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Phuket Places To See |
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Gem of the Andaman
Coast, and Thailand's top beach resort is Phuket Island. Shaped like
an irregular pearl and measuring approximately 21km wide by 48km
long, Phuket is Thailand's largest island and a province in its own
right. Sparsely populated outside Phuket town, the landscape is one
of lush green hills, coconut groves, rubber plantations and a
coastline dotted with a dozen spectacular beaches. Set against a
backdrop of palms and casuarinas, each idyllic stretch of sand has a
character and charm of its own.
Accommodation can be found in abundance and the facilities are as
comprehensive as the range of accommodation. Restaurants are
excellent, both in their setting and in their menus, featuring a
selection of culinary delights from fresh seafood or spicy Thai
dishes to other Asian cuisine and Continental specialties. Cocktail
lounges, discos and nightclubs give ample choice for after dinner
entertainment.
The island's size and its wealth of beaches offer plenty of
different focal points, each with its own identity. Patong Beach,
for example, is the most developed area and suits those who like a
kaleidoscopic variety of attractions with ready access to all parts
of the island.
Tempting though it is simply to laze on the beach and soak up a
tropical suntan, Phuket offers many sporting options for visitors
seeking action with a taste of adventure. Scuba diving is perhaps
the island's most popular and best developed sport. However for
those who prefer to keep their heads above water, yachting and
deep-sea fishing are two marvelous sporting alternatives.
On land, sporting attractions vary from daredevil bungee-jumping to
the very different challenges of golf on any one of several superb
18-hole courses. Horse riding and go-kart racing are further
choices.
More than just a place of sun, sea and sand, Phuket affords ample
scope for sightseeing. Molded by various influences over the
centuries and made rich through tin mining, Phuket has evolved into
a distinctive culture, giving rise to a number of sights and events
unique to the island. Early prosperity is witnessed in several
well-preserved mansions of considerable architectural interest,
while a further reminder of past influences survives in the annual
Vegetarian Festival held in October.
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| Getting There |
By Air: Thai
Airways International operates daily from Bangkok. There are also
direct air links with Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore
and Europe.
By Road: The island is linked to the mainland by the 700m long
Sarasin Causeway therefore, access is easy. There are many overnight
bus services from Bangkok.
By Rail: The island can also be reached partly by train and partly
by bus.
By Sea: There are many ferry services to the island and Phuket
remains a favorite stop for cruises.
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| Phuket Town |
Phuket town is
interesting for its Sino-Portuguese architecture. Wealthy Chinese
tin barons built spacious colonial-style residences set in large
grounds to celebrate their success. The best examples are along
Thalang, Yaowarat, Ranong and Damrong roads.
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| Scuba Diving |
The Andaman Sea
boasts of some of the world's finest dive spots, deep and shallow,
presenting scuba enthusiasts with the full gamut of underwater
scenes - coral walls, caves, swim troughs, wrecks and more! Ready
access into this exciting, silent world is assured by Phuket's
numerous dive shops and boat rental.
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| Sea Canoeing |
Sea canoeing is a
thrilling alternative to the likes of scuba diving and yachting. One
can explore the island and its various island caves during one to
seven day voyages into a hidden world as unspoiled as anywhere on
earth. In comparison to yachting, sea canoeing can be said to be
observing the world from down under.
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| Ranong |
North of Phuket,
Ranong is Thailand's least populated province, with a largely
mountainous landscape. The area is well worth visiting for its
simple charm arising from being off the beaten track. There are
however a number of specific attractions nearby Ranong town such as
the hot springs and health spa with first class accommodation, and
two extremely attractive waterfalls.
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| Phang Nga Bay |
Situated northeast
of Phuket, Phang Nga Bay is one of the world's great adventure
trips. A 'longtail' boat takes you through mangrove swamps, caves
dripping with stalactites, and out into the bay where scores of tiny
volcanic islands soar hundreds of feet skywards. Some rise sheer
from the water, others are lumped or jagged, and all are strange and
hauntingly beautiful. Adding to Phang Nga's stunning sights are a
fishing village built entirely on stilts over the sea.
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| Island Hopping |
Island hopping is
a popular pursuit and both Phi Phi and the Similans feature
magnificent underwater coral gardens, populated by multi-hued
tropical fish.
Phi Phi Islands - The twin Phi Phi
Islands, some 20 km southeast of Phuket and served by daily ferries
offer natural scenery even more pristine than that of Phuket. Here
are not only secluded beaches, blue sea and a back drop of lush
green tropical vegetation, but also sheer cliffs rising dramatically
hundreds of feet above the water. This is where the birds' nest used
to make the soup so highly prized by Chinese gourmets are gathered.
At several places on the cliffs and in caves you can see bamboo
scaffoldings which the nest hunters scale to dizzy, dangerous
heights.
The Similans - Classified as a nature
park, the Similans, north of Phuket, comprise of eight uninhabited
islands. A camp site has however been developed on Miang, the
largest of the group. Especially colorful coral formations in the
surrounding waters make the Similans a top favorite with scuba
divers.
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| Krabi |
On the mainland,
Krabi boasts almost an excess of grandeur: sheer cliffs, palm
groves, white sandy beaches, beckoning offshore islands and the
sparkling sea combine to produce a coastline of rare beauty. Krabi's
several exquisite beaches are, of course, the main attraction, but
there are other sights, including Su-Suan Hoi (Shell Cemetery); Wat
Tham Sua (Tiger Cave Monastery); the lonely caves of Tham Lod and
Tham Phi Hua To and the extraordinarily picturesque Bokkhorani
National Park.
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| Tarutao National
Park |
| Still further
south of Phuket, Tarutao National Park comprises of 51 mountainous
islands which offer remarkably awesome views of natural scenery.
Despite easy access by boat, these islands are amazing for their
untouched beauty, seasonally clear waters and magnificent coral
reefs. |
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Thailand
