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All you need to know to visit Phatthalung
พัทลุง
Southern Thailand
850 km from Bangkok
Province of Phatthalung
Thai pronunciation : Pataloong
Southern Thailand
850 km from Bangkok
Province of Phatthalung
Thai pronunciation : Pataloong
- Budget
- 3/5
- Recommended stay
- 2 to 3 days
- Sightseeing
- 5/5
Travel guide to visit Phatthalung
Phatthalung province is very little visited by foreign tourists. It can be explained by the fact taht there are still some countries advising their citizen to avoid the area even if it is more Songkla, Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala that are declared no go zones by most of foreign ministers. Everyone take their responsibilities but I finally decided to go and I do not regret because it is really a beautiful place with the very photogenic Thale Noï lake, caves, temples, incredible craftsmen, traditional thai shadow puppet theater which was be born here... But if it can reassure you (and then it is always more interesting), you can visit Phatthalung with Pui Fai Wong who is a Thai guide specialized in this corner of the country. She speaks very good English, German (and Thai of course;)). You can contact her on her Facebook profile.That said, after some hesitation, I decided to add the destination anyway on the Thailandee.com because it has been shown in several travel TV shows and definitely worths the detour. And its population, its craftsmen, its shadow puppet masters who enthusiastically perpetuate a century-old tradition,they all deserve to be able to live better thanks to tourism. I went to Phatthalung to to explore the province and have a lot of useful ingormation and some small places that guides books don't know about so I share them right here. It's up to you to decide if you're will go... or not ...
For all the options for getting around Phatthalung, see our section on getting around in Phatthalung.
Accommodations in Phatthalung
For your stay in Phatthalung, I recommend you spend at least one night near Thale Noi Lake to be able to go at sunrise to discover it by boat, it is clearly the best time of the day. Almost all hotels, guesthouses or homestays offer it. They even sometimes have packages that include one night, dinner and the boat tour. In Phatthalung city, prefer accommodations close to the train station. It is convenient to reach the small night market and visit Wat Khuha Sawan or go climbing Khao Ok Talu mountain. It is also near the train station that you will find the songthaews to go to Thale Noi lake.Find accommodation in Phatthalung
My recommendations
People often ask me which accommodation I recommend in Thailand. Here are my recommendations in Phatthalung.
Practical information about Phatthalung
The best time to visit Phattalung is when a part of its iconic lake, Thale Noi is covered with pink lotus flowers in bloom so it will between February and May. Taking a boat tour to see the sun rise on this small lake with its fishing huts on stilts is the must visit here. If you have not done it, it's as if you never came ! And here too, you will be more likely not to see a beautiful sunris unspoiled by a cloudy sky if you come during the dry season, from November to April.Transport in Thailand
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How to go to Phatthalung ?
The quickest and easiest way to reach Phatthalung from Bangkok is to fly to Trang with Nok Air for instance, or Air Asia then take the bus to Phatthalung waiting at the airport car park. The bus schedules follow the flights arrivals. It is also possible to land at Nakhon Si Thammarat but it is a little less convenient to reach Phatthalung because you have to go to the minivans terminal by bus first. Phatthalung is also accessible by train (Bangkok - Phatthalung train timetable), however the trip is very long so I recommend you to take a night train and to be sure to have a berth, book in advance !. There are also buses that travel from the capital city.Otherwise, there are passenger minivans connecting Nakhon Si Thammarat to Phatthalung and passenger minivans or buses from or to Trang.
How to get around in Phatthalung ?
The city of Phatthalung can be easily visited by walking if your hotel is close to the railway station. There are some motorbikes taxi but very few tuk-tuks. To go from Phatthalung to the Thale Noï lake, there are the songthaews number 8234 (blue pickups with benches at the back) that leave the street parallel to the station. You can also go by train to Pak Klong and finish the last 8 kilometers by tuk-tuk or songthaew.
Must-visits in
Thale Noi Lake
ทะเลน้อยMy opinion : 5/5
This lake offers superb views especially for the sunrise with the fishermen's huts and the warm colors of the sky, but also a lotus flowering area, it is also a natural reserve for birds. Going there for a boat trip is definetly a must do and if possible go before dawn !
