Updated in November 2026, this Wat Chalong guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking, transport, accessibility and what to see.
Wat Chalong is a Buddhist temple in the Chalong area of Phuket, Thailand, and is the largest and most visited temple on the island. Updated in November 2026: entry is free, the temple buildings are open daily from 7am to 5pm, and some listings still show a later closing time.
Quick facts about Wat Chalong
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Daily 7am to 5pm. The grounds can be walked outside these hours. |
| Ticket prices | Free. Donations are welcome but optional. |
| Address | 70 Moo 6, Chaofa Road (West), Chalong, Phuket 83000, Thailand |
| Nearest public transport or parking | Free car park on site for cars, motorbikes and minibuses. Taxi or ride-hailing from Phuket Town. |
| Typical time needed | About 1 to 2 hours |
Wat Chalong opening hours
Wat Chalong is open every day from 7am to 5pm.
| Days | Opening hours (all year) |
|---|---|
| Every day | 7am to 5pm |
The year-round hours are the same in every season, with no separate summer and winter times. The grounds can be walked outside opening hours, but the temple buildings are closed.
The temple is quietest between 7am and 9am. Monks hold their morning rituals at this time, and the heat is lower.
Wat Chalong ticket prices
Entry to Wat Chalong is free, and donations and offerings are welcome but not required.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Entry | Free |
| Parking | Free |
| Offering sets (flowers, incense, candles, gold leaf) | Roughly ฿20 to ฿50 from vendors at the entrance |
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in November 2026.
There is no ticket office and no need to book.
How to get to Wat Chalong
Wat Chalong is in Chalong, in the south of Phuket, about 8 to 9 km from Phuket Town and about 15 minutes away by car.
- From Phuket Town: The temple is about 8 to 9 km away, or about 15 minutes by car.
- From Patong: The temple is about 16 km away, or about 25 minutes by car.
- From Big Buddha: The two sites are about 8 km apart, or about 15 minutes by car.
- By taxi or Grab: Show the driver the Thai name, วัดไชยธาราราม (วัดฉลอง). A taxi from Patong usually costs about ฿300 to ฿500 one way.
- By car or motorbike: Follow signs to Chalong Circle, then take Chaofa Road towards Chalong and Rawai.
Phuket City Tours and other operators include Wat Chalong on half-day and full-day tours. Call the temple on 076 381-226, though staff may answer only in Thai.
Parking at Wat Chalong
Parking at Wat Chalong is free, and the car park takes cars, motorbikes and minibuses.
The temple is busiest on Buddhist holidays and during the annual temple fair. Arrive early at those times to find a space.
How long to spend at Wat Chalong
Most visitors need about one to two hours at Wat Chalong to see the main buildings, climb the chedi and walk the grounds.
| Activity | Length |
|---|---|
| Quick visit to the main buildings | About 1 hour |
| Visit with a chedi climb and photographs | Up to 1.5 hours |
Allow extra time if you want to light incense or make an offering.
Accessibility at Wat Chalong
The grounds at Wat Chalong are mostly wheelchair accessible, but toilet facilities are limited.
The chedi has three floors, and visitors climb to the top-floor terrace. Ask at the temple about access to the upper levels. Shoes are removed before entering the temple buildings, which can be hard on uneven ground.
What to see at Wat Chalong
The chedi is a 60-metre building with three floors, completed in 2001. A terrace on the top floor gives a view over the grounds, and a few steps higher a glass case holds a bone fragment said to be from the Buddha.
The ordination hall has gilded statues of the monks Luang Pho Cham and Luang Pho Chuang. They led local people against a Chinese rebellion in 1876 and used herbal medicine to treat the injured.
The murals and statues inside the chedi show scenes from the life of the Buddha. Many golden statues around the grounds were donated to the temple.
The firecracker kiln is where visitors set off firecrackers to give thanks when a wish has come true.
The Wat Chalong Fair is held for about a week around Chinese New Year, with merit-making ceremonies, food stalls, concerts and shows. The dates change each year.
The temple was built at the start of the 19th century, and its full name is Wat Chaiyathararam.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip category | Advice |
|---|---|
| Timing | Arrive between 7am and 9am for the quietest visit and the monks’ morning rituals. |
| Crowds | The temple is busiest on Buddhist holidays, including Makha Bucha, Visakha Bucha, Asalha Bucha and Khao Phansa. |
| Layout | The chedi, ordination hall and shrines are close together in one compound, and the car park is beside the entrance. |
| Entry process | There is no ticket, so walk in, leave your shoes outside the buildings and speak quietly. |
| On-site logistics | Cover your shoulders, chest and knees, and avoid sleeveless tops, short skirts and bare midriffs. |
Frequently asked questions about Wat Chalong
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Wat Chalong suitable for children? | Yes. Entry is free, but children should dress modestly, speak quietly and not touch statues or relics. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for Wat Chalong? | No. Entry is free and no booking is needed. |
| Is Wat Chalong open on Sundays? | Yes. The temple is open every day from 7am to 5pm. |
| Is there an entrance fee for Wat Chalong? | No. Entry is free, and donations are optional. |
| What should you wear to Wat Chalong? | Wear clothes that cover your shoulders, chest and knees. Shoes are not allowed inside the temple buildings. |
Things to do near Wat Chalong
- Big Buddha Phuket: A large white marble seated Buddha on Nakkerd Hill, visible from beaches in the south of the island.
- Chalong Bay: The bay beside Chalong village, in the south of Phuket.
- Chalong Pier: A pier on Chalong Bay, close to the temple.
- Rawai: A coastal area about ten minutes from the temple.
- Phuket Old Town: The historic centre of Phuket Town, about 8 to 9 km from the temple.
Alternative attractions to Wat Chalong
Other temples in Phuket are in the north of the island and in Phuket Town.
- Wat Phra Nang Sang: Phuket’s oldest surviving temple, in the Thalang area, with Buddha images that have tin cores.
- Wat Phra Thong: A temple in the north of the island, known for its half-buried Buddha image.
- Wat Sri Sunthon: A temple in the north of the island, with a 29-metre golden reclining Buddha.
- Wat Mongkhon Nimit: The island’s Royal Temple, in Phuket Town.
- Wat Khao Rang Samakkhitham: A hilltop temple above Phuket Town.
More Thailand travel
Other Thailand travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Wat Rong Khun, the weird white temple of Chiang Rai.
- Visitor guide to Lumphini Park – Bangkok’s prime green space.
- A practical guide to visiting the National Museum Bangkok.
- 9 Bangkok tours worth booking – and what’s worth skipping.
- Splash down at Columbia Pictures Aquaverse, a movie-themed water park near Pattaya.
