Phuket - Thailand
From Travel Information and Popular Attractions: TravelName.com
Phuket is truly a paradise on earth and is Asia's most popular beach destination with spectacular scenery and beautiful sunsets. Lying off the South west coast, in the Andaman Sea. Phuket tourism is very popular and it is not only the largest island of Thailand but also the most visited Island of Thailand, blessed with spectacular limestone peaks, mesmerizing blue seas and unspoiled tropical islands. Along with its natural beauty, it has a lot more to offer to its visitors, the Sino-Portuguese architecture and its hospitality will leave you spellbound. The main religion here is Buddhism and Thai Muslims make up approximately 35% of Phuket’s population. The residents of Phuket consist of Thais, Chinese, Malays and Chao Leh, sea gypsies and most people reside around Phuket city and Patong beach. Phuket Tourism offers a variety of expensive and inexpensive accommodation and activity options fitting the budget off all that come here.
The Phuket Tourism and travel industry has become one of the most important source of income for the people of Phuket. With white sandy beaches on the west coast and thousands of tourists pouring in and out of the island, it is among the most popular beach destinations of Asia. A tiny tropical island, almost the size of Singapore, resplendent in all her natural glory, Phuket has a bit of everything for all its visitors. One of the main reasons for the Popularity of Phuket tourism is its beautiful beaches that are known for great swimming, diving and beach combing, some most popular beaches are, Patong Beach, Kata Beach, Rawai Beach, Nai Yang Beach, and Bang Tao Beach. Along with the incredible beaches, hills and lush jungle, Phuket is a water lover's paradise with plenty of water activities.
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Popular Tourist Attractions And Activities
Phuket Beaches:
It has numerous beaches along its coast with breathtaking natural beauty are among the most popular Phuket activities. These beaches offer a wide choice of beaches to satisfy every kind of visitor with there white sand, casurina trees and strutting Mynah birds. Most popular beaches are located on the west coast of the island however, the quieter beaches are located towards the northwestern coastline of the Island. The most popular beaches include Patong Beach, Karon Beach, Kata Beach, Kamala beach, Rawai Beach, Kata Noi Beach, Hat Nai Han, Laem Ka. The greatest concentration of hotels, shops and restaurants is around Patong beach and stretches south towards Karon and Kata beach. Phuket beaches are easily accessible by road, air of ferry. The beaches offer a wide variety of sanctities including Golf, Canoeing, Kayaking, Boating, Angling and Catamaran Rides. Some of the must see things on these beaches are Thai Village, Seashell Museum, Thai Boxing and Dino Park and Snake Farm.
Phuket Town:
Being a small urban treasure, it is a charming city full of surprises making it a popular tourist destination. It is one of the major influences on the tourism in Thailand with a number of tourist attractions like the Orchid Garden and Thai Village which highlight some of the most characteristic features of Thai culture. The Butterfly farm is also a must see attraction.
Wat Chalong Temple:
This Buddhist temple is located on the southern outskirts of Phuket Town and is considered to be the most beautiful temples on the island. It consists of several statues including the staue of Luang Por Cham, who helped the people of Phuket put down the Angyee, or Chinese Coolie, Rebellion in 1876 during the reign of Rama V. A recent addition to the temple is a 61.4-meter high chedi containing the Phra Borom Sareerikatat relic, a piece of the Lord Buddha's bones brought over from Sri Lanka.
Phuket Aquarium
Phuket activities include a visit to the amazing aquarium, it consists of both saltwater and freshwater fishes displaying hundreds of exotic and colorful marine species found in the sea. This is also Thailand's major marine biological research station, undertaking work on tropical reef ecosystems, commercial fisheries, and other related projects. The aquarium is located at Cape Panwa, on the island's extreme southeast.
Thalang National Museum
The museum is open daily and is located near the Two Heroines Monument and among the popular attractions of Thailand. The museum consists of a permanent exhibition of life in old city, ancient artifacts and remains discovered on the coast as well as materials used during war with Burma (Myanmar).
Phuket Sea Shell Museum Information:
Phuket Sea Shell Museum is located near the Rawai beach on the island's southwestern shores. The museum consists of a huge collection of some of the most valuable sea shells of the world. Wherever they originate, each shell in the Museum is the best of its type and sometimes, the only of its type. Many of these shells are the most sought-after by collectors and from Phuket and Thai waters. In addition there are also some rarities and odd shells including the world's largest golden pearl (140 karats). The museum has also a large shop selling seashell products, Phuket activities, handicrafts and souvenirs. Being among the popular Phuket attractions, the sea shell museum is a must see.
Orchid Farm and Thai Village
Located at approximately 3 kms from the Phuket city, the village is the ideal place for traditional Thai culture lovers. The visitors get a chance to enjoy the stunning classical Thai dance performances, sword-fighting, Thai boxing, southern customs and elephant shows. There are also displays of Handicrafts and traditional mining techniques. There is a Orchid Garden right outside and is worth a visit.
