Top 10 Must-see in Phuket, Thailand !
Phuket, a
rainforested, mountainous island in the Andaman Sea, has some of Thailand’s
most popular beaches, mostly situated along the clear waters of the western
shore. The island is home to many seaside resorts, spas and restaurants.
Phuket has a tropical monsoon climate, and is warm all year
long. The rainy, or monsoon season is from September until October. During this
time it is wet and very hot. Unless rain is not a factor for enjoying a
vacation, it is not advised to visit during these two months. For us, January to late March is the best time to visit.
Clear sky, pleasant weather and glassy sea.
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1. Phang Nga Bay
A distinctive feature of Phang Nga
Bay are the sheer limestone karsts that jut vertically out of the emerald-green
water.
James Bond Island and Koh Panyee
are just two of the more famous spots in this bay. By far the best means of
enjoying the spectacular scenery, with only brief encounters with the tourist
crowds at James Bond and Koh Panyee, is to take one of the boat trips from the
northern end of Phuket.
A leisurely day trip cruising
through the dramatic limestone islands, occasionally stopping to enjoy quiet
beaches, is far more rewarding than the standard bus-boat tour.
2.
Old Phuket Town - Discover Historical District
Unlike many Thai provincial
capitals, Phuket Town fairly shines with personality and nowhere more so than
its Old Town. In this historically rich part of town you will find shrines,
temples (Buddhist and Chinese), ornate and beautifully preserved 'shophouses',
quaint cafés, tiny printing shops, impromptu private and public museums and even
a mini ex-red light district.
Phuket Old Town was built on riches
reaped from Phuket's tin boom of last century, when the metal was an extremely
valuable commodity. In this quarter of the town you will see grandiose
Sino-colonial mansions, once occupied by Phuket's tin barons of 100 years' ago.
Phuket Old Town is compact enough to stroll around in.
The best time to do this is early
in the morning or after the day has lost its heat. There are enough restaurants
and cafés to provide you with refreshments so don't bother taking a picnic
along!
3.
Bangla Road
Bangla Road really comes to life
once the sun sets. The road is closed to vehicle traffic and becomes a 400
metre festival of neon lights, loud music and cheap beer. Jammed most nights of
the year, it is quite a friendly and lively place to walk around as bars and
clubs compete with each other for customers.
If you’re looking for a fun night
out in Phuket, Bangla Road should be your first (and, often, only) stop. Almost
all of the bars are outdoors or open-fronted, so the music from each one blends
into a mess of mixed beats. Beer bars occupy most of the street's length, with
several go-go bars and a few pubs, restaurants, discos and shops rounding out
the attractions, both on Soi Bangla and down its side streets.
Street performances are also common
most nights, which can make dodging around the tailor shop salesmen, leaflet
distributors, street vendors and ping pong show touts more difficult, but it is
all part of the fun.
4.
Big Buddha
Phuket's Big Buddha is one of the
most important and revered landmarks on the island. The huge image sits on top
of the Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata and, at 45 metres tall, can be
seen from as far away as Phuket Town and Karon Beach.
The lofty site offers the best
360-degree views of the island, with sweeping vistas of Phuket Town, Kata,
Karon, Chalong Bay and more. Relatively easily reachable via a winding 6-km
road leading from Phuket's main artery route, it is a must-visit island
destination.
5.
Wat Chalong and Phuket Temples
Wats - or Buddhist temples - are
among the most important symbols of Thailand, partly because the majority of
Thais are Buddhist and partly because they are so beautiful. In Phuket alone,
there are 29 Buddhist temples spread around the island.
Wat Chalong has been extending a
warm welcome to visitors for over a century. Locals come to pray and Westerners
come to learn something about Buddhism. The temple is open from seven in the
morning to five in the afternoon.
6.
Simon Cabaret Show - Backstage Tour of a
Tranvestites Show
It’s a spectacular display of
colour, originality and fun. Phuket’s Simon Cabaret has become one of Southeast
Asia’s outstanding entertainment attractions drawing a thousand enthused
visitors from around the world each evening.
A single show runs the entire range
of musical theatre from cultures around the world. Extravagant costumes, make-up and sets take
the audience from Egypt to Latin America to China and back to Thailand in
themed displays of classical dance and song.
7.
Phi Phi Island
Phi Phi Island is Thailand's
island-superstar. It's been in the movies. It's the topic of conversation for
travelers all over Thailand. For some, it's the only reason to touchdown in
Phuket. Even with all the hype, it doesn't disappoint. Phi Phi's beauty is a
large chunk of the allure. The islands, when approached by boat, rise from the
sea like a fortress. Sheer cliffs tower overhead, then give way to
beach-fronted jungle. It's love at first sight.
The second part of the why-we-love-this-place
story is attitude: few places on the planet are this laid-back. Of the two
islands located near Phuket and Krabi, one is completely free of human
inhabitants (Phi Phi Leh), and the other is without roads (Phi Phi Don).
There's no schedule, no hustle-and-bustle, no reason to be in a hurry.
8.
Phuket Fantasea - Phuket's Most Popular
Attraction
Phuket Fantasea is the island's
biggest show. With trapeze artists, a cast of hundreds, performing elephants
and other animals and an exotic storyline that blends tradition with fantasy
you'll have a wonderful evening out here.
But the extravaganza doesn't stop
there as FantaSea also hosts one of the biggest buffets in Asia and is set in a
theme park that offers carnival-like games, lots of shopping opportunities, a
Palace of the Elephants, a Similan Adventure Centre and several other food
outlets. It's spectacular, it's extravagent, it's impressive and great
entertainment value for all.
9.
Phuket Viewpoints - Phromthep Cape, Big Buddha,
Kata Viewpoint, Rang Hill
Phuket has views that would make a
landscape painter rush out and buy an easel and brushes and the great thing is
that you don't have to trek halfway across the country to appreciate them.
Whether it's a sunset-watching spot, a 360-degree panorama of the south of the
island, a vista from the top of Phuket Town or a glimpse of swathes of tropical
lushness it's all within your grasp in minutes.
All you need is wheels. It's a
matter of taste, of course, as some prefer the 'outside-in' aspect of viewing
the island from a yacht or tour boat. Others prefer life way up in the clouds,
looking down from on high while others favour the exact opposite. So let's mix
and match. Here are some of Phuket's best viewpoints for you to check out.
10.
Thai Boxing (Muay Thai)
One of the most popular spectator
sports in Thailand, and now gaining world renown, is the martial art of Muay
Thai. Exciting enough on TV - the furious punches, crushing elbow strikes,
lethal kicks and artful feints are even more riveting when seen live.
Witness the passion and drama of
Thailand's national sport amidst crowds of onlookers whose cheers blend with
the strains of high-pitched Javanese clarinets, drums and finger cymbals that
accompany the fights from beginning to end.
For tourists in the Patong Beach
area, nightly displays of Thai Boxing are carried out in specially built
stadiums on Soi Sai Namyen. If you don't mind the violence, a Thai boxing match
is worth attending for the pure spectacle and the wild musical accompaniment,
the ceremonial beginning of each match, and the frenzied betting around the
stadium.
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