Phuket

Overview

Areas of Phuket

Phuket is divided into three large administrative divisions (amphe): Muang (Muang Amphoe Phuket), Katu (Amphoe Kathu Phuket), Talang (Amphoe Thalang Phuket)

Muang

Mueang is located in the southern part of the island along Chalong Bay and includes 8 tambons (a smaller administrative division).

Phuket Town is the capital municipality of Phuket Island. The historical part is the best place to explore the sights, there is beautiful ancient architecture.

Karon is a good place for a family holiday: clean beaches, gentle entrance to the water and lots of entertainment. The infrastructure in Karon is excellent, there are many night markets, cafes, bars, restaurants and shops.

Panva is known for its excellent beach with excellent views of the islands, it is green and quiet here. Cape Panwa is home to the Biological Center for Marine Research and the Phuket Aquarium.

Kata and its beach are among the top three places to stay in Phuket. Kata is suitable for families with children, there is a gentle entrance and a calm sea. From the Promthep Cape observation deck, you can see the most beautiful sunsets on the island.

Rawai is famous for its tourist traps – a fresh seafood market and many restaurants on the shore and right on the water. Rawai beach is suitable for relaxing and swimming, but you will have to live next to a lot of fishing boats.

Chalong is the starting point for most excursions to the islands of Phuket, because there is a pier here. Chalong is not suitable for a beach holiday, but it is rich in attractions, one of them is Wat Chalong Temple.

Nai Harn is famous for its beautiful beach. Its picturesque lagoon, surrounded on both sides by green hills, is the most romantic on the island. Nai Harn is suitable for family holidays.

Katu

Katu is considered a non-tourist area and is a favorite wintering spot in Phuket. The Katu area is often confused with the tambon Kata – a residential area with a beach in Muang.

Katu has many advantages: a wide choice of accommodation, few tourists, a large number of restaurants and cafes with prices and quality not for tourists, but for local residents, and among the disadvantages is the lack of pedestrian infrastructure and sufficient distance from the coast.

Local attractions include the Upside Down House (Baan Teelanka – Upside Down House), the Gems Gallery Jewelry Factory, the Kata-Karon viewpoint, the Kathu mining museum.

Patong has the status of an urban municipality. Patong is the main tourist hub of Phuket, suitable for long–term stays. Patong is home to Bangla Road, the mecca of Phuket's nightlife with numerous restaurants, discos, strip bars and clubs. The area will appeal to those who love an active life and shopping.

Katu has excellent infrastructure, but does not have its own beach, the nearest one is located in Patong. There are several luxury residential complexes and elite golf clubs in Katu.

Kamala is a quiet and pleasant area, ideal for families with children. The cozy sandy beach is surrounded by greenery, and the gentle and clean bottom and the absence of strong waves make it safe for children.

Talang

Talang is the most sparsely populated area in the north of Phuket, where the international airport is located. It is divided into 6 tambons: Tep Krasattri, Si Sunthon, Cherngtalai, Paklok, Mai Khao and Sakhu. Talang has a weak tourist infrastructure, but absolutely luxurious and deserted beaches surrounded by picturesque nature.

Tourist destinations on Talang: Bang Tao is one of the most prestigious areas of Phuket, suitable for a relaxing premium vacation; Layan Beach belongs to a national park with picturesque nature. Layan is sparsely populated on weekdays, and a lot of locals gather on weekends.

The Cherngtalai Tambon is home to Project Artisan, a multi–purpose space with shops, an art studio, a gallery, a spa and a cafe in the garden.

The east coast of Talang is a calm and cozy area of the premium segment. The most fantastic sunrises in Phuket overlooking Phang Nga Bay are visible from here. The most high–tech yacht harbor in Asia, the Royal Phuket Marina, is located here. From here you can go to any of the hundreds of beautiful islands in the Andaman Sea.

Cape Yamu is suitable for living away from the hustle and bustle. It enchants with its beach, magnificent views of the cliffs of Phang Nga Bay and tropical exuberance.

Mai Khao is a quiet and secluded area, the longest beach in Phuket is located here. The coastline is under protection, as the green turtle, which is under state protection, lays eggs here. Mai Khao is interesting for planes flying overhead, as it is located near the airport.

