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Phuket

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Resting in the heart of the Andaman Sea, in between Krabi and Phang Nga lies the province and island of Phuket. With a population of over 320 thousand, Phuket has been ranked the 75th largest province in Thailand, which also makes it one of the least busy. Due to this slightly more relaxed atmosphere the tourist industry thrives here and there is much for visitors to see and do. Much like the rest of Thailand, visitors are drawn to the spectacular white sandy beaches, bright turquoise waters, lush green mountainous areas and warm, welcoming climate. If you are looking to have your breath taken away by your environment on holiday, then Phuket is the place to go.

Resonating with stories of the Island's history, Phuket was once well known for its rich supply of tin and rubber. Many countries in the Western world competed with each other to establish trade links with this part of Thailand. Today the economy is driven strongly by tourism and the focus is primarily on preserving the awe-inspiring beaches that surround this island.

Of course, a large percentage of the population speak the Thai language and while this can create a small barrier, the people of Phuket are very welcoming to the visitors who keep their economy thriving and many vendors and people offering services will have basic knowledge of the English language too.

Areas

The island of Phuket is separated into 3 main districts:

Mueang Phuket

Mueang is defined as the Southern region of Phuket. A popular area to watch the sunset on a summer's day, Mueang is also the region encompassing the town with the same name as its province: Phuket. This district is well known for its beautiful tourist beaches and Buddhist temples.

Thalang

This is the largest district of the three; containing the Phuket International airport and accounts for the Northern part of Phuket. Thalang is a great area for wildlife with acres upon acres of natural rainforest, several mountainous peaks and of course the Northern coast.

Kathu

Kathu is the central district of Phuket, to the west-side of the island. As the smallest district of the three, Kathu concentrates primarily on its tourist beaches and the bay which it contains. The popular town of Patong is located here.

Weather

Phuket has a tropical monsoon climate, meaning that while it is experiencing hot weather, there are also heavy rains. The hottest months for Phuket are from April to May and September to October and can reach up to 36ºC. The best time to visit is during the cooler months (between November and March) to avoid the rains, heat and thunder storms.

Average Temperatures

F/C	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
F	81	82	83	84	83	83	82	83	81	81	81	81
C	27	28	28	29	28	28	28	28	27	27	27	27

Average Precipitation/Rain

In./CM	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
In.	1.4	1.2	1.5	6.4	13.7	8.4	10.4	10.3	16.5	12	8.2	2
CM	3.6	3	3.8	16.3	34.8	21.3	26.4	26.2	41.9	30.5	20.8	5.1

Getting There

By Plane

This is by far the most direct and simplest way to travel to Phuket and you are likely to arrive at Phuket International Airport (HKT) in Northern Phuket if you decide to fly. From the airport you can catch a minibus, taxi or shuttle bus to the main towns of the Island e.g. Patong, Phuket or Chalong.

By Car

If you are already driving through Asia and are near Bangkok then navigate your way onto highway 4 through Nakhon Pathom all the way through to Takua Pa and Thai Muang where you should find the Thao Thepkasattri Bridge which takes you onto Phuket island.

By Boat

Being an island, Phuket is quite accessible by Sea. This includes twice daily ferries, speedboats and cruise ships which leave from the mainland (Singapore, Ko Phi Phi).

Getting Around

By Bus

The center for the bus services is Phuket town in Mueang Phuket. There are several daily buses which run passengers to towns such as Patong, Chalong bay and Mai Khaw beach (amongst many others). Bus prices are incredibly cheap at around just 30 Baht (less that one pound GBP!).

By Car

Car rental in Phuket is pretty cheap and you can hire a car for one day for around 1100 Thai baht (which works out at about 17 GBP). This island and its beaches are very well connected with a main motorway (Rt. 402). What you must be careful of in Phuket is the traffic, which can be erratic and dangerous at times.

By Boat

A more relaxing way to get around the island and to others nearby is by long tail boat. These can be found at most of the popular tourist beaches, and be prepared to haggle for a price!

A Warning!

Also known as the 'Thai Mafia', there are locals who run a taxi service known as 'Tuk-tuks'. Not only are these vehicles not very safe but they are incredibly expensive so it's best to find another way to get around.

Food & Dining

Phuket has a unique twist to Thai food although you can still find many mainstream Thai dishes in various restaurants throughout Phuket. In terms of their cuisine, this area is known for not only its authentic food but also the original style in which it is cooked. Noodle dishes are very popular and are served with pork or chicken. The dish can be fried or boiled. Khanomchim is another one of the area's most popular dishes. This is another noodle dish but is served in the morning with a side of vegetables. But anyone travelling to Phuket cannot leave without first tasting Nam Phrik Kung Siap. This exotic dish blends dry chili with smoked shrimp and is served with various vegetables. Cashews can be found just about anywhere but they are not actually grown in Phuket. Pineapple is however and it's some of the most delicious in the world!

Beaches

Laem Ka (Rock beach) Location: To the south of the Phuket Island Resort Hotel and to the north of Rawai Beach This is a small beach set within a bay and is mostly popular with families. Locals really enjoy this beach as well.

Ko Kaeo (Sand beach) Location: Approximately three kilometers away from Rawai Beach This is an isle that has many wonderful beaches and the most exotic scenery that sits just under the water's surface! Boat is the only way this isle is accessible and the ride takes about thirty minutes. The beautiful waters that you will travel in are not the only thing that will make the trip worth it -- you will also see the Holy footprint on the island!

Hat Rawai Beach (Sand beach) Location: South of the Phuket Island Resort Hotel This beach competes for the title of being the most beautiful in the area. This may be why it is so popular or it could be the miles of palm trees that fringe the sand. This beach is also widely known for sea gypsies, which are a group of nomadic fisherman that are believed to be from Malaysia.

Hat Kata (Sand beach) Location: 20 kilometers outside of Phuket Although this beach is quite popular, it's one of the quieter beaches around town. It's perfect for families that are looking to spend some quiet family time or have a picnic and has some of the clearest water you will ever see! You can see Bu Island from this beach and the view is absolutely breathtaking!

Hat Nai Han (Sand beach) Location: 18 kilometers outside of town, Kata Noi lies to its south and Phromthep Cape lies to its north. If people don't come for this beautiful beach, they come for the amazing lagoon that it surrounds. The Nai Han monastery, which sits in the middle of the beach, can be credited with stopping too much development from encroaching onto the natural beauty of the beach. It is also this monastery that contributes to it being much quieter in this particular area of the beach. There are many water activities that can be enjoyed on this beach.

Sights & Activities

Phuket Aquarium

If you're not willing to dive into the seas surrounding Phuket then simply visit the aquarium which is at Cape Phanwa to see hundreds of species of fish, sharks and turtles. Tickets are cheap at 100 baht per adult, and there is a bus from Phuket town which takes you directly to the aquarium itself.

Wat Chalong

Just outside of Phuket town is the most beautiful of all of the Buddhist temples located on the island of Phuket. This particular temple also holds a particular cultural importance for the people of Phuket as it is home to a statue of the man who helped the Chinese Coolie rebellion.

Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Conservation Park

Located in Thalang, the Khao Phra Thaeo Park encompasses around 14 square miles of perfectly preserved and protected rainforest. Here visitors can see rare species of animal such as Gibbons and Macaques.