Ban Thale Noi village
บ้านทะเลน้อยMy opinion : 5/5
This small village of artisan working with wickected in the vicinity of Thale Noi lake does not lack of charm with its small cemented roads on piles. You can see the villagers at work in their homes.
Nang Talung, Shadow Puppets Theater
หอศิลป์ หนังตะลุงMy opinion : 4/5
This traditional shadow theater seemed to appear in Thailand in Phatthalung province. You will find several Nag Talung masters who practice it and make the figurines. As for me, it's with Thale Noi Lake one of the 2 things you can not miss when visiting Phatthalung.
Wat Tham Khuha Sawan
วัดคูหาสวรรค์My opinion : 4/5
This royal temple is mostly known for its cave but also has a chedi on a small hill that offers a dominant view over the city of Phatthalung. It is the most important temple in the city.
Khao Ok Talu
เขาอกทะลุMy opinion : 5/5
This 250-meter high limestone peak is emblematic of Phatthalung city. Located behind the train station, you can see it from afar and will probably be tempted to climb it to have a dominant view over the city. There is also a charming forestry temple.
Kwanjai Bamboo Garden Market
สวนไผ่ขวัญใจMy opinion : 3/5
This weekend market is set up in a bamboo garden, which gives it a pleasant and shady setting. Its aim is to showcase local producers, artisans and dishes. It is not a market for tourists, well, not for foreign tourists. You will hardly see any!Other places to see in Phatthalung
Nam Yen Cave
Small cave 14 km from Phatthalung that you visit on a little roaming boat in a explorer mode sometimes having to lie completely down on the boat to pass. A friendly and funny tour that I really enjoyed !
Phra Chaison Cave (Tham Phra)
This temple located in a cave about fifteen kilometers from Phatthalung and less than 1 km from the Nam Yen Cave is interesting for its reclining Buddha and its murals. It is also close to the Khao Chaison Hot Springs.
Khao Chaison Hot Springs
Sadly a little abandoned, these hot springs always allow you to dive your feet in the main basin for a relaxing break. It is also fun to watch the horde of monkeys living there.
Rulers New and Old palaces (Phatthalung Museum)
Transformed into a museum the old and new residences of the Phatthalung governors allow you to learn a little more about the history of the city but note that they are open only a few days a week.
Wat Wang
Wat Wang temple is one of the important Buddhist places of worship in Phatthalung city. It is architecturally interesting but if you have already seen many temples in Thailand, this may not be an must visit. It is next to Phatthalung Museum.
Coconut Shell Handicraft Center
Located in a small village specialized in the production of products from coconut wood and shells which is located 6 kilometers from Phatthalung, this center is essentially a big shop that sells the production of the villagers.
Lampam Floating market
If is is called a floating market, Lampam Floating market is mostly a land market. Far from the images of traditional floating markets that you can have in mind, it remains an interesting and friendly place. It is only held on the weekends.
Longtail boats manufacturer
Longtails boats are those wooden boats very typical in Thailand. There are several workshops in Phatthalung around the lake that manufacture them and, if they are not museums, generally they accept that you come in to watch them work (as long as you do it respectfully).
Thale Noi Viewpoint Tower
This observation tower offers a dominant view of about thirty meters on the edge of Lake Thale Noi and its surroundings. Always interesting to gain height. It is located in the direct vicinity of the village of Phatthalung basket makers.
Lad Tainod Green Market
This market, open only on Sundays, is located 25 kilometers from the city center of Phatthalung. Its atmosphere of a traditional market that wants to be (a little) eco-responsible installed in a small bamboo forest is very pleasant. Strolling there to find something to eat, listen to mini-concerts, see demonstrations of local arts, craft products is nice.
Wat Tham Sumano
The Buddhist temple located on the edge of the forest on the road between Trang and Phatthalung is also a renowned meditation center. Apart from the fact that one can come here to meditate or learn to meditate, it is its large set of caves with a small river inside that makes them interesting to visit.
Weather & climate in
Phattalung has a tropical climate. The wettest months are October, November and December on average. The monsoon here as in the Gulf of Thailand is offbeat and mostly centered on November and December.How to ask the way in Thai to Phatthalung ?
I want to go to Phatthalung / Yak pai thi Pataloong.Where is Phatthalung? / Pataloong yu thi nai?
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