Laem Phromthep or Phromthep Cape
This is a popular place at sunset for the tour buses, there are good views and an interesting landmark dedicated to a maritime-minded prince. Look out for the hundreds of small elephant statues left here.
The Zoo
The Zoo is located south of Phuket Town and has a large collection of Asian and African animals, reptiles, birds, butterflies and much more. It has almost 5,000 crocodiles, 60 species of birds and more than 100 species of butterflies along with several other animals. Elephant, Monkeys and Crocodile wrestling shows take place all day long. There is a small refreshment area too.
Submarine
It operates 5 dives daily and carries forty eight passengers into the waters southeast and among the popular Phuket attractions of Thailand. The submarine is fully air conditioned and boasts of the latest technology available in tourist submarines. The submarine dive is among the popular Phuket attractions.
Other Popular Phuket Attractions and Phuket Activities are -
Wat Phranang Sang, Wat Phra Thong, The Two Heroines Monument, The Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Sanctuary, Sirinat National Park, Ban Thao Thepkasattri, Ao Bang Thao, Saphan Hin, Butterfly Farm, Laem Ka, Ao Chalong, Chalong Bay, Sehn Bay, View Point, Cultural Center, Scuba Club. Phuket activities are also a major reason why people visit Thailand.
Getting There And Tranportation
Phuket has an international airport (IATA: HKT, ICAO: VTSP), therefore visitors can fly directly into the island. It is also connected to the mainland by a bridge making Phuket tourism convenient and easy. The International Airport is located in the northern part of the Island with frequent flights to and from Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lampur, Europe, Australia and several other popular countries. The nearest Train station is at Surat Thani which is about Three hours away. Tourists can also take a bus from Bangkok, Hat Yai, Chumphon, Phang Nga, Ranong, Satun, Sungai Kolok and Surat Thani. Ferry services are also easily available connecting Phuket to the near by Islands.
Getting around Phuket is easy since the roads are good and the transportation system is well organized. There are frequent bus services from Phuket Town to the Patong Beach and less frequent services to the other beaches. Taxis are easily available and are mainly of two types, Tuk Tuks and conventional sedan style Taxi's. Tourists can also rent a car or bike but due to the rash driving habits of the people of Phuket, accidents are common and several people die each year, therefore it is recommended to use taxis and buses during your Phuket tourism vacation. However, if tourists do want to rent a car or a bike, they are easily available at a reasonable price.
Climate - When To Go:
Due to the monsoon winds that blow all year round, Phuket is mostly hot and humid throughout the year with two distinct seasons, rainy and dry. The rainy season lasts from May to October and the dry season lasts from November to April. However, the best time for tourism and to visit Phuket is January to May.
Shopping In Phuket:
In addition to the roadside stalls and markets there are quite a few shopping centers and department stores here, along with a good selection of boutiques and specialty shops. Phuket tourism offers traditional Handicrafts, textiles, leather goods, clothing, ceramics, gems, jewellery and antiques, which are sold all over the island. The popular shopping areas are located at the Phuket City and Patong. The prices are fixed in the department stores but a lot of bargaining takes place at the other places. Therefore, feel free to bargain in order to get the best price.
Top Hotels:
Phuket tourism offers good hotels and resorts in Thailand. Phuket tourism offers a wide variety of accommodation options catering to the needs and budget of its visitors. The price depends upon the location and the luxuries provided by the hotel. Some of the popular hotels and resorts in Phuket are, Bangtao Village Resort, Amora Beach Resort, BW Premier Bangtao Beach Resort & Spa, Dusit Laguna Resort Hotel.
Phuket Nightlife:
One of the main attractions of Phuket tourism is its thriving nightlife with Thai style nightclubs, live music, beachside bars, discos and go-go clubs. Most of Phukets nightlife is concentrated around the Patong beach. The discos usually charge 100 baht for admission but this includes a coupon for a single drink. Some of the popular discos and bars here are - Tai Pan, Banana Pub and The Shark Club. There are plenty of Beer-Bars and go-go bars. Along with the pubs and discos, Night Safari is also a popular attraction here, the safari starts at 10p.m. at the southern end of Patong. Phuket Nightlife has something for all types of tourists with a variety of options.
Additional Information
Spa:
There are excellent Spa facilities with different types of spas catering to the needs and desires of customers who come for Thailand tourism. Various Spas offer a variety of Treatments and packages including soothing and healing therapies. It is recommended to get your booking done in advance, especially if you are traveling in the peak tourist season.
Golf:
Golf is an important segment of Phuket Tourism Industry that has been constantly growing over the years. Phuket Golf Courses are of world class quality making Phuket Travel and tourism even more popular. There are mainly five Phuket Golf courses here, Loch Palm Golf Club, Blue Canyon Country Club, Thai Muang Golf Club, Laguna Phuket Golf Club and Mission Hills Golf Resort.
Important Phone Numbers
Tourist Police : 212046, 212213
Phuket Tourism Authority Office : 212213
Airport : 327230-4
Wachira Hospital : 211114
Mission Hospital : 212386
Currency
1 USD = 32.125 Thai Baht
