Kamala

 Kamala Beach - Baan Kamala

Located roughly 24 km south of the Phuket International Airport, Kamala is a well-protected bay on island's western coast overlooking shallow blue waters. Surrounded by lush hills, it is one of the most beautiful and authentic places in Phuket Island that also houses one of the finest and quietest beaches on the island. In the last few decades, Kamala is quickly becoming one of Phuket's best destinations for family vacations, retirees and other long-term visitors who appreciate especially its fascinating natural beauty. Prior to becoming a popular tourist destination, Kamala was originally just a small Muslim fishing village; in fact still today, most of locals are of Islamic faith. Nowadays Kamala is a little town but the quiet atmosphere of the fishing village remains, and it is usual to see local anglers casting their nets in the bay. Kamala was the Phuket's most affected area by the tsunami on December 26, 2004. In memory of the tragic event, was built the Tsunami Memorial Park towards the middle of the beach. Kamala Beach is long about two kilometres long and quite wide, surrounded by the quietest and shallow waters of the island is ideal for children and less experienced swimmers.
Accommodation & Restaurants - The northern part of the beach is a small unspoiled and undeveloped heaven, apart from Novotel Kamala set at extreme north. Here you will find the finest white sand and a very relaxed atmosphere. Recently Cafe Del Mar and HQ Beach Club have been opened in this area right next to Novotel Kamala. These beach clubs are the ideal place to spend relaxing days and lively nights on the beachfront or around their pools. This area of Kamala hosts the huge and popular Phuket Fantasea, one of Phuket's major tourist attractions. Located right on the opposite side of the coastal road, it is a cultural theme park, showing the charm and beauty of Thailand, including ancient Thai traditions. Many beachfront bars and restaurants that serve seafood, Thai and International dishes occupy most of central area of Kamala. Waterfront are also located several mid-range hotels and resorts, including the large Kamala Sunprime Resort that offers 353 tastefully decorated rooms and suites spread around four lovely pools. This part of the beach is very quiet even during the high season, and most places will close as soon as the low season arrives. The southern end of beach is dominated by the Kamala village, which actually consists of two distinct areas, the original Muslim village set fairly far from the beach, and the touristy part built along the shoreline. Waterfront you will find plenty of very attractive little bars and restaurants set along a new walkway that follows most of beach, where you can enjoy a drink or a seafood dinner while admiring beautiful sunsets. Some of these even tried to add a touch of design and colours and are situated on the sand. The area behind the beach is a good mix of guesthouses, bungalows, family friendly resorts, villas and apartments to rent, and a plenty of dining opportunities. There are numerous restaurants to suit every budget and offer excellent seafood dishes, Thai and International cuisine. If you are on a budget there are also several stalls offering good street foods at cheap prices. On the headland to the south, there are a large number of luxury villa developments, including the Cape Sienna Hotel & Villas offering stunning views of Kamala Bay. The southern end of the beach can be quite crowded during the high season but still offers a more relaxed atmosphere compared to the chaotic Patong or Karon. Definitely, Kamala is a haven for those who prefer the quieter life and is an ideal place for a family vacation.
Shopping - Kamala also offers good facilities and plenty of shopping opportunities to visitors. Most stores are located along the road that follow the beach in the Kamala village, where you will find the usual shops, like clothes and accessories boutiques, mini markets, grocery stores, travel agencies and dive shops. There are aslo two small shopping alleys, one leading to the beach and one leading to the Kamala Beach Plaza in the back where other several shops can be found Kamala's main traditional market is located on the coastal road, just near the foot of the hill separating it from Patong. It is held every Wednesday and Saturday from 3.00pm to 7.30pm. This market is like most local markets in Phuket, there are numerous stalls selling everything, including fresh food and fruits, clothes and accessories, electronic items, t-shirts, sunglasses, shoes, handbags, belts, and, of course, a lot of tasty Thai street foods. Another market takes place every Friday near the Kamala's northern hill, just opposite the Phuket Fantasea. Similar to the village market but on a larger scale, Kamala's Friday market is also popular among tourists and runs around the year from 2 pm to 7.30 am. Here you can buy fresh fruit, vegetables, street foods and other local produce as well as DVD's, CD's, handicrafts, sunglasses, mobile phones and clothing.  More