Luxuriantly verdant Phuket is Thailand's largest island (approximately the size of Singapore) and nestles against the Indian Ocean Coast some 870 kilometres south of Bangkok.
Phuket derives its wealth from tin and rubber, is blessed with teeming marine life, and has enjoyed a rich and colourful history -- the island's most famous landmark is the memorial statue of the heroines Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sisunthon who rallied islanders in 1785 to repel Burmese invaders.
Phuket is blessed with magnificent coves and bays, powdery, palm- fringed white beaches, sparkling island-dotted seas, sincerely hospitable people, comfortable accommodation, superb seafood, lushly forested mountains, lovely waterfalls and parks, and delightful turn-of -the-century Indo / Portuguese and Chinese-influenced architecture which create an enchanting ambiance perfectly suited to total relaxation.
Indeed, Phuket is a major resort of international stature, possessing
everything necessary for a truly memorable holiday.
HOW TO GET THERE
Government-operated buses and private airconditioned tour coaches
regularly make the 14-hour journey between Phuket and Bangkok. The
most convenient way of reaching Phuket is abroad daily Thai Airways
Boeing 737 / AB300 flights which make the Bangkok- Phuket journey in 1 hour and 10 minutes. Thai Airways also lands four times weekly during Bangkok-Singapore-Bangkok flights, and Thai Airways regularly make flights between Phuket and Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. There are no rail services to Phuket.
ACCOMMODATION
First-class hotels located within town offer complimentary transport to their own beach clubs. Economy-class hotels are also available within town. First-class resort hotels with spectacular views offer air-conditioned accommodation, as do many cabin and bungalow complexes on Phuket's most popular beaches. Yet other 'native-style' complexes, built of bamboo, rattan and Nipa palm thatch, Phuket's coastal hills and beaches to offer comfortable and relatively inexpensive accommodation.
PHUKET TOWN
The compact provincial capital serves mainly as a dormitory and shopping centre. Splendid colonial-style residences built by late 19th- century tin and rubber barons, and shop houses with shaded walkways, from the same period, provide distinctive character.
Rang Hill offers a pleasant view of town and hosts a Fitness Park, a
series of hillside sculptural tableaux which enhance keep-fit calisthenics.
Southern Thailand's largest Crocodile Farm, containing aquarium featuring colourful coral fish found in Phuket's coastal waters, and
hundreds of marine, freshwater and estuarine crocodiles and alligators, lies just outside town.
Several companies arrange local tours, beach trips visits to cultured
pearl farms, island cruises and exploration, and 2-5 day scuba-diving
'seafaris'.
Motorcycles, jeeps and automobiles may be rented to conveniently
explore Phuket's many lovely beaches.
ISLANDS ATTRACTIONS
Phuket's glory is its magnificent coastline. Beaches range from gentle
crescents of white sand with calm waters to rocky headlands pounded by raging surf. Secluded coves lie hidden among densely forested headlands tumbling around white beaches. In several such places, visitors can feel years away from civilisation.
Phuket's Indian Ocean coastline boasts the finest beaches while the
eastern coastline overlooks some 30 lesser islands occupying largely
tranquil seas. Islands vary greatly size, some are large enough to
sustain fishing communities, coconut plantations, deer and wild boar.
Others are little larger than massive rocks. Others again resemble
fortresses, are riddled with caves containing the birds' nests prized
by gourmets.
Counterclockwise from Phuket's northern tip, the island's major
beaches, temples and botanical parks are as following:
The pine-lined Mai Khao Beach (34 kilometres from town) is Phuket's longest beach, site between November and February each year, where gigantic sea turtle struggle ashore to lay theirs eggs.
Nai Yang Beach, to the south (30 kilometres from town) forms part of National Park and is peaceful, excellent for swimming and relaxation.
Inland from Nai Yang Beach is Wat Phra Thong where a famous
partially-buried Buddha is enshrined. Further east, (20 kilometres
from town), the beautiful Ton Sai Waterfall Forest Park and Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Park have innumerable birds, wild boars and monkeys to enliven botanical beauty cooled by sonorous cascades.
Further south, Pansea Bay, Surin Beach (24 kilometres from town), Sing Cape and Kamala Beach unfold in rapid succession. A public 9-hole golf course fronts Surin Beach where swimming is not recommended due to powerful surf and a treacherous undertow. The northern end of Kamala Beach is suitable for swimming.
