Phuket

Island in

Thailand

is the number one destination for tourists in Southeast Asia.

Phuket

is located in the southern part of

Thailand

, approximately 800 km south of Bangkok. Even though

Phuket

is an island, it is connected to the mainland by a 300m bridge, for easy access to the four million tourists that arrive every year.

Phuket

is the home to nearly 600

hotels

and resorts that are mainly located on the western part of the island. There's a large variety of accommodations in

Phuket

, from inexpensive guesthouses and bungalows, to

hotels

and luxurious resorts with large suites and private villas. Nearly half of the

hotels

and resorts in

Phuket

are located around

Patong

beach, by far the most commercial and populated beach on

Phuket

Patong

beach has nearly 300

hotels

and resorts most of them either on the beach or within a walking distance to the beach.

Patong

beach is one of the biggest and most beautiful beaches on

Phuket

, with its white sand and clear waters. Nighttime is famous in

Patong

beach; this is the only place in

Phuket

where the

hotels

and the city never sleep. Many restaurants, bars, discotheques and shows will keep most tourists out of their

hotel

room

s and onto the streets of

Phuket

. However

Phuket

Island can also be wild, secluded and mysterious like other islands in

Thailand

. Karon and Kata beaches are somewhere in between. Not nearly as commercial and constructed as

Patong

, these beaches offer a more quiet and relaxing atmosphere with large luxurious

hotels

and resorts and some quiet more affordable

hotels

. But for tourists looking for wilderness, quietness and a change of scenery, beaches on the North of

Phuket

like Bang Tao or Nai Yang or in the south of

Phuket

like Panwa, Nai Harn or Chalong are perfect for them. These beaches are the hidden treasure of

Phuket

Island. With just a few

hotels

and resorts so as not to spoil the wilderness of the environment, these beaches offer breathtaking views, gorgeous beaches and incredible sunsets.

Map

Island Guide

Photo Gallery

Hotels

Activities

Festivals

Phuket town is a small urban treasure full of surprises, many of which are not readily visible to the visitor simply passing through. To really appreciate many of the attractions here one has to spend time, hunt and often walk.

Largely found by Chinese who immigrated to the island to work in the tin mining business, Phuket town has some exquisitely preserved examples of Chinese influenced architecture. Sino-Portuguese Mansions,

built in Portuguese style with Chinese influence, Traditional Chinese row houses, and Chinese shrines are among them.

Furthermore, your day out could be filled with shopping, going to the movies or even dining. To many, Phuket town offers the best shopping opportunities and the prices here are lower than those at the tourist beaches. Scattered about the town we can find shops specializing in souvenirs and handicrafts, fashion wear and tailoring, silks and many other Thai-made products. For movies, there are multi-cinema complex with choices of international films presented in their original languages.

For restaurants, you can find a good variety of cuisine available. There are fewer tourist clients here, and more Thais and local expatriate residents, meaning that the Thai food will not usually be modified for foreign tastes as it sometimes is in the beach areas.