Phuket News

Breaking ground - Phuket marina (08-21-2007) The construction of Royal Phuket Marina’s Phase Two development was officially launched at a ground breaking ceremony on August 9, attended by Phuket’s new Governor, Khun Niran Kalayanamit, and the Marina’s tycoon owner and developer, Mr Gulu Lalvani.

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2007 dates are announced. (08-23-2007) Phuket Vegetarian Festival this year will be held from the 11th to the 19th of October 2007.

Villas in Phuket
privacy - luxury - service excellence - amazing views

Intriducing you the new South-East Asian tropical jewel. Blessed with stretch wihte sandy beaches and pristine clear water, Phuket gained popularity as the new emerging beach tropical hoiliday destination in South-East Asia. Latest political and security issues in Bali had gives Phuket an even more competitive advantage. Phuket is definitely the next choice if you are still worried about many security issues in Bali.

Sound infrastructure, well maintained security, and proven government commitment to make Phuket a holiday paradise give significant impact in addition to its amazing natural attractions. Phuket has everything for everyone, from quiet secluded beach to the wildest nightlife you may ever imagine.

For those expecting to enjoy the island at their own pace, from the luxury of a private holiday home where you are free to decide between enjoying the sun on your private pool-deck overlooking the ocean at home and enjoying what the rest of the island has to offer, we provide Phuket villas - private villas available for holiday rental accommodation in Phuket.

Perching on sloping hill down to the beach, most villas in Phuket enjoy unobstructed sprawling views over the Andaman Sea, from sunrise to sunset.

Signature Villas in Phuket

Phuket in Brief

Phuket (formerly known as Tha-Laang or Talang) is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Phang Nga and Krabi, but as Phuket is an island there are no land boundaries. The island is served by Phuket International Airport, located in the north of the island. The ph of "Phuket" is an aspirated "p", so the name is pronounced (roughly) "Poock-get". The name Phuket is apparently derived from the word bukit in Malay which means mountain or hill, as this is what the island appears like from a distance.

Before that its old name was Ta-lang, derived from the old Malay "Telong" which means "Cape". The northern district of the province, which was the location of the old capital, still uses this name.

Phuket might not have the historical sites that Bangkok and Chiang Mai have, but it does have a few. Most visitors spend their time at the beaches and in the bars. The most heavily-hyped attraction is the Phuket Fantasea show at Kamala Beach, a self-proclaimed "cultural theme park", but comparisons to Disneyland are exaggerated at best.

However, Wat Chalong is a beautiful Buddhist temple located on the southern end of the island. There is also the history to be seen in Phuket Town and, of course, the sights and sounds of the Vegetarian Festival.

Phuket Amazing Beaches

Patong is the party capital of Phuket, with a sex-drugs-booze-saturated nightlife and a great beach. Mostly made up of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and various tourist attractions, there's a thriving nightlife, with numerous "entertainment complexes" and countless bars clustered together in and around Bangla Road, and female, transgender and male prostitutes to cater to every taste. Massage parlors of the erotic as well the therapeutic (Nuad Thai) genre provide less alcohol/drug infested venues for punters and wellness seekers. One can even find masseuses practicing this medical art atop bamboo mats on the beach sands (100 baht and up).

Prices are higher than in Phuket Town, but there's more budget accommodation here than at the more southerly beaches. This may not be a good destination for the average backpacker, except in the rainy season when prices are far lower.

There are many sorts of beaches on Phuket, if one wants unspoiled and natural then Patong is not your kind of place, there are many unspoiled beaches in the north and south of this beautiful island.

Patong is for those of you who like a developed resort with a wonderful nightlife.

The beach is both stunning and busy. One of the finest developed beaches in Asia.

If one goes out in Patong with head full of prejudices and a determination to see the seedier side of Thailand, then this is what you will see. If on the other hand you go with an open mind and a willingness to understand rather than judge, you will find a highly sophisticated holiday resort with dozens of world class restaurants and entertainment opportunities.

There is a sex industry, but it easily avoided if you stay off the main drag of Bangla Road. If you do go there, please try not to judge what you see there, it is more complicated than you think.

