Excellence Luxury Villas · Kathu
Luxury Villa Rentals in Kathu
Pool villas above Kamala Bay and close to Patong, in the old tin-mining heart of Phuket
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Two beaches, one old mining village and the hills between
Most visitors to Phuket pass through Kathu without knowing it. It is the smallest of the island's three districts, and it runs from the west coast at Kamala and Patong over the green hills to the edge of Phuket Town. The village it is named after sits inland, a quiet place of Sino-Portuguese shophouses and Chinese shrines that grew rich on tin in the nineteenth century.
Our Kathu collection runs to 44 villas. Most are on the coast, with resort pool villas and cliff suites on the slopes above Kamala, larger private villas with sea views, and a handful within easy reach of Patong.
Here is how the district divides, when to come and what to look for beyond the beach.
Kathu at a glance
- Villas
- 44 across Kathu district, with up to 9 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £3,600 to £9,700 a week, from around £1,300
- Best areas
- Kamala for a calmer beach, Patong for restaurants and nightlife, the inland hills for golf
- Best time
- November to April, the dry season; the Vegetarian Festival usually falls in September or October
- Airport
- Phuket International, around 45 minutes to an hour by road
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Villa Nim Thailand2 bedrooms
4-Bedroom Pool Villa Thailand4 bedrooms
Baan Paa Talee Estate Thailand9 bedrooms
3-Bedroom Pool Villa Duplex Thailand3 bedroomsWhere to stay in Kathu
Kamala for a gentler beach and hillside pool villas, Patong for restaurants and late nights, and Kathu village inland for shrines, golf and the island's older life.
The quieter bay to the north
Kamala is where most of our Kathu villas are, and with good reason. The beach is long and gently shelving, the village behind it is still recognisably a village, with a mosque, a fresh market and a row of simple seafood restaurants, and the evenings are far calmer than in Patong over the headland.
The best villas sit on the hillsides at either end of the bay, where the views open out over the Andaman Sea at sunset. Laem Singh, a small cove reached on foot between Kamala and Surin, is worth the scramble on a calm morning.
Phuket at full volume
Patong is the island's busiest resort, and it makes no apology for it. Bangla Road comes alive after dark, the beach is lined with sunloungers, and the choice of restaurants and shopping is the widest on Phuket.
Few people want to sleep in the thick of it, which is why a villa on the hills above or just beyond the town makes sense: close enough for dinner, far enough for a quiet night. The smaller beaches of Kalim to the north and Tri Trang to the south are good for an early swim.
Tin, shrines and three golf courses
Inland, the road climbs over the hills to Kathu village, once the centre of Phuket's tin mining. The small Kathu Museum occupies a restored Sino-Portuguese house, and the much larger Phuket Mining Museum stands among the hills nearby, usually pleasantly empty.
Kathu Shrine is one of the oldest Chinese shrines on the island, and the birthplace of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, which began here in 1825. The valley is also golf country, with three courses within a short drive, and the local Thai restaurants here are some of the best on the island.
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Yellow flags, braised pork and the monsoon
Phuket's cooking owes a great deal to its Hokkien mining families: mee hokkien noodles, moo hong braised pork belly and dim sum breakfasts, alongside fiery southern Thai curries. During the Vegetarian Festival, yellow flags mark stalls selling meat-free food, and the processions from Kathu Shrine are extraordinary, if not for the squeamish.
The dry season runs from roughly November to April, with calm seas on the west coast. From May to October the southwest monsoon brings showers and rougher surf, but also quieter beaches. Our concierge can arrange restaurant tables, tee times, boat trips and transfers.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in Kathu
Villa Samira Thailand6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £9,680 a week
One Waterfall Bay Thailand6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £9,606 a week
Villa Lamang Thailand1 bedrooms · sleeps 2From £9,229 a week
Villa Kalaya Thailand1 bedrooms · sleeps 2From £7,920 a week
1-Bedroom Beach Access Pool Villa Thailand1 bedrooms · sleeps 2From £7,771 a week
1-Bedroom Beachfront Pool Villa Thailand1 bedrooms · sleeps 2From £7,771 a week
Villa Wang Nam Jai Thailand4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £7,685 a week
2 Bedroom Ocean Pool Suite Thailand2 bedrooms · sleeps 4From £7,563 a weekWhy book your Kathu villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Kathu stretches from a party town to a quiet bay and an inland mining village, and we know which villas give you Patong's restaurants without its noise, and which on Kamala's hillsides are a short walk from the sand. With 44 properties in Kathu, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Restaurant reservations in Patong and Kamala, tee times on Kathu's golf courses, boat trips to Phang Nga Bay and the islands, a private chef and transfers from Phuket airport. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I stay in Kathu?
Kamala suits families and couples who want a calmer beach and hillside villas with sea views. A villa above or near Patong suits those who want restaurants and nightlife close by, while the inland hills suit golfers.
When is the best time to visit Kathu?
November to April is the dry season, with calm seas and sunshine on the west coast. May to October brings the southwest monsoon, with showers and rougher seas, but fewer visitors.
What is the connection between Kathu and the Phuket Vegetarian Festival?
The festival began at Kathu Shrine in 1825, when a visiting Chinese opera troupe fell ill and performed a vegetarian rite to recover. It is held over nine days in the ninth lunar month, usually in September or October, and Kathu Shrine remains one of its main centres.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in Kathu?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in Kathu cost?
Across our 44 villas in Kathu, weekly rates typically range from £3,600 to £9,700, with the most affordable from around £1,300 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How far is Kathu from Phuket airport?
Phuket International Airport is in the north of the island, and Kamala and Patong are around 45 minutes to an hour away by road, depending on traffic. Our concierge can arrange private transfers.
Are there villas in Kathu for large groups?
Yes. Our Kathu collection includes properties with up to 9 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in Kathu
44 villas in Kathu, from Kamala's hillsides to the edge of Patong, booked direct with our concierge on hand