Tourism guides rarely feature it, and most maps only focus on the impressive temple and less impressive roundabout, but expatriates choosing to live in Phuket have increasingly decided to call Chalong their home. See Chalong Properties for Sale.
Chalong is well situated for beach lovers, with Karon, Kata, and Nai Harn and Rawai only a 10-minute drive away. The busier Patong Beach is only 20 minutes from Chalong, as are Phuket Town with its Sino-Portuguese architecture and delightful cafes, and the major shopping centres (Central Festival and Central Floresta).
A crossroads for the island’s major east-west and north-south arteries, Chalong is conveniently located to pretty much all the amenities residents in the South of Phuket require. At the same time, Chalong also enjoys real estate prices lower than those on the aforementioned beaches.
Chalong: A Residential Area with Investment Potential
For anyone planning to make Phuket their permanent home, Chalong has a lot to offer. Current residents of the area could offer a lengthy list of reasons living in Chalong is so enjoyable.
The proximity to so many international schools is a major selling point for families with children, while the easy access to top-notch hospitals is appealing to everyone. The number of supermarkets, bakeries, and butchers, as well as the variety of cafes, restaurants, and bars, means there is something for every taste. And, as mentioned above, Chalong is conveniently located near four of southern Phuket’s most enticing beaches.
It is quite simply an ideal location in which to live. Granted, the convenience of so many amenities does not mean surviving without a car, but every necessity is only a short distance to drive. (Even Phuket International Airport can be reached in about an hour.)
While Chalong is home to many permanent and long-term residents, tourists can be found staying in the small hotels or rental properties in the area. Some people actively want to avoid the really touristy areas and prefer the feeling of staying in an expat residential area instead.
Given its growing popularity, it should hardly be a surprise that development has taken off to meet the growing demand. On Viset Road – the main road from Chalong Circle to Rawai – looking left toward the East Coast, almost all the available land is currently being developed with new villas and condominiums.
The construction is all being done by well-established developers with a solid track record on the island, so the quality of the projects will doubtless be high. Not only that, any villa with a roof terrace, as well as the higher floors of the condominiums, will all have stunning sunrise views.
Chalong Offers a Range of Choice
Families looking to live near the top schools are drawn to Chalong due to the excellent array of international schools nearby. These range in age from nursery schools to kindergartens to high schools. Notable schools in and around Chalong are Lighthouse, Head Start, Montessori, and BCIS (which boasts Phuket’s first planetarium on its campus).
Most condominiums in Chalong are not large enough to accommodate families, and even the new ones under construction are mostly more suited to individuals or couples. But that shortcoming is more than made up for by the number and variety of housing developments, including estates with pool villas. This availability is one reason so many families like living in Chalong.
Chalong benefits in so many ways from “location, location, location”. All the amenities one expects as a resident can be found here. Schools and hospitals are conveniently located. And it is close to the sea, but not in an overly touristy area. This is why it is easier to get real value for money in Chalong versus the beach communities only 10 min away.
Because Chalong is in high demand, especially from residential buyers, there is a steady demand for new properties from foreign buyers, making it relatively easy to sell either condos or villas. However, for those exploring real estate opportunities across the island, please view our full selection of Phuket property for sale. As mentioned already, there are a number of tourists who are attracted by everything Chalong has to offer. That means any buyer who chooses to rent their property in Chalong can expect a reasonably attractive return on their investment, especially during peak season.
Chalong Pier & Sunrise Avenue
Chalong Pier has become one of the main departure points for fishing, diving, and snorkelling trips leaving Phuket for deeper waters. Some boats may also go the whole way to Koh Phi Phi.
Sunrise Avenue is also home to a number of well-frequented cafes and guest houses, which cater to the arrivals and departures at the pier.
Because the pier is so active, Sunrise Avenue—the main traffic artery to and from the pier – has become a bustling hangout for local residents, especially those involved in the dive industry.
There are also a number of bars and restaurants in this area, including an iconic choice for seafood – Kan Eang @Pier.
Infrastructure – From Chalong Roundabout to Light Rail
The roundabout known as Chalong Circle was once one of the most infamous intersections on the island. Chalong is the crossroads to the airport, Central Festival, and all points northwest; Phuket Town to the northeast; Nai Harn and Rawai to the south; and Kata and Karon to the west. (Sunrise Avenue also branches off the Circle – due east towards the pier and Chalong Bay.)
The traffic that infested such a crossroads was predictable, and infrastructure improvements here were as necessary as they were inevitable. Chalong Circle is still quite busy (if you are driving east to west), but with an underpass for north – south traffic, a major improvement has been achieved.
Still under consideration is the Light Rail Transit meant to connect Phuket International Airport the south of the island. Chalong is intended to be the southern most station. This project, when completed, would ease traffic congestion even further.
Chalong Bay: Year-Round Haven for Boats
Chalong is very popular among boating enthusiasts. While the many of the dedicated marinas tend to be on the northeast coast, a major exception is Chalong Bay, which remains an important mooring site for boats and yachts, owing to its year-round natural protection from both wind and waves.
Phuket Yacht Club (Ao Chalong Yacht Club) is also located here, and it is a welcoming venue for members and non- members alike. The restaurant offers views of Chalgong Bay and the numerous yachts and other private craft moored there.
The “Muay Thai Street”: Soi Taied
Soi Taied in Chalong is home to a plethora of yoga studios, wellness centres, and bodybuilding gyms, but it is probably best known for its Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts Centres.
Truly one of Asia’s best destinations for health and fitness, it stands to reason that a lot of foreigners choose to live here for the proximity to their daily training center. Measuring 1.6km from end to end, Soi Taied is sometimes called Chalong’s “Amazing Mile”.
