PHUKET is known worldwide for its wonderful beaches, its wild nightlife and beautiful scenery but there's much more to the Island than just that. Its rich history has left a legacy of Colonial architecture, Colourful temples, Chinese memorials and Mixed & Tolerant lifestyle. Phuket also has its quirky side, with a distinct and extremely vegetarian festival, unique cultures and the extraordinarily popular cross-gender and transvestite shows, along with a culture both alien and charming to westerners; even the driving is 'original' in Phuket!
PHUKET is known worldwide for its wonderful beaches, its wild nightlife and beautiful scenery but there's much more to the Island than just that. Its rich history has left a legacy of Colonial architecture, Colourful temples, Chinese memorials and Mixed & Tolerant lifestyle. Phuket also has its quirky side, with a distinct and extremely vegetarian festival, unique cultures and the extraordinarily popular cross-gender and transvestite shows, along with a culture both alien and charming to westerners; even the driving is 'original' in Phuket! The following blog will act as your guide to tell you about the best places to visit in Phuket.
1. Explore Phang Nga Bay: The incredible view of Phang Nga has always been at the top of the list of places to visit definitely. There are many plans to explore it. You can take a lazy sunset cruise on a Chinese Junk or visit Phang Nga by canoe through caves and surrounded lagoons. If you can afford it, a full day on a customized special cruise around Phang Nga is the most relaxing and delightful experience. Similar to the famous Halong Bay in Vietnam, these landscapes will leave you with extraordinary memories.
When to go: Thanks to its sheltered geography, Phang Nga is convenient and beautiful all year round, even in the rainy season. The sea is never harsh, so you won’t have to worry about being sick.
2. Take a Tour to Phi Phi Islands: Phi Phi is a beautiful archipelago made of fantastic beaches and enormous cliffs over two bays you can cherish from the famous viewpoint. Phi Phi is also famous among young crowds for those romantic beach parties lasting all night long, reminding a bit of the Full Moon Parties on Koh Phangan. But this fame comes with a price for the holiday packages and Phi Phi may have become too successful. The parties, greed and developments have severely affected the island, so don’t go assuming yourself walking alone on the deserted beach of the movie ‘The Beach’.
When to go: Phi Phi Island is open all year round, but of course, it’s more attractive with blue sky during high season (December to May). Note that during low season, the ride can be rough, so if you are apt to seasickness, take some pill.
3. Climb to Big Buddha of Phuket: Number 3 on our list of best things to visit in Phuket is the Big Buddha, an iconic 45-meter tall white marble statue resting at the top of Nakkerd hill in the south of the island. The construction of this statue started in 2002 and is completely supported by donations. You can donate too by sponsoring one small white marble tiles and sign your name on it. It’s a reasonable thing to do, and your name will be there forever. The Big Buddha is more than just a landmark; it is a religious spot. You should respect it by dressing properly: if you wear shorts or skirts above the knee, you will be required to wear a sarong given by the security at the entrance. You should also try to keep your voice slow, which unfortunately is not very well understood by tourists. The road to get up there is a little sheer but well-paved, and the scenic view from the top is worth the climb. To the north, you can view the whole Chalong Bay all the way to Phang Nga, and in the south, you can view Kata Beach. On the route down, stop at one of the many little panoramic bars to get a whole view of Karon Beach.
When to get: all year round
4. Party in Bangla Road: Bangla road might not be to everyone’s taste, but judging by the huge crowd walking up and down Patong walking street every night, Bangla is on many people’s must-see list. Unlike what most people think, Soi Bangla is not a ‘Sin City for Single Men’. It’s a colourful and energetic street full of life, restaurants, shops, and bars and of course, dancing girls. Now, if you want to know more, visit these famous Go-Go bars and see for yourself what is this all about? You will usually see couples tourists having a drink, Patong is a lot easier going than Bangkok or Pattaya.
When to go: Bangla is lovely all year round.
5. Chalong Temple: Chalong Temple (locally called Wat Chalong), established at the beginning of the 19th century, is the biggest and the most visited Buddhist temple in Phuket. The most iconic structure on the temple grounds is a 60 meters tall stupa sheltering a piece of bone from Buddha. Inside, walls and ceilings are adorned with beautiful paintings explaining the life of Lord Buddha, and the floor is comprised of many donated golden statues. You can also climb stairs to reach a terrace and enjoy a scenic view of the place. Just like in any temple in Thailand, remember to dress properly: no shorts or skirts above the knee, no sleeveless clothes. Remember to remove shoes and hats when entering the temple itself.
When to get: the temple is open from 7am to 5pm, but you can walk around the temple anytime.
6. Explore Old Phuket Town: It’s hard to maintain those old Sino-Portuguese streets with their beautiful shop houses and magnificent palaces with many small cafes, bakeries, and restaurants along the way. Phuket’s old town is ideal for a half-day. You can reach there by tuk-tuk, or even with the local blue bus that ends at the city market, and then drive from there to Thalang road, the most popular of the old streets of Phuket Town. Visit also the local shops near the bus station and explore the little streets here and there to discover some incredible beautiful mansions. Don’t miss the Phuket Walking Street on Sunday, a chance to taste a lot of local food which you cannot find easily!
When to get: Anytime!
7. Similan Islands: Similan Island is the most exciting set of Islands accessible from Phuket, endowed with incredible white sand and clear blue waters. But these are only open from November to May at around 100 km north-west of Phuket in the Andaman Sea. If you get an opportunity to visit here, you should go. If you are not sure, go to Phi Phi Island, but it’s crowded. More accessible and near is Racha Island Coral Island.
When to get there: Similans are open between October to May.
8. Samet Nangshe Viewpoint: Samet Nangshe has been discovered quite recently and the view from up there is breathtaking. As it is just on the outside Phuket Island, it takes some time to reach but the grace of this natural wonder is well worth the effort! It used to be quite a hurdle to climb the hill to one of the viewpoints, but there is now a pick-up truck driving you up there, for a small fee. You can also rent a car for your feasible travelling.
9. James Bond Island: James Bond Island is one of those places which many people want to explore in Phuket. There are many positive and negative ideas about James Bond Island, and most are justified. Before that old 1974, James Bond movie ‘The Man with The Golden Gun’ was released, no one known about this island.
When to get there: all year round
10. Sunset at Prompthep Cape: Promthep Cape is not as high as you might expect, but it still attracts many tourists every evening at sunset time. The grand location at the very south of the island offers stunning views on the bay and the few nearby islands. You can do shopping there and even an amazing Thai dinner at the ‘Promthep Restaurant’.
So, if you are planning your next trip to Phuket, just make a call to TravelAussie to get the best deals on Flight booking, Hotel booking, Holiday packages and many more…
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