Phuket
Recommended Tours

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Over three million tourists visit Phuket Island annually. A good road network enables easy exploration from Chalong Bay and Rawai Beach on the east coast, round Cape Prom Thep at the southern-most point and up to the western shoreline, which includes Nai Harn Beach, Kata Beach, Karon Beach, Patong Beach and Kamala Bang Tao. North of Phuket Town, roads branch off to Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Sanctuary and the many eastern bays, westward to Nai Yang Beach and across the mountains to Kamala and Patong beaches.

Tour One: Phuket Town

Situated in the southeast, Phuket Town is 32 kilometers from Phuket International Airport. The center is best explored on foot. Sino-Portuguese buildings fill the streets; there are shops selling arts and crafts, handwoven silk and cotton textiles, pewter and jewelry; restaurants serve authentic Thai and Chinese cuisine. A visit to Phuket Town Central Market allows a real insight into Thai life. A heady mix of aromas, sights and sounds envelop the stalls, which sell a variety of foods, perfect for picnics in the park atop Rang Hill (Khao Rang), which offers great views over the town and the islands beyond.

Other attractions in the area include the Phuket Butterfly Garden & Aquarium, the Phuket Orchid Garden and Thai Village, the Thalang National Museum and the nearby Two Heroines Monument.

Tour Two: The Southern Route

The Phuket Aquarium, seven kilometers from Phuket Town, is the starting point for this tour. Along the road from here, in the direction of Chalong Bay, you will pass Wat Chalong, Phuket's most beautiful monastery, Phuket Zoo and Phuket Sea Shell Museum, said to have the largest shell collection in the world.

Chalong Bay itself is not suitable for swimming, but is renowned for having some of the best seafood on the island. Its pier is the departure point for many dive and boat tours. Take the coconut palm-fringed road from Chalong Circle to Rawai Beach —one of the most beautiful on the island. There are a number of restaurants here and many locals choose this spot for weekend picnics. To the east, Laem Ka Beach is excellent for swimming, while to the west is Prom Thep Cape, the island's southern-most point. Nai Harn Beach is picturesque, but swimming can be dangerous during the Monsoon Season.

Traveling north, a stunning vista unfolds, revealing the white sands that characterize Kata Beach and Karon Beach. Protected in the north by Phu Island, Kata provides excellent waters for swimming and snorkeling, while Karon is lined with palm trees and fringed with evergreens. The nearby Dino Park Mini Golf is a prehistoric, outdoor entertainment complex.

Tour Three: The Western Route

The starting point for this tour is Patong Beach, the tourist hub of the island. The culturally diverse stream of visitors provides a cosmopolitan atmosphere, added to which is a myriad of shops, food stalls, restaurants, pubs, nightclubs and massage parlors.

The turnoff to Kathu Waterfall, a small cascade pleasant for picnicking, is on the road between Patong Beach and Phuket Town, which crosses the mountain range and affords wonderful views over Patong. At the northern end of Patong Beach there is a rocky outcrop, to the north of which lies Kalim Beach, which has extensive coral reefs.

Tour Four: The Northern Route

Kamala Beach, six kilometers from Patong, is the starting point for this tour. It includes Laem Sing Beach and Surin Beach and is also where you will find FantaSea, a cultural theme park.

Bang Tao Beach is where some of the island's most luxurious resorts have been developed. Other attractions include herbal spas, a riding club, the Banyan Tree Golf Club and the Canal Shopping Village. To the north lies Nai Yang Beach, which is a good place to observe giant sea turtles laying their eggs from October to February. Other attractions include Wat Phra Tong, an important Buddhist monastery, and Wat Phra Nahng Sahng, which boasts the three largest Buddha statues in the world.

Tour Five: The Surrounding Islands

Half an hour by boat from Chalong Pier lies Coral Island. Surrounding coral reefs provide excellent snorkeling and scuba diving and the two beaches are ideal for swimming.

One and a half hours from Phuket lie the Phi Phi Islands, two rocky, tree-covered isles. The larger Phi Phi Don has several long, beaches, while the smaller, Phi Phi Le, is where thousands of swifts nest inside the Viking Cave and sea swallow nests are harvested for the famed Chinese bird's nest soup. The surrounding crystal waters of the Andaman Sea, the secluded beaches, wooded mountains, colorful coral and underwater marine life, all contribute to make Phi Phi a tropical paradise.

One of the world's most fascinating maritime seascapes is to be found at Phang Nga Bay, a three-hour boat trip from Phuket. The strange, limestone outcrops that rise straight from the sea became even more famous after they featured in the James Bond movie, The Man with the Golden Gun. Boat cruises and sea canoe excursions exploring some of the caves are available throughout the year. The islands can also be toured by chartered helicopter from Phuket airport, advanced reservation required.

Much further North, the Similan and Surin islands with their abundant marine life are a must for avid anglers and scuba divers.