Phuket Province

Introduction

Phang Nga Bay, Phuket

© divegrrl71

Phuket is an island province of Thailand, and one of its most popular tourist attractions. The provincial capital is Phuket City, which is also where the main bus station is found, providing short and long route buses to all main destinations of Thailand. The Phuket International Airport is about 30 kilometres from Phuket Town, 40 kilometres from Patong, and 50 kilometres from Rawai, the southern part of Phuket.

The entire Phuket province covers around 576 square kilometres, making it the second-smallest province of Thailand. In the past, the island of Phuket was an important trading point, linking several routes from India and China. Its main wealth was derived from rubber and tin, but in more modern days, the main source of income is tourism.

Geography

Phuket is the biggest island in Thailand, located in the Andaman Sea of 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 kilometres from the Kra Isthmus. Although some recent geographical works refer to the sections of the Tenasserim Hills in the isthmus as the "Phuket Range", these names are not found, however, in classical geographic sources. In addition, the name Phuket is relatively recent having previously been named Jung Ceylon and Thalang. The highest elevation of the island is usually regarded as Khao Mai Thao Sip Song (Twelve Canes), at 529 metres above sea level. However it has been reported by barometric pressure readings that there is an even higher elevation (with no apparent name), of 542 metres above sea level, in the Kamala hills behind Kathu waterfall.

Towns

Phuket is organized into 3 major districts, 17 subdistricts, and 103 villages. The three main districts are Mueang Phuket, Kathu, and Thalang.

• Phuket City
• Patong Beach
• Kata Beach
• Karon Beach

Sights and Activities

Patong Beach

Patong (Banana Forest) Beach has a host of activities which can be done by people of all ages and all tastes. Swimming, rides on the Banana boat, or more adventurous activities such as para-gliding, para-sailing and jet skiing are all on offer. You can even bungee jump. The area around the corniche is a place full of energy. It has a night bazaar along the beach, where you can buy everything from Thai crafted tables and wooden souvenirs to shirts, women’s bags, shoes and watches. But don't fool yourself: nearly everything is a fake.

In the spring (normally around April) it is not uncommon that whalesharks visit the bay off Patong. The whaleshark is the biggest fish in the world and huge with a maximum length up to 15 metres. However, it is completely harmless since it is 100% vegetarian. To get away from the beach, try renting a bike for a day to visit Phuket City.

Karon Beach

Karon Beach is quite long and restaurants and lodging are concentrated near the roundabout on the road to Patong Beach to the North and again along the road leading back to the beach to the south. There is also a beach road and along this is scattered restaurants, primarily Thai which are upper-scale priced but it can be a treat to pay some extra money for your dinner here since the food is normally good and in addition to this you have a nice sea-view and sea-breeze. Karon Beach also has a Hilton 5-star hotel for those who can afford that.

Kata Beach

Going further south and you will find Kata Centre which also has accomodation and restaurants of different kinds and nationalities as well as tailors and other shops with goods. Kata Beach is actually divided into Kata Yai (Big Kata) and Kata Noi (small Kata) Beach. Continuing to Kata Yai Beach you will find that this is actually more relaxed than Patong Beach. Off the coast of Kata Beach is a coral reef which can be quite nice to snorkel at. Snorkelling equipment can be rented cheap on the beach. It is also possible to get a massage in the shade. Follow the beach road and you will find more restaurants, hotels, bungalows and lodges as well as bars and different shops. About 1 kilometre South of Kata Yai Beach you will reach Kata Noi Beach which is actually fairly small in size.