Amongst the non sex related bars we can recommend are 'Erotica' off Soi Bangla, on Soi Seadragon - its aimed fairly and squarely at couples and is a sexy, smart, fantasy cabaret bar. Professional dancers perform a unique and highly entertaining series of original dance routines to some of the best tunes from the last 40 years.

Saxophone - on the beach road is the little brother of Bangkok's most famous live music venue. They have top quality Jazz, Blues, funk and soul outfits there each night and the place is very well designed. Can be hit and miss with the bands but usually very good quality.

Rock City - for those about rock - just down the beach road from Saxophone this place is easily spotted due to a giant, neon guitar outside. Live, hard rock and tribute bands perfromed by excellent musicians in a great atmosphere. Don't miss it.

Jet-skiing, parasailing and other watersports.

Most of the big Scuba diving companies have offices here too.

Get a designer suit or dress made for peanuts. Jaspalas Tailor off Soi bangla is a good place to start. Pay to see the world famous ladyboy show at Simon Cabaret or see one for free at Katoueys R Us, off Bangla road.

Pay to see Muay Thai - Thai Boxing at the Bangla Stadium, or see it for free further down the road at the Simon complex, next door to katoueys R Us.

Take a river cruise with River Rovers.

Have a massage, we recommend Bali Hai on 200 Years Road.

Boogie at either Tai Pan, Banana, Tiger, D Club or Seduction discos.

Buy fake goods off the many stalls all over the place.

See the cabaret Show at Erotica - Soi Seadragon, off Soi Bangla.

Take a two hour Thai kickboxing lesson for around 300 Baht.

Kamala provides a haven for those who prefer the quieter life. Although the southern end of the beach can get busy in the high season, the northern end is peaceful all year round. "Rim Haad" (Beach Road), at the southern end, has a number of small 20-30 room hotels for the low/medium budget traveller. Friendly service and village feel and a diversity of restaurants and small bars can be found on this small road. Cheaper food options/market stalls can be found on the main Kamala Road.

The only two tourist attractions Kamala has to offer (besides the beach) are the Fantasea show and the Buddhist temple at the southern end of the beach. At the middle of the beach, there is a small park with a tsunami monument.

If you are looking to spend most of the time on the beach enjoying the sea, this is a very good place to be. Beach is quite nice and is not too crowded. Sea floor is nice and sandy. In the afternoons the water spectacularly recedes leaving a blanket of rocks at the left end of the beach for local fishing and a beautiful swimming area at the right end of the beach.

On the beach, you won't be able to get around a Thai massage. These are offered at small stalls throughout the beach, and the rate seems fixed (300 baht/hour, March 2007).

The Kamala Wat is located at the southern end of the beach and is almost unnoticeable. The temple and its grounds have been restored since the Boxing Day tsunami and the Buddhist locals and resident monks welcome curious Australians and foreigners. It was the Australian television program Backyard Blitz that helped restore the gardens of the Wat after the tsunami. A memorial tree is placed in the garden with a dedication plaque and the walls of the main temple are a beautifully decorated story of Buddha. Visiting this Wat can be an enlightening and cultural experience; pictures and events of the Tsunami are displayed on a board for foreigners to see and the monks allow photos of the grounds as long as you're in the company of a local.

The extremely popular Phuket Fantasea is located in Kamala. Fantasea is an exuberant show/theme park that combines the rich heritage of Thailand with unique 4D effects and animals. The park is 140 acres and presents a 4000-seat restaurant offering a grand buffet of Thai and international cuisine. The park operates daily except Thursdays and opens at 8.30pm.

If more entertainment is desired you can take a taxi to Patong beach; however taxi's are unreasonably expensive ~500 baht one way (but less if you bargain). Tuk-tuks are a simple and (sometimes) cheap way to leave Kamala. Tuk-tuks to the more popular Patong cost around 300 baht. Some of the hotels provide an affordable shuttle to Patong.

