Thailand’s holiday paradise: Phuket Island
Surrounded by the Andaman Sea, Phuket is one of Thailand’s largest islands and, also, one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world; an average of nine to ten million people visit Phuket each year and the island is also one of the world’s most preferred honeymoon spots. Phuket province encompasses 32 additional islands off the main island’s coast. Phuket is home to national parks, white-sand beaches, bustling nightlife, serene resorts and one of Thailand’s oldest cities, Phuket Town.
What to know about Phuket
The Thai baht is used in Phuket; currency exchanges are widely available, as are ATMs.
Phuket International Airport, in the northern part of the island, is about 850 kilometers from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. The drive from the Phuket airport to the island’s most popular resorts takes between one and two hours. Turkish Airlines offers direct flights to Phuket. For more information, click here.
Phuket is big, so many visitors rent a car for travel around the island. Within its villages, towns and cities, there are tuk-tuks, three-wheeled motorized vehicles. Thailand has a well-established tourism structure, with bus and shuttle services available via local travel agencies and hotels. As well, you can hire a taxi, or a car and driver. For experienced motorbike riders, renting a scooter or motorcycle is also an option.
The island’s temperatures and water are consistently warm, even during the monsoon season, which generally takes place between May and November.
Phuket hosts world-renowned luxury resorts, including the acclaimed Keemala Hotel, near Kamala Beach. For more on this topic, see #BookYourTicket! 5 Great Photo Spots in Asia.
Where to go in Phuket
Phuket Town is worth a visit: the picturesque Old Town features Chinese-Portuguese style
shophouses and mansions, some with their original wooden doors and shutters. In addition to the lively weekend night market, with food and souvenir stalls, there’s the 200-year-old Put Jaw Temple, the oldest Chinese Taoist temple in Phuket; the Phuket Thai Hua Museum, with exhibits on Phuket’s history; and Ka Jok See, a long-standing restaurant known for its dinner theater and dancing. Baan Chinpracha is a classic example of the Sino-Portuguese mansions in the Old Town and is open to the public; the charming Phuket Philatelic Museum charts the development of Thailand’s postal system. A few kilometers from the Old Town, on the grounds of Rajabhat University, are the Phuket Culture Museum and Cultural Center. About 15 kilometers from the Old Town is the Phuket Mining Museum, with exhibits on the island’s tin-mining industry. Phuket Town also hosts modern shopping malls, hospitals, and a wide range of hotels.
The Big Buddha statue, about 12 kilometers inland from the west coast, is 45 meters high and a symbol of the island. Also inland, overlooking Chalong Bay, is the magnificent Wat Chalong, the most revered of Phuket’s 29 Buddhist temples. Wat Phra Thong, Karon Temple and the Brahma Shrine are also significant temples.
While many so-called elephant ‘sanctuaries’ have been called into question for their treatment of these magnificent creatures, the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is known for treating its inhabitants with respect and kindness. Visitors are not permitted to touch or ride the elephants but can observe them from a canopy walkway. The Sanctuary is supported by donations.
Nature lovers will also find plenty of options: in the north, the Khao Phra Thaeo and Sirinat national parks; while not technically in Phuket, the nearby Similan Islands and Ao Phang Nga national parks are world renowned for their diving and breathtaking scenery. Koh Yao Noi, a scenic, quiet island set between Phuket and Krabi, features rice fields and coconut trees.
Phuket’s best beaches
Perhaps more than anything else, Phuket is renowned for its beaches, particularly those on the west coast. Patong Beach, a tourist epicenter about midway on the west coast, features a long, white-sand beach and vibrant – sometimes raucous – nightlife. The famous Kamala Beach is north, while somewhat quieter Rawai Beach, at the southern tip of the island, is in a fishing village with picturesque boats. Numerous beaches and corresponding townlets dot the coasts, including Kata Beach, Karon Beach, and Nai Han. Each has its own vibe, but all provide various shopping and dining facilities – some rustic and some quite luxurious. While not technically part of Phuket, the nearby Phi Phi Islands are home to Maya Beach, where the movie “The Beach” was filmed. Be aware, however, that Maya Bay is open only from November to April; also, the area was temporarily closed to visitors in 2019 to protect the environment.
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*The hotels included in this content are not for advertising purposes. The services offered by the hotels are valid as of the date of this post and may change over time. Turkish Airlines has no responsibility for the services or products of hotels mentioned in this content. We recommend that you contact the hotels for confirmation of services.