Scuba diving

The scuba diving industry is very developed in Phuket, and more than 60 tour operators can be found in Patong, Karon and Kata Beaches. It is possible to do all scuba diving courses from introduction dives and beginners level certificates to professional levels of almost all scuba diving organizations. If you do hold a certificate already you should consider the day trips offered by the diving schools since the scuba diving off Phuket offers some nice spots. The destinations are some distance from Phuket Island but it is worth the traveling distance. The different diving companies run trips to the same destinations but on different week-days. The price of a one-day diving trip including equipment, lunch, and transportation are fixed on Phuket Island so don't expect to find it cheaper than in the first diving-company that you enter. However, it can be a good idea to ask about the boat that the company is using for the day trips: Big or small, slow or fast, many or few passengers, freshwater shower or not, and so on. Since the prices are fixed you might as well choose the operator that uses the vessel you find the coolest or most comfortable according to what you prefer.

Similan Islands

The Similan Islands offers the most spectacular scuba diving in Thailand and is actually a world-class diving destination. It offers several diving spots with high visibility and an abundance of life. Whalesharks are very common and some tour operators actually give a whale shark guarantee on their trips. Similan Islands can be reached from Phuket (Patong Beach and further north) with speedboats but many diving companies offer live-aboard trips to Similan Islands as well and it is probably worth it to spend the extra money and time on this diving destination.

Other Attractions

Phuket Aquarium is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Phuket. Over 300,000 people visit the aquarium every year. It is part of the Phuket Marine Biological Center and it was established in 1983. Besides being a tourist attraction, it is also a research and monitoring station for the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.
Wat Chalong is the most important temple from the 29 that can be found in Phuket. It is dedicated to two famous monks who led people in the fight against the Chinese rebellion in 1876. Their knowledge of herbal medicine helped the injured fighters. The Buddhist temple is located in the Mueang Phuket District in the Chalong Subdistrict. Tourists can buy trinkets and souvenirs from the temple.
The Big Buddha of Phuket is another famous attraction. It is at the peak of a mountain near the town of Phuket. The statue of Buddha is 45m in height and it is covered in marble. Another main reason that tourists choose to visit the statue is for the view from the temple, which is incredible.

Events and Festivals

Phuket Old Town Festival

Phuket Old Town is something rather special to visit. Any time that you are visiting Phuket it is a place that you should choose to wander about. The Phuket Old Town Festival is a celebration of the history of Phuket and of all the different influences that have affected Phuket. The History of Phuket is not always clear but there if you have an opportunity to visit the Phuket Thai Hua Museum in Phuket it would be of help. The Phuket Old Town Festival tries to embrace the history of Phuket by having a number of stalls selling old style foods – most notably in front of the Tai Hua Museum.

The festival begins with a procession of H.M the King and the local people will be dressed in their fine clothes and will proudly parade through Phuket Town. The Baba Group is a group that is prominent in Phuket who are trying to preserve Phuket’s Heritage and support this Festival. There is a stage erected in the Queen Sirikit Park where for the three days there will be a number of performaces to celebrate the art and culture of Phuket Town. During this period is also the Chinese New Year and subsequently there is an opportunity to watch some Chinese Dragon Dancing. The other stalls are set up along the normally busy roads throughout Phuket Town. During the period of the Phuket Old Town Festival many of the roads (Rasada, Phang-Nga and Thalang) are closed to motorised traffic. This does mean that it is easy to wander up and down the streets and look at all of the items that are being sold by the local people. Obviously the focus is on the foods because Thai people do like to have a bite but the food is not restricted to Thai food but predominantly it is Thai food. The ceremony continued with candles lit for H.M the King’s birthday and then a ceremony in front of the Giant Sea Dragon

