Patong Tour (Self Guided), Phuket

The western coast's most popular, and highly-crowded, beach is the 2-kilometre-long Patong Beach. An amazing number of entertainment options, such as numerous night clubs and venues, along with huge groups of people, are all present here. Imagine white sand, clear blue water, the hot sun and many water sports. Time at Patong Beach can make your vacation dream come true. The prices here are not high, so you do not need to worry about spending too much money. Good seafood restaurants are located at the seashore; this is a great chance to try Thai cuisine. If you have time, take a walk to the pier, which is also a noteworthy site!

If you would like to get in touch with the locals, then you need to visit the Banzaan Fresh Market, situated right near the famous Jungceylon Shopping Arcade. The Banzaan Market is a clean and tidy place for grocery shopping. Downstairs you will find tables selling fresh vegetables and fruits of all kinds and fresh seafood, such as crabs, squids, and turtles. Upstairs you will find several nice cafes selling Thai and Chinese food; no fast food can be found here. You can purchase souvenirs, gifts, toys for your children, and many other pretty items from small vendors upstairs.

Operation hours: Monday - Sunday: 6 am – 9 pm.

Patong Bay is full of places for enjoyment and fun, and the park situated close to Bangla Road is no exception! Some great choices are available here: bungee jumping, mini-golf, bowling and snooker. The bungee jump is the most famous and attracts the most tourists. This one is the biggest in Thailand, operates by international standards of quality and security, and all jumpers are fully insured. You can take a 60 Meter jump! If you prefer a slower pace, Patong Park is also a lovely spot for relaxing and resting in the shade.

Mister Singh is a world-known Thai couturier. Appreciated for the quality of his work and design, Mr. Singh has opened a fashion gallery at Rat-Uthit Road in Patong. There are many shops of these kind in Thailand, especially in Bangkok, but Mister Singh's Fashion Gallery (near Patong's luxury hotel resorts, bars and restaurants) is certainly worth a visit. Great clothing styles are offered for both men and women. An immense range of the highest-quality fabrics are available, close to 20 thousand kinds: Thai silk, English wool, Italian wool, cashmere and Swiss cotton. Don't miss the chance to visit this shop's enormous showroom, and perhaps even buy something! Mr. Sing's Fashion Gallery offers users of this app complimentary drinks and a 10% discount on clothes. Make sure you show store owner this app if you decide to have your clothes made there.

Operation hours: Sunday - Monday: 9:30 am - 10 pm

Cok Makam Musyid, also called simply the Patong Mosque, is the sacred religious place for Muslims here. Muslims make up almost 40% of Thailand's population. The island has many mosques, most of them in the area of Surin Beach. The blue dome of the mosque in Patong is impressive. The interior is decorated in a distinctive style, characteristic of Muslim places of worship. The mosque is a very peaceful place and very well-decorated outside.

In the boisterous, overcrowded city of Patong, one of the largest tourist spots in Thailand, the Wat Suwan Khiri Wong, or the Patong temple as it is popularly called, is a peaceful Thai-Buddhist monastery. Situated at the base of the hilly road that leads to Phuket city, it exists from a time when Patong was just a small village.

The Wat Suwan Khiri Wong is located on a large piece of land, off a busy road. Yet, this Theravada temple is quiet and serene. It has many beautiful features including the main chapel, the pagoda and many statues of Lord Buddha. Around the temple is a housing quarter for the monks along with a dining hall. There is also a large bell tower. Nearby is a small market that sells fresh vegetables and meat every morning. The local people have built a community around the temple, far away from the tourists that swarm the beaches and the main city.

The temple is reminiscent of a time before Patong became the touristy hot spot it now is. It is a welcome break from the noise and crowd of the beaches and night life and a must see site if you are ever in the city!

If you think Phuket is only about its beaches, you are in for a pleasant surprise. Contrary to common tourist belief, Phuket also mesmerizes its visitors with its myriad of cultural, traditional and historical landmarks. Scattered all across the city are monuments worthy of visit and one such destination is the Pun Tuao Kong Shrine.

Unlike other Temples, the Pun Tuao Kong Shrine is not extravagant but rather modestly set on the hill of Patong. But don’t let the size and its modest built fool you, the Pun Tuao Shrine has quite a following in Phuket. On the way to the Shrine one can even hear the horns of the car as they pass by. This may get a little noisy at times but this is practiced, to pay respect to the souls that passed away on the hill on the way to the Temple and also to pay respect to the Chief patron of the Shrine.

Built in 1980, the Shrine was built by Chinese settlers, who came to Phuket in search of work, money and prosperity. The Chinese laborers came to the country as a better economical option for the fast growing industry of tin mining. The immigrants soon settled in and built beautiful shrines in honor of their gods and goddesses and the Pun Tuao Kong Shrine is one of the many that were built.