Well I did it, I found the most beautiful beach on this island, I’m sure of it. Wandering out of town one day, I took the road heading south. I knew there was a small beach I might see. Not expecting much, you can imagine how dazzled I was, when I saw Kata Noi Beach, The Star of Phuket!
Location
Kata Beach, possibly the most popular beach on Phuket Island has quite a following for its surfing vibes and developed town. Head up the hillside though, over the undulating hills, on the road heading south, and in half an hour you will arrive at Kata Noi. Enter the beach, either by the tall narrow staircase at the north end, or if you miss this, go down hill another ten minutes and find the entry from the main road.
Resorts
Most of the area at and near the beach is consumed by two resorts. One, the Katathani Resort is a 5-star luxury paradise. If you have any extra dollars to spare, this would be the place to spend it. 😁 I cannot imagine waking up in one of those hillside bungalows and looking out across the expanse of this exquisite turquoise beach.
The second resort is Mom Tri’s Villa Royale, built by a famous Thai architect. A stay here would be equally beautiful.
Ends
Both ends, like the other beaches on Phuket that I have visited, are hilly area’s that jut out into the sea and consist of exposed rocks. These make for magnificent spots to snorkel when the wave action is gentle enough to do so.
On the north end, one can climb and clamour over the huge boulders and hike your way around the coastline a bit. The views are spectacular from here.
Sand & Water
The sand is a light golden tan colour, however quite a bit coarser than its neighbours Kata & Karon. Still walk-able with bare feet, however not so fluffy. The water is clear and warm and deep. Another anomaly from the other two close beaches. Here there is not a gradual entry but rather quite a quick descent into the sea.
The days I visited, the waves were rather aggressive and strong. I would not have been comfortable with small children on this beach, even if they were good swimmers. Some of the adults were struggling in the water, getting tossed about like rag dolls.
The south end has a slightly calmer section, tucked right in at the curve of the bay, that might be a better place if you want to have a swim with your tots.
Kata Noi has a magic element, something I cannot put my finger on. The water alights here, like it is lit from underneath. The air is clean, the vibe is younger and fun. This beach is not full of older people like many of the others. This is the stunning natural beauty I was looking for in Phuket, I’m thrilled I found Kata Noi.
