Next door to Patong, and much less frenetic, is Karon Beach which still caters for large numbers of visitors. The 5km long, perfect sandy beach allows visitors from the frozen north to get the chill out of their bones and catch up on the latest bestseller. A great swimming beach in high season, beware the surf (and take heed of the lifeguards’ advice) during the southwest monsoon. The road behind the beach and the side roads offer plenty of places to eat and drink.