Kamala is located over on the west side of the island, a little north of hedonistic Patong, and offers a much more tranquil, laid back vibe than its boisterous neighbour to the south. Kamala Beach continues this relaxed theme, by providing holidaymakers with a strip of golden sand, much quieter than most other beaches to be found upon the island of Phuket. Development in Kamala seems to have slowed down considerably, and it is likely that this lovely part of Phuket will stay the same for many years to come.

Kamala Beach is not large, only around 800 meters long, and very narrow in some places. Additionally, certain stretches of the beach can become quite littered with flotsam if there has been a storm out over the bay. However, if you can overlook a little untidiness now and then, Kamala Beach offers a glimpse back to the days when Phuket was far less developed as a tourist destination.

With the azure blue waters of the Andaman Ocean stretching out to the horizon, and the dramatic mountains behind, Kamala Beach is a breathtaking location. The beach itself is lined by palm trees, with plenty of small restaurants and bars exiting out directly on to the beach.

Kamala is also one of the last locations on Phuket where you can still stay in resort which is right on the beach, without paying several thousand Thai Baht a night. For this reason Kamala is very popular with long stay tourists, as it provides them with a much more cost effective vacation.

Kamala Beach offers a great swimming experience. The sea floor is clean and sandy, although swimming is only really possible at the northern end of the beach, the southern end is home to the Kamala fishing fleet. When the tide goes out, intriguing rock formations are uncovered, great for children to explore looking for ocean wildlife,

Kamala Beach is famed for the high quality, inexpensive Thai massage that can be had right on the sand. There are many small stalls along the beach offering Thai massage for around 300 Baht per hour.

Tucked away at the southern end of the beach is Kamala Wat, a charming temple which was almost completely destroyed in the tsunami, and has recently completed a full restoration project with the help of the Australian TV program Backyard Blitz.

It is quite easy to get to Kamla Beach from both Patong and Phuket Town. Several local buses run from Phuket Town regularly throughout the day. A taxi from Patong will cost around 500 baht, a little expensive but other travel options are limited.

Overall, Kamala Beach is something unique to Western Phuket, a very laid back atmosphere with stunning scenery and inexpensive restaurants, bars and cafes, offer the holidaymaker a chance to relax and recoup their energy.