Nai Ton and Nai Yang are secluded and quiet places that are part of the Sirinat National Park.

Surin is one of the most expensive areas on the island. The beach is surrounded by luxurious villas surrounded by greenery. From May to October, Surin traditionally hosts surfers.

Islands of Phuket Province

Phuket Island is surrounded by small islands, some of which are inhabited and have tourist infrastructure, others are natural limestone formations suitable for diving, wild recreation or fishing.

Ko Racha Yai and Ko Racha Noi are the far southern islands of Phuket. Ko Racha Yai is represented by two beaches — Patok Bay and Siam Bay. The cozy emerald coves and snow-white coral beaches of the islands are ideal for beach holidays and diving. There are hotels on Racha Yai, and Racha Noi is devoid of any infrastructure – there are wonderful places for fishing.

Ko He or Coral Island is a real paradise for scuba divers. The beaches of Long Beach and Banana Beach attract many tourists, there are a lot of water activities, as well as places for parasailing.

Ko Naka Yai and Ko Naka Noi are famous for their pristine nature and amazing silence. On Koh Naka Yai, you can rent a bungalow, staying for a few days.

Ko Mai Thon is a unique place in Thailand, stunning at first glance with its natural beauty. The island is home to the popular Maiton Island Resort, which has 74 villas. A good place for a comfortable beach holiday.

Koh Maprao is a coconut island. This is a real rural island off the East Coast of Phuket and there are only three beaches here: Coconut Village, Jindarin Beach Club & Resort and the beach on the east coast. The last two beaches are quite small with patches of mangrove forests.

Ko Ngam are two tiny islands in the Gulf of Thailand, connected by a sandbar. Clean sand and palm trees at the water's edge, a quiet lagoon, cozy houses are a place for more than a secluded holiday.

Ko Rang Yai (Ko Rang Yai) or Pearl Island is available for tourists and beach holidays in the style of "bounty" and Ko Rang Noi (Ko Rang Noi), the territory of which is occupied by the hotel, the island is private.

Ko Kaeo Yai is the second name of Khao Kaeo Pitsadan. From Promthep Cape in Phuket, you can see the bright yellow pagoda on this island. There is a stone with the foot of the Buddha and a monastery at the water's edge.

Ko Bon, also known as Koh Bon West Ridge and Koh Talu, is one of the most popular dive sites in the Andaman Sea.

Islands of Phang Nga Bay

Numerous tourist excursions depart from Phuket to the islands of Phang Nga Bay. This territory is part of the Phang Nga Bay National Park and includes 44 limestone islands. This is a very beautiful and unusual place. Most of the archipelago is uninhabited. Geographically, not all the islands of the bay belong to the province of Phuket, but each of them can be accessed from almost anywhere along the coast.

Phi Phi Archipelago: The only inhabited and largest island of the archipelago is Phi Phi Don. It has excellent tourist infrastructure and is quite crowded. The beaches of Ton Sai and Lo Da Lam are full of nightlife. For a relaxing holiday, it is better to go to Hat Yao. Phi Phi Le Island became famous all over the world after the release of the movie "The Beach" with Leonardo DiCaprio. Here you can go snorkeling in the Pile Lagoon, swim in Maya Bay and visit the Viking Cave. Mai Phai Island is an ideal place to relax from civilization. Ko Jung will be interesting for divers, but try to leave before sunset – there are a lot of insects here in the evening.

Bida Nok and Bida Nai are small limestone cliffs where the most popular diving locations are located, the underwater world here is very diverse and picturesque.

Koh Tapu and Kao Ping Kang are better known as the James Bond Islands. The filming of the film "The Man with the Golden Gun" took place on Kao Ping Kang. And the background of the most famous shots was Ko Tapu, the country's business card and the most popular attraction in Thailand. It is forbidden to land on the island.

Koh Panyi, the famous floating village located at the base of the limestone islands, receives countless tourists – it is a popular and frequently visited landmark of Phuket.

Similan Islands: 9 Similan Islands are part of the Mu Ko Similan National Park, are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and are considered one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Here, the unique coral reefs are favorite places for multi–day dive safaris and snorkeling. Two islands are open for beach holidays – Similan (Donald Duck Beach and Bacon Beach) and Miang (Hat Lek and Hat Yai beaches).

