Phuket is the Largest and Best Known of All the Islands in Thailand

Phuket is the largest and best known of all the islands in Thailand. Depending on your taste, Phuket offers either peaceful settings or wild times. This mixture of lifestyles attracts visitors from all over the world.

Phuket is Thailand's largest island

Phuket is Thailand's largest island and its best example of the benefits and problems of tourism. Huge promotions of Phuket by the TAT and travel agents since Thailand first start attracting international travellers on a large scale in the 1980s have brought in millions. Along with them has come unregulated development, severe environmental degradation, organised crime and a raft of other ugly annoyances.

Phuket Travel In Thailand

The so-called pearl of the south is today unrecognisable from just a few decades ago. As property prices soared, many locals sold up to national and international hotels and many of the most beautiful beaches are now host to scores of them, along with restaurants, bars, travel agents, massage parlours and the usual other suspects.

Phuket Travel In Thailand

For the budget traveller, the days of grass huts on the beach are largely gone and simple seafood feasts have been replaced by KFC, Starbucks and Pizza Hut. Phuket is an expensive place, with lodging, eating and transport all far costlier than elsewhere in Thailand. You can minimise this by eating on the street and drinking less (or diligently chasing happy hours) but if you really want to spend some time here, you'll need to adjust your budget. Dishes of pad thai for 100B are not unusual here.

Phuket Travel In Thailand

And you can't avoid the disgraceful public transport here, where the spineless authorities refuse to crackdown on the tuk tuk mafia, meaning public buses only run between Phuket town and the beaches, but not between beaches. This makes interbeach travel very expensive and a good reason to hire a motorbike or car. It's worth spending a night in historical Phuket town and then heading to one of the low-key beaches where budget spots can still be found. Once you're in the water, who really cares whether they're paying 500B or 50,000B for their bed? Phuket was hit by the Boxing Day Tsunami, with Kamala, Patong, Bang Tao and Naiya the worst hit. Reconstruction in most areas is progressing rapidly.

Location Phuket Travel In Thailand

Phuket is bordered in the north and the east by the province of Phang-nga while the Andaman Sea is to the south and the west. Despite being an island, it is still possible to drive here by using the Sarasin bridge, which links Phang-nga with Phuket.

Highlights Phuket Travel In Thailand

Had Patong: Located about fifteen kilometers from town is the nine-kilometer stretch of beach called Patong. The atmosphere here is similar to Pattaya, supplying all different types of entertainment, several ranges of accommodation, swimming, and just about any other activity you could dream of.

Had Kata

Had Kata: Had Kata is located about seventeen kilometers from town and is comprised of Ao Kata Yai and Ao Kata Noi. There are many different types of coral and rock to be found here. Like Patong, there are several hotels, resorts and restaurants of all different price ranges.

Kata Noi Beach

Kata Noi Beach : This cosy bay is found at the end of a dead-end road, just a few minutes' drive over the hill from Kata beach. There's not much to do in Kata Noi, which is precisely the point of coming here. Relax, take a walk along the soft sands, snorkel or swim. It's long been a popular spot for surfers in the monsoon season of May-October, though swimming can be dangerous during this period. The popular Kata Viewpoint, offering a stunning vista across the three bays of Karon, Kata and Kata Noi, is only a 5-minute drive along a winding road towards Nai Harn.

Had Karon

Had Karon: Had Karon is located north of Had Kata and bordered by craggy hills. The beach is long and the many pine trees offer shade to keep you cool in the midday sun.

Had Rawai

Had Rawai: Located about seventeen kilometers from town, Had Rawai has beautiful seaside streets and is where many of the islanders live. From here, you can hire boats to Koh He.

Laem Phrom Thep

Laem Phrom Thep: Laem Phrom Thep is the best spot on the island to see the sunset. Located only two kilometers from Had Rawai, there are several souvenir shops where you can buy gifts for your loved ones.

Had Naihan

Had Naihan: Had Naihan is next to the Laem Phrom Thep, about eighteen kilometers from town. This is a peaceful area with un-crowded white-sand beaches.

Had Surin

Had Surin: Had Surin, located twenty-four kilometers from town, has beautiful beaches and scenery, but swimming is forbidden because of the dangerous rip tides. Many visitors rent boats from here to take them to nearby islands like Koh RachaYai, KohTaphao, and Koh Sire.

Kamala Beach

Kamala Beach : This well-enclosed bay and fishing village surrounded by forested hills is one of the most beautiful beaches in Phuket. Tranquil and calm, the pretty white sands of Kamala beckon most people by day, but if you're seeking more than sunbathing on a perfect beach, there are other options. Hire a long-tail boat and go snorkeling at the north end of the beach, explore the neighbouring beaches of Laem Sing or Surin, or take an island tour.Many Beach in Phuket.