Phuket Vegetarian Festival

The Vegetarian Festival has been celebrated in Phuket since 1825 when members of a Chinese travelling opera group, visiting the town’s miners, were all taken sick. However they recovered swiftly when their diet was changed to a vegetarian one to honour the two Chinese Emperor Gods. This was taken by the Chinese community in Phuket as a sign and for once a year the community will try to abide by a set of rules out of respect to their Chinese gods. The rule that is most adhered to is not to eat meat - there are a plethora of Vegetarian dishes available in Phuket Town and other towns. But what we commonly see is the mutilation of peoples bodies - this includes piercing their bodies with sharp implements (specifically through their faces), carefully placed pins over their bodies, scraping their tongues with a sharp implement - the list is endless. Then others will be 'possessed' by the Chinese spirits and then dance in the processions through Phuket - usually from Chinese Shrine to Chinese Shrine. Then others will dance in firecrackers which are thrown into the processions. People will carry a small Chinese shrine through the towns and onlookers will also thrown firecrackers at them. Others will be 'possessed' by the Chinese spirits and distribute small gifts to the people watching. This event will last a week and will also involve running over hot coals, running up bladed ladders, pouring hot oil on themselves and more. The finale is the last night where the similar processions walk through Phuket Town in a mass of people who throw even more firecrackers at them - this parade finishes in Sapan Hin where there are hundreds of people waiting with candles to witness the burning of Chinese paper and the spirits will leave the possessed.

Por Tor Festival

The local Chinese in Phuket refer the Por Tor Festival as the ‘Hungry Ghost Festival’. It takes place on the 27, 28 & 29 of August. The streets of Phuket Town are adorned with flags, markets are set up and there are cakes of different sizes that are bright red. Sounds a little different? The Chinese, (I understand to be Taoist) believe that every year the spirits of your ancestors will return to the Earth and will visit their homes. The red turtles - which are made from wheat mixed with lots of sugar are prepared for every home for the spirits to eat when they visit. Understandably the spirits do not eat the cakes but they are cut up and shared between the families and visitors to the village. The Thai people will happily share the cake with anybody who asks.

Why big red turtles? In Chinese popular culture the turtle symbolises longevity and a healthy life and the red means wealth – so a big red turtle is an apt choice. There is also a legend to go with the turtle symbolising longevity. There was a Chinese Monk (Pra Tang Sam Jung) travelling the seas to spread the words of the Sacred Buddhist Script when the junk in which he was travelling ran into a fierce storm. He feverishly prayed to be saved from the storm so that he could spread the words of the Sacred Buddhist Script. A giant turtle swam close to the sinking vessel on which Pra Tang Sam Jung climbed upon and he was subsequently saved!

The Por Tor Festival maybe based on legends and stories but the Festival is like all festivals in Thailand – great fun. There is always a plethora of market stalls selling a great number of dishes and a lot of people wandering the streets.

Sapan Hin Local Food Fair

At the Local Food Fair in Sapan Hin there is a plethora of different foods that you can have a taste of and all of them are produced locally. There is a scheme introduced by the government that is called the One Tambon One Product (OTOP) scheme and I believe that this has been organised with this in mind.

The OTOP scheme was introduced to support unique and locally made products; including - clothing, fashion items, household items, foods etc. There were a number of different groups of people ready - the small children dressed with little antennae, the girls dressed in traditional Thai costume and the men elaborately made up in Thai costume. These children then played traditional Thai games whilst the entertainment continued. Then the entertainment changed - the singers were ‘ladyboys’ and they were miming to Western music, quite risqué actually. They left with cheers and clapped and dancers returned dancing to danced to Thai pop music. Then a clearly enhanced ladyboy arrived amid cheers and whistles to entertain us evens more. Not just a Local Food Fair.

Weather

Like much of Thailand, the weather here is of the tropical variety, meaning hot and humid conditions year-round. Temperatures hover around 32 °C during the day and 25 °C at night, with just a few degrees difference between the warmest and coolest months. Humidity is mostly around 80% or more, so be sure to drink enough fluids! November to February in general is the driest time of the year, with just some regular showers (later afternoon) and a mix of clouds and sun. Rain increases from March onwards, reaching a peak in August and September before preparing again for the somewhat drier and cooler season.

Getting There

By Plane

Phuket International Airport (HKT) is located about 30 kilometres from Phuket City and has a wide range of international flights. There are very frequent flights from Bangkok and direct flights to many other airports in the region, including Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta and direct charters to Europe and Australia in the high season. Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and also Jakarta tourists usually step directly to Phuket without step on Bangkok at all, due to distance of Bangkok to Phuket is relatively same with distance of Kuala Lumpur to Phuket. Backpackers can go to Bangkok from Phuket with 12 hours night buses, if necessary.

