Passengers boarding boats at Chalong Pier

Chalong Pier Guide: Getting There, Parking and Boarding

21st October 2026
Travel

Chalong Pier is the main departure point for island trips in southern Phuket. It is where most speedboat, snorkelling, diving and fishing tours start, and it is long, busy and a little chaotic on first sight. This guide covers where it is, how to reach it, where to park, how the pier is laid out and what to do around it, so your morning starts calmly instead of with a sprint down the jetty.

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TL;DR

  • Chalong Pier sits on Chalong Bay, on Phuket’s southeast coast, and is the launch point for Phi Phi, Coral, Racha and southern dive trips. The address often used for the meeting point is 12 Sunrise Rd, Chalong.
  • The pier is about 720 metres long, so ask your operator whether a pier-to-boat transfer is included before you plan to carry gear down it.
  • Chalong Bay is sheltered from the worst of the southwest monsoon swell, but operators still change or cancel routes between May and October. Confirm with your operator the day before.
  • Rassada Pier on the other side of the island is a different place: it handles ferries, while Chalong is for smaller boats.
  • Arrive early, wear shoes you can walk in, and keep the waiting time after your return for a seafood meal rather than the traffic.

Table of Contents

What Chalong Pier is (and what it is not)

Chalong Bay, or Ao Chalong, is Phuket’s largest and most active boat anchorage, serving island day trips, dive boats and yacht charters. It is not a swimming beach, and it is not a postcard. It is a working harbour where fuel, ice, gear and passengers all converge, and that is exactly why it works so well as a launch point for dozens of trips a day.

The pier itself is one of the main transport hubs in southern Phuket, used for island-hopping tours, diving excursions, fishing trips and private charters. If your itinerary mentions Phi Phi, Coral Island, Racha or the southern dive sites, there is a good chance your boat leaves from here.

Expect noise, a lot of people holding lanyards and name boards, and staff directing groups to the right boat. It looks messy. It is organised, just at high volume. Once you know which boat is yours, it is easy.

What Chalong Pier is (and what it is not) — overview diagram

Address and map: how to find the meeting point

The commonly listed meeting point is 12 Sunrise Rd, Chalong, 83100, in Ban Chalong, Mueang Phuket. Save it as a pin in your maps app, and if you are using a taxi, show the driver the name in Thai: ท่าเทียบเรืออ่าวฉลอง.

A few practical points about the map:

  • Search for “Chalong Pier” rather than “Chalong Bay”. The bay is large, and the pin you want is the pier entrance.
  • Some tours name a specific jetty or a private meeting point beside the pier. Your voucher should say which. If it does not, message your operator.
  • Several nearby places have similar names (the Chalong circle, Chalong Temple, the Chalong marina area). They are all in the same neighbourhood but not at the pier.

Getting to Chalong Pier

Most visitors arrive in one of four ways.

Hotel pick-up

The simplest option. Most organised tours include hotel transfers, and the driver deals with the traffic and the drop-off point. Check the details on your booking: pick-up window, what to do if you are not at the lobby and where you are dropped. Our guide to what a Phuket boat tour should include lists the inclusions worth checking before you pay.

Taxi or private minibus

If you are travelling independently, or arriving straight from the airport, a pre-booked car is the least stressful route. We offer a Phuket Airport Taxi from 800 THB and a Phuket Airport Minibus from 1200 THB, which suit groups with luggage heading to Chalong hotels or straight to the pier. Whichever transfer you use, build in a margin. As a general rule at any busy port, leaving a buffer for terminal pickups beats arriving with minutes to spare, and Phuket’s morning roads reward the same habit.

Public bus

Phuket’s provincial ‘OneMap’ portal lists the ‘Phuket EV Bus’ network, and Route 2 connects Chalong Pier with Supercheap (Samkong), running from 05:45 to 17:30 with fares of 15 to 40 baht per trip, as reported in 2025. That is a budget option for flexible travellers, but with first boats leaving in the morning, check the timetable and live tracking on the portal before you rely on it. Services and fares can change.

