Visit Phuket island and come back home with some great photos
Visit Phuket island and come back home with some great photos!
Sandy beaches, fantastic landscapes and great Thai food give you plenty of reasons to visit Phuket, the largest and best-known island of Thailand. It has a land area of approximately 540 square kilometers (roughly the size of Singapore.) A quarter of a million people live there, most of them being either Thai or Chinese.
Situated off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea temperatures vary from between 21 degrees and 34 degrees centigrade. Due to its geographical location, the months of November till April are traditionally sunny and humid whilst May till October sees the rainy monsoon season.
Plan your first or next holiday to Thailand with all the best things to do in Phuket, but also many hidden gems off the well-known tracks. Try the fantastic Thai food in local Thai restaurants and even some cheap but delicious street food. Explore many night markets and Phuket legendary nightlife: beach clubs, rooftops and party in the famous Walking street of Bangla Road in Patong Beach. Here are some suggestions to get you started.
Explore Phang Nga Bay
The incredible scenery of Phang Nga is always been at the top of the list of places to visit. There are many ways to explore it. You can take a lazy sunset cruise on a Chinese Junk or explore Phang Nga by canoe through caves and enclosed lagoons. A full day on a customized private cruise around Phang Nga is the most relaxing and enjoyable experience. Similar to the famous Halong Bay in Vietnam, these landscapes will leave you with unforgettable memories. The sea is never rough, which is great news for those who tend to be seasick.
Take a Trip to Phi Phi Islands
Phi Phi islands form a beautiful archipelago together with fantastic beaches and immense cliffs over two bays which you can admire from the famous viewpoint. It is renowned among young crowds for the beach parties lasting all night long. This fame comes with a price and Phi Phi may have become too popular. Too many people, greed and developments have severely affected the island, so give up on imagining yourself walking alone on the deserted beach, as it was shown in the movie ‘The Beach’.
Climb to Big Buddha of Phuket
No visit to Phuket is complete without the visit to this iconic 45-meter tall white marble statue sitting at the top of Nakkerd hill in the south of the island. The construction of this statue started in 2002 and is entirely funded by donations. You also can contribute to its construction by sponsoring one small white marble tiles and sign your name on it. It’s a generous thing to do, and your name will be there forever. Remember that Big Buddha is more than just a landmark; it is a religious place. Respect it by dressing appropriately.
Visit Chalong Temple
Chalong Temple was built at the beginning of the 19th century. It is the largest and the most visited Buddhist temple in Phuket. The most iconic building on the temple grounds is a 60 meters tall stupa which shelters a fragment of bone from Buddha. Inside, walls and ceilings are decorated with beautiful paintings illustrating the life of Lord Buddha, and the floor is covered with the many donated golden statues. Like in any temple in Thailand, remember to dress appropriately: no shorts or skirts above the knee, no sleeveless shirts. The entrance to the Temple is free, but donations are appreciated.
Explore the many Night Markets
Phuket has a lot of night markets, although one can not exactly tell which market is day and which one is the night market, because the opening times change a lot. Nevertheless, since there are so many of them, you shouldn’t have a problem with finding one you need at any time of the day. There is always some market open for you.
The most famous and most creative is the Sunday Walking Street Market in the old Thalang road of Phuket Town
Plane Spotting on Mai Khao Beach
When you visit Phuket, you will make some great photos, if you go plane Spotting on Mai Khao beach, which has become a global phenomenon the day it became forbidden. The harder the restrictions, the more people go there, and this once deserted beach had become a mad playground. Seeing huge flying machines approaching from far and getting closer to you in a roar is amazing. When they are about to land, they fly so low above the turquoise water; you can almost touch their wheels! It is, of course, not allowed to be under the path of the plane, but no one seems to care.