Motorbike Rental in Kamala, Phuket

Kamala is the quiet family bay on Phuket's west coast, a 2 km beach between Patong and Surin. The district is really two settlements: the original village set back inland around Wat Baan Kamala and the fresh market, and the resort strip along the shore. Everything works off two roads — Rim Had Road, the flat coastal lane right behind the beach, and the wider inland main road that carries traffic south over the hill to Patong and north through Surin towards Cherng Talay and Bangtao. Walking works inside the strip and nowhere else: the market, FantaSea, Laem Singh and the next bay along are all a ride away, which is why motorbike rental in Kamala is what most guests here end up doing.

We do not have a walk-in office in Kamala — the nearest branch is in Bangtao: 126 Srisoonthorn Rd, Choeng Thale, open daily 08:00–18:00, phone and WhatsApp +66 808 948 672. From there to Kamala is roughly 8–9 km south on the coastal route through Cherng Talay and Surin, about 15–20 minutes. Collect the bike at the office, or we bring it to your hotel or condo in Kamala. The contract takes about 10 minutes: a passport (we make the copy ourselves, the original stays with you) and a cash deposit of 3 000฿ for scooters up to 160cc or 7 000฿ for the Forza 350 and ADV 350. We do not ask for a driving licence to rent; bear in mind that Thai law requires a category A or A1 licence to ride.

Rental prices

The day rate falls as the rental gets longer: a Scoopy 110 is 350฿ for one day but 200฿ a day from 7 days, and a PCX 160 ABS is 600฿ a day or 6 000฿ for a whole month. The full table for every model is on the prices page.

Which bike to choose for Kamala

Inside Kamala the riding is easy — Rim Had Road and the village lanes are flat and slow. What decides the engine size is the hill to Patong: a steep, twisting climb over the headland past the Kalim viewpoint, roughly 9 km of it. The coast road north to Surin also rolls over rises rather than running level.

• Honda Scoopy 110 or Click 125 — the cheapest way to cover Kamala itself: the beach, the market, the shops on the main road, dinner on the strip. Light, narrow and easy to slot in anywhere.
• Honda Click 160 or PCX 160 — what we suggest if you will ride to Patong regularly or carry a passenger. On the hill the difference is obvious, and the PCX's wider seat and underseat space pay off on longer days.
• Honda ADV 160 — higher ground clearance and softer suspension for the steeper side lanes up the hillside above Kamala, where surfaces are patchy.
• Honda Forza 350 — for the whole island in a day: the airport, Phuket Town, the northern beaches. Effortless on the hill and stable at highway speed on route 402.

Two helmets come with every bike, along with medical insurance covering up to 50 000฿ in an accident. All our bikes are new and Honda only. Going down the Patong hill, brake before the bends rather than in them and use engine braking on the long sections.

Where to park a bike in Kamala

Kamala is much easier than Patong, but Rim Had Road is narrow and busy with pedestrians for most of the day, so a little care saves trouble.

• Your hotel or condo. Almost every property in Kamala has its own bike parking — ask at reception on arrival; for guests it is normally free, and it is the safest place overnight.
• Rim Had Road. Bikes park along the edge in front of the numbered sois. Stay inside the marked lines, never within a couple of metres of a junction or a pedestrian crossing, and do not block a soi entrance — this is where a bike gets moved or clamped.
• The fresh market and the main road. Come in the morning, when the market is at its busiest, and use the bays at the edge of the market yard rather than stopping on the carriageway.
• Attractions. Phuket FantaSea and Carnival Magic have their own large lots, so there is no reason to leave a bike on the main road when you go to an evening show.
• Laem Singh viewpoint. Parking on the coast road above the cove is limited and the shoulder is narrow — pull fully off the road, and if it is full carry on to the next pull-out rather than stopping on a bend.

We have separate guides on where to park a motorbike in Phuket, including free parking, and on how to avoid having a bike stolen.

Where to ride from Kamala

Kamala sits in the middle of the west coast, so the good rides go in both directions along the sea.

• Laem Singh and Surin — 2 km north to the viewpoint above the cove, 4–5 km to Surin beach, 10 minutes. The classic sunset stop on the coast road.
• Patong over the hill — about 9 km, 20 minutes, with the Kalim viewpoint over the bay on the way down. Steep with blind bends; ride it in daylight the first time.
• Bangtao and Layan — 8–9 km and 13–14 km north, 15–25 minutes, past our Bangtao office on Srisoonthorn Road. Long flat beaches and much calmer water.
• Phuket Town — 25–27 km inland, 40–45 minutes via Kathu. The old quarter, Thalang Road, coffee and markets; a comfortable half-day on a 160cc.

Route ideas with stops are collected in our article on the best motorbike routes around Phuket.

Police checks, licence and helmets

Checkpoints work regularly on the main road through Kamala and at the junctions at either end of the hill road to Patong, and documents really are checked. A helmet is compulsory for rider and passenger alike: riding without one can cost up to 2 000฿ per person, which is why two helmets come with every bike. We do not require a driving licence to rent the bike — a passport and the cash deposit are enough. Under Thai law, though, riding a motorbike requires a category A or A1 licence, international or Thai, and that is what the police check: riding without it is a 1 000฿ fine, and the responsibility rests with the rider. Full rental conditions are on therules page, and which licence actually counts at a checkpoint is covered in our article on renting a motorbike in Phuket without a licence.

Bike delivery to Kamala

Bikes for Kamala come from our Bangtao office at 126 Srisoonthorn Rd — 8–9 km along the coast through Surin, 15–20 minutes. On rentals of 5 days or more, delivery to your hotel or condo in Kamala is free. On shorter rentals it is paid: the price depends on the distance to the address and the manager confirms it before you book. We can also pick the bike up at the end of the rental. Note that the Bangtao office closes at 18:00, so agree the delivery or return time in advance. Send your address, the model, the dates and a passport photo to WhatsApp; delivery conditions are also listed on the prices page.

Bike rental in other Phuket areas:
Patong · Bangtao · Karon · Kata · Airport · Monthly rental