Thailand is a lush country, thriving with impeccable beaches, surrounded by green jungles, and filled with people. It is a country we moved to without a second thought, after an enjoyable trip there. Tied to tradition, culture, and religion, Thailand’s cultural front is so strong that it is expressed in its architecture, temples, and ceremonies. But there are two sides. Thailand is also popular for its exciting nightlife, shopping, wonderful Thai massage, and more.
In this article, we’ll dig into where people can find one of Thailand’s religious practices, getting a Sak Yant in Phuket. A Sak Yant is a sacred tattoo hand-etched in a spiritual manner and is popular for its age-old connections to Buddhism. We’ve listed down the best-recommended places to get an authentic Sak Yant in Phuket, an island in southern Thailand, popular for everything Thailand is known for.
Where Is Phuket In Thailand?
Phuket is one of the smallest provinces in Thailand. It is home to Phuket Island, which is the largest island in Thailand. Phuket lies on the country’s west coast in the Andaman Sea, on the southern tip of Thailand. It is also surrounded by 32 smaller islands off its coast.
Phuket’s most famous city is Patong, popular for its nightlife, shopping, and serene beaches. The island is filled with gorgeous cities and villages, all home to pristine beaches, breathtaking scenery, welcoming people, mouthwatering Thai and international delicacies, beautiful ports, and many more. From the laid-back village of Rawai to the bustling activities in Cherngtalay and Bangtao, Phuket has something for everyone. It is home to many locals, and expats while also being a popular tourist attraction!
What Is A Sak Yant And Why Are People Interested In It?
First things first, let’s break down the term Sak Yant to understand what it means. Sak is a Thai word that means “to tap” or “to tattoo”, while Yant is derived from the Sanskrit word “yantra”, which is a sacred geometric design. Sak Yant, also known as Sak Yan, traditional Thai bamboo tattooing, and Yantra tattooing, is the practice of getting a meaningful tattoo design intertwined with sacred text, in the hopes of getting blessings and making wishes come true. It is an ancient practice more than 2000 years old and is linked to both Buddhism and Hinduism, with each drawing and element connected having a significant meaning and corresponding text of its own.
People choose yant styles, which each have their own meaning. For example, the round yant signifies the face of Lord Buddha in Buddhism and Lord Brahma in Hinduism. There are many other Sak Yant designs, from flowers to animals and deities, each indicating various blessings, from good luck to fortune, protection, power, and much more. These are hand-etched using the steel tip of a bamboo stick by Buddhist monks or their students, who have a great understanding of the spiritual texts that need to be included in the design and chanted out as well. Because of this, people can’t get a Sak Yant at just any tattoo shop and need to head to a temple or tattoo studio with an Arjan (monks or their students of this ancient art).
All in all, a Sak Yant is a beautiful and meaningful spiritual geometric design with thick black lines, hand-drawn and quite painful to get, which is believed to give the wearer spiritual powers ranging from protection to financial prosperity and more. It is extremely popular everywhere in Thailand, and below we’ve mentioned the top recommendations in Phuket, Thailand’s largest island.
10 Tattoo Studios To Get An Authentic Sak Yant Tattoo In Phuket
Finding an authentic spot to get your Sak Yant can be challenging. So we’ve done the hard work for you and put together this list of tattoo studios in Phuket. If you’re interested in staying in long queues, you can check out the temples in Phuket and find out if they have Arjans that administer Sak Yants.
#1 Jane Tattoo Studio
Located in Chalong, Jane Tattoo Studio is located on its most popular street, Soi Ta-iad, but hidden in the hustle and bustle of the busy road. Jane’s tattooing skills, professionalism, and hospitality are loved by clients of the studio. If you want to find an exceptional Sak Yant tattoo according to your wishes, Jane does exactly that, perfect to the brim, and is knowledgeable enough to wrap it up with the relevant Buddhist prayers.
Although the studio doesn’t have a luxurious environment, it still has an immaculate and comfortable atmosphere. Jane is always prepared and ready with the exact design required and is attentive to all the details the client wants. The tools are also always sterilized and safe, making this a great choice for Sak Yants, or bamboo tattoos, at extremely reasonable prices.
