Thailand's World

Patong Beach Phuket

• Patong Beach is a 2.5 mile long stretch of white coral sand adjoining the Town of Patong. Patong Town is the second  largest town on Phuket Island. It is located on the central west coast of Phuket Island in the Kathu District. Here is the largest concentration of tourists to Phuket, lively and at times crowded with seaside hotels, bars, night clubs and restaurants. The bay is very wide but spoiled with jet skis and motor boats.
• This is the lower end of the tourist market. But for some this is attractive, especially with the wide range of entertainment, even for families with children. Mindless activities such as go carts, miniature golf etc are all here.
• The town and tourist facilities are low to the beach and hence suffered badly with the tsunami. The town of Patong has evolved over 500 years with the historical tin mining industry there. The last mining site was close in early the 1990's. Today there is a maze of small shops and stalls offering a large but cheap range of '' souvenirs ''.
• This town also is attractive to the ''gay scene'' and its style of attractions. Bangla Road area is traditionally the area for heterosexuals and the Paradise Complex is the ''gay'' area. Both have bars, prostitutes and discotheques. Bangla Road area is in the center area leading east off the beach road.
  
• Patong Beach is also not sheltered from winds and unless the weather is particularly fine, is not a special place to be.
  
• Patong is a big place and there are numerous back streets inland from the beach on the flat sand based landscape where one can find inexpensive accommodation, restaurants, bars and shops. The better hotels can be found on the rocky hills at either end of the main beach on areas which extend out into the sea as illustrated in the image here.
• Patong being a flat sand belt area was severely destroyed by the December 26, 2004 Tsunami so those wishing to avoid this risk should look to find accommodation on the elevated Capes at either end of Patong Beach.