Stage 5: Kamala Beach → Patong Beach
Stage 5 was the hilliest stretch since the beginning of the walk. Twelve of us covered 11.7 km from the end of Kamala Beach to the start of Patong Beach. Although the forecast predicted rain that morning, we were really lucky, with even a bit of sunshine in the last kilometres. It was a demanding one, but the views along the way and the great atmosphere we created made every climb worth it.
We began at the beach access next to Samnaksong Charoentham Kamala, better known as Wat Baan Kamala, a small, peaceful temple in the heart of Kamala village, just steps from the sea. Much of it was destroyed by the 2004 tsunami and rebuilt afterward, and interestingly, while Kamala is a mostly Muslim village, this one Buddhist temple sits peacefully among its mosques: a quiet reminder of how communities here live side by side. A grounding place to begin a morning.
The first part of the walk took us up a small road known as the Millionaire's Mile, the hillside between Kamala and Patong, lined with some of the most exclusive villas and resorts on the island. Early in the morning it was wonderfully quiet, with almost no traffic, and the higher we climbed, the better the views became. A steep start, but a beautiful one.
Along the way we passed a small, hidden beach called Layi Beach, the kind of quiet spot most people drive past without noticing. On foot, you see these little corners of the coast that are easy to miss from a car.
After the quiet of the Millionaire's Mile, we connected with Road 4030 and its busy traffic for the descent into Patong. Here, as usual, we were extra careful, walking in single file and keeping well to the side as the cars passed. Being visible and predictable is everything on a road like this.
On the way down we passed Kalim beach, at the northern end of Patong bay. Kalim is known for its waves, and that morning there was a surfing contest underway. A nice, unexpected moment of entertainment before the final stretch of road.
We finished at the Dolphin Circle, the well-known roundabout with its dolphin sculptures at the entrance to Patong Beach, one of the most recognisable landmarks in town. From the quiet temple where we started to the busy beach of Patong, this stage really showed the two sides of this coast in a single morning.
If you'd like to walk this stretch yourself, you can download the route below and follow the exact path we took. Just be ready for the climb at the start, and take care on the busy road down into Patong.
Five stages down, sixteen to go. One island, one step at a time.
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