Kata Noi is a free public beach located on the southwest side of Phuket Island, 20 km from Phuket Town and 45 km from the airport. The small size of the bay in Kata Noi has not allowed the development of navigation, so, unlike the larger beaches of Phuket, there is no constant hum of boat engines. In addition, the beach is located in an area completely closed from the road by hotels – thanks to this location, tourists can not hear any extraneous noise and it seems that the busy city is somewhere very far away.
The size of the beach strip, water, sea entry and waves
“Noi” in Thai means “small”, and in this case this name is very appropriate. The beach strip is 800 m long and is bounded on each side by a small stone ridge – a great place to take photos in memory of Kata Noi Beach and Phuket Island. As for the width of the sand strip, on average it is 50 m, although it can vary slightly at high or low tide.
Here is the smallest and very clean snow-white sand, it is pleasant to walk barefoot. The entrance to the sea is gentle, although literally after 5-7 m the depth reaches about 1.5 m. There are no stones, the bottom is perfect.
The water is a luxurious turquoise shade, also spotlessly clean. It is colder than on other beaches in Phuket – this is good, because in it you can somehow escape from the Thai heat.
During the season, the sea is calm, there are almost no waves. But during the monsoon period, like all beaches in Phuket, Kata Noi gets strong waves-they are great for surfing, but it is not safe to swim. The most dangerous areas are marked with red flags – they warn against swimming in these places.
The remoteness of the beach has become the reason that few people visit it: the distance between sunbathers can reach up to several meters. And by midday, when the sun is at its zenith, the number of vacationers becomes even less.
Sun beds and umbrellas, toilets
In several rows along the entire beach strip there are sun beds with umbrellas, which can be rented – 2 sun beds and an umbrella for 200 baht per day. If you can do without a sunbed by laying a towel on the sand, then you will not be able to lie under the scorching sun for a long time without an umbrella. And there are very, very few trees here, so it’s almost impossible to hide in the shade.
If you want to spend the whole day on Kata Noi, you need to come as early as possible in order to have time to take a place under the few palm trees.
There are no changing rooms or showers. The only free toilet is located near the stairs leading to the beach, but like any free toilet, it is unpleasant to be there. If necessary, you can use the toilets on the territory of the hotel “Katathani Phuket Beach Resort” – there are a couple of cabins in free access.
Shops and markets, cafes and restaurants
In the part of Phuket where Kata Noi is located, there are no large shopping centers and bazaars. There are small shops selling soft drinks, something for a snack.
Drinks, fruit, and pizza are sold from vending stands on the beach. Periodically, merchants go, unobtrusively and without shouting, offering a variety of goods: nuts, boiled corn, small souvenirs.
On the far left side of Kata Noi, there are several cafes serving European and Thai dishes. Among these establishments, “Ta Restaurant” stands out favorably – prices there are at the same level as in neighboring cafes, but they cook everything much tastier and bring it faster. For 1500 baht, a family of 3 people can have a very good lunch: rice in pineapple, chicken with pineapples, shrimp in sweet and sour sauce, shrimp fried with garlic and pepper, papaya salad, mango flambé with ice cream, 3 fresh fruits.
Directly on the beach strip, on the left side of the rocks, there is a cafe “On the rocks”. It is very creatively designed and hidden from prying eyes by tropical vegetation. Sitting at a shaded table, you can enjoy scenic views of Thai nature.
You can relax and have a nice dinner in one of the restaurants operating at Katathani Phuket Beach Resort.
Entertainments
Kata Noi Beach in Phuket is designed for a measured, relaxing holiday. All the entertainment here is reduced to lying on a chaise longue or sand, swimming in the sea – in general, to rest from the hustle and bustle. Although you can still go for a ride on a “banana”, jet ski, kayak.
On the south side of the beach, near the rocks, there are beautiful coral reefs-it is interesting to snorkel and mask there, to observe the underwater world. On the beach there is a rental of scuba gear, fins, masks, snorkels for scuba diving. But most of these attributes are in pretty poor condition, so it’s best to buy your own gear – there are good low-cost options in Phuket.
If such a holiday seems too boring, and you want something more fun-you will have to go to other beaches in Phuket.
Where to stay
There are not too many hotels near Kata Noi, but there are budget 2* and elite 5*hotels.
On Kata Noi beach, you can easily find accommodation near the sea coast, on the first line. However, the prices will be quite high. The largest 5* hotel is “Katathani Phuket Beach Resort”. It offers a sauna, a Jacuzzi, a saltwater pool, mini golf, tennis courts, billiards, playgrounds for children.
- The cost of comfortable double rooms in the hotel starts from $400,
- In low season or during periodic promotions, the minimum price can be about $ 350.
A much more luxurious and expensive hotel, prices for a day in which start from $ 750 – “Shore At Katathani” 5*. It is a complex of villas located on a mountain slope, and each of these villas has its own private pool.
Find cheaper housing with access to the water here will not work-budget hotels should be sought away from the seashore. A good option is “Katanoi Resort” – a fairly simple and affordable 3* hotel, standing among the stones on the outskirts of the sandy strip. A superior room for two can be rented there for $ 100 per day.
An extensive selection of hotels in Kata Noi with photos and reviews of tourists is presented on the portal Booking.com. With the help of this site, you can quickly and profitably book accommodation on any beach of Phuket Island that has a high rating and is in demand among tourists.
How to get
Kata Noi is 45 km from the airport, while Phuket Town is 20 km away. It is located south of Kata Beach – see the exact location of Kata Noi on the map – and to get to it, you first need to get to Kata.
Minibuses run from Phuket Airport to Kata. They stop at the entrance to the airport, the ticket costs 200 baht. There is a bus service from Phuket Town to Kata from Ranong Street Station. First flight at 7:00, last at 18: 00, fare 40 baht.
By the way, directly to Kata Noi, without direct transfers, it is convenient to go by taxi or tuk-tuk – it will cost 1000-1200 baht. You can also rent a car or motorbike for this purpose.
Kata Noi and Kata are separated by a rocky outcrop, and it is impossible to walk along the shore from one beach to another-only by road. This path takes about 15 minutes, but for some people it may seem quite difficult: you will have to walk in the heat, almost without shade, and you will also have to overcome a small hill climb. There is only one road, but there are two entrances directly to the beach strip.
The first entrance to Kata Noi is a rather steep staircase with narrow steps leading from the road directly to the beginning of the beach, its extreme right side (if you turn to the sea). Next to the stairs there is a narrow area covered with humped asphalt – a local parking lot, which is not recommended to use.
The second entrance to the beach area will be approximately 1 km from the first one, after the Katathani Phuket Beach Resort. This entrance leads to the central part of the beach, and it is much more convenient for those vacationers who did not walk, but came by rented car or motorbike. There is convenient and safe parking. It is quite spacious, but during the peak season it can be completely filled with transport. In this case, you just need to wait a little, and there will definitely be a free place: someone is constantly coming and going there.
Conclusion
The picturesque Kata Noi beach is perfect for tourists who like to relax in the beautiful nature and swim in the warm sea. Photos of this particular beach are found in most of the avenues intended to advertise a paradise holiday on the island of Phuket. Kata Noi fully corresponds to the idea of a “paradise” and is one of the best beaches in Phuket.
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