Phuket – A Very Quick Travel Guide
Phuket – A Very Quick Travel Guide
Thailand’s most popular tourist island, Phuket has a bewildering array of options. Discover Phuket’s best beaches, inspiration for things to do and tips on how to get around the island with our Very Quick Travel Guide to Phuket
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Often called the ‘Pearl of the South’, Phuket’s east coast is lined with a series of white sand beaches backing onto mountains making the journey from one to another a roller-coaster ride of steep slopes and astonishing views. What is also true is that despite its physical beauty, Phuket is a place where development has not always been positive, leading to several of the beaches being extremely overdeveloped and a predatory attitude towards tourists.
Thankfully not everywhere in Phuket has succumbed to the flashing neon, pumping techno, screaming bar girls and inflated prices that characterises Patong and some of the other nearby beaches. Head to the far north and far south of Phuket and there are some beautiful and still serene places which provide Phuket’s best beaches.
Phuket’s Best Beaches
If you’re looking for peace and quiet on Phuket away from the crowds, there are several, not so well known beautiful Phuket beaches worth considering – Naithon Beach, Naiyang Beach and Naiharn Beach Follow the links for info on each beach including the best places to eat and drink and recommended hotels for all budgets too.
Phuket Beaches – A Brief Guide
If you want to know more about Phuket’s more famous beaches like Patong, Kata, Karon and more, this quick guide gives you the rundown on where each beach is located and the ambience of each one.
Things To Do In Phuket
Beyond the beach, there are plenty of things to do in Phuket – here are some classic Phuket Must See ideas
Phuket Day Trips
You can visit Koh Phi Phi by speedboat, go jungle trekking in Khao Sok national park and visit James Bond island on Phuket day trips – here are some Phuket daytrip ideas
Phuket Nightlife
Mainly famous for the crazy nightlife of Patong beach, Phuket also has several other alternatives for evening entertainment
Getting Around Phuket – Hiring Motorbikes, Taxis, Buses etc
Taxis and tuk-tuks are notoriously expensive on Phuket, but hiring a scooter can be dangerous too. Know before you go to ensure you keep your holiday hassle free
How To Get To Phuket
As Thailand’s biggest tourist destination, there’s no shortage of ways to get to Phuket – flights, ferries and buses are all easy to arrange
Where Does The Name Phuket Come From?
Phuket was originally called ‘Junk Ceylon’, which is a corruption of its Malay name ‘Jang Si Lang’. The name ‘Phuket’ comes from the Malay word ‘bukit’, meaning mountain or hill, which is how Phuket appears as you approach it from the sea. Its history is an interesting one being smack in the middle of important maritime trade routes with India and Europe. In the 19th century it also became a centre of tin mining using immigrant Chinese labour. To this day the interior of the island is Chinese in character whilst the coastal areas are ethnic Thai and largely Muslim.
Phuket Travel Guide
Koh Lanta Holiday Checklist
:: Find flights to Krabi Airport, the nearest airport to Koh Lanta, with 12Go – one search will show you the prices and times from multiple airlines for your trip. A real timesaver.
:: Once you’ve decided your flight, the fastest way from Krabi Airport to Koh Lanta is an exciting speedboat and minivan Express Transfer – book your transfer online.
:: Find available places to stay on Koh Lanta at Booking.com – usually you can reserve a room with no upfront payment. Pay when you check out. Free cancellations too.
:: Need inspiration on where to stay? Check our Koh Lanta Beaches page to see which beach suits you best and see our range of Koh Lanta Villas for a special, private place of your own.
:: Get travel insurance from World Nomads for your trip to Thailand – it’s essential you’re covered to protect both your health and your belongings.
:: Staying in Bangkok before you go to Koh Lanta? Buy a Thai SIM card online at Klook to pick up at Bangkok Airport (Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang).
:: Travelling on from Koh Lanta? Book Thailand bus, train and ferry tickets Thailand with 12Go – an easy to use website that lets you check timetables and buy tickets online.