About Karon
Karon is a stretch of sand of about 3 km on Phuket's west coast, between Patong to the north and Kata to the south, and around 8 km from Patong Beach by road (around 10-20 mins depending on traffic). It is noticeably less hectic than Patong. The area splits into a few zones: Karon Center for dining, shopping and nightlife, Karon Beach Road for resorts and evening strolls, and the Luang Poh Chuan Road area toward the south, which has the liveliest nightlife in Karon. The beach itself is about 1 km from Karon Circle.
Everyday basics are close to Karon Circle: minimarts and small supermarkets, a covered bazaar, a temple market on Tuesdays and Fridays, and plenty of cafes and restaurants. There is no hospital, large supermarket or international school in Karon itself. Chalong, around 10-15 mins away, has the nearest full supermarkets, a large mall and the biggest cluster of international schools. Phuket Airport is around 43 km away, so allow 50 mins or more.
What's in Karon
Beaches & nature
- Karon Beach About 3 km of sand, the main beach
- Kata Beach Neighbouring beach to the south, around 10 mins
- Kata Noi Beach Smaller beach south of Kata, around 7 km
- Karon Viewpoint Roadside viewpoint over Kata Noi, Kata and Karon, around 10 mins
- Nai Harn Beach Beach with a lagoon behind it in Rawai, around 20 mins
- Patong Beach Large beach to the north, around 10-20 mins
Healthcare
- Hospitals in Karon None. The nearest options are below. Ambulance: 1669
- Patong Hospital Public, 24-hour emergency, around 10-20 mins
- Chalong Hospital Public hospital in Chalong, around 10 mins. Ask the hospital about emergency hours
- Dibuk Hospital (BDMS) Private, 24-hour emergency, in Wichit near Chalong, around 20 mins
- Bangkok Hospital Phuket and Bangkok Hospital Siriroj Private, 24-hour emergency, around 25-35 mins
- Vachira Phuket Hospital Public, 24-hour emergency, around 25-35 mins
- Wattanapat Phuket Hospital Private 200-bed hospital in Kamala, with the first phase planned for the last quarter of 2026, around 20 mins. See New & coming soon
- Vets Thonglor Chalong Pet Hospital is open 24 hours, around 9-12 km away. RTB Animal Hospital in Wichit is open 07:00 to midnight
Schools & nurseries
- In Karon No international school or nursery. The nearest are in Chalong and Rawai
- BCIS (Berda Claude International School) British Cambridge and French streams, from about 18 months to 18, in Chalong, around 15 mins
- Buds International School American curriculum, 18 months to 12 years, in Chalong, around 15 mins
- Prasan Gateway International School (PGIS) British-style, ages 2 to 13, in Chalong near Robinson Chalong, around 11 km
- Montessori House Phuket International School Montessori, ages 3 to 12, in Chalong, around 11 km
- Little Lights International Kindergarten English kindergarten from about age 1 to Grade 1, Montessori and Waldorf blend, Rawai and Chalong boundary, around 15 mins
- Lighthouse International School Canadian (Alberta) curriculum, primary campus in Rawai, around 20 mins
- International School of Phuket (ISP) British and Cambridge, main school to age 14, plus a nursery and kindergarten for ages 2 to 6, in Rawai, around 13 km
- QSI International School of Phuket American curriculum, ages 2 to 18, in Kathu, around 20-25 mins
- Kajonkiet International School British and Cambridge, ages 2 to 18, in Kathu, around 25-30 mins
- British International School Phuket (BISP) British, ages 2 to 18, in Koh Kaew, around 30-35 mins
- UWC Thailand and Glenalmond Phuket IB and English National Curriculum, both in Thalang beside Thanyapura, around 45-55 mins. Glenalmond opened in August 2026
- More campuses HeadStart (Chaofah campus), Ruamrudee and Finnway are around 20-35 mins away. Check ages and curricula with each school
Shopping & daily needs
- Prima Marketplace, FamilyMart, SuperCheap and Karon Avenue Small supermarkets and minimarts around Karon Circle and Patak Road
- Karon Temple Market Tuesdays and Fridays from 16:00 to 22:00 at Wat Suwan Kirikhet on Soi Patak, local food
- Karon Bazaar Covered market next to the Paradox resort on Karon Beach Road, souvenirs and clothing
- Villa Market, Chalong Western-import supermarket, around 10 mins
- Lotus Supermarket, Chalong Large supermarket, around 15 mins
