Phuket Essential Tourist Information

Phuket, in the south of Thailand, is rightfully nicknamed: ‘Jewel of the Andaman’. This extremely popular holiday destination attracts beach lovers and sun worshippers with an exciting blend of jaw-dropping coastline, tremendous hotels and resorts, world-class dive sites and unforgettable daytrips to exotic island destinations. The kingdom’s favourite holiday spot enjoys an ideal geographical position within convenient reach of other stunning destinations including: the Similan Islands, Pha Nga Bay, the Phi Phi archipelago and Krabi.

Recreation on Phuket

Phuket boasts one of Thailand’s most complete tourist infrastructures. Visitors will appreciate the wide range of recreational features such as revitalising spa treatments, sun-soaked beach areas, scuba diving, snorkelling, yachting, fishing, various courses, several world-class golf courses, outdoor adventures, parasailing, jet-skiing and cycling. The many tour agencies located in Phuket’s main tourist areas can provide you with all the information you might need on how to enjoy your vacation in Phuket to the fullest.

The selection of superb beaches is the principal reason having made Phuket one of the world’s most renowned travel destinations. The combination of year-round pleasurable tropical weather, the crystal clear warm waters, and the white soft sand is what creates some of the globe’s finest beach holiday destinations. The calm Andaman Sea’s inviting blue waters are great for participating in exciting water sports. Phuket offers a wide range of beaches to explore.

Obviously the most gorgeous beach areas are well facilitated and normally most visited, though not overcrowded. Hiring a motorcycle and go searching for one of the smaller beaches tucked away on Phuket might be a rewarding experience. On Phuket’s west facing part, travellers will find the beach areas most suitable for swimming.

The best holiday beaches on Phuket

Phuket’s beaches offer plenty of tourist amenities with large umbrellas and sun lounges for hire and plentiful vendors wandering around the beaches selling cold beverages, fruits, ice cream and tasty snacks. Along many of the beaches visitors will find a number of food stalls and restaurants.

In addition, several massage are available on the beachfront, which feature shaded platforms where trained masseuses are pleased to ease your niggling pains and aches while being mesmerised by unbeatable scenery. In case you’re too lazy walking to a massage stand, some masseuses stroll around the beach offering their relaxing treatments.

Some of the most popular beaches on Phuket include:

Patong Beach: this area is the core of the island’s tourism industry, boasting first-class hotels, outstanding shopping and pulsating nightlife. The pubs, shopping malls and restaurants are all conveniently positioned within a short stroll of Phuket’s busiest and brashest beach.

Just south of Patong Beach is Karon, but in terms of ambience it is completely different. Karon Beach is far less touristy and isn’t exactly the nightlife magnet that Patong is. Karon represents more glitzy resorts and hotels.

Positioned just north of Patong Beach is Kamala. This tranquil and relatively small area provides a most welcome getaway from the hectic pace of its crowded neighbour. Despite its small size Kamala Beach offers sufficient tourist facilities. Fortunately this nice beach retains its serenity and not yet effected by mass tourism.

Bang Tao is a nearly five-mile long magnificent white sandy beach. The number of inland lagoons that have been transformed into marinas and lagunas are Bang Tao’s most notable feature. This beach houses some extremely luxurious resorts, but Bang Tao is laid-back and represents many other types of lodging options as well.

Conveniently reachable from Kamala Beach and once serving as a retreat for King Rama VII, the pleasurably underdeveloped Surin Beach area retains its laid-back ambience. Some of Phuket’s most exclusive hotel establishments are on offer here. Surin Beach features breathtakingly beautiful gardens along with pricey villa properties.

Nai Harn is a peaceful bay which is a favourite among the locals. This beach is much calmer and less visited by tourists than similar sized beach areas. During the peak season Nai Harn welcomes plenty of travellers and a limited amount of restaurants and outlets are positioned near the coastline. During the peak season the blue waters remain incredibly calm and at this annual period Nai Harn Beach provides a popular anchorage for boats and yachts.

Enjoying an isolated location on the west coast’s Northern edge, Nai Yang Beach lies ideally close to Phuket International Airport but far away from all the other significant destinations. Nai Yang provides a modest getaway from the other parts of Phuket and a perfect location for the budget-minded traveller.

The daily rent for bungalow accommodation within a two-minute walk from the beach costs less than 23 euros. Nai Yang offers an unpretentious holiday destination with a fairly pretty beach and good swimming but very limited activities and resources.

Wonderfully located on Phuket’s southern tip, Rawai used to be a vital fishing village and today it is particularly popular among local ex-pats. Rawai Beach isn’t really a good destination for swimmers but it is blessed with a tranquil and idyllic ambience with several superb seafood eateries.