Phuket Attractions

Who is suitable for a vacation in Phuket

Holidays in Phuket are suitable for all categories of vacationers, whether they are families with children who can find beautiful beaches here for safe swimming in the sea, romantics will find comfort and solitude on the most picturesque islands and bays, lovers of attractions will be able to choose excursions for every taste and visit a lot of interesting places both in Phuket itself and on its islands, and outdoor enthusiasts can count on all kinds of entertainment – from diving and snorkeling, to parasailing, kayaking and hiking. Nightlife lovers will find a lot of entertainment and noisy parties – Phuket is multifaceted and attractive to all vacationers.

Where to go with children in Phuket

Among the museums are the Seashell Museum (Phuket Seashell Museum) on Rawai Beach and the 3D Optical Illusion Museum (Phuket Trick Eye Museum)

Phuket Parks and Zoos: Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, where the Gibbon Rehabilitation Center operates and two of Phuket's largest and most beautiful waterfalls are located — Bang Pae and Ton Sai. Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is a 5-hectare Phuket Zoo located in Chalong Bay.Sirinat National Park in Talang district, 30 km from Phuket Town.Nai Harn Park and Phuket Bird Park in Chalong district. Phuket Tiger Kingdom Tiger Zoo is a unique place where visitors can safely interact with animals that undergo special training.

Children can be entertained in Phuket at Half-Day Phuket Easy Thai Cooking at a master class on cooking traditional Thai cuisine. Dino Park Mini Golf is a Jurassic park with mini golf. Surfing Lessons Surfing Lesson in Phuket – master classes on Bang Tao beach. Phuket FantaSea Theme Park, where the Elephant Palace is located, which hosts the famous Fantasy Of A Kingdom show and the Golden Kinnaree Palace – the largest restaurant in Asia with 4,000 visitors is famous for its excellent cuisine. Fun adventures await young guests in Hanuman's Lair, and the Similan Entertainment Center is an area of exciting fairground games.

Splash Jungle Water Park on Mai Khao Beach, Blue Tree Phuket Entertainment Center, Siam Niramit Phuket Show, karting and quad biking at Patong Go-Kart Speedway, as well as Central Phuket Shopping Mall - an area for family entertainment: SFX Coliseum Cinema, Happy Kids Club, Thibhum Mystical Park with attractions, interactive entertainment, colorful shows and 3D quests with gifts. The largest aquarium in the country, Aquaria Phuket, is also located here.

The upside–down house of Baan Teelanka is a favorite place for children and their parents, and a visit to the Nemo Dolphins Bay Dolphinarium and Monkey Hill will bring joy to little nature lovers.

Exotic lovers will be able to visit unique spectacular shows in Phuket: FantaSea Show (theatrical show for adults and children), Siam Niramit (spectacular historical show with a huge number of costumes and decorations), Cabaret shows "Aphrodite" and "Simon", Thai boxing, as well as programs for the 18+ category.

When is the best time to relax in Phuket

The most pleasant time to relax in Phuket is from November to the end of April. During this period, the temperature of the water and air is comfortable, the humidity is low. Phuket has dry sunny weather, almost no rain — the best conditions for a beach holiday. However, these months are considered peak for Phuket – the beaches and hotels are quite crowded. For holidays with children, it is better to prefer the period from December to March. October and May are borderline months, with changeable weather.

The best beaches in Phuket

The beaches of Phuket are very popular with vacationers, many of them are crowded in high season.

Phuket Hotels

Phuket is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand, so the choice of hotels here is great: from apartments, bungalows, private villas, to luxury hotels and fashionable hotel complexes with modern infrastructure.

How to get to Phuket

Phuket Airport is one of the main air harbors in Thailand, which receives regular flights from most cities of the world. In high season, charters rush to the island. You can get to Phuket by direct flight or with a transfer in Bangkok. The flight from Bangkok airports to Phuket takes about an hour and a half. From Phuket Airport, the hotel can be reached by taxi, bus or car.

Prices in Phuket

The main thing to remember when planning a vacation in Thailand is a multiple increase in prices during the high season. Prices are increasing for both housing and travel services.