- Robinson Lifestyle Chalong Large mall with a cinema, around 15 mins
- Jungceylon, Patong Mall, around 10-20 mins
- Central Phuket Floresta and Festival Malls with Tops and Gourmet Market, around 20-25 mins
- Big C Phuket Town Hypermarket, around 20-25 mins
Restaurants & beach clubs
- The Pad Thai Shop, Mama Jin Restaurant and Bai Toey Thai and Thai-Western, casual, on Patak Road and nearby
- Kata Villa Restaurant Thai and seafood, casual
- EAT Bar & Grill Steaks, grill and burgers
- Golden Paradise North Indian on Karon Road
- SOUL Vegan Cafe & Restaurant Vegan cafe and restaurant on Karon Road
- Two Chefs Karon Beach and Flare Phuket Thai, Western and Mexican grill; Italian, grill and Asian fusion. Moderate prices at Two Chefs
- Tann Terrace Beach restaurant at the south end of the beach, Italian, Thai and bakery, moderate prices
- Coast Beach Club and Bistro At Centara Grand Beach Resort Karon, more restaurant than beach club, moderate prices
- On The Rock Restaurant Seafood at the Marina Phuket Resort, high-end
- Portosino Restaurant and CHARD Grill Thai and Indian with a rooftop bar; steakhouse and seafood. Higher prices
- Relax Beach Bar Beach bar at Le Meridien on Karon Noi Beach, resort-level prices
- Fira Beach Club On the Kata Noi hill above the beach, not on the sand. No entry fee, minimum spend at poolside daybeds, high prices
- Ska Bar Long-established beach bar on Kata Beach, low prices by Phuket standards
Coffee & cafes
- Coffee Talk Karon Beach and Cafe Studio Karon Beach Retro air-conditioned cafe on Patak Road; sandwiches, wraps and ice cream
- Maybelle Coffee Garden and Sabaijai Cafe Garden cafe; family-run vegetarian cafe
- Anda Cafe and Travellers Coffee Coffee shops, the second with a bakery
- Cafe Hill Coffee & Bistro and Italian Job Coffee Thai-style espresso and pancakes; coffee with vegan options, on Khok Tanod Road
- Dolci & Delizie and Cannelle Kata Bakery & Co Italian bakery and sandwich shop; sourdough sandwiches and coffee
- Lost in Phuket and Benedict Breakfast Cafe Laptop-friendly cafe with breakfast on Kata Road; breakfast and brunch
- On The Hill Karon Hilltop breakfast spot from 07:30, view of the bay and Big Buddha
- Roasteries None found in Karon. The nearest is Hock Hoe Lee in Rawai, around 14 km
Sports & wellness
- Gyms and Muay Thai New Karon Gym (09:00 to 21:00) near the beach, Studio X Fitness between Kata and Karon, Mai Karon Muay Thai near the beach roundabout. Sinbi Muay Thai and AKA Thailand in Rawai, around 15 mins. Tiger Muay Thai and the Soi Ta-iad cluster in Chalong, around 15 mins
- Padel & pickleball No padel court found in Karon. Padel Phuket @ Chalong (3 covered courts) is around 15 mins and Xplore Padel Phuket (3 covered courts) is around 11 km. Pickleball: 2 outdoor courts at the Pullman Phuket Karon Beach Resort, around 5 mins
- Golf Red Mountain, Phuket Country Club and Loch Palm, all 18 holes, around 20-25 mins. Laguna Golf is around 30-40 mins; Blue Canyon and Mission Hills around 45-55 mins
- Diving and surf SSS Phuket Dive & Surf Center in Karon, Dolphin Divers and Oceanic Dive Center in Kata, and Super Surf Kata, an artificial wave surf park, around 5 km
- Dino Park Mini Golf Mini golf in Kata, around 2.5 km
- Yoga & pilates None found in Karon. Nearest are Figure8 Pilates (appointment only), 5 Elements Hot Yoga and Yoga Connections in Chalong, around 11 km
- Sailing, kite and wake Phuket Yacht Club in Chalong has a sailing school and visitors are welcome, around 15 mins. Kitesurfing at Rawai and Nai Harn in winter and Nai Yang in summer. Phuket Wake Park around 20 mins
- Horse riding and climbing Chalong Horseback Riding (inland trail rides), around 10 km. Niran Equestrian Centre (lessons, closed Mondays), around 35-45 mins. Rebel Rock Climbing (indoor), around 35-45 mins
Attractions
- Big Buddha Hilltop landmark in Chalong, around 20 mins
- Promthep Cape Southern viewpoint in Rawai, around 20 mins
New & coming soon in Karon
New
- NewMy Front Yard community mall (Chalong) Opened in 2025 by Wat Chalong, around 15 mins away. Bakeries, restaurants, Figure8 Pilates and a gym.
- NewBangkok Hospital Phuket cancer care The Bangkok-Phuket Cancer Institute service was launched in September 2026, announced by the hospital group. Around 25-35 mins away.
