Patong Beach (หาดป่าตอง) refers to a beach on Phuket’s west coast, and to the town adjoining it. It is the main tourist resort in Phuket. It also contains an important center of Phuket’s nightlife and is the center of inexpensive shopping on the island. The beach became popular with Western tourists, especially Europeans, in the late 1980s. Numerous large hotels and chain hotels are located there.

Patong Beach

Patong Beach is as equally famous for its nightlife as also the 2-kilometer beach that runs the entire length of Patong’s western side. Nightlife is centered on two main areas Bangla Road and Paradise Complex, with Bangla Road being predominantly straight and Paradise Complex being predominantly gay. Both roads are lined with many themed bars, discotheques, and go go bars. Prostitution is culturally acceptable, especially on Bangla Road where there are many older Western men drinking with much younger Thai women and transvestites. Most discos in Patong charge a 100 baht admission fee but rather than being a cover charge, this is actually a drink minimum since you get a voucher and most clubs charge 100 baht for almost all drinks.

On December 26, 2004, Patong Beach along with many other areas along the western coast of Phuket and Thailand were struck by a tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. The wave caused a great deal of destruction to the waterfront of the beach and immediately inland, and many people were killed there. Patong was one of the worst affected areas of Phuket, although the destruction was not nearly as bad as nearby in Khao Lak. However, the water in Patong Beach seemed clearer after the tsunami.

Other Things to See and Do

• Have a massage, we recommend Bali Hai on 200 Years Road.

• Boogie at either Tai Pan, Banana, Tiger, D-Club, Hollywood, Baya Beach or Seduction discos.

• Buy fake goods off the many stalls all over the place (quality is normally poor). The Thai government recently introduced a new law making it a criminal offence to buy or sell pirated goods. Although no cases involving tourists have been reported at the time of writing, the risk does exist that goods that violate intellectual property rights may be liable to confiscation at the airport.

• Take a two hour Thai kickboxing lesson for around 300 baht.

• Do a Fishing Trip. Including: stay on a Private Island, fishing on a Thai fishing boat inc. guides, snorkeling and swimming, seafood barbecue dinner. You can have a private fishing trip for your group only. You can rent the private island for a Private Party on the island.

• Have a Nail Spa to retreat your nails at Oriental de Phuket

• Take a private tour of Phuket with an experienced tour guide – fluent in English and Thai

• Jet-skiing, para-sailing and other water-sports. (Note: There is NO insurance when doing these)

• Get a designer suit or dress made for peanuts. Jaspal Tailor  off Soi Bangla is a good place to start.

• All tours and holiday activities, visit Wild Kingdom Tours  opposite the temple “Wat Suwan Kiriwong”

• Pay to see the world famous ladyboy show at Simon Cabaret  or see one for free at Katoueys R Us, off Bangla road.

• Pay to see Muay Thai – Thai Boxing at the Soi Tan Stadium, tickets available from the old Bangla Stadium next to Margarita Bar.

• Learn to speak some Thai at Patong Language School

• Take a river cruise with River Rovers.