Karon Temple Market
Not far from Kata Ocean View Residences you will find the neighbourhood of Karon with its long stretch of beach. Another popular favourite amongst tourists, Karon Beach is known for its deep waters, big waves and energetic vibe. However, Karon is also home to one of the nicest Buddhist temples on the island, and the weekly market held within the temple grounds is well worth a visit.
Welcome to the market
Wat Suwan Khiri Khet is the official name of Karon’s temple, and renovations and upgrades have been ongoing since 2010. The temple holds a popular market twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays that is gaining popularity all across the island of Phuket.
The Karon Temple Market is quite expansive, covering 12,000sqm, and starts late in the afternoon. The market is very fun to wander, and offers many a product geared towards tourists including scarves, sarongs, Thai souvenirs, fisherman pants, woven handbags, beachwear and t-shirts. Cheap jewellery is also available, as well as Muay Thai boxing gloves and shorts.
There are also a few stalls that display and sell local artisan products and handicrafts. Natural and organic products are also sold here, such as lotions, soaps and coconut oil. The latter is quite famous in Phuket makes for a great souvenir. All of these items are worth bargaining for, as part of the fun of any market in Thailand is the banter.
Sample local Thai favourites and street eats
A wide variety of food is available at the Karon Temple Market, which allows for a great experience sampling all of the local favourites as well as Thai sweets and snacks. The food section of the market is located near the temple’s main entrance and offers up all sorts of finger food, meat on a stick, Thai desserts, fried insects, sushi, and of course, an ample array of local, exotic fruits. The fresh fruit shakes at this market are quite a refreshing treat, and both the Phuket pineapple and ripe mango are recommended.
Experience local life
Although many of the items for sale at the Karon Temple Market cater towards tourists, this market truly presents a way to catch a glimpse of normal, local Thai life here in Phuket. You will notice a very friendly atmosphere and a great camaraderie amongst the market vendors. Markets tend to bring lots of families out together, which is always especially nice to see.
Getting there
From Kata Ocean View Residences, the Karon Temple is approximately a ten minute drive. If you are interested in visiting the Karon Temple Market, or exploring the neighbourhood of Karon and the beach, do let our friendly guest relations staff know. They are able to not only arrange transportation, but also advise on some of the popular hotspots as well as local events and festivities.