- NewGlenalmond Phuket (Thalang) English National Curriculum school at Thanyapura, opened August 2026, around 45-55 mins away.
Coming soon
- Coming soonWattanapat Phuket Hospital, Kamala Planned. A 200-bed private hospital in two phases of 100 beds. The company has said the first phase is planned for the last quarter of 2026. Check with the hospital for the current position.
- Coming soonKathu to Patong expressway and tunnel Planned. Government timetable gives Cabinet approval in December 2026, construction from October 2027 and opening around October 2031 (reported September 2026). It shortens Kathu to Patong, so the effect on Karon is indirect.
- Coming soonPhuket Airport expansion Planned. An international terminal extension and extra gates, taking capacity to at least 18 million passengers a year. Completion is given as between 2029 and 2031, depending on the source.
- Coming soonBumrungrad International Hospital Phuket Planned in Mai Khao, near the airport. Opening is reported between the third quarter and the end of 2027, depending on the source.
- Coming soonSongklanagarind (PSU) Hospital Phuket Planned. A new university hospital, reported to open between 2029 and 2030, depending on the source. The site is reported as Kathu in some sources.
- Coming soonCentral Phuket expansion Announced. Central Pattana says the Floresta and Festival complex in Phuket Town will be about 40 percent larger, with completion in 2028 (reported February 2026).
- Coming soonPhuket light rail Proposed. Airport to Chalong, about 42 km. Construction is reported between 2028 and 2029 and opening between late 2031 and 2032, after earlier dates were missed. It would not serve Karon directly.
Getting around from Karon
- Karon Beacharound 1 km, 5 mins
- Kata Beacharound 5 km, 10 mins
- Patong Beacharound 8 km, 10-20 mins
- Chalong Pieraround 9 km, 15 mins
- Phuket Townaround 18 km, 25-35 mins
- Boat Avenuearound 25 km, 30-40 mins
- Boat Lagoon & Royal Phuket Marinaaround 26 km, 30-40 mins
- Phuket Airportaround 43 km, 50-60 mins
Properties in Karon
Projects in Karon
Other Phuket area guides
Bangtao/Laguna · Bangtao/Surin · Cape Yamu · Chalong · Cherngtalay · Kamala · Koh Kaew · Layan · Nai Thon · Natai Beach · Pru Jampa · Rawai · Sakhu · Thalang
Frequently asked questions
What is Karon like to live in?
A long beach on the west coast between Patong and Kata, calmer than Patong. The area splits into Karon Center for dining and shopping, Karon Beach Road for resorts and evening strolls, and the livelier Luang Poh Chuan Road area toward the south. Everyday basics are close, but the hospitals, large supermarkets and international schools are in Chalong and beyond.
Is there a hospital in Karon?
No. The nearest 24-hour emergency department is Patong Hospital (public, around 10-20 mins). Dibuk Hospital (private, around 20 mins) also has 24-hour emergency, and Bangkok Hospital Phuket, Bangkok Hospital Siriroj and Vachira Phuket Hospital are around 25-35 mins. Chalong Hospital, a public hospital, is around 10 mins away. Ambulance: 1669.
Are there international schools near Karon?
Not in Karon itself. The nearest are in Chalong, around 15 mins away (BCIS, Buds, PGIS and Montessori House), and Lighthouse and ISP in Rawai, around 20 mins. QSI and Kajonkiet in Kathu are around 20-30 mins, BISP around 30-35 mins, and UWC Thailand and Glenalmond around 45-55 mins.
How far is Karon from Phuket Airport?
Around 43 km, roughly 50-60 mins depending on traffic. The road between Karon, Kata and Patong is slow in high season.
Where can I play padel, golf or train near Karon?
No padel court has been found in Karon. The nearest are in Chalong, around 15 mins. Golf is around 20-25 mins at Red Mountain, Phuket Country Club and Loch Palm. Mai Karon Muay Thai and New Karon Gym are near the beach, and the large Muay Thai and fitness cluster on Soi Ta-iad in Chalong is around 15 mins away.
Where do I do a big supermarket shop from Karon?
Karon has minimarts and small supermarkets. For a full shop, Villa Market and Lotus's in Chalong are around 10-15 mins away, Robinson Lifestyle Chalong is around 15 mins, and Big C in Phuket Town is around 20-25 mins.
How many properties are for sale in Karon?
There are currently 2 properties for sale in Karon with Digital Villas, across 1 project.
What do villas cost in Karon?
Villas in Karon start from around THB 52.27M, with price depending on the project, plot and finish.
Which developers build in Karon?
Karon has developments from Botanica.