Kolae Boats of Pattani
Malay Fishing Life by the Sea

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

The word kolae comes from Malay, roughly meaning to sway or to drift, and refers to the small-to-medium fishing boats that the sea people here have used to fish along the Gulf of Thailand coast for hundreds of years. What sets the kolae apart from ordinary fishing boats is the painting and patterning across the whole hull, from bow to stern. It is craft, art, and belief rolled into a single boat.

Where the hull patterns come from

Kolae patterns blend three cultures together: Thai, Malay, and Javanese motifs. Local painters draw them by hand in a continuous flow along the hull. The bow is usually a mythical creature such as a naga, a hera (a serpent-like figure), or a Malay legendary bird like the burong singa (some call it the kakah sura bird), while the stern picks up the tail of the same creature, making the whole boat look like a single animal cutting through the waves.

• The bow — usually a naga, a hera, or a legendary bird; some hulls show Hanuman seizing a fish, or Rahu swallowing the moon
• The midsection — vine motifs, flower patterns (bunga), and Malay geometric designs in alternating bright, contrasting colors
• The stern — finished with the tail of the bow's creature so the whole hull reads as one continuous image
• The colors — once made from natural pigments, now oil paint in vivid tones of red, yellow, green, and blue

These days, kolae that actually go out to sea are becoming rare. Fishing methods have changed and motorized boats have taken over, and skilled pattern painters are few. So you'll more often see the fully painted hulls on souvenir model boats and on boats kept for the annual races than on everyday working vessels.

Boatbuilding villages you can still visit

If you want to see real boatbuilders and pattern painters at work, Pattani has several coastal villages that still carry on the craft. The best-known is Ban Pase Yawo in Sai Buri district. There's also Ban Bang Kao, Ban Budi, and the communities around Talo Kapo in Yaring district, where you can still see kolae boats lined up along the beach.

Bunadara cruise through the mangroves

If you want fishing culture and nature in one place, the Bunadara community in Talo Kapo subdistrict, Yaring district, runs cruises through the mangrove tunnels. The trip takes about 2 hours, and one boat seats around 6 people, with an onboard guide who shares the nature and the community's stories. Go in the evening and you'll also catch the sunset over the mangroves.

• Boat fee — around 700–800 THB per boat (seats about 6), so it works out reasonable split between you
• Cruise time — about 2 hours; the evening run gives you both the mangroves and the sunset
• Book ahead — call the community in advance; contact numbers 093 335 6658, 087 836 1820
• What to bring — hat, sunglasses, mosquito repellent, and drinking water; the sun and sea breeze are fairly strong

Prices and contact numbers can change over time, so call the community to check again before you travel, and confirm cruise times clearly, especially if you're going during a long holiday when it gets busy.

Kolae boat races — when the boats look their best

If you want to see many fully painted kolae boats together, the best time is the annual boat races. The big event is in Narathiwat (along the Tha Phraya Sai dam), held around late September, with kolae, yokong, and longboat races competing for a royal trophy. Pattani itself also holds paddle-boat races at local festivals. Around this time, the boats are decorated and painted as brightly as they get all year.

A one-day coastal Pattani route

With a private car, you can easily take in fishing life and kolae boats in a single day. Here's a rough itinerary.

Etiquette and things to know

• Dress modestly — sleeved tops and knee-covering pants or skirts, out of respect for the Muslim community
• Ask before photographing — especially people, homes, or inside mosques
• Support the community — buy a model boat, a souvenir, or take the community boat trip; it helps keep the craft alive
• Check safety — follow local news before traveling and plan mainly for daytime trips
• Watch the sun and wind — the coast gets strong sun; bring a hat, sunscreen, and drinking water