Catching the local open-sided bus to Phuket Town or further is a cheap and cultural experience for travellers unwilling to pay expenses for taxis or tuk-tuks. The bus is fantastic and cheap - if you are willing to share it with curious locals. In Kamala the bus runs every hour and passes along the main road. You need only to flag it down and jump through the back - you pay the driver at the end of your journey.

Bang Tao - You can choose Bang Tao beach for relaxing holidays. There is no noise from cars and bars as it's not a crowded place.

Surin Beach still has a small village atmosphere, but this is gradually changing as more and more major housing developments and hotel projects get underway. Accommodation is not cheap and the best prices are around 500 baht in the low season.

The beach itself is lined with tall casuarina trees and small Thai style restaurants. There is no nightlife to speak of, but there are many quality restaurants serving a variety of cuisines. Surin beach can become quite dangerous in the monsoon season due to its steeply sloping beach, and many unwary swimmers have lost their lives here; however this has not deterred the local surf enthusiasts and when the waves are right you'll see many Thais on surfboards.

Laem Sing Beach Beautiful beach accessible only by a short hike down a steep hill through lush forest. Well worth the exercise. The beach has 2 restaurants right on the sand serving good food and drinks at reasonable prices and with excellent service. Beware the rocks on either end of the beach whilst swimming.

See the beach and get some tan. There isn't much else to look at here except maybe under water. Fortunately, it's a beautiful beach and it faces west so you get nice sunsets. Although the beach is full of rental sun chairs, for the moment it is now as crowded as some of the more popular beaches along the Phuket's west coast.

Swim, lay on the beach, have a meal or a few beers at one of the four open-air restaurants on the beach. There are also rentals for speed boat with water skiing or wakeboarding, some jet skis, glass bottom canoes, and adventure diving trips as well as snorkeling. If you just rent the snorkeling gear or have you own set with you, stay out of the righten side (when facing the sea) of the beach where the boats and jet skis operate. Instead, swim to the tip of the left barrier rocks and despite of rather murky waters, you can see a good variety of fish in the shallow water. Watch out for the rip current when swimming back. For more colourful reefs and fish you may want to consider the adventure trip.

Karon Beach is approximately 1.5 km long. Most areas are fully recovered from the tsunami, with just a few vacant lots still awaiting redevelopment. Not many hotels have direct beach frontage - most are across the road (which is not a busy one).

Unlike the busier and noisier neighbour Patong Beach further north, Karon Beach offers visitor a nice long quiet stretch of sand. Beach umbrellas decked out along the beach are available for rent. Facing west, it gives a beautiful view of the sunset.

Kata Yai Beach is approximately 1 km long. Much smaller and less crowded than Patong Beach. Fantastic surfing - highly recommended!

Rawai is located at the southern tip of Phuket. It is much less touristy than nearby Kata and Patong beaches and an excellent place to experience some real Thai culture. Rawai beach itself is only used to moor fishing boats and swimming there is not recommended, but there are a number of excellent beaches which are only a few minutes away by scooter/tuk tuk. In particular Promethep Cape is recommended for excellent swimming and snorkeling, although neighbouring Nai Harn Beach is popular with the older crowd.

Phuket Tourism Attraction

Golf

The golf courses of Phuket are of international standard. Each one has its own particular challenges and scenic splendour that only Phuket can offer. Discount green fee are available by booking through Phuket golf booking agencies.

Golf courses in Phuket includes:
Blue Canyon Country Club, Laguna Phuket Golf Club, Loch Palm Golf club Phuket, Mission Hills, Phuket Resort and spa, Phuket Country Club, Phuket Golf Courses Reservations, Thai Muang Beach Golf and Marina

Watersports

Scuba diving, yachting, jet-skiing and parasailing are the most popular activities on the island. Most dive sites are off nearby islands, but distances are fairly short and there are dozens of dive shops and boats to cater to your needs, mostly based near Chalong Pier.

Elephant riding

This is a good way to support the remaining domesticated elephants of Thailand and their mahout, is fairly cheap, and can be an interesting new experience. The elephants are well trained, and you can tip the mahout by giving the money to the elephant who will hand it to the mahout with its trunk.

