Spectacular scenery, stunning tropical sunsets and warm blue sea await you at one of Asia’s most popular beach destinations. This fun island provides an unbeatable combination of perfect silky soft white palm-lined beaches, superb hospitality and great value accommodation.
Whether it is its world class diving in the Andaman Sea, golf at world-standard championship courses or exciting eco-adventures in tropical forests that attract your interest, Phuket is certainly a place to extend your horizons. Take an exhilarating speedboat trip to the surrounding islands or enjoy a serene cruise around mystical Phang Nga Bay. Alternatively, why not simply enjoy Phuket’s vibrant nightlife in Patong Beach?
I would not presume to tell you what to do in Phuket but there are some great places that you really should not miss seeing while on your visit here, Phuket’s great advantage is that there is always something to do both on and off the island; whether it’s raining or shining. From the sublime to the seemingly profane, the range of activities and places to visit is remarkable for a destination of this relatively small size.
Phang Nga Bay is unique. A day out here is an unforgettable experience that will definitely get you thinking. A distinctive feature of the bay is the sheer limestone cliffs that jut vertically out of the emerald-green waters. These islands are home to sheltered fauna that are possible to observe on certain tours. James Bond Island and Koh Panyee are just two of the more famous spots in this bay.
By far the best way to enjoy the spectacular scenery is to take one of the boat trips from the northern end of Phuket. A leisurely day trip cruising through the dramatic limestone islands, occasionally stopping to enjoy quiet beaches, is far more rewarding than the standard bus-boat tour.
Old Phuket Town has Sino-Portuguese splendours and funky shops in the most unlikely places that will surprise and delight you in the heart of Phuket’s sleepy provincial capital. Phuket town offers so much more than you could ever imagine with some excellent restaurants and local sights. The unique blend of colonial and Chinese architecture, along with a tangible quaintness makes for a fascinating and unforgettable afternoon spent sauntering around Phuket’s Old Town. Expect the unexpected and don’t forget to take your camera.
There are few things in this world to
prepare you for an after-dark stroll down Patong’s Bangla Road. However, a sense of humour and an open mind are prerequisites if you’re looking to have some fun. In fact, there’s only one undeniable and obvious fact about Bangla – it’s nothing like home! With its lady-boys, exotic girls, enchanted westerners (mostly male) and enough extroverts to fill a Disney cast of thousands, shopping or sipping on a beer at Bangla Road at night is definitely a memorable moment.
Wat Chalong is one of Phuket’s most important temples and visited by thousands of people every year. It is beautifully decorated with infinite reflections from hundreds of tiny glass pieces and several pagodas. On special holidays, Wat Chalong hosts ‘country fairs’ with a real local flavour where you can buy just about anything and snack on Thai food to your heart’s content. Wat Chalong has an interesting history and is Phuket Island’s spiritual centre. If you have never visited this fascinating temple, you haven’t seen Phuket!
Phuket is a shopaholic’s paradise! The island has a great variety of shopping, from noisy night markets and local shops to western style department stores and upmarket specialist shops. It is also an island of international cuisine, every type of cuisine is represented: Thai, Seafood and Japanese just to name a few.
Something not many people know about is the fact that Phuket has some amazing waterfalls and the three best known are Bang Pae, Ton Sai and Kathu Waterfalls. A lesser-known one is close to Ao Yon Noi Beach, near Cape Panwa.
Bang Pae and Ton Sai waterfalls are located in the Khao Phra Thaeo National Park
in the east of Phuket. The park itself is the last vestige of virgin tropical forest on the island and is home to many exotic animals such as barking deer and various types of monkeys, as well as many tropical birds.
With an abundance of beaches, parks and forests to explore and a rich history, wildlife and culture to discover, the only thing you’ll find lacking is the time to see all that the island has to offer.
To get to this true paradise, AirAsia has 4x weekly direct flight from Bali to Phuket, just check out www.airasia.com for the flight schedule.