"Phuket Island: Discovering Thailand's Andaman Pearl"
It is said that the most beautiful pearl in the Andaman Sea is Phuket. The island was discovered by backpackers in the early 1980s. From then on, it became one of the most popular islands in the world for its beautiful long sandy beaches and wide range of activities. Many of the world's best diving sites are scattered around Phuket and its neighboring islands. From here, divers can quickly and easily reach the famous Similian and Phi Phi archipelagos. The island also offers several high-class courses in very good condition for golfers. Not to be forgotten is the stretch of beach along the famous Patong Beach with its glittering nightlife, street markets and many restaurants. It is quieter on the neighboring beaches such as Kata, Karon, Nai Harn and Kamala.
Elephant in Phuket
Phuket beach
Phuket city
Phuket Thailand
Phuket China Town
Phuket Thailand beach
Phuket Patong Beach
Phuket sunset
The island of Phuket is located on the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. The island is about 543 square kilometers and has several nature reserves that protect the interior and the waters off the island. The landscape of Phuket consists mostly of mountain chains which run through the whole island. The highest point on the island is the Mai Thao Sip Song with a height of about 530 meters. A good transport network and the two bridges enable the population and visitors of the island to easily reach the various parts of the island and the mainland.
The city of Phuket, for its part, is located in the southeast of the island and has around 76,000 registered inhabitants. In general, the prices in the city are cheaper because they are not directly on the beach. The city also has a China Town which is worth visiting in addition to the many beaches on the island.
The cultivation of rubber and the extraction of tin were important and profitable industries on the island. In addition, the island was one of the main trade routes between India and China. This made the island one of the most prosperous provinces in Thailand, which has not changed to this day. Especially in the 17th and 18th centuries, Phuket often had to defend against French and Burmese attacks due to its wealth of raw materials and its favorable position. Today the main source of income for the population is tourism, which has been followed by the cultivation of rubber. The island is particularly popular with retirees because of the good infrastructure, which makes it one of the most expensive areas in Thailand
The beaches on Phuket
The island's beautiful sandy beaches are almost all along the west coast of Phuket. In the north, near the airport, there are some small, very quiet stretches of beach where, however, further south it gets busier. The exception in the south is Cape Panwa, which is only known to very few visitors and is therefore still very quiet despite its beauty.
Patong Beach
Patong Beach is the most famous beach on Phuket with a length of two kilometers. During the day, active vacationers can have fun with windsurfing, snorkeling, sailing, diving, jeep and motorcycling. The offer is varied and completely adapted to western tastes. Patong has developed into a small, vibrant city, where in the evening tourists crowd the sidewalks along the stalls and bars. Unfortunately Patong is no longer recommended for the real Thailand lover. A nice hotel that is right on the beach (a rarity on Phuket) is the Patong Bay Garden Resort.
Relax Bay
The beach section is a small, beautiful bay with white sand between Patong and Karon. The higher street offers great views of the bay. The beach belongs to the Meridian Hotel and is actually not private, but it is well cordoned off from the hotel. Karon Beach is south of Patong and is four kilometers long. In the north it is bordered by rocks and a lagoon in front of it. Several luxury hotels have been built on the central beach of Karon. At the southern and northern end of the bay there are many shopping opportunities such as supermarkets, restaurants, bars, travel agencies and shopping malls.
Karon Beach
Karon Beach is very popular with many tourists, as the beach is eternally long and the nightlife is not as pronounced as in Patong. We recommend the Karon Whale Resort (comparable to the Orcidacea Resort) and the Golden Sand Inn (a cheap alternative).
Kata Beach
Kata Beach is located further south of Karon and has a beautiful beach. Two bays, Kata Noi and Kata Yai, are separated by a ledge. All around the rocks and around the small island of Koh Pu there are coral reefs with lots of colorful fish, which makes it a good snorkeling spot. During the rainy season dangerous currents arise on Kata Noi, whereas it is safer on Kata Yai. In the northern area is the center with restaurants, travel agencies, motorcycle and jeep rentals, tailors and some diving stations. Overall, it is still one of the beaches that can be recommended on Phuket. It's not as boring here as the beaches near the airport and not as crowded and noisy as in Patong and Karon. It is very easy to get to Patong or Phuket Town by taxi. Recommended hotel in Kata: The Orcidacea Resort (formerly Pop Cottage).
We also like the Kata Thani Hotel very much.