Scooter or rental car

Possible, and plenty of people do it, but you then have to park and return to the same spot at the end of the day. Keep reading for parking.

Parking and the long walk down the pier

The surprise for first-timers is the length. The pier stretches roughly 720 metres. With a bag of snorkel gear, a cool box and children, that is a real walk in tropical heat.

Two ways to handle it:

  1. Ask your operator whether a pier-to-boat transfer is included. Many premium operators arrange one.
  2. If a shuttle runs, the same source suggests budgeting around 10 baht for it. Treat that as a guide rather than a guarantee, and carry a few small notes.

Pack light. Our Phuket boat trip packing list covers what to bring, and just as usefully what to leave in the hotel safe.

If you are driving, ask your operator where to park. One useful backup nearby is the restaurant Kan Eang@Pier, described as having free parking with attendants. Check with the restaurant if you plan to leave a vehicle there for the day, as it is a customer facility first.

A morning at the pier, step by step

Exact procedures differ by operator, but a typical departure looks like this.

  1. Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before departure or at the time on your voucher. If a transfer picks you up, you will be placed in the right queue.
  2. Check in with your operator’s staff. They will have your name, group size and boat. Have your booking confirmation ready on your phone.
  3. Use the toilets before boarding. Facilities on the boat can be basic, particularly on speedboats and longtails.
  4. Apply reef-safe sun protection early, then head along the pier to your boat or wait for the transfer.
  5. Listen to the safety briefing. Life jackets, emergency procedures and snorkel rules are explained once, so give it your attention.
  6. Keep valuables in a dry bag. Boarding from a pier can involve a splash or a wobble.

On your return, wait for your group lead before wandering. Boats dock in turn, and your driver will be looking for you at a specific spot.

Monsoon season and tides: what to expect

Phuket has two coasts, and the monsoon decides which one is calm. Chalong Bay sits in the lee of the island’s central ridge, which means the water stays workable when the west side is rough. That is why the bay is a reliable staging point even when western beaches are red-flagged.

But a calm pier does not mean every trip runs. During the May to October southwest monsoon, operators often reduce or suspend certain island routes, so you should confirm feasibility with your own operator rather than trusting a year-round schedule.

There are two examples worth knowing:

  • Similan Islands: the national park closes from around 16 May to 15 October each year, so no boats can go there in that window.
  • Open-sea routes to Phi Phi and Racha: these may run with changes, shorter stays or altered itineraries when conditions are rough.

Before you commit, read our guide on reading Phuket boat-trip weather and the five questions to ask. A rule that has served our guests well: the day before, ask the operator what happens if the trip cannot go, whether you can reschedule or get a refund, and what the sea is forecast to do on your specific route.

If you own or charter a small private vessel, tides matter too. At extreme low tide, stay within the marked deep-water approach and confirm your skipper’s route.

Chalong Pier or Rassada Pier?

Readers often search for both piers because the names appear on tour vouchers and ferry tickets. They are on opposite sides of the island and serve different purposes.

Chalong Pier Rassada Pier
Side of Phuket South, on Chalong Bay East, near Phuket Town
Typical use Speedboat, snorkelling, diving, fishing and charter trips Public ferries, notably to Phi Phi
Boat type Smaller speedboats and similar craft, no big ferries Ferries and larger vessels
Best for Day trips with a return to Phuket Point-to-point transfers to the islands

Check the name on your voucher. Arriving at the wrong pier is one of the most avoidable mistakes of a Phuket holiday, and the two are not a short walk apart. If you are unsure, send the voucher to your operator and ask for a pin.

Which trips leave from Chalong

The classic Chalong departures are:

  • Coral Island (Koh Hae) and Racha Islands: short hops that suit half-day or full-day trips and families.
  • Phi Phi: longer and best done by speedboat for a full day.
  • Dive and snorkelling trips: early starts and gear loaded at the pier.
  • Fishing charters and private boats: these may use Chalong or a nearby marina.

