No visit to Thailand would be complete without taking a ride in a Tuk-Tuk. These strange little vehicles are the most popular form of transport with Thai people. Part truck, part cart, part motorcycle and entirely Thai.

A typical Tuk-Tuk will look like a small pickup truck, with a covered back and open sides. Usually they are painted in bright colors, most commonly red, with many chrome parts. Passengers sit in the back, on barely padded seats, and grip the bars of the rear cage, holding on as the often crazy Tuk-Tuk drivers winds their way through the traffic, taking advantage of every available opening. A ride in a Tuk-Tuk can be noisy, smelly, uncomfortable and a whole lot of fun!

The fare is a standard one based on distance, and is charged per passenger. If four people get into the Tuk-Tuk as a group, then four fares will be charged. If a single person gets into a Tuk-Tuk then a single fare will be charged. For this reason Tuk-Tuk drivers like to fill up their vehicle as much as they can and it can be hard to find one willing to carry just a single person at times.

Fare wise, it really depends on the time of day and where you want to go. You should never be asked to pay more than 200 Baht, and usually the fare should be somewhere between 100 and 200 Baht. During busy hours, when traffic is high, the fare is higher as the driver will need to spend longer taking you to your destination. Always agree the total price before you get in, if you do not, then you may be asked to pay a vastly inflated fare when you arrive at your destination.

Overall, a Tuk-Tuk is a great way to get around Patong. More comfortable than a motorcycle taxi, cheaper and faster than a taxi meter, and good fun if you don’t mind being bouced about a little.