Karon Beach is another of Phuket’s long stretches of sand and is about five kilometers in length from tip to tip. It is home to very fine, white silica sand that squeaks when you walk across it.

Karon Beach is very popular with locals and tourists alike, but, given its length, it can appear deserted in places, affording those sun seekers who enjoy the quieter side of life the chance to relax and get some well-deserved peace and tranquility.

During peak season (November until May) the sea off Karon Beach is flat and calm and is usually as clear as gin, making it an enjoyable place to swim and cool off from the hot Phuket sun.

The beach is great for walking along, but for those wishing to kick back and relax, Karon Beach’s white sands are home to a number of sun beds and umbrellas. Higher concentrations of these are found to the south of the beach, while the northern end of the beach is sun bed free.

Beach dwellers have plenty of eating options at their disposal on Karon’s five-kilometer stretch of sand. Just north of the Karon Circle, visitors to the beach can find a number of stalls that offer tasty curries and other choice Thai dishes that won’t put a serious dent in your holiday budget and allow you to dine with Karon’s squeaking sands beneath your feet.

Elsewhere, there is a selection of restaurants along the beach front, offering a mixture of Thai and Western food. If you’re not that hungry, however, and just fancy a snack, like many, if not all beaches, on the island, Karon is home to the ever-alert beach vendors, supplying ice creams, barbecued treats and drinks to satisfy your cravings.

The patrolling locals also have lots of trinkets and souvenirs that you may wish to buy, but should you not be interested a simple “mai ao krap” (no thank you), will send them on their way.

Many of the beaches in Phuket have a plethora of water sports available to try, and Karon Beach is no different. Jet-skis and parasailing are two highly popular activities on the white sands of Karon, while windsurfing, wakeboarding, waterskiing and kayaking are also available. Water sports prosper in Karon because of the length of the beach, meaning everything is well spread out.

Out of the water, beach volleyball is very popular once the sun begins to sink in the sky, but for those who have no inclination to run and jump about, Karon is also home to a number of masseuses, offering their services in cool shaded areas away from the sun.