Location
10/14, Soi Ta-iad, Chalong, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket.
Additional Services
Colorwork and plain black tattoos, portrait tattoos, and more.
#2 Patong Tattoo
Patong Tattoo is a famous tattoo studio in Patong, Phuket’s liveliest city. The studio has skilled and trained tattoo artists, even ones with expertise in Sak Yant and bamboo tattooing. This is one of the finest studios in Phuket itself, with customers complimenting the great attention to detail and welcoming hospitality.
Although the studio is small, it maintains a very clean environment, making clients feel comfortable and safe. Patong Tattoo also uses sterilized tools and does not re-use any gloves or tools, ensuring clients get the best Sak Yant according to their needs without compromising safety. The studio works on an appointment basis to avoid crowding, and is one of the best places in Patong to get a Sak Yant design, no matter how small or big, with the right aftercare treatments too. Prices start at THB 1000 and can vary depending on size, design, and the type of tattoo.
Location
60/12, Ratuthit Songroipi Rd, Patong, Kathu, Phuket.
Additional Services
Big piece, Chicano, cover-up, tribal, portrait, and many more types of tattoos.
#3 Old Man Tattoo
Located in Phuket Town, this tattoo studio is run by a lovely couple, John and Penny, both known for their great personalities. All the trained staff follow suit, with amazing hospitality and professionalism. With over 20 years of experience, John is highly skilled in his tattooing, easily able to switch techniques depending on different tattoos a client may need. The studio has ample space in its waiting area to seat clients, along with WiFi access. They also have a very efficient booking system, allowing clients to easily make appointments.
Old Man Tattoo has reasonable prices for the hours put into the tattooing process, and the tattoo artists are well-versed in the knowledge needed to draw Sak Yant tattoos. The tattoos are known for their great quality and heal extremely well. Tourists from around the world travel to Phuket Town just to get the perfect Sak Yant from Old Man Tattoo.
Location
134 Phangnga Rd, Tambon Talat Yai, Phuket Town.
Additional Services
Japanese tattoos, touch-up tattoos, colored tattoos, and various other types of tattoos.
#4 @Ink Tattoo Design Phuket
Located on Phuket’s west coast, close to Bang Tao Beach, @Ink Tattoo is an amazing studio with highly skilled artists, mainly Mit and Tum, who have many years of experience in the tattooing industry. The studio is small but hygienic, with sessions performed with brand-new needles in an immaculate, air-conditioned space.
It is important to make an appointment as the studio is very popular since it is near both Bang Tao Beach and Surin Beach, and also for its quality services offered at reasonable prices.
Location
3/6, facing Surin Tesco Lots Part at the entrance of Soi Bangtao 2, Cheong Talay.
Additional Services
Free-hand, cover-ups, Sak Yant, Japanese, tribal, and many more.
#5 Bless You Tattoo At Indigo Hotel
Located in the heart of Patong Beach, this is one of the most popular tattoo shops in Patong. The studio has exceptional tattoo artists and a highly skilled master, Arjan Patr, for Sak Yant tattoos. They believe and understand that tattoos are a significant part of their client’s personality and administer the tattoos with great care and attention to detail.
Clients can simply make an appointment and come with their idea, sketch, or design, and the tattoo artists will spend hours bringing the tattoo design to life. The studio has a safe atmosphere and uses hygienic practices to take care of the tools used for tattooing, making this a great choice. Prices are slightly higher than the aforementioned studios.
Location
Rat U Thit 200 Pee Rd, Patong.
Additional Services
Tattooing services, from cover-ups to colored tattoos, along with cosmetics and piercing services.
#6 Bloodline Tattoo
Bloodline Tattoo claims to be the best tattoo studio, and not without reason. The studio has extremely professional and well-trained staff and tattoo artists who are loved by clients. The studio has a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and tattooing sessions are extremely hygienic with new and sterilized tools.
The reservation process is extremely efficient and clients can bring in their design regardless of how difficult it is, or how small and intricate it is. Many clients call Bloodline Tattoo the best tattoo shop in Thailand. The prices are quite affordable but do justice to the great tattooing skills and the exceptional hospitality at the studio.