The airport is notionally divided into Terminals 1 and 2, with some charter and low-cost operators using the second, but these are only a short distance apart and connected by an air-conditioned walkway.

Several domestic airlines fly here, including Nok Air, Air Asia, Orient Thai. Tickets from Bangkok can cost around 1,300 baht one-way if booked well in advance, or around 2,000-2,500 baht (including taxes) if bought on the day.

Thai Airways flies from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport several times every day, and once daily from Chiang Mai (but there are no direct flights in the opposite direction). Additionally, they sell tickets from/to many domestic and international destinations with stopovers in Bangkok, which are usually cheaper (especially international) than if you book separate tickets. Cheapest (non-exchangeable and non-refundable one-way tickets from Bangkok cost 2,320 baht. Worth checking if you book just a few days before flight, as low-cost airlines may cost only 200-300 baht less in this situation, but you get world-famous Thai Airways service, and free on-board meals too.

Air Asia fly from Phuket to Chiang Mai direct, twice a day at 10:35 and 19:20, affording an opportunity to combine a beach holiday with experiencing the wildlife and exotic cultures of northern Thailand. From Chiang Mai to Phuket flights depart at 13:00 and 21:45. They fly from two cities in Isaan as well, daily from Udon Thani (handy for a trip into Laos) and four times per week from Ubon Ratchathani.

Bangkok Airways has a monopoly on direct flights between Phuket and U-Tapao (Pattaya/Sattahip) and Ko Samui. They also have 6 daily flights from Bangkok. Fares are usually the same as Thai Airways, but sometimes they have very inexpensive promotional fares as low as 1,390 baht.

Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways fly to Suvarnabhumi (pronounced: soo-Var-na-phoom), whereas Nok Air and Orient Thai fly from Don Muang Airport. This may be of importance when you have a connecting flight.

Happy Air (Phuket to Ranong, also Bangkok to Ranong) with service from BKK and HKT to Ranong.(Ko Phayam and Ko Chang in the Andaman Sea are 20 min from Ranong Airport by boat).

To get from the airport to your destination, there are several options:

A private bus service runs between the airport and Patong and the reverse. There is not yet an English-language website for this service. Times and fares are unclear. There are reportedly signs directing passengers to the curbside bus, but it is not easy to find (Oct 2013).
Municipal air conditioned airport bus service (daily, 06:30-20:45, every 60-90 min) to Phuket Town bus station costs 100 baht (Apr 2016) and takes one hour. Local buses run from there and Ranong St Market to all the major beaches until around 18:00 for about 25-40 baht. After getting off a bus just cross the street and wait for the continuing bus there. It is a very convenient and comfortable spot, with no touts or hustlers, plenty of shade and a minimart for drinks and snacks. The bus will stop anywhere along its route upon signalling the driver ("bus hiking"). See Airport Bus Phuket.

If you are going to take the municipal airport bus from Phuket to the airport in the afternoon (especially the 16:30 and 17:30 buses) you should allow yourself plenty of time. With dozens of schoolchildren getting on and off during weekdays and/or congested traffic the bus is frequently delayed en route.