Patong Beach (20 kilometres from town) is Phuket's most developed beach. Cabin and bungalow complexes, hotels, bars, nightclubs, discotheques, shop and restaurants front the crescent bay. Windsurfing, snorkeling, sailing, sunbathing and swimming number among major activities.
Karon (20 kilometres from town) and Kata (17 kilometers from town) are the next major beaches. Both are long, largely peaceful and eminently suitable for swimming, windsurfing, sailing, snorkeling and
sunbathing. Kata is partially fronted by Club Mediterranean Complex.
Nearing Phuket's southernmost point, the white Nai Han Beach (18
kilometres from town) fronts a shallow lagoon between steep headlands. Swimming, windsurfing, sailing, sunbathing and snorkeling are popular activities.
The nearby Promthep Cape marks Phuket's southernmost point is the perfect place from which to view spectacular sunsets.
To the east, the palm-fringed Rawai Beach (17 kilometres from town) hosts Phuket's best known 'sea gypsies'. several offshore islands have gleaming white beaches, and dazzling underwater scenery that attracts dedicated fishermen and scuba-divers.
To the northeast, Chalong Bay (11 kilometres from town) extends in a broad sweep and, a few kilometres inland, Wat Chalong enshrines statues of Luang Pho Chaem and Luang Pho Chuang, Phuket's most revered monks.
Finally, on the southernmost tip of Phanwa Cape (10 kilometres from town) is a Marine Biological Research Centre and Phuket's Aquarium which displays several hundred exotic, grotesque and flamboyantlycolourful marine species found mostly in Phuket's teeming waters.
DINING / SHOPPING / NIGHTLIFE
Standard western fare is found in major hotels and coffee shops. Thai,
Chinese and Islamic food is available islandwide. Phuket's seafood,
probably Thailand's most delicious, is prepared in a variety of succulent styles. Southern Thai food can be spicy hot but local specialties, such as spicy mango salads, are well worth sampling.
Tropical fruits abound, particularly local pineapples and coconuts.
Phuket's gift shops customarily stock popular handicrafts from all over Thailand, southern batiks and local products such as hand-crafted
coral and shell ornamentation’s, exotic seashells and cultured pearls.
Phuket's nightlife is sedate (compared with Hat Yai, Pattaya or
Bangkok) and is concentrated largely in the town centre and Patong
Beach in restaurants, bars (many featuring video entertainment),
massage parlours, nightclubs and discotheques.
NEIGHBOURING ATTRACTIONS
Phuket is a convenient place from which to visit attractions in the
neighbouring provinces of Phang Nga and Krabi. Phang Nga major
attraction is the eerily beautiful Phang Nga Bay which has been featured in several Thai and international movies, most notably the James Bond adventure, The Man With The Golden Gun.
Verdant limestone islands, honeycombed with caves and aquatic
grottoes, soar perpendicularly, some nearly 300 metres high, from
almost perpetually calm water. The bay's many moods range early
morning when mists evoke masterful Chinese paintings to spectacular
colourful sunsets.
Few islands are inhabited and except for the occasional fishing village, the bay is largely untouched by human hand. Visitor are awed by
the bay's silent, primeval atmosphere which has remained constant for untold centuries.
Major attractions include Kiang Mount, Panyi Isle, Nom Sao Isle, Thalu Isle, Kho Phing Kan Isle (James Bond Island), Tapu Mount, Ma Chu Mount and Lot Cave.
Krabi's major attractions are the beautiful Phi Phi islands -- Phi Phi
Don and Phi Phi Le -- which can be visited either from Phuket or
Krabi's provincial capital in a boat ride of some 3 hours. The boat
trip from Krabi is less expensive and slightly shorter.
Phi Phi Don is gently undulating with many beautiful beaches and
viewpoints. Phi Phi Le is mainly rocky towering cliffs. Underwater
scenery around Phi Phi Le is remarkably beautiful. Crystal clear
waters and a relatively shallow seabed offer unique sights of coral
reefs and enchanting, dazzling marine life.
The islands are best visited in November, December and January when seas are calm and at their clearest.
Other Krabi attractions, less than 30 minutes from the provincial
capital, are the beautiful Nopparat Beach, and Susan Hoi, a 75- million-year-old shell cemetery where fossilized shells form tiered, concrete like slabs. Susan Hoi, is one of the world's only three such shell cemeteries.
