PHUKET
THAILAND
The pearl of the Andaman​
Phuket, also known as “The pearl of the Andaman” is Thailand’s largest island, and is located almost 900 kilometers south of Bangkok.
The islands interior is mostly mountainous, while its west coast has a number of magnificent long sandy beaches and lots of nightlife. For centuries, the main source of income for the island was tin mining.
KEY FACTS
CURRENCY : THB
LOCAL CUISINE : THAI
SPECIALITIES : ISLANDS
PEAK HOURS : 12p.m.
COMMUNICATION MEDIUM : THAI
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Features
Phuket’s most famous and developed beach is Patong beach that has a more than 2 kilometers long sandy beach located in a bay with warm waters, ideal for swimming and relaxing in the sun. The beach is lined up with beach chairs and umbrellas, that can be rented for a small daily fee. Vendors selling ice cream, fresh fruits and drinks walk the beach all day, offering their goods. Besides swimming and relaxing in the sun there are plenty of things to do like parasailing and jet skiing. For complete relaxation, try a Thai massage available on the beach.
Patong is also Phuket’s center of nightlife. The area around Soi Bangla has more than 200 pubs, bars, go-go bars and discothèques where the action does not stop until very late at night. Patong offers a countless number of accommodation options, from basic bungalows to international 5-star resorts. There is plenty of choice of restaurants, both Thai and Western, some of which serve some of the best sea food in the country.
Phi Phi Island
The Phi Phi islands are some of the loveliest in Southeast Asia. Just a 45-minute speedboat trip or a 90-minute ferryboat ride from either Phuket or Krabi, these picture postcard islands offer the ultimate tropical getaway. Featuring classic tropical beaches, stunning rock formations and vivid turquoise waters teeming with colourful marine life, it is paradise perfected.
Phi Phi Don
Ko Phi Phi Don is the largest of the islands in the Ko Phi Phi archipelago, in Thailand. Phi Phi Don is 9.73 km2 (3.76 mi2): 8 kilometres (5.0 miles) in length and 3.5 kilometres (2.2 miles) wide. Part of the islands are administratively part of Ao Nang in Krabi Province. It is the only island in the group with permanent inhabitants, although most are temporary workers servicing the tourist trade.
Like the other islands in the archipelago, Phi Phi Don is a non-volcanic island largely made of limestone. It is almost separated into two islands, but a strand of flat land connects them. On this strand lies the largest settlement on the island, as well as most of the resorts.
Phi Phi Leh
Phi Phi Leh is an uninhabited island that lies 1.5km off the southernmost tip of Phi Phi Don. Stunning vertical cliffs capped with green foliage give way to small sandy beaches and tropical coral seas. Most visitors find their way around Phi Phi Leh on an organised Phi Phi boat tour. However you can rent a longtail boat for your own customized trip.
The Pad Thai Shop
The Pad Thai Shop is a super tiny restaurant on the side of a back road of Karon Beach. It’s so small and modest, you would drive pass it without paying much attention if it wasn’t for its growing reputation… and a large yellow signboard that says ‘The Pad Thai Shop’ of course. Despite its success, the shop owner probably chose not to change anything about the shop. Plain wood and bricks walls, concrete roof, plastic chairs and plates and a black bare stove as old local shops usual are. Yes, you are here for an old-fashioned Pad Thai in a real local shop, not for a fancy meal.
Sino Portuguese House
Thalang Road is where everyone goes on a Phuket exploration, it’s a nice walk, and a must do. But if you too have a passion for old houses, you might want to explore a bit further where some amazing mansions are still standing but often hidden. It is so easy to imagine Phuket hundred years ago when standing in front of one of these beautiful mansions.
Khai Nok Island
Koh Khai Nok is a small island tucked away in Phang Nga Bay. It's only 30 minutes or so away from the east coast of Phuket but ask anyone on the island if they've been there and you will probably draw a blank stare.
Still, a hidden gem is sometimes all the more precious for being so and when we discovered a half day tour was going there we leapt at the opportunity to try it out.
Cashew Nut Factory
Phuket is well-known as a producer of delicious cashew nuts, and anyone who enjoys eating them might very much enjoy a tour of the Phuket Cashew Nut Factory. This is definately one of the most unique Phuket attractions. Although one might not think so, the process of taking cashews from raw to ready-to-eat is quite a production, with a great many steps involved. At the factory, guests will learn how cashews are made and things like how to tell the difference between high quality and low quality cashews