Phuket is Thailand’s largest island. It is 48 km in length, 21 km at its widest, and is in Southern Thailand, on the west-facing Andaman Sea coastline, suspended from the southern tip of Phang Nga Province by a pair of short but substantial road bridges.
This region is what Phuket is known for the world over. There is a wide variety of beaches, some calm, some totally ruined by millions of visitors each year. Patong is one of the party capitals of Asia.
Phuket nestles in balmy Andaman Sea waters on Thailand’s Indian Ocean coastline 862 kilometres south of Bangkok. Phuket formerly derived its wealth from tin and rubber, and enjoyed a rich and colourful history. The island was on one of the major trading routes between India and China, and was frequently mentioned in foreign trader’s ship logs.
Phuket, the Pearl of the Andaman, is Thailand’s largest island, with a curvaceous coastline of wide sugary beaches strung between jutting peninsulas and craggy rock formations.
- what should to go?
Phuket’s beach scene is also undergoing something of a revival, with swanky new hotels and beach clubs popping up along the west coast.
If lying on a four-poster day bed on an intravenous drip of cocktails loses its polish however, there are plenty of quieter escapes. Head north to the Khoa Sok National Park and you can partake in the full jungle experience, complete with elephants, lazy rivers and treehouse lodgings.
Sail east and explore the spectacular Phang Nga Bay, where sheer limestone karsts rise dramatically out of the water and, for a few baht, long-tail boats ferry sunbathers between desert island beaches. Head north-east and after a couple of hours you’ll hit the pristine islands of Similan and Surin, where divers can swim with leopard sharks, octopus and a concerto of colourful fish by day and camp on empty islands by moonlit night.
- what should to eat?
Food in Phuket is surprisingly cosmopolitan, especially in Patong, as many foreigners have set up shop to cater to their fellow travellers. All the usual Thai favourites are of course still available, with a particular emphasis on seafood.
Phuket has its own style of preparation and cooking. Some interesting local dishes include:
- Fried or boiled noodle dishes, usually with pork or chicken, are available at many noodle shops in the town such as Mi Ton Pho, Mi Sapam, Mi Ao Ke, Mi Hun Pa Chang.
- Khanom Jin, a version of noodles eaten at breakfast, usually served with a spicy curry sauce and fresh vegetables.
- Nam Phrik Kung Siap is a mixture of dried chilis and smoked shrimps eaten with various fresh vegetables.
Cashew nuts and pineapples are grown in Phuket and available all year round. The nuts are available dried, fried, or coated. Phuket pineapples are delectable, sweet and firm.
Phuket has a busy nightlife, second only to Pattaya among Thailand’s beach resorts. Patong is by far the busiest, and seediest, of the lot, but in addition to go-go bars there are also plenty of other bars, discos and clubs.
- What should to stay?
There are lots of options available in Phuket. But for the more popular hotels and resorts in the better locations you should book at least a couple months in advance during high season (Nov-May). Best rates are usually found online by searching and many hotels offer best rate guarantees when you book direct. Most of the time you will pay more if you walk in.
Some where you can chose:
- Veerakit Villa 34/6 Hasippi Road, Kathu, Phuket.
- Phuket Sea Resort Viset, Rawai, Phuket, Thailand
- Coconut Village Resort 20 Prachanukroh Road, Patong, Phuket
- IndoChine Resort & Villas 328 Prabaramee Road, Patong, Phuket
- See Sea Phuket Hotel 324/74, Prabaramee Road, Kalim Bay, Patong, Phuket
What should to buy?
Phuket is the source of cultured pearls, nielloware, pewterware, ornaments and dried seafood. Specialist shops dealing in souvenir products can be found on Ratsada, Phang-nga, Montri, Yaowarat, and Tilok-U-thit roads, in Phuket Town, Thepkasattri Road, north of town and at the beach centres of Patong, Kata, Karon and Rawai.
Phuket’s larger beaches are ravaged by ravenous hordes of touting tailors, who are certainly cheap, but will screw you over if they can. For example, suits done in 24 hours are usually just glued together and will fall apart the first time you take them to a dry cleaner. Choose your own fabrics (you can buy them on Thalang Rd in Phuket Town), insist on multiple fittings and check the quality of work carefully. It makes little difference which tailor shop you choose, since they’re all just sales fronts for a few central sweatshops.
There are two giant shopping malls in Phuket: Central Festival, at the northwest edge of Phuket Town, and Jungceylon, in Patong.
- Remember
Crime as of late has definitely increased in the Phuket area among tourists and you should keep this in mind and be vigilant of anyone who wants to befriend you or trick you into gambling (which is illegal) and anything else you consider out of the ordinary. Katoeys (ladyboys) are notorious for pick pocketing as you walk around the tourist areas at night. Also muggings do take place regularly. Avoid walking down unlit sois; stick to the main roads. If something looks/sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Tourist police can be contacted locally using 1155. They have a good basic understanding of English, so if in trouble these people should be contacted. Thai police speak hardly any English and normally take the side of the locals even if it is their fault. Always insist on Tourist Police if you have any run-in with the Thai Police. Use only metered taxis and ask hotels to call, take down driver license plate and taxi license number before you get in. You can use receipt from taxi to complain to police or find lost property, so take a receipt and license numbers.
Travel guide to Phuket
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