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Mini guide to Phuket

The largest and most commercially developed of Thailand’s many magnificent islands is a popular destination and easily accessible due to it’s international airport. With an interesting history, fantastic beaches and a lush mountainous interior, coupled with an well-developed tourist infra structure, Phuket certainly attracts the crowd.

Phuket town hardly competes with the beaches and resorts found elsewhere on the island but it has a fascinating history, dominated by Chinese merchants. Among the more modern developments of its few hotels, markets, shopping malls and seedy Karaoke bars, are some fascinating gems. Sino-Portuguese architecture and colonial buildings (among the few in Thailand) as well as Chinese temples are dotted about the town. Nearby is the interesting sea Gypsy Village.

Patong beaches is one of Thailand’s most developed, situated along a sweeping bay. You’ll either love it or hate it, depending on your tastes, but it’s choc full of bars, discos, lonely local ladies, restaurants, guest houses and vendors. There’s nothing particulary Thai about it, but it draws the crowd. Karon and Kata bays, beyond a headland to the south is slightly less tacky with lovely beaches, and has great facilities if you can’t do without your western comforts.

Other developed bays to the north of the west coast are Bang Tao, Kamala and Hat Nai, which is good for diving. In fact dive operations are found throughout the island overing excursions to many remote spots, including the beautiful Similian Islands, to the West. Another stunning day trip option is the incredible scenery of karst butts that are dotted about Phang Nga bay. They include Yao Noi national park and James Bond Island.

Chalong bay and Sapam bay are east facing and less crowded. Away from the coast, the Kao Phra Royal Wildlife and Forest reserve is one of Thailand’s many fantastic rainforest areas, excellent for hiking.

This section of the Andaman coast is one of the world’s most scenic marine scapes and ferries run regularly to the world famous, and breathtaking Phi Phi islands. Another alternative is the stunning scenery of Krabi’s coastline.

Phuket’s international airports has several flights a day from Bangkok, as well as daily services to Chiang Mai and Singapore.

More details on Krabi