Phuket is the largest island in Thailand (48x21 km), nicknamed the Pearl of the Andaman Coast. This is the most versatile resort in the country. Any tourist will like it here - the conditions and entertainment are different.
Phuket is located off the west coast of the kingdom. The island is connected to the mainland by a bridge, through which a highway passes. The island's airport accepts both domestic and international flights. The flight duration from Bangkok or Pattaya is about an hour.
Phuket's beaches are some of the best in the country, with soft white sand and clear water: the oceanic location of the island makes its mark. The east coast is quite rocky, so tourists prefer the beaches on the west coast. The most famous and most developed beach is Patong. Most of the hotels, shops, diving centers and the island's concentrated nightlife are located here.
Karon Beach is a little more modest than Patong. There are fewer tourists there, but there are all the conditions for water sports, and in the evening there is a lot of entertainment. Kata Beach is located on the shores of a cozy bay surrounded by hills. The rocks divide it into two parts - Kata Yai (larger) and Kata Noi (smaller). The elongated Nai Harn Beach is quiet and almost deserted due to its proximity to a monastery. The distance from the main city of the island, Phuket Town, to Mai Khao, the most remote beach, is about 30 km, so you can only get here by car. This is the longest (12 km) and least crowded beach in Phuket. A little south of Mai Khao is Nai Yang, which is considered one of the best places on the island for swimming and snorkeling. Bang Tao is located further south on the shore of the lagoon.
In the southeastern part of the island there are only a few beaches with developed infrastructure (for example, Chalong). Rawai beach on the southern tip of Phuket is especially interesting, famous not so much for its landscapes as for the "sea gypsies" - the original inhabitants of the island.
Phuket is the most civilized island in Thailand: there are not only many beaches, but also clubs, fashionable restaurants, cinemas, etc. The center of nightlife is Phuket-Bangla Road in the Patong Beach area.
Children will definitely like the local zoo, aquarium and Splash Jungle water park.
For lovers of active entertainment there is a cable car in the jungle, underwater motorcycles, helicopter rides, rafting on a turbulent river, parasailing, jet skis and much more.
Divers will especially like Phuket. In addition to the Similan Islands, they will be able to appreciate Shark Point - a large reef covered with soft corals and anemones, which is literally teeming with leopard sharks, manta rays, cuttlefish and other large marine inhabitants. The reefs near Racha Yai Island are teeming with corals and small marine life, and the small uninhabited island of Racha Noi is surrounded by entire "plantations" of reefs, where many species of exotic fish and crustaceans live. You can also see the King Cruiser - an 85-meter passenger liner that sank in 1997, with 4 decks. In addition, in the north there is a small archipelago of Surin, the islands of Bon and Tachai, as well as the famous Richelieu Rock, which serves as a haven for whale sharks and large manta rays. This island chain is considered one of the best places for diving in all of Southeast Asia.
Phuket has a pronounced seasonal character. From November to April, dry sunny weather prevails here, and from May to October, tropical cyclones are frequent, bringing gusty winds and showers.