Nai Harn Beach
Nai Harn Beach is located south of Kata Beach and is one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand, even if it has become a bit crowded there in recent years. Fine, white sand beach, behind it a picturesque lagoon, right and left rocky hills, partly overgrown with coconut palms, and beautiful sunsets contribute to the atmosphere. The famous Cape Phromthep is very close by, and the Kings Cup regatta starts here every year. Nai Harn Resort is the hotel we enjoy most in this area.
Kamala Beach
The beaches of Kamala Bay have long been spared from tourism. In the meantime, some bungalow complexes, but also first-class hotels, have settled here. Kamala Bay is among the limited tranquil beaches on Phuket, notwithstanding the opening of the Fantasea amusement park in 1999. Our guests like the Kamala Beach Resort, which is located directly on the beach.
Things to do and see on Phuket
In addition to the beaches, the island offers other varied programs. A visit to the Ton Sai waterfall, a visit to the Phuket FantaSea or the Phuket Aquarium are just a few of the possibilities on Phuket.
Ton Sai waterfall
The waterfall is located about 22 kilometers from Phuket Town. The small waterfall can be reached from a streaky path. The waterfall falls from a limestone mountain and forms several small catchment basins between the cascades in which it is possible to take a bath. However, this should be taken with caution in the rainy season, which runs from May to October, because of the strong currents. From the waterfall, a small path leads through the densely vegetated area, where nature holds various surprises open. Not far from the Ton Sai waterfall, there is a refuge for gibbons that were once kept as pets. With the help of the facility, the animals should be accustomed to nature and life in the open again.
Island and diving tours
Tours to the neighboring islands can be booked at the numerous travel agencies. The many day tours mostly go towards Coral Island, Phi Phi Islands, Phang Nga Bay, Similian and Surin archipelago. In the diving shops on the island there is a wide range of diving and snorkeling tours to the different islands. All tours usually include a hotel pick-up, the boat trip (most cases speedboat), equipment and a meal.
Wat Chalong
The largest and most important Buddhist temple on the island is located on the southern outskirts of Phuket Town. The temple is very venerated and respected by the local population. Among other things, the temple complex has a statue of Luang Por Cham, the monk who acquired the status of a hero through his help during the Chinese rebellion.Access to the temple is free, however, small donations are accepted.
Orchid Garden & Thai Village
From Phuket Town's Thepkasattri Road, head north for about 3 kilometers. Much of the traditional southern Thai culture is demonstrated and exhibited around the grounds. In addition to folk dances and an orchid garden, there is also Thai boxing, elf training and an exhibition of craftsmanship to admire.
Phuket FantaSea
On the 140 hectare themed complex, traditional Thai culture is conveyed with the help of modern media. Besides the numerous interactive areas within the halls, there is also a Las Vegas Show, the Festival Village, and the Golden Kinnaree Buffet Restaurant, which boasts more than 5,000 seats and a mix of Thai and international cuisine.
Arrival and transport on Phuket
The fastest way from Bangkok is by plane directly to Phuket, but this is also the most expensive solution. If you are short on time, it is advisable to use the plane. There are also daily flights to Phuket from Chiang Mai or Koh Samui. In addition to many other countries from Asia and Europe, Condor offers direct flights from Frankfurt in the high season.
An alternative is the train journey from Bangkok to Surat Thani, from there by bus to Phuket (combined tickets are offered, total duration approx. 15 hours, depending on the connection) or with the VIP direct bus from Bangkok to Phuket (approx. 12 hours Journey).
If you are already in southern Thailand, Phuket can be reached quickly and easily using the available means of transport. From Phi Phi Islands it takes two hours by boat to Phuket. If you are coming from Krabi, the best way to get there is by car, which takes about 2:30 hours. Other transfer services are available from Koh Lanta and Koh Samui.
On site, small buses run between the beaches, which takes a little longer but is the cheapest. The Tuk Tuk on Phuket are more comfortable. These can be rented for any route, whereby there are no fixed prices, which requires negotiating skills. There are a wide variety of motorcycles and jeeps for hire at affordable prices.
Climate & travel time for Phuket
The best time is November to May, with almost no rain and temperatures that are not too hot. Many guests come in October, but then it can still be a little rainy. The weather is often stable from May to June and the sun shines often, in the afternoon it can also rain heavily. From July to October there can be several longer and shorter showers for several days in a row. However, the daily average temperature is constant all year round at around 32 ° C.
The advantage of the low season (beginning of May to end of October) are the low hotel prices and package deals, and it is quieter as there are fewer tourists and noisy longtail boats on site.
