Chalong sits in the southeast of Phuket, well away from the tourist circus of Patong. It's a working waterfront district — functional, a little rough, and genuinely Thai in character. Plenty of expats have settled here precisely because it feels like real life rather than a resort. Wat Chalong, the most important Buddhist temple on the island, is here.
There are two good reasons to come. The first is Chalong Pier: almost all boat trips to the nearby islands — dive excursions, snorkelling day trips to Coral Island, liveaboards — depart from Chalong Bay. If you're heading out to sea, you'll end up here anyway.
The second reason is food. The seafood restaurants along Ao Chalong Bay serve fresh crab, lobster, and fish straight from the tank. This is where you eat well for less than you'd pay anywhere near the beach strip.
The bay also has a quiet sailing scene centred on the Ao Chalong Yacht Club, which runs regular races open to all comers. Just inland, the Chalong Bay Rum Distillery offers tours and a garden bar where you can sample rum made from locally grown sugarcane. And rising above it all is the Phuket Big Buddha on Nakkerd Hill, one of the island's most recognisable landmarks and a genuine religious site as much as a viewpoint.