Luxury Villas in Chalong

Chalong lies in the south-central part of Phuket, around its wide, sheltered bay on the east side of the island. It is less a beach resort than a lived-in part of Phuket, with a local feel, plenty of everyday restaurants and markets, and a large community of long-stay residents. What it lacks in a swimming beach it makes up for in location, sitting right at the crossroads between Phuket Town, the southern beaches and the islands offshore.

Chalong Bay is the island’s largest bay and its main boat anchorage, filled with yachts, longtails and dive boats. Chalong Pier, at the end of the road down from the Chalong roundabout, is the departure point for many island trips, including day trips to Coral Island and the Racha islands, and for diving and snorkelling boats. Mornings at the pier are busy, so staying nearby makes early departures much easier. The shore itself is muddy with a big tidal range, so it is a bay for boats and views rather than for swimming.

Inland, Wat Chalong is Phuket’s largest and most important Buddhist temple, a peaceful complex of ornate halls and a tall pagoda that welcomes visitors throughout the day. On Nakkerd Hill above, between Chalong and Kata, sits the Big Buddha, a 45-metre white marble figure reached by a winding road up the hill. The views from the top take in Chalong Bay, Kata, Karon and Phuket Town, and it is at its calmest early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Villas in Chalong tend to be set among gardens and on the green hillsides around the bay, often with generous plots and, on higher ground, views over the water. It works especially well for families and groups who want a quiet, private base and plan to explore. Rawai and Nai Harn are a short drive south, Kata is over the hill to the west, and Phuket Old Town, with its colourful shophouses and cafés, is around twenty minutes to the north.