Patong Beach is the main tourist resort in Phuket, attracting European tourists since the 1980's.  Numerous hotels line the 2 kilometer white-sand beach.

Patong Beach is a center for nightlife and cheap shopping. It was one of the areas worst hit by the tsunami of 2004, but has been mostly rebuilt.

Evening entertainment included music by traditional piphat percussion ensembles.

Tranquil ponds and gardens at our resort set a peaceful atmosphere. At night, these urns were burning torches.

Beautiful dancers performed ban sop ruak, traditional interpretive Thai dances, which retell ancient stories through graceful hand movements.

A glorious sunset over the beach brought a fitting end to our trip.