime high 32°C
Monthly Rainfall 82 mm
Rainy days 10.3
Crowds High
Stay prices High
Sea conditions Calm
Monthly conditions for Kamala
DestinationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average daytime high
Kamala
33°C
34°C
34°C
34°C
33°C
33°C
32°C
32°C
32°C
32°C
32°C
32°C
Monthly Rainfall
Kamala
50 mm
24 mm
81 mm
135 mm
237 mm
249 mm
240 mm
309 mm
350 mm
336 mm
178 mm
82 mm
Rainy days
Kamala 5.6 3.4 7.5 11.7 18.9 18.6 19.1 19.5 21.7 22.7 15.9 10.3
Crowds
Kamala High High High Moderate Low Low Low Low Low Low Moderate High
Stay prices
Kamala High High High Typical Low Low Low Low Low Low Typical High
Sea conditions
Kamala Calm Calm Calm Calm Rough Rough Rough Rough Rough Rough Variable Calm

Temperatures are historical average daytime highs, not the highest temperatures you might experience. Rainfall and rainy days are monthly averages, not a forecast. A rainy day need not mean rain all day.

Stay prices are relative to each destination’s usual rates. Holidays can bring extra crowds and higher prices. Sea conditions vary by beach and day; check local conditions before boat trips.

Kamala: Thai Meteorological Department — PHUKET, 1991–2020.

The practical side

Getting to and around Kamala

Arriving

Phuket Airport is the island’s air gateway, with an onward road transfer to Kamala. Confirm whether your accommodation is in the village, along the bay or on a surrounding hillside.

Without a scooter

The village and beach are walkable, and taxis, tuk-tuks and tours cover common Phuket outings.

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