If you are choosing between a slower and a faster boat, our comparison of longtail and speedboat for Coral Island or Phi Phi explains how journey time, comfort and crowd levels differ. If you are building a longer stay, the Phuket island-hopping itinerary gives practical plans from three to ten days.

Our perspective: how we think about the pier

We run adventure and sightseeing tours across Phuket and the nearby islands, and the pier is where the day is won or lost. Not on the water, but in the first 30 minutes. Guests who know their meeting point, have their shoes sorted and understand the weather plan arrive relaxed. Guests who do not tend to spend the first hour of a lovely day stressed.

Our perspective: how we think about the pier — overview diagram

So our advice is plain. Pick your operator on what is covered, not only on price: transfers, the pier transfer, life jackets, meals and what happens when the sea says no. Message us on WhatsApp if anything on a voucher is unclear, because we would rather answer five questions the day before than one in a car park. Our customers have rated us 4.5 from 237 reviews, and Trustindex reports 99% of our services as issue-free. We build that on small details, and most of them happen right here at the pier.

We also like the pier for what it is. It is noisy and hot, and it is also the engine behind everything that makes Phuket island days possible. Give yourself time to look around.

— Carl

Plan your day with Qbic Travel

If you want the logistics handled, we offer island tours, private boat options and hotel pick-up from across Phuket. Browse Island Tours Phuket, see private boat tours, or look at the full list of our services, which includes a Full Day Trip at Singh Luxury Speed Boat at 27000-46000 THB. Prefer a land-and-sea adventure? Our jet ski and ATV tours are popular with thrill-seekers. You can book online or on WhatsApp, including last-minute.

What to do before and after your trip

Most people rush off the moment their boat returns. If you can, stay.

  • Eat by the bay. Kan Eang@Pier is one of the oldest and best-known seafood restaurants in Phuket, right beside the pier. It is a good place to let the afternoon traffic thin out while you refuel.
  • Bring a change of clothes. After a day of salt and sun, a dry shirt makes a restaurant stop much more comfortable.
  • Keep your evening flexible. If your boat is delayed by weather or tides, a loose schedule helps.

For more activities near the pier, pair a boat day with a jet ski outing. Our jet ski tour checklist shows what to prepare.

Quick checklist for pier day

  • Voucher and pier name checked (Chalong, not Rassada)
  • Pick-up time or travel buffer confirmed
  • Passport or ID if your operator requests it
  • Closed shoes or secure sandals, hat and sunscreen
  • Dry bag, towel, a change of clothes
  • Small cash for shuttles, drinks or tips
  • Weather and cancellation policy confirmed the day before
  • Motion-sickness tablets if you are prone to seasickness

FAQ

Where exactly is Chalong Pier?

It is on Chalong Bay, on Phuket’s southeast coast, in the Mueang Phuket district. A commonly listed meeting-point address is 12 Sunrise Rd, Chalong, 83100. Search for “Chalong Pier” in your maps app and check your voucher for the exact jetty.

Can I walk the whole pier with luggage?

You can, but it is about 720 metres, so it is tiring in the heat. Ask your operator whether a pier-to-boat transfer is included, and travel light with a dry bag instead of a large suitcase.

Do boats run from Chalong during the monsoon?

Often yes, because the bay is sheltered, but some island routes are shortened or suspended from May to October. The Similan Islands are closed for roughly 16 May to 15 October. Always confirm with your operator the day before.

Is Rassada Pier the same as Chalong Pier?

No. Rassada is on the east side of the island near Phuket Town and is the main ferry pier, while Chalong is the base for smaller speedboats and day-trip boats. Check which one is printed on your voucher.

Can I use public transport to reach the pier?

The Phuket EV Bus Route 2 links Chalong Pier with Supercheap (Samkong), running 05:45 to 17:30, according to 2025 reports. For early departures a hotel transfer or pre-booked taxi is more reliable.

Sources

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