Patong Beach

Patong Beach

Patong is the foremost beach resort of Phuket which can compete with any other famous beaches of the world. But many people do not know that, as late as a few decades ago, Patong was the remotest district of Phuket, cut off from the main part of the island by mountains. Even though it was located only 15 km. from the provincial town, it sometimes happened that a Patong villager who was seriously ill would die before reaching a hospital in town. Thanks to His Majesty King Bhumibol, after his visit to Patong in 1959, a modern road called Phra Barami was built leading from Phuket town to Patong Beach, bringing modernization to the district.

Patong Beach is widely known among Thais and foreigners because of two important factors. One is its natural beauty -- the white sandy beach, plentiful sunshine, clear turquoise sea, fantastic underwater life and soft breezes. The other factor is the availability of a wide range of man-made facilities. Here you have a big choice of accommodation from luxury hotels to palm cottages, a host of restaurants and shops, all kinds of aqua-sports equipment and numerous places of nighttime entertainment, including enchanting transvestite cabaret shows. Patong is also famous for its late night markets where everything wanted by tourists can be found.