Location
54/2, Soi Patong Resort, Thanon Bangla, Patong, Kathu District
Additional Services
Chicano tattoos, colored tattoos, Japanese tattoos, realistic tattoos, and more.
#7 Siam Ink Tattoo
This studio tattoo in Patong is popular for its exceptional tattooing and great atmosphere. Situated in an easily accessible location, Siam Ink Tattoo gives clients a lovely experience from the get-go. The appointment process is efficient, and clients must make a reservation since the studio gets booked easily, and tattooing sessions take long hours to complete. The studio is very hygienic and a great place to get your Sak Yant tattoo for fair prices.
Location
141/5 Royal Paradise Hotel complex, Rat-u-Thid 200 Pee Rd, Patong
Additional Services
Portrait, realism, oriental, black and grey, bamboo, and colored tattoos.
#8 Mayhem Ink Phuket
One of the most reputable studios in Patong, Mayhem Ink Phuket has the best tattoo artists. It is located in the Aussie Bar on Bangla Street, a very busy street in Patong with many locals and tourists browsing the area.
Mayhem Ink’s clients rave about the wonderful ambiance and hospitality at the studio and the exceptional tattoos they receive, drawn with great care. The studio also has many English-speaking staff, making it very convenient for tourists to communicate the type of Sak Yant design they want and its purpose.
Location
9 Thanon Bangla Rd, Patong.
Additional Services
Reworked classics, personal images, abstraction, realism, dot work, shading, and many more tattooing services.
#9 Inked Machine Tattoo
This Australian-owned studio provides a premium tattooing experience at a reasonable price. The studio has highly trained tattoo artists and ensures great expertise in Sak Yant, also known as Yantra tattooing, with a talent for handling bamboo sticks.
Customers constantly praise the care taken to keep the premise immaculate and safe, while also making sure the clients feel comfortable throughout the tattooing session. The sessions also have effective aftercare treatments that make the healing process smooth and painless. Getting a Sak Yant tattoo at Inked Machine is a straightforward process from start to finish, and they even welcome walk-ins, which isn’t very common for most tattoo studios.
Location
80/11 Thawewong Rd, Patong, Chang Wat
Additional Services
Full sleeves, full legs, bamboo tattoo, realistic black and grey tattoo, cosmetic tattooing, and more.
#10 Chalong Ink
This studio is recommended by many of its clients, many of whom are Muay Thai fighters and enthusiasts who explore Soi Ta-iad, also known as Muay Thai Street. The studio is small but very neat, and the employees make clients feel very comfortable, even if it’s their first time getting a Sak Yant.
Chalong Ink allows walk-ins, and the staff is very friendly and approachable. No tattoo design is too big or small for them, and they show amazing expertise in all their tattooing services at reasonable prices.
Location
7/29 5, Soi Ta-iad, Chalong, opposite Tiger Muay Thai.
Additional Services
Colored tattoos, cover-up tattoos, shading, and many more.
Get Your Authentic Sak Yant On The Beautiful Island Of Phuket
Phuket is a popular tourist destination and home to many locals and ex-pats too. Getting a Sak Yant in any city or village in Phuket is fairly easy because it is a very popular and traditional practice. A Sak Yant is believed to give the wearer many benefits, from good luck to prosperity, and protect them from hardship and misfortune. However, given its links to religion, a Sak Yant must only be hand-poked onto someone who intends to be a good person and abide by the codes of conduct for having a Sak Yant, which you can find in our blog about Sak Yants.
Our list has the best recommendations to get an authentic and spiritual Sak Yant, so check them out and let us know what you think!
FAQs
You can get a Sak Yant from THB 1000 to THB 12,000 depending on the size and intricacy of the design. However, if you go to an ajarn you will have to pay a fee along with an offering for the temple, which can be any amount you desire. It is important to be reasonable.
Sak Yant tattoos are known to be painful because it uses a needle unlike other tattooing techniques. However the intensities can differ according to each person’s pain tolerance and the area of the body it is administered on.
