What to do around Chalong?
Chalong is an important and vast area stretching along the east coast of Phuket island. While the name is well known because of the famous Wat Chalong temple, there is no real town and not much to do. It is only known for the 2 long piers and notorious traffic jams. For convenience, and because Chalong is so vast, we will provide every distance from this Chalong circle.
What to do in Chalong
The Piers
The 2 long piers of Chalong are where you may embark on a trip to a nearby island: Coral Island, Lone Island or Racha Island. A lot of dive boats are moored here. The place gets very busy with buses in the morning and evening when dropping off and picking up tourists. Parking a car is very difficult.
Chalong Bay Rum Distillery
Distance from Chalong Circle: 3.4 km
Chalong Bay Rum is a small but well-known factory preparing an excellent local rum with sugar cane juice. You can visit the factory, try some rum tasting, and enjoy their excellent and beautiful open-air tropical restaurant.
Wat Chalong
Distance from Chalong Circle: 3 km
Wat Chalong is the most important and impressive temple in Phuket, located 3 kilometres from Chalong circle.
Phuket Big Buddha
Distance from Chalong Circle: 6.8 km
Phuket Big Buddha is not exactly in Chalong district, but it’s such an iconic landmark visible everywhere in the south of Phuket. It is close to the famous Wat Chalong and often combined in the tour.
Tree Tops Elephant Reserve
Tree Tops Elephant Reserve Phuket is a truly ethical elephant sanctuary, an immense land near a lake in the centre south of Phuket island where you can feed and walk with the elephants.
Wat Sin Supharam
Market Village Phuket
Distance from Chalong Circle: 300 metres
Market Village Phuket is a shopping complex just 300 metres from Chalong Circle. It is mostly known for the large Villa Market Supermarket and Home Pro, an immense house improvement shop.
Soi Ta Iad
Soi Ta-iad goes by many names: Soi Taied, Fitness Street, Phuket Health Street or Muay Thai Street because it is home to many Muay Thai Camps, Fitness and Gyms, Spas and Health Shops. Unless you are in Phuket for some seriously active holiday, you have probably never heard of Soi Ta-iad, a 1.5 kilometres long street connecting Chao Fa Road east to Chao Fa Road west, somewhere near Wat Chalong.
Tiger Beach Club
The Tiger Beach Club was recently opened and is related to the Tiger Muay Thai Camp on Soi Ta-ad nearby. It’s more a club by the ocean than a club by the beach.
Phuket Bird Park
This vast park features 80 species and 1,000 birds kept in cages of various sized disseminated along the steep way leading to the main theatre, but it’s not to everyone’s taste.
Chalong Business Directory
Where to Eat Around Chalong
There are many Thai food and seafood restaurants in the Chalong area, including some local gems. You can also find a few franchises in the small shopping malls if you need a break.
Kan Eang @Pier
Kan Eang @ Pier has been a long-time favourite among locals and tourists looking for a lunch or dinner in a little more sophisticated atmosphere. The seafood is excellent, crabs, fish and prawns are bigger than in nearby places, and the choice of dishes on the menu is impressive. The atmosphere is relaxing and trendy, an excellent way to enjoy a slow meal by the sea.
Kan Eang 2
Kan Eang 2, as the name indicates, is the sister of Kan Eang @ Pier, but in a less fancy and less expensive version. The seafood is very good, and the setting is attractive, more simple in a good way.
Coconuts Cafe
Coconuts Cafe is a lovely little restaurant surrounded by immense and tall palm trees, serving healthy food as well as delicious pastries.
Vegetarian House
The Vegetarian House (เจภูเก็ต) is a fantastic place to experience authentic vegetarian Thai food in Phuket and it is conveniently located on the roadside of Chaofa Road in Chalong.
We Cafe Chaofa
We Cafe Chaofa is a large restaurant that serves a vast array of international, western and Thai dishes at a very good price, located not far from Wat Chalong.
Palai Seafood
Palai Seafood has been around for decades. It’s a simple restaurant by the sea with good Thai food and seafood, but it lacks a bit of atmosphere.
Mor Mu Dong
Mor Mu Dong has been one of our long-time favourites. One reason is the setting in little wooden huts with thatched roofs built on stilts above the mangrove. The second reason is, of course, their excellent Thai and seafood at an affordable price.
Chalong Grill
Chalong Map