Kata Beach
Kata Beach (Rice Field Bay)
Kata Beach is the biggest of two beaches called Kata: Kata Noi and Kata Yai (Noi means small, Yai means big). Nightlife is now quite active in Kata Center, a large choice of restaurants and bars open their doors all day, but it looks more lively at night. Choice of food is large, from Scandinavian, Indian, Pizzerias or English, but of course seafood and Thai food restaurants as well. Many bars are still in the old "phuket way", with girls calling you when you walk down the street, but lately some more original bars opened with a friendly cozy style, like the "Cafe del Mar". Shop till you drop with hundred of souvenir shops, tailors and dive shops opened till late. Kata is a small village, half way between the hyper active nights of patong beach and some other remote beaches.
The Club Med Complex dominates this scenic beach, but it is open to the public, serving every evening a different buffet and a show performed by the staff. One of the most popular hotel in Kata, further down the street, is the Boathouse, consisting of two sections: the main hotel with a renown restaurant, and the amazing Mom Tris Villa Royale. Newly open and already popular is the Jiva Resort, an excellent value for money, just opposite of Club Med. This is the beach of choice if you are swimming with small children because it remains shallow for about thirty meters from the shoreline. Koh Poo (crab Island, maybe because its shape), the small island off the north end, has a lively coral reef that is excellent for swimming and snorkeling. Mask and fins can be rented on the beach for about 100 baht. If you stroll to either end of the beach you will find many little places that offer tasty Thai food.
Kata Noi Beach
Separated by a small headland from the larger beach, this charming little bay is nestled up against lush emerald green jungle covered mountains. Quiet and convenient, this tranquil little piece of paradise is one of the nicest places to stay on the island. There is a small coral reef at the south end but caution must be taken, because of the steeper drop off from the shore than at Kata Yai and because this beach is affected more by rough weather. Only one hotel is open on this beach is the Kata Thani Resort.
Viewpoint
Along the coast road between Kata Beach and Nai Harn Beach is situated a large public pavilion where you can rest and enjoy the spectacular view. Visible from this vantage point you can see three of Phuket’s prettiest bays, Kata Noi, Kata Yai, and Karon Beach. From this scenic vista you can watch the emerald green waters of the bay change to shades of blue and indigo as they pass over the coral reefs. Just across the street a number of fruit and soft drink venders set up everyday, and provide a good place to sample some local fruit or enjoy a cool drink.
Relax Bay
Five minutes south of Patong Beach, as you climb the hill you will see a large hotel complex on your right. This is a good place to pull off to the side of the road for a minute and enjoy the scenery. Unfortunately, access to this beach is blocked by the Le Meridien Phuket, and unless you are a guest there this beach can only be reached by boat from Patong. There is no official lookout point here -- just a few chairs and an abandoned roadside restaurant, but it is a great place to watch the white bellied sea eagles feed early in the morning. They soar the sky in a circular pattern making a dramatic dive into the sea and taking flight with fish on their talons for breakfast. While watching the birds, its a great place to appreciate the gentle breeze, the magnificent view, the stunning hues of blues and greens all framed with a white sandy beach, and the lazy white clouds as they roll silently past. You can feel and breathe the beauty of Phuket. That is what draws people to visit here, and what brings them back time and again. Unbelievable as it may seem it only gets better as you continue to the south.
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