Turn up the Heat in Patong - Sunshine, Beaches, Buzzing Nightlife After Dark

Party on Soi Bangla

 

Once night falls, Bangla Road - the epicentre of Patong's nightlife - is closed to traffic, and the street's many promoters and dancers come out to play. It's a fun place to stroll, and the staff who work and dance in the area's many bars aim to entertain. At Illuzion you'll find live Vegas-style performances in a huge club setting. The Aussie Bar is a more laid-back place to enjoy a beer while watching live sports on the big screen.

 

• Illuzion Show & Discotheque, 31 Thanon Bangla, Patong, Kathu District, Phuket 83150; Tel: +66 99 318 0083; Website: Illuzion Show & Discotheque

 

• Aussie Bar, Thanon Bangla, Patong, Kathu District, Phuket 83150; Website: Aussie Bar

 

High energy thrills - zorbing and zip lining

 

Patong offers adventure experiences that are sure to get your pulse racing. Rollerball in Patong's 190-meter "zorb" experience is said to be the world's longest. Riders climb inside a 3-meter inflatable ball and roll down hillside slopes alone or with a partner. Forty liters of water can be added to the ball for even wetter and wilder excitement. Flying Hanuman is an eco-friendly rainforest experience, where you fly from tree to tree 40 meters above the ground for spectacular views of the dense tropical jungle.

 

• Zorbing at Rollerball Phuket, Kalim Bay View, Soi 7, Kalim, Patong, Phuket 83150; Tel: +66 8987 26532; Website: Zorbing at Rollerball Phuket

 

• Flying Hanuman, 89/16 Moo 6, Soi Namtok Kathu, Wichitsongkram Road, Kathu, Kathu, Phuket 83120; Tel: +66 76 323 264; Website: Flying Hanuman

 

Sun, sea, and surf - beaches around Pa Tong

 

If you need a break from buzzing Patong, you'll find quieter beaches close by. Just south of Patong, Karon is the third-longest beach on Phuket Island. It’s a popular vacation destination, thanks to excellent snorkeling and diving at its southern tip. Kata, just a few minutes south, offers swathes of palm-lined white sand and clear blue water. Kata is popular with surfers from May to October, and with sun worshippers during the dry, sunny months from November to April. Kamala, a sheltered bay and fishing village just north of Patong, offers peace and tranquility, against a backdrop of forested hills.

 

Muay Thai boxing in Patong

 

Although many of the Muay Thai - Thai boxing - demonstrations you’ll see around Patong are staged for tourists, Patong Boxing Stadium has the real deal. Fighters range from wiry teens to international contestants who've come to Phuket to hone their skills. Much of the commentary is in English, and you can buy beers and snacks from the refreshment stalls if you get peckish as the bouts proceed. Bangla Boxing Stadium stages fights on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday nights - you can also place bets on the outcome if you really want to get in on the action.

 

• Patong Boxing Stadium, 2/59 Sai Nam Yen Road, Patong Beach, Amphur Kathu, Phuket 83150; Tel: +66 76 345 578; Website: Patong Boxing Stadium

 

• Bangla Boxing Stadium, 198/4 Ratautit Road, Patong Beach, Kathu, Phuket, 83150; Tel: +66 89 726 1112; Website: Bangla Boxing Stadium