Minibus services (basically door-to-door shared taxis) are a good value. They charge 100-180 baht per seat, and will get you to your destination much faster than the municipal/government buses. To Phuket town 100 baht is typical; to Patong 180 baht; to Kata Beach 180 baht. When you get off the plane, don't dally, because when the minibuses fill up, they leave. If you miss the first group of them, you may have to wait until the next plane comes in, because they don't leave until they're full. The minibuses will stop at a travel agent about halfway to Patong. They'll ask everyone to get out (you don't have to) and then they'll ask you where you're staying, and they'll try to sell you a hotel or overpriced tours on the guise that they are a government agency. You're not obligated to use the hotels they push. Just say you already booked a hotel, and tell them the name. (If you don't yet have a hotel, just say "Holiday Inn".) They will inform the driver, and he/she will drop you off at the hotel. This is a little annoying, but it's over in 10 minutes, and you're on your way again. Any travel agent can arrange a minibus ride for the way back to the airport.
Metered (yellow) taxis, aka "Taxi Meter" - Turn right as you exit the airport building (ignore the touts) and you'll see a stand at the end of the walkway. Tell your destination to the staff at the stand and they will give you a paper with the taxi driver number for you to keep in case you need to report a problem. Fares to destinations in Phuket cost around 600 baht and up. The rate is what is displayed by the meter plus 100-baht airport fee. The meter will start with a 50 baht display. You may stumble upon a freelance taxi driver who will take you from the airport to Patong for a flat fee of 450 baht. If the driver is pleasant, you may wish to ask for his mobile number for the return trip later. The same driver can take you from Patong to Phuket Town for 350 to 400 baht.
Limousine (blue) taxis from the airport are expensive, costing 600-700 baht to Patong or 800 baht to Phuket Town. The airport co-op booth tucked away towards the back is a little cheaper than the competition. Despite the name, most "limousines" are Toyota Camrys with leather seats, though you may get a Mercedes. It is also likely that your limousine will stop at a travel agent in order to sell you hotel rooms and/or tours. Before you purchase your fare, insist that you do not want to stop at any travel agency along the way. (They will try to legitimise stopping at the travel agency by insisting that "the driver must sign in" or "the driver needs to stop here for directions").

By Train

There are no direct train services to Phuket. But many trains leave from Bangkok central station going south all the way to Singapore. The most comfortable are the sleeper trains (~685 baht for a berth in a 2nd class air-con car. Travellers by train must get off at Phun Phin railway station in Surat Thani Province and continue for another 5 hours by regular bus to Phuket. Do not buy the bus ticket until you actually see the bus and can make sure it is not standing room only, as it picks up passengers at the popular Ko Samui ferry. If full, wait for the next one.

By Car

Phuket is directly connected to the mainland by the Sarasin Bridge. From Bangkok, take Hwy 4 through Nakhon Pathom, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, through Ranong province’s Kra Buri and Kapoe districts, Phang Nga Province’s Takua Pa and Thai Muang districts and onto Phuket Island. The total distance is 862 km. You may be better off getting to Phuket by public transport and renting a car on the island.

By Bus

Buses to mainland destinations including Bangkok, Chumphon, Hat Yai, Krabi, Phang Nga, Ranong, Satun, Sungai Kolok and Surat Thani use the BKS terminal off Phang Nga Rd in Phuket Town.

The most reliable buses from Bangkok are the public BKS buses from the Southern Bus Terminal to Phuket. The journey takes 13 hours and costs between 650-950 baht. There are also some private bus companies, Phuket Travel Tour, Phuket Central Tour, and Phuket Travel Service . Khao San Road operations have a bad reputation for theft, often turn out to include a "surprise" transfer to a minibus at Surat Thani, and are best avoided. Richly Travel Center offers a bus leaving at 19:00 from near the Hualampong Train Station inside Bangkok (without having to transfer to the Southern Bus Terminal) for 900 baht. The TAT next door offers the same for around 1,100 baht.

From Phuket bus terminal to your final destination, you can take a motorcycle taxi, tuk-tuk, meter-taxi, or bus. A motorcycle taxi into Phuket Town will be about 10-20 baht; to most beaches 100-200 baht (negotiable).

A local bus to one of the main beaches will cost around 15-40 baht. It's not unusual for the tuk-tuk drivers at the bus terminal to tell arriving travellers that the local bus service has finished, even though it hasn't. The bus stop is near the market in the old town. From Bus Terminal 1, make a right onto Phang Nga Rd. Continue down Phang Nga until it terminates at Yaowarat Rd, then turn left. Within a few steps you will see a roundabout. Once at the roundabout, keep right. By keeping right, you will find Ranong Rd. Within 100–200 m you will find the local bus stop.

