Phuket Guide

A Guide to PhuketPhuket is Thailand's largest island, approximately the size of Singapore. Phuket nestles in Andaman Sea waters on Thailand's Indian Ocean coastline, located 867 kilometers south of Bangkok. Phuket is blessed with magnificent coves and bays, powdery, palm-fringed white beaches, smaller surrounding islands, hospitable people and seafood, delightful turn-of-the-century Sino-Portuguese architecture; numerous sporting and leisure opportunities; a lush tropical landscape - all of which combine to create a delightful ambience for truly memorable holidays. The most famous beaches are Patong, Kata, Karon, Kamala and Nai Harn Beach. Phuket and its islands are ideal for sailing, diving & snorkeling, golfing and all kinds of sports and entertainment you can wish for. You can also take a trip with a submarine to discover the colorful marine lives under the sea. There is plenty of accommodations available ranging from standard bungalows to 5 star hotels.

Weather and Climate

Located in the Andaman Sea, Phuket has a tropical monsoon climate with dry and wet seasons. In its hot season, the weather is bright and sunny. It can be sweltering hot in some months. During the rainy season, some beaches in Phuket can be dangerous due to the undercurrents. But in general, the downpour takes only a short time and followed by the sunshine.
In this section, temperature, amount of the rainfall of each month and the best time to visit are shown to help you plan the best time to visit Phuket including actual time and temperature, the wind, sunrise and sunset time.

Getting There

Located 867 km from Bangkok, Phuket is easily and conveniently accessed. If you prefer to drive, it can possibly take around 12 hours on Highway no. 4 through beautiful scenery of many provinces and the Sarasin Bridge. Thanks to the international airport, it only takes about 1.20 hrs by plane. There are international flights as well as domestic airlines including low-cost airlines operating many flights a day flying from and to Bangkok. Buses run from Southern Bus Terminal. The journey takes 14 hours. Night buses are available. It can also be reached by train to nearby provinces, then road connection is required as there is no railway connection to the island. By sea, the island has deep sea port for boat and cruise. Information on the flights with flight schedules, bus information and timetables, train timetables, boat timetables from different destinations and directions for driving from Bangkok is provided in this section.

Attractions

It is hard to resist the enthralling beauty of this big island. Surrounded by captivating nature both on land and in water, Phuket abounds with hundreds and hundreds of memorable and fascinating natural attractions as well as impressive man-made destinations. The national park in the province invites you to experience the abundance of its tropical flora and fauna as well as waterfalls. Marine national park comprised of beach forest, mangrove and marine environment. Surrounding islands allures tourists to experience their offer. The province’s long history has resulted in imposing architecture of the buildings as well as charming culture and tradition. Some of that were collected and put on display in museum. Unquestionably, Phuket is also known as an entertainment hub of the south. There is a good number of entertainment and leisure attractions for all ages, for instance, zoo, aquarium, cabarets and many more.

Beaches & Islands

Phuket has hundreds kilometres of magnificent coastline which brings about beautiful beaches. Its twisted and contorted coastline hides breathtaking bays and lagoons. The island boasts more than 25 beaches with diverse characteristics, shapes, atmospheres with a lot of different activities. Some beaches are as small as 150 metres long, a good size for family picnic and some are as long as 9 km with a plenty of space for playing beach sports or a long jogging in the morning. Beaches in Phuket do not only come with the clear blue water for swimming, but they also have stunning distinct surroundings on land such as capes and offshore islands dotted in its azure. They are ideal for tranquil escape such as Coral Island, Koh Yao, Koh Bon and many others within a quick speedboat ride. Whether you want a quiet and solitude atmosphere, vibrant scene, local village or something else in between, you can find information, description, accommodation as well as facilities and maps in this section.

Dinning in Phuket

Phuket, the landmark of gastronomic delights, offers a wide culinary option to suit all preferences. A numerous choice of restaurants are located throughout, all locations that you can think of. Whether you like to have a hearty breakfast or romantic dining on the beach, barbeque on the pool terrace in a boutique resort or savoury fresh seafood side street restaurant, you will find them at a stone throw. The choice of cuisine of other nationalities is copious, English, Italian, French, German, Swiss, Chinese, Japanese, Muslim and many more. If ones may want to try the authentic local food, the first and foremost advice is that you must be able to take the spice. Southern food is famous for a variety of curries, varying in tastes and colours.

Golf Course in Phuket

Once Phuket was full of tin mines, located amidst the scenic mountain range. Since golf has become popular amongst the residents and tourists, Phuket offers several golf courses designed by international golf course designers. From putting green to fully integrated courses, golfers will find Phuket a golf paradise with its stunning views of the ocean or green mountains. Some tin mines have been transformed to the course with interesting designs. Golf Clubs are not limited to just golf course, they also offer exceptional accommodations, superb services as well as other facilities.

Nightlife in Phuket

Apart from its spectacular nature, Phuket offers a vibrant nightlife of all kinds of entertainment you can think of. There is something to suit everyone. There are more than 150 clubs, pubs, bars, beer bars, go-go bars and discos on Patong Beach alone. By day, this area is quiet but as the sun goes down, the lights of the bars lit up while nightlife in other areas is more low-key. Live music can also be found at some pubs and bars. Increasing popular, cabaret or transvestite performance calls loud applause from the crowd. It is also located on Patong – Karon. Unique to Phuket, Phuket Fantasia offers cultural performance in combination with light and sound technology in Las Vegas style.

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