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Not only blessed with beautiful beaches,
Phuket has numerous other attractions to make any holiday here an
experience to remember for a lifetime. On the island or off, a visitor's
days can be easily filled with a wealth of exciting, entertaining,
educational and enjoyable encounters with the history, culture,
and natural wonders that have helped make Phuket a holiday destination
unsurpassed for its beauty and diversity.
Each of Phuket's many beaches is blessed with a character and charm
very much of its own. From busy fun beaches offering a range of
water sport activities, to secluded coves of fine white sand backed
by verdant hillsides and visited by little more than the bubbling
surf of the Andaman, there is bound to be at least one to suit the
mood and mindset of every visitor to the island. Read
More...
 From
a few minutes by speedboat to a day's sailing away, Phuket is surrounded
by so many tropical islands, of such outstanding natural beauty,
that literally weeks can be spent exploring.
At the far north of Phuket's cruising grounds lie the nine islands
of the Similans - noted for their magnificent dive sites - to the
south, the brooding intensity of Taratao - a prison colony during
World War II and now part of the fifty-one island Taratao National
Park - and in between dozens of isles offering pristine beaches,
spectacular scenery and a peace and serenity unique to the Andaman.
Read More...
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 Natural
Attractions
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Natural scenery includes the splendid forested hill of Khao Phra
Thaeo National Park, an area where you can glimpse the last of Phuket's
virgin jungle.
In addition there are numerous beauty spots, notable among them
being Laem Phromthep, the island's southernmost point and a favorite
place for watching Phuket's famed sunsets.
Khao Rang
 A
great view of Phuket Town, the southern part of the island, and
some of the offshore islands, can be obtained by going to the top
of Khao Rang Hill, on the town's northwest border.
There are also several restaurants featuring spectacular views
of the city, a health park for exercise enthusiasts, and a comfortable,
expanse of grass s at the top with a bronze statue of Phraya Ratsada
Nupradit, the model Governor of Phuket during King Rama V's reign.
Bangpae Waterfall
 Best
knownas the site of the Gibbon Fund, a project to return domesticated
gibbons to the forest, Bang Pae is a small waterfall with a shady
forest and thick foliage.
How to get there: Ggo to the Two Heroines Monument and take the
road running east, the Pakhlok Road. Bangpae is 7 km along this
road. Look for the posted signs.
Khao Phra Taeo Wildlife Park
 22.28
square kilometers of virgin forest are coverd by this park, which
also actively conserves a number of wild animals; they would otherwise
be extinct in fast-growing Phuket. It is a center for study of the
environment and the forest vegetation is spectacular. Giant trees
supported by huge buttresses are thick with creepers and climbers
of every description.
One species of palm, the Governor's Palm or White Back Palm (palm
lang khao in Thai) is especially rare. Langurs, barking deer, mouse
deer, deer, bear, wild boar, monkeys, gibbons, and many species
of birds inhabit the forest. Khao Phra Taeo serves also as one of
Phuket's most important water sources.
Sirinat National Park
 Located
near Phuket International Airport, the national park covers an area
of 90 square kilometers. The park stretches all the way to the island's
northern tip. There are a number of interesting places to visit
:
- Nai Yang Beach
- Nai Ton Beach
- Mai Khao Beach
- Sai Kaew Beach
- Mangrove Forest
Ton Sai