There are two bus terminals in Phuket, one small, old one in town, and one huge modern one 4 km north of town. You can take a 10 baht pink songthaew (leaves every 30 minutes) between the two. There are also 3 regular songthaew lines within Phuket Town, and both bus stations are served by them. There is a very useful big map just outside the bus stations (look where the taxis are waiting at the old bus station, and at the very rear, not towards the entrance, at the new bus station) that displays the three songthaew routes within Phuket town. Fare's 10 baht, last one at 19:00.

Before exiting the Phuket bus terminal, grab a free Phuket map from the information window. While supplies may always not be on hand, the map is a great way to get your bearing before jumping-off.

By Boat

Ferry services connect from Rassada Port in Phuket Town to Ko Phi Phi and to Krabi Province on the mainland twice a day, taking 90 to 120 minutes and costing 350/650 baht one-way/return, for each leg. It's usually a pleasant ride, but can be rather bumpy when it's windy.

From the harbour, you could avoid the minibuses and take a 10 baht songthaew to Phuket Town. If it doesn't show up at the bus stop right outside the terminal, you'll have to walk past the gate outside the harbour and along the road, turning left at the first T-junction, about 600 m, then on the main road you can catch a cheap songthaew. There's a picture of all the routes posted just outside the terminal near the bus stop inside the complex. Last one leaves at 19:00.

There are speedboats from/to Ko Racha (45 minutes), Phi Phi (1 - 1.5 hours), the Similan Islands (about 3 hours) and other islands. Boats and yachts can be chartered all year from Phuket at Chalong Bay, Rawai Beach, the Boot Lagoon, the Yacht Haven and Royal Phuket Marina. Boats from Phi Phi and Phang Nga can be found by visiting the local beaches. A search for Phuket speedboat charters will turn up many companies providing inter-island charters and services.

Prices for transfers on board a tour speedboat are typically between 1,500 to 2,500 baht depending on destination. Phi Phi speedboat transfers (no tour) are provided by the Zeavola Resort, which has dedicated speedboats for Phi Phi transfers. Most companies doing Phi Phi speedboat tours will not accommodate transfers that include baggage due to space limitations.

Prices for speedboat charters to/from Phuket range from 3,000 baht to 60,000 baht+ depending on distance/size of boat:

Coral Island: 3,000-5,000 baht
Racha Yai Island: 8,000-15,000 baht
Phi Phi Island: 15,000-25,000 baht
Phang Nga: 15,000-25,000 baht
Krabi: 20,000-30,000 baht
Similans: 30,000-60,000 baht+ (Nov-Apr only. Lower price from Khao Lak, higher price from Phuket)

It's possible to visit Phuket by cruise ship. For cruises from Singapore, try Star Cruises

Getting Around

Phuket is a large island and you need some form of transport to get around. Public transport is very limited and taxis and tuk-tuks are the only practical means. Another, more dangerous option is rent your own wheels. Hotels generally offer shuttle bus services into Phuket Town, and also have taxi and car hire facilities.

By Car

Rent at the airport, as there is rent in the city. The longer the rental period, the lower the price per day. Standard rental price - from 600 baht (the cost of rent depends on the duration and model). Rent a car in Phuket is available for citizens who have reached the age of 20 years. To rent a car you will need a passport and a photocopy of it, international law.

By Public Transport

If you are coming to Phuket by bus, you will arrive at the main city bus terminus. You could be hustled into getting an expensive taxi for the Patong beach or wherever you want to go and there are people who have their private cars which double up as taxis, but these options are at best left alone and one just needs to find the open-air taxis. The open-air taxis (Tuk Tuk) are a treat to travel in (and cheap) but they have designated times.

