Kata Beach

The pleasant bay of Kata, just a few minutes south of Karon Beach, entices many with its white sands and clear waters. The monsoon season of May-October can make for rough swimming conditions, but it's this time of year that the surfers come out. The south end of the beach is the best place to watch, or join in on, the surfing action. Surf and boogie board rentals available. Late in the year as the waters turn calm, Kata bay becomes populated with beautiful yachts, which arrive from all over the region to compete in December's King's Cup Regatta, Asia's premier sailing event.

While Club Med takes up most of the beachfront, a shaded footpath along the road fronting the resort makes for a pleasant stroll. Continuing on through the village, walkers will find an abundance of shops to browse in, from souvenir and ready-to-wear outlets, to 7-11 and local mini-marts, to name brand fashion stores. Steak and seafood seem to be the most common offerings of Kata's many restaurants. Most roadside restaurants display their selection of lobsters, tiger prawns and plump fish right in front of their shop for all to see - and for diners to handpick. There's no shortage of Thai restaurants, and for international fare there's Scandinavian, Tex-Mex, Indian and Italian places to choose from, just to name a few.

Nightlife in Kata is nowhere near as hectic as Patong. It's more a place to relax in an open-air bar or restaurant, dine on seafood, do some shopping, watch the sunset and enjoy a laid-back, balmy evening.

Kata Beach

KATA NOI

This cosy bay is found at the end of a dead-end road, just a few minutes' drive or a 15-minute walk over the hill from Kata beach. There's not much to do in Kata Noi, which is precisely the point of coming here. Relax, take a walk along the soft sands, snorkel or swim.

It's long been a popular spot for surfers in the monsoon season of May-October, though swimming can be dangerous during this period. The popular Kata Viewpoint, offering a stunning vista across the three bays of Karon, Kata and Kata Noi, is only a 5-minute drive along a winding road towards Nai Harn.

Those looking for a full range of dining and nightlife options will have to venture out to Kata and beyond, but there are some restaurants and pubs along the road. A short walk up the hill towards Kata is the celebrated Mom Tri's Kitchen, which offers world-class cuisine in a romantic setting overlooking the sea.