You're Going to Love Karon
Just west of Phuket in Thailand's southwest lies the gorgeous beach resort of Karon. If you just want to relax on the beach, Karon excels, but there's more here to explore, with natural attractions on the destination's doorstep too.
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Karon
1. The Superb Beach
Karon's main attraction is obvious. The broad, long sandy beach attracts a huge summer crowd, but isn't as packed as other nearby resorts like Patong.
2. If You Love Thai Food, There's Nowhere Better
From the crab fried rice at the unpretentious Pad Thai Shop to delicate curries at Red Chopsticks, Karon offers the best of contemporary Thai cuisine.
3. You Can Visit the Big Buddha
Towering over the resort, the 147-foot-tall Big Buddha is one of Karon's star attractions. The views from the peak are simply stunning.
4. Take an Elephant Safari
Kok Chang Safari Elephant Trekking will get you in the saddle of friendly and humanely treated Asian elephants.
5. There Are Some Great Dive Sites
If you love to dive, Karon is perfect. Head out to nearby reefs with companies like Eco Divers who will show you the region's marine riches.
When to Visit Karon
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High season generally lasts from November through early March. Either end of the season is ideal, with fine weather, little rain and smaller crowds.
How to Get to Karon
Plane
From Phuket International Airport (HKT) a minibus should cost ฿200, while taxis usually cost about ฿650.
Car
From Phuket, take route 402 and switch to route 4021, which takes you straight down to Karon Beach.
Bus
Regular bus services run from Phuket to Karon and cost ฿100.
Airlines serving Karon
Where to stay in popular areas of Karon
Most booked hotels in Karon
How to Get Around Karon
Public Transportation
There are no buses or trams in Karon, but you can catch tuk-tuks (passenger scooters). The trip to Patong Beach will cost around ฿300.
Taxi
Expect taxis to charge a flag drop of around ฿200, then ฿50 per mile.
Car
To rent a car, try places like Grand Car Center or Tulip Car Rental. Rates will start at around ฿500 per day.
Where to Eat in Karon
You'll find fantastic Thai food at the Pad Thai Shop and Mama Noi's, great curries at Red Chopsticks, and stir fries at Bai Toey. Meals should come to around ฿300.