Phuket Island is large enough for you to go for a holiday several times to visit all the different areas within it. If you ever find yourself in the Chalong Bay area, you’d be happy to know that there are several attractions you can visit to maximise time on your vacation. From Phuket’s Chalong Temple to the Big Buddha and beyond, here are some attractions to add to your Phuket itinerary.
Chalong Temple, or Wat Chalong, is one of the largest and most honoured temples on Phuket Island. The temple is dedicated mainly to two much-respected monks of the past, Luang Pho Cheam and Luang Pho Chuang. These monks helped lead Thai citizens during the fight of the Chinese rebellion, and also helped to heal the injured during and after the fight. Wat Chalong is an amazing spot to take photos with its grand structures and interesting atmosphere; local visit the temple to light incense and give offerings to the Buddha statues, and on the outside of the temple, pop music blare and shops selling souvenirs and other items are abundant. This mishmash of local culture and touristy offerings makes the Chalong Temple a worthy addition to your Phuket travel plans.
This attraction is a must-visit when you are in the Chalong Bay area. Opt for the 30-minute distillery tour that happens almost hourly in the afternoon to learn more about how they craft and produce their rum. After the tour, you will also take part in a tasting session and be able to receive a cocktail crafted from their signature rum. If you have more time to spend here, you can opt for their cocktail workshop instead, where you will get the distillery tour plus learn how to make three different types of cocktails. Do note that both these options require a fee, and the cocktail workshop requires prior booking.
On the Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata, there is a giant statue of Buddha made of concrete and gorgeous Burmese white jade marble. This statue can be seen as far away as Phuket Town, due to its large size of being 45-metres tall. Make some time to visit this Phuket Big Buddha monument, which also has a temple on the grounds with other Buddhist statues. The atmosphere around the statue is calm and peaceful, with soft religious music playing in the background, and locals going about doing their prayers. This is a great spot for a photo op and just to relax and pray if you want to.
Okay, Coral Island is technically not in Chalong Bay, but it is accessible via Chalong Pier, so you may as well take the opportunity to go there. Book a snorkelling tour, get on a speedboat and reach Coral Island, where the sands are gorgeously white and the beaches are well-maintained. Go snorkelling in the beautiful reef off Banana Beach, or rent a lounge chair on Long Beach to just soak up the sun. The beaches of Coral Island have the standard offerings of Phuket beaches, so there’s plenty to do and see when you are there. Also, it’s worth noting that Chalong Beach itself is not a beach you can go to for recreation, so if you want to go to a beach Coral Island or the nearby Kata Beach are your best options.
If you want to book a fabulous resort that’s not too far away from Chalong Bay, do feel free to make a booking with us at Club Med Phuket Beach. We are located right next to Kata Beach, which is one of the more popular beaches in Phuket. We are also 15-minutes away from the Chalong area, so you can access all the wonderful attractions mentioned above easily. At the very least, do check out our all-inclusive offerings to see if they are a fit for you!