Tours & Activities from Patong Beach

Boating & Sailing

Hire a speedboat from Patong, for short scenic trips around the island or to other locations off the coast of Phuket. Costs vary according to the speed and size of the vessel. For a leisurely boat trip around the islands, there are a number of operators running boat trips - half day, full day and extended tours of the area, most include swimming and snorkelling stops at secluded beaches, and for full day tours, provide lunch.

If you are more serious about your boating, there are numerous boat charter agencies through which you can organise a few days sailing, fishing or cruising around the area, with or without crew. Fishing expeditions are extremely popular in these waters where the marine life is abundant and colourful, offering wonderful sport for fishing enthusiasts.

Fishing

The deep blue waters of the Andaman Sea are ideal for game fishing. The region is on the migratory paths of classic fighting fish such as marlin, Dorado and barracuda. At certain times of the year, the Sailfish fishing compares with anywhere in the world. You can charter a boat between friends or join a trip.

Golf

Phuket has four fine golf courses, which have been designed to take full advantage of the island's tropical landscape. Many visitors come solely for golf, but accompanying family members rarely complain about being left to laze by the pool or on the beach. Standards are high and there are enough challenges to stretch players (the Blue Canyon Country Club hosted both the 1994 & 1998 Johnnie Walker Classic Golf Tournament and the Honda Invitational.

Just outside Patong, only 20 minutes away, are two excellent courses... Perfect for an early morning round.....

Junk Tours & Cruises

Phang Nga Bay, around Phuket and the Phi Phi Islands offer perfect destinations for cruising. Sunset cruises, day charter or longer cruises on a beautiful Chinese style Junk. Let the crew do the work while you relax, passing through some of the most stunning scenery in Thailand - magical Phang Nga Bay, the amazing Krabi coastline and idyllic Phi Phi Island. There's no better way to relax. The ideal escape in southern Thailand. Several companies also operate sunset dinner cruises which leave every evening, along Phuket's east coast. Read More...

Scuba Diving

Patong is where most of the island's dive operators are based. Consequently you'll find some of the best-value certificated courses and trips on offer. Whether its PADI- and/or NAUI-certificated diving courses, half-day and day-trips to local reefs, live-aboard cruises to far reaching islands, or introductory dives, they are all, within easy walking distance in Patong.

Compare prices, check equipment and talk to the staff before signing up for any course. Check if the company is a member of Divesafe Asia, and eligible to use Phuket's new hyperbaric centre and decompression chamber. During the late-October to mid-May peak season, there are comfortable liveaboards trips from around 4-8 days to the Similan Islands, - one of the world's top 10 diving destinations. Incredible visibility, spectacular reefs, rock formations plus a huge variety of marine life area the reasons for its appeal.

Never Dived before? Discover the underwater world in unique conditions
- Underwater visibility often exceeds 30 metres, and can extend to 45 metres.
- The water is warm enough to make wetsuits unnecessary.
- There are hundreds of varieties of hard corals, reef fish, and other reef creatures.
- This is one of the best places in the world with the opportunity of swimming with whale sharks and manta rays.
- There are dozens of scenic island destinations within range of daytrips and - liveaboard cruises from Phuket.
- Weather permitting, daytrips and shorter liveaboards are possible all year 'round.

  Read More...

Sea Kayak Tours

Most sea kayaking tours go to Phang Nga. An area of great natural beauty north of Phuket island, famous for its strange shaped islands and caves that lie within the unusual limestone scenery. Within some of these islands, collapsed cave systems have created "hongs" or "rooms", open to the sky, revealing secret lagoons and a unique interior eco-system. The hongs are only accessible by kayak, when the tide is just right.

Local operators have so far gained access to dozens of hongs between Phang Nga and Krabi to the south. Each hong has its own distinct character, and it's easy to spend days, even a week, simply exploring. Limited numbers of people are taken out at a given time; and guides accompany every boat, not just to lead the way and to provide commentary, but also to advise on ways to conserve these precious natural resources. Sea kayaking tours are also available at night, to different destinations with day tours available year round. Read More...

Sightseeing and Other Tours

Phang Nga Bay with its strange limestone scenery, beautiful Phi Phi Island, Khao Lak with its natural forest, are all accessible in a day.

The Loch Palm Golf Club

Established in 1989, is the first and one of the finest golf courses built in Phuket, and lies on a reclaimed tin mine site. The stunning beauty and elegance of the course, together with the typical Thai charm and hospitality will make your golfing joyful and memorable. A 9 hole course is also available here. Follow the road out of Patong heading towards Phuket Town. The course are clearly signposted. There's also a driving range. Read more about Loch Palm Golf Club...

Further afield in the north end of Phuket island, The Banyan Tree Golf Club has a resort style 18 hole golf course located within the Laguna Phuket development. Situated on the exclusive Bang Tao Bay on the western shore of Phuket Island, this par 71 layout stretches 6,850 yards from the championship tees. Read more about Banyan Tree Golf Club...

The Best Time to Play is the early morning or late afternoon for golfers unused to a tropical climate. However it's common to hire multiple caddies (almost always young ladies), and one of them can be assigned parasol duties. Remember sunblock, wear light-coloured clothing that breathes, and drink lots of fluids.