Animal sanctuary

Visit the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project by the beautiful Bang Pae waterfall. They have a visitor centre manned by Western volunteers and English speaking Thai staff who will talk to you about the project. Talks are free, but please support the project by buying a souvenir, sponsoring a gibbon or giving a donation. Don't have your photo taken with a captive gibbon in Phuket or on the beaches.

Muay Thai training (Thai kick-boxing). The famous ones includes Suwit Muay Thai Boxing Camp and Chalong Chi Muay Thai and M.M.A. Training Camp

Experience the sensense of Thai Spa at Sukko Cultural Spa & Wellness

Other Activities

In Phuket, where everything happens for fun and adventure, you live life to the fullest with such a great variety of activities the paradise has to offer. Just besides the popular activities such as diving and snorkeling, golfing, Muay Thai, sailing and sport fishing, there are a bunch of other "must do while in Phuket" activities.

Geographic Facts of Phuket

Phuket is the biggest island in Thailand, located in the Andaman Sea off southern Thailand. The island is mostly mountainous with a mountain range in the west of the island from the north to the south. The mountains of Phuket form the southern end of the Phuket mountain range, which ranges for 440 km from the Kra Isthmus. The highest elevation of the island is Mai Thao Sip Song (Twelve Canes), at 529 m above sea level.

70% of the island is covered by forest. The western coast has several sandy beaches, while on the east coast beaches are more often muddy. Near the southernmost point is Laem Promthep (Brahma's Cape), which is a popular sunset viewing point.

In the mountainous north of the island is the Khao Phra Thaeo Non-hunting Area, protecting more than 20 km² of rainforest. The three highest peaks of this reserve are the Khao Prathiu (384 m), Khao Bang Pae (388 m) and Khao Phara (422 m). The Sirinat National Park on the northwestern coast was established in 1981 and protects an area of 90 km² (68 km² marine area), including the Nai Yang beach where sea turtles lay their eggs.
Looking north from Kata View Point over Kata Noi Beach, Kata Beach and Karon Beach.
Looking north from Kata View Point over Kata Noi Beach, Kata Beach and Karon Beach.

One of the most popular tourist areas on Phuket is Patong Beach on the central western coast, perhaps owing to the easy access to its wide and long beach. Most of Phuket's nightlife and its cheap shopping is located in Patong, and the area has become increasingly developed. Patong means "the forest filled with banana leaves" in Thai.

Other popular beaches are located south of Patong. In a counterclockwise direction these include Karon Beach, Kata Beach, Kata Noi Beach, and around the southern tip of the island, Nai Harn Beach and Bang Tao Beach. These areas are generally much less developed than Patong, and sought out by individuals, families and other groups with a preference for more relaxed and less crowded environs than Patong.

There are several coral islands to the south of Phuket, the Similan Islands lie to the north west, and Phi Phi Islands to the south east. All the islands are suitable for diving.

Climate in Phuket

Phuket is hot and humid throughout the year. The high season is generally considered to be from November to May. During the summer monsoon season, mornings and afternoons are still sunny and clear, but it tends to rain in the evenings and water clarity goes down. Locals consider May to October the "cool" season, and the weather is quite tolerable, much more so than in the tourism centers around the Gulf coast. It's comparable to Florida's summer weather in temperature and intensity of rain storms: 25-33 deg C, flying clouds, short and thunderous rainfalls in the afternoons and evenings. Surfing is possible off the western beaches.

Phuket History in Brief

The most significant event in the history of Phuket was the attack by the Burmese in 1785. Sir Francis Light, a British East India Company captain passing by the island, sent word to the local administration that he had observed Burmese forces preparing to attack. Khunying Jan, the wife of the recently deceased governor, and her sister Mook then assembled what forces they could. After a month-long siege, the Burmese were forced to retreat March 13, 1785. The two women became local heroines, receiving the honorary titles Thao Thep Kasatri and Thao Sri Sunthon from King Rama I.

During the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), Phuket became the administrative center of the tin-producing southern provinces. In 1933 Monthon Phuket was dissolved and Phuket became a province by itself.

Old names of the island include Koh Thalang.