Karon Beach is a lovely beach of light sand. It offers some very good opportunities for sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, and more. It is also known for as a sea turtle nesting ground. Not too busy, Karon Beach still has some convenient restaurants, shops, and accommodations. The north end is your best bet if you’re looking for true isolation.
It is quite common for beach vendors to sell a variety of products to visitors, including food, jewelry, knickknacks, clothing, and much, much more. Vendors are quiet friendly. If you’re not interested, be polite and smile. The same goes for if you are interested, but bargaining is expected.
There are a few restaurants along the road near Karon Beach that mostly offer Thai and seafood. Some also have western dishes, and you’ll find the most variety at the hotels.
Along the beach are a number of food stalls where you can get very good Thai food at good prices.
A good number of the restaurants near the beach will allow beachgoers to use their restroom facilities for a small fee. There are no public toilets around the beach.
Visitors can rent umbrellas and tables along with sun beds for a small fee. These are located right on the beach.
Karon Beach may be pretty quiet, but it has a lot to offer in terms of water sports. Visitors can waterski, go wakeboarding, parasail, or jetski. In addition to these activities, you can of course always swim, snorkel, and wade at the beach. Surfing is less likely, as waves aren’t very good or reliable, but it is possible. All the necessary equipment can be rented from vendors near the beach.
Often volleyball and other beach games pop up at night, so there are plenty of opportunities to make some new friends.
Like many Thai beaches, Karon Beach is home to some great massage artists who will ease your aches and pains right on the beach. In addition to Thai massages, other techniques are usually available.