Phuket

Phuket Town serves mainly as a dormitory and shopping centre.

For the culmination of your historical tour , there in the lobby of the Thavorn Hotel is one of the most quirky and charming collection of turn-of-the-century up to 1960s memorabilia that you’re likely to find anywhere. Here you’ll find sewing machines, keyboard, pianos, safes and just about anything that had anything to do with Phuket is tin boom and subsequent growth during the last century. There’s also a superb collection of Thavorn family and WWI I photos (a theme poorly represented elsewhere). As luck would have it, there’s also a bar enroute. This is a hugely recommended venue before heading back out into the night to sample the many coffee shop and excellent restaurants that line the roads where you’d just taken in the sights.

Antique Buildings Many buildings in Phuket were built over hundred years since the beginning of the tin boom during the Nineteenth Century. The architectural style, typical of the region, is described as Sino-Portuguese and has a strongly Mediterranean character. Shops present a very narrow face on the street but stretch back a long way. Many, especially on Dibuk Rd (name of Tin)., have old wooden doors with Chinese fretwork carving. Other streets, forming what might be called "Old Phuket", with similar structures are Phang-nga, Yaowarat, Thalang, and Krabi, and a walking tour of the area is easy and delightful. Some other old European-style buildings of note are the Provincial Hall (Sala Klang), the Phuket Courthouse (San Changwat), and Siam City Bank.

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Phuket Aquarium is located at Cape Panwa, on the island’s extreme southeast The aquarium displays hundreds of exotic, grotesque and flamboyantly colorful marine species found in Phuket’s teeming waters. Open daily from 8.30 in the morning until 4 o’clock in the afternoon. A local bus can be taken from the town’s fresh produce market.

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Phuket Butterfly Farm and Aquarium is only 3 kilometres from town via Yaowarat Road and the Sam Kong intersection. It has a fascinating collection of such tropical creatures as butterflies, insects marine life all arranged in natural surroundings. It is open daily from 9 p.m.-5 p.m.

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Thai Village And Orchid Farm on Thepkasattri Road about 3 kilometres from town, serves daily a typical southern Thai lunch that is followed by a spectacular cultural show including Thai dances, sword-fighting, Thai boxing southern customs and elephants. Handicrafts are also on display.

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Chalong Bay Phuket’s principal baot anchorage and the islands lareast bay, is 11 kilometres south of the town. It is very picturesque but not suitable for swimming. Boats can be chartered to go to some small island south of Phuket. A number of restaurants are on the road leading to the bay. A few kilometers from the bay is Wat Chalong where statues of Luang Po Chaem and Luang Po Chuang, Phuket’s most revered monks, are enshrined.

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Chalong Temple is about 8 kms. outside town. Take Vichit Songkram Rd., to the Bypass Rd., and turn left, and drive for about 10 mins. Wat Chalong will be on your left. This is where stands the cast statue of Luang Por Cham, who helped the people of Phuket put down the Angyee, or Chinese Coolie, Rebellion in 1876 during the reign of Rama V. There are also statues of Luang Por Chaung, and Luang Por Gluam. Other monks, who were abbots of the temple during later times, and who are the objects of respect and recipients of the offerings by Phuket people generally.

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Laem Ka at the extreme southwest of Chalong bay, is suitable for swimming

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The nearby Phrom Thep Cape forms Phuket ‘s southern most point and is the perfect place from which to enjoy spectacular sunsets and the sea. People usually say that the shape of Laem Phrom Thep looks like a dragon head of Indian Ocean.

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Nai Han Beach is located next to Phrom Thep Cape about 18 kilomatres from town. Although not so long , the beach has white , clean sand and Nai Han Beach sometime look lively when many yachts float in the sea ahead of the shore. Beyond the beach is a swamp called Nong Han. Not recommended for swimming during May-October because of the Monsoon season.

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The View Point or Sam Ao Viewpoint is located mid-point between Nai Han and Kata beach nestle beside one another forming the picture of the crescent moon which is the marvelous nature creation. The scenic Kata Noi, Kata and Karon beaches, and Ko Pu Island can be viewed from this point.