By Foot

The best way to get around the beaches is by foot. This way, tourists can enjoy everything the locals have to offer. From fancy restaurants, tourist gift shops, tattoo parlors, thrift shops, fastfood stands, massage shops, and even malls. Since the distances are fairly short, you can enjoy everything on foot, amplifying everything that Phuket has to offer.

By Bike

Motorbikes are easily available and can be rented fairly cheaply. Just be sure to wear your helmet (this should be included in the rental fee) as the drivers don't necessarily look out for you.

By Boat

For those wishing to make regular boat trips, to travel from Phuket to other places, there is a great opportunity to rent a boat or yacht. Depending on the need, you can use a small boat with a outboard motor, a boat with an average capacity of five to eight people or a real pleasure yacht.

Eat

Food in Phuket is surprisingly cosmopolitan, especially in Patong, as many foreigners have set up shop to cater to their fellow travelers. All the usual Thai favorites are of course still available, with a particular emphasis on seafood. Phuket has its own style of preparation and cooking. Some interesting local dishes include:

Fried or boiled noodle dishes (หมี่ผัดหรือหมี่น้ำแบบต่าง ๆ), usually with pork or chicken, are available at many noodle shops in Phuket Town such as Mi Ton Pho, Mi Sapam, Mi Ao Ke, Mi Hun Pa Chang.
Khanom Jin (ขนมจีน), a version of noodles eaten at breakfast, usually served with a spicy curry sauce and fresh vegetables.
Nam Phrik Kung Siap (น้ำพริกกุ้งเสียบ) is a mixture of dried chili and smoked shrimp eaten with various fresh vegetables.

Cashew nuts and pineapples are grown in Phuket and available all year round. The nuts are available dried, fried, or coated. Phuket pineapples are some of the most delectable, sweet, and firm available.

Phuket is one of the best places for seafood enthusiasts. Most of the traditional dishes are based on seafood such as fish, shrimps, lobster, and even crocodile meat. One of the most famous dishes is Pad-Thai, which consists of stir-fried rice noodles, spuds, chicken, beef or tofu, peanuts, a scrambled egg, and bean sprouts, among other vegetables. All the vegetables are fried together and once everything is done, the ingredients are dipped in pad thai sauce, giving it a sweet and salty flavor.

Drink

Phuket has a vibrant nightlife, second only to Pattaya among Thailand's beach resorts. Patong's is by far the busiest of the lot. There are plenty of other bars, discos, clubs, and activities catering to every taste, from pastor to sextourist.

The nightlife in Patong is one of the biggest attractions for young tourists. The famous Bangla Road is filled with various types of shops during the day. Once the sun starts to set, the shop owners convert their shops and pubs into discos, bars and strip clubs (also known as go-go bars). Bang-la is the most famous street in Phuket.

During the night, the street is filled with lights, lasers, music, and people, making it the busiest road in Patong. For music lovers, there are various clubs and discos that invite renowned DJs such as Tiesto, Steve Aoki, and more. For sports fans, there are many football, soccer, and other sports bars that they can hang out.

This famous street is also known for its erotic massage locations. Although prostitution is illegal in Thailand, it is tolerated and it is one of the things that places Thailand on many tourists' destinations.

Sleep

There are lots of options available in Phuket. But for the more popular hotels and resorts in the better locations you should book at least a couple months in advance during high season (Nov-May). The cheapest air-con room rates start at around 1,000 baht in beach locations or 500 baht away from the beach, with proper resorts starting just under 3,000 baht and up. The best rates are usually found on-line and many hotels offer best rate guarantees when you book direct. Most of the time you will pay more if you walk in and take the rack-rate.

There are 5 main areas for tourists to stay in Phuket. Patong is the most popular due to its active nightlife, street markets and calm water beaches however this area isn’t for everyone (especially people with families). The quieter areas include Kata, Karon, Rawai and Nai Yang, all with great markets and quieter beach areas.

View our map of accommodation in Phuket

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