Chalong

Located 11 kilometres south of the Pukhet Town, Chalong is a large bay in the southeast coast of Phuket Island. It is a very picturesque bay but its muddy bottom does not make it suitable for swimming, however it is Phuket's main boat harbour and the ideal and natural spot for yacht mooring. Here, is situated the Ao Chalong Yacht Club, one of most prestigious yacht clubs in Phuket. The most obvious feature of Chalong's nautical activity is its 720-meter long and seven-meter wide jetty, replacing the rickety old wooden pier in 2001. Close to Ao Chalong Pier were built a large parking lot and numerous restaurants, shops, tourist information kiosks and outdoor waiting areas to serve the many visitors passing through. Along the pier are also situated a customs service, an immigration office and a marine rescue center. Ao Chalong Pier is the center of intense boating activity from early morning to late afternoon, with large day trip groups and divers who go up and drop off from the boats. As the island's main boat harbour, most of Phuket's speedboat, fishing, snorkelling companies and yacht charter are located in Chalong. Destinations include Coral Island, Phi Phi Islands and Racha Islands for day trips, snorkelling and deep-sea fishing. Most of Phuket's scuba diving companies have also moved to Chalong their positions from other areas of the island. Chalong village develops mainly around the coastal road and consists in a colourful combination of buildings linked to nautical activity, residential areas, accommodation, shops and restaurants. Wat Chalong, Big Buddha temple and Phuket Aquarium are also located here. Formally named Wat Chaithararam, Wat Chalong is the most important and venerated of the 29 Buddhist temples on Phuket. Recently refurbished the Phuket Aquarium is a window that allows the view of marine species that you will find in the Andaman Sea. The huge white statue of Big Buddha temple sits on top of the Nagakerd Hill between Chalong and Karon. From the hilltop, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the southern part of Phuket Island, sightseeing of Phuket Town, Kata, Karon and the beautiful Chalong Bay. Chalong has hotel accommodations to suit every budget, from 300 baht for a shared room to five star hotels and resorts. Most Chalong's restaurants are lined up along the coastal road and offer just about every type of cuisine, such as Italian, Mexican, Indian as well as Burger King, McDonald's, MK Hot Pot and Kentuky Fried Chicken and fresh bakeries. The area also features some of the best Thai Seafood waterfront restaurants in Phuket. More