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Kata beach The quiet charming beach, good and safe for swimming various kinds of activity are provided like diving, playing banana boats or strolling along the shore.

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Karon beach The white sandy beach which is one of Phuket’s most beautiful beach. Both are long and peaceful and eminently suitable for swimming and sunbathing.

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Patong Beach Phuket’s most developed beach offers numerous leisure, sporting, shopping and recreational options along its 3-kilometre-long crescent bay. Windsurfing, snorkeling, sailing, swimming and sunbathing number among popular daytime activities. Patong is equally well known for its vibrant nightlife, among which seafood restaurants prominently feature.

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Kamala Beach is a 12-kilometre-long beach north of Patong. The famous charming baech where Phuket Fantasea , the park that features cultural show is situated. The beach is beautiful and quite. Accommodation and seafood restaurants are available.

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Phuket Fantasea A large-scale nighttime amusement centre on 140 acres near the village of Kamala Bay, 4 kilometres north of Patong. Thai cultural traditions are mixed with the latest modern technology in “Las Vegas style”. Magic elephants disappearing into thin air, gymnastics, musical fountains, and a circus are among the many attractions.

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Wat Phra Thong is where only the upper half of a large Buddha statue emerges from the ground. Legend has it that during the invasion of Thalang town in 2328 B.E. (circa 1785) , the Burmese tried in vain to excavate the statue to take to back. Each time they dug into the ground , swarms of hornets would swoop on them and they had to give up. Later , the visible part of the statue was covered with gold by the villagers and has remained as such until today. It is about 20 kilometres from Phuket town past the Thalang district office.

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Ko Kaeo is and off- shore isle about 3 kilometres out from Rawai beach and can be reached in 30 minutes by boat. It offers picturesque beaches and underwater scenery. There is also a replica of the Holy Footprint on the island.

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1 day trip

Phuket is well-equipped to provide off-shore trips making it a centre of tourism in the Andaman sea. Trips can be arranged to see forests and mountains, rocky formation, beaches, coral reefs and fishing. Most of Phuket’s 39 satellite islands are located to the east and the south. Islands of special interest include:

Ko Naka Noi, just off Ao Por on the northeastern shore, is popular for its pearl farm. There are fine sandy beaches suitable for swimming and a seafood restaurant. Tourists can chartered a boat at Ao Por or contact tour agencies for a tour package (generally including Lunch).

Ko Taphao Yai 10 minutes by ferry from Ao Makham on Phuket’s southeast coast. The island is home to the Bucerotes hornbill. Accommodation is available.

Ko Hey or Coral island, just off Phuket’s south coast, is know for its two beautiful beaches and coral reef. The island is part of a marine preserve. Accommodation, restaurants, various watersports and diving facilities are available. Boats leave Rawai Beachor Chalong Bay. Package tours are also available.

Ko Rang Yai, lying off Phuket’s east coast, has been developed for the out-of-doors minded tourist. Among various activities are sea kayaking, mountain-biking, playing miniature golf, and visiting a pearl farm. Package tours are available.

Ko Racha Yai or Raya Yai with its gleaming beaches can be reached by chartered boat from Ao Chalong. Traveling time is about 2-3 hours during off-Monsoon season (December-April). Sightseeing services are available from tour operators in town. Accommodation is available. A hilltop view point on the bay’s south offers a magnificent view of the whole island.

Koh Racha Yai

Phang-Nga Bay(Ao) located northeast of Phuket, contains scores of limestone island, some riddled with aquatic grottoes. This picturesque bay is an enduringly popular excursion. Tours are offered by hotels and tour companies throughout Phuket.

Ao Phang-nga

Phi Phi Island in Krabi province, is about 40 kilometres from Phuket. They are made up of the Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le about 2.2 kilometres apart offering picturesque land and underwater scenarios.

Ao Maya

Similan Island are situated in Phangnga province. Phuket dive shops operate daily excursions to the Similan islands the high season of November- May When underwater visibility is at its best.

Koh Similan