Kamala is a small seaside town located on the West coast of Phuket Island in Thailand. Even though it’s a little hamlet, there are still things to do in the vicinity, that won’t cost a dime. Here are a few ideas, 5 free things to do at Kamala Beach Phuket to keep you busy.
Friday Night Market
I’m a market fiend, I will find them where ever I travel and they are always unique and entertaining. The Friday night market in Kamala is just that. Located in an otherwise empty field on the North end of the main strip through town, this really gets going after 5pm.
See the most interesting food products here, like congealed pigs’ blood, and boiled quails! Browse the any number of vendors selling their local wares and bask in the smells coming from the street food stalls. This lively market gets busier as the night goes on and is an interesting little haven in town.
Wat Baan Kamala
The only Buddhist temple located in this beach side town, is Wat Baan Kamala. During the devastating tsunami of 2004, this lovely temple was completely destroyed. Through charitable donations in 2005, it was completely rebuilt as the beautiful structures we can see today.
A traditional style, and within peaceful surroundings at the southern end of the beach, Wat Baan offers visitors a quiet glimpse into the true nature of Buddhism. Don’t miss the row of golden Buddhas lined up near the front gate.
Tsunami Monument
As mentioned above, in December of 2004, the island of Phuket was hit by a tsunami of epic proportions. More than 250 people on the island perished, and over 5,400 in total across Thailand.
In a park-like area located up from the centre of the beach, is a memorial to those who lost their lives and others that remain missing. While this is a sad place to visit, it does remind us of the fragility we all share.
Walking further afield, one can see the tower, now erected to sound the alarm should anything like this happen again.
Long Boats
This being my first experience on the coast of Thailand, I have been enamoured with the traditional wooden long boats used by the fishermen. At Kamala Beach, these can be seen bobbing in the surf on the southern end of the beach.
If the tide is out, some can be beached, and offer an opportunity to get up close and personal. The brightly painted ones are a favourite for sure. With the warm glow of the natural wood, these boats are so pretty and unique. Walk over several days in a row and the fishermen will come down from their perch up near the trees to show off their crafts. ☺️
Kamala View Point
Head up to the far north side of the beach and hop on the road. Walk the shoulder up as far as you can, and keep looking over to your left. Eventually you will find a large bare spot, known as the Kamala View Point. The scenery from up here is spectacular. Peeking through the trees, one can look out over the entire expanse of Kamala Beach and the sea. The bright green sparkling water is mesmerizing from up high.
This is not a difficult or long climb, perhaps 20 minutes or so once you are already at this end of the beach. Definitely worth the effort.
I hope this gives you a few ideas of things to keep you busy in this most beautiful beach on Phuket. That is, if you are finished wading into the surf, relaxing with a cold brew and people watching on this magical piece of coast line. 😁⛱️🩴
