Thailand's largest island, Phuket is 21 kilometers wide and 49 long. Located in the sparkling waters of the Andaman Sea just over one hour flying time south of Bangkok, Thailand's most popular beach destination has everything that you could possibly want on vacation: beautiful beaches, some of the finest resort hotels, international and Thai cuisine, temples, water sports, coral reefs, turquoise seas, scuba diving, and tropical sunshine - all in plentiful proportions.
Year-round temperatures on Phuket vary between 21-34 ˚C. Water temperatures range from 26-28˚C. The high season, roughly November till April, brings consistently sunny weather, cool breezes and low humidity, with moderate seas.
The winding coastal roads along the west and south coasts of the island offer stunning views and easy access to some of the world's finest beaches, of which Phuket has over thirty. Here are just some of the most popular:
Patong still ranks no.1 when it comes to accommodation choices, nightlife, dining options, andshopping centers. In fact it is called “Patong City” and not “Patong Beach” now. It is the heart of Phuket, and what makes it so attractive to some is often what other people hate most about it. Patong is big, crowded and loud. It is crammed with cafes, bars, hotels, restaurants and massage parlours, yet millions of people flock there every year. This area is also notoriously famous for its chaotic, neon lit, loud nightlife scene of the Bangla Road.
Karon Beach is located on the west coast of the island. You won’t ever feel crowded as the beach is long and wide. Actually, it is one of the longest and widest beaches in the country. It is a fantastic place for swimmingand sunbathing. Karon has a good balance of things to do. It has a fantastic nightlife, offers some brilliant restaurants and plenty of shops and markets. Also, spas and yoga centers are plentiful.
Kata Beach is one of the beautiful tropical beaches that helped make Phuket the famous beach destination it now is. It has managed to retain much more of its original charm and natural appearance than has Patong.Apart from a green beach-head, Kata is picture-perfect due to the two coconut covered headlands that reign in both ends, and a tiny Crab Island that lies just off shore. The beach has no offshore reef, and the sandy, rock-free bottom slopes gently off into the deep. This creates great swimming conditions through most of the year, good surfing waves during the monsoon season and a perfect anchorage for the yachts.So while Kata still looks close to picture perfect in many ways, it is also one of the more popular and crowded beaches on Phuket.
The first beach North of Patong, Kamala is not as developed as the other 3 main beaches and being a largely Muslim community has a different feel. There are a few bars, but even now parts of Kamala beach are more like a local fishing community. There are a few bigger hotels and a smattering of small resorts and guesthouses. The North end of the beach is very quiet. Kamala is also home to the Phuket Fantasea Show, one of Phuket's biggest tourist attractions.
Nai Yang Beach is a beautiful and tranquil area. The whole beach is part of the Sirinath National Park. The beach is a two-kilometer stretch of sand along a gently curving bay. At the north end of the bay the beach straightens into the long stretch that is Mai Khao Beach. The seabed has sandy areas suitable for bathing, especially at the southern end. At the northern end of the beach and further out to see are rocky coral areas good for snorkeling.
Mai Khao Beach is situated on the northwest coast of Phuket. This 11km-long straight beach is still blessedly undeveloped as it is part of the Sirinat National Park. The sand of Mai Khao Beach – the name translates as “white wood” – is possibly the coarsest of any on Phuket, but is also practically deserted a lot of the time, making it possible to walk for kilometers without seeing a single other person. Interesting to us divers is that on this beach leatherback turtles can sometimes be found as they come here to lay their eggs. Mai Khao is a protected sea turtle nesting area.
Joining a James Bond Island tour and cruise the PhangNga Bay is the second most popular activity in the region. The area is situated 25 km north-east of Phuket. It consists of numerous dramatic limestone cliffs rising sheer out of the waters. The most famous one being James Bond Island with its needle formed limestone rock which featured in the movie "The Man with the Golden Gun". The Muslim fishing village on the island Koh Panyee is another popular spot to visit. Canoeing through limestone caves into mangrove forests is included in the tours.
Phi Phi Islands are one of the most famous islands in the Andaman Sea region. Phi Phi Island is currently one of the world’s main snorkeling and diving destinations for tourists.It’s located between Phuket and Krabi but Phi Phi Islands actually belongs to Krabi province. The island is about 48 kilometers away from Phuket and 45 Kilometers from Krabi. There are two distinct parts to the island - commonly known as Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Lay – separated by a small stretch of water.
*Remark: The program may change depending on tide and weather condition
Leave Phuket Island for a real full day of jungle adventures on the mainland. Elephant trek: in real tropical forest, passing exotic tropical vegetation, crossing streams to a waterfall deep in the jungle. This is a very different and special experience that you cannot find in Phuket. Lunch is a variety of tasty Thai dishes. Canoe down the Sok River in safe inflatable canoes with an experienced person to paddle for you. Pass towering limestone mountains and cliffs covered in exotic tropical jungle, sometimes birds such as kingfisher, heron, eagle or even wild monkeys can be seen. The natural scenery here is superb and the best way to see it is silently from your canoe on the jungle river. Please wear non-slip shoes, bring a small bag or pack with a change of clothes in case you get wet. Trek on the back of the elephant through rivers, rainforest & tropical jungle.
An ideal opportunity to familiarize yourself with your holiday island and take in the islands natural beauty as we drive along the beach roads through Patong, Karon, Kata and Rawai. For fabulous photo opportunities we will stop at the Karon viewpoint and cultural sites such as the sacred Buddhist temple of WatChalong. Phuket town offers an interesting mix of architecture including Sino - Portuguese. This town has been the backdrop for many western movies as it is said to be very similar to Indochina.
Phuket Fantaseashow: Inspired by Thailand's rich and exotic heritage, Phuket FantaSea not only showcases the charm and beauty of Thailand, but also enriches ancient Thai traditions with the wonder of cutting edge technology and special effects. The result is a stunning 140-acre theme complex, packed with a multitude of activities and entertainment : a festival village with carnivals, games, handicrafts and shopping; a 4,000 seat theme restaurant offering a grand buffet of Thai and international cuisines; and a breath-taking Las Vegas-style theatrical show, where state-of-the-art technology and special effects enhance the grace and beauty of Thailand's Myths, Mysteries and Magic in a wondrous extravaganza certain to delight the whole family. Be spellbound at the Las Vegas style theatrical show, where state of the art technology and special effects enhance the grace and beauty of local myths, mysteries and magic in a wondrous extravaganza.
Since opening in October 1991, Phuket Simon Cabaret has established itself as Phuket leading entertainment venue.Simon Cabaret –is a "transvestite" cabaret show. This show features a musical floor show performed by the world famous "ladyboys". Fabulous costumes, glitzy and fun.
Hanuman World is an exciting treetop zip-lining adventure. With 16 lines up to 400 metres in length, dodging between huge trees, it is a great way for thrill-seekers to get close to nature. The large adventure park also features a sky walk which leads to a large platform with a trampoline-like sun bed and a bar for trying out different local fruits and their juices.
Travel to Siam Niramit, a stunning venue whose grounds feature shops, games, and traditional Thai-style houses. Take a seat and feast on a delicious buffet of authentic Thai cuisine. Then be carried away by a spectacle that takes you on a journey through Thailand’s myths, legends, and culture.
