Understand
Karon Beach is approximately 1.5 km long. Most areas are fully recovered from the tsunami, with just a few vacant lots still awaiting redevelopment. Not many hotels have direct beach frontage - most are across the road (which is not a busy one).
Get in
If coming from the Phuket Airport you can pick up a voucher from the airport transportation booth for a flat rate of 650 baht. The drive is just under an hour.
For those who are price conscious, the transportation booth inside the airport also sells seats on a minibus for 150 baht. The minibus makes several stops along the way to drop off other passengers.
Get around
The fastest way to get around is by tuk-tuk, which are mostly needed to go to other parts of the beach or nearby towns. To get to Phuket Town taxis are available and cost around 400 baht. There are also public buses which leave from Karon to different places every hour for around 20 baht.
See
Unlike the busier and noisier neighbour Patong Beach further north, Karon Beach offers visitor a nice long quiet stretch of sand. Beach umbrellas decked out along the beach are available for rent. Facing west, it gives a beautiful view of the sunset.
Buy
Bars, tailors and clothing markets are plentiful at Karon, either in the main part of town or along the beach front. There are also a number of supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies; there's not much you need to travel elsewhere for.
Eat
Karon has a variety of restaurants to choose from including a surprising number catering to Scandinavian tastes. Most restaurants are lined along the beach front road.
Drink
Sleep
Karon Beach refers to a beach, and the town adjoining it, on the western coast of Phuket, Thailand.
The beach is a popular destination for tourists as it is generally quieter than neighbouring Patong Beach. It is especially popular with Scandinavian tourists, with many businesses catering especially to them.
Karon Beach was heavily damaged by the tsunamis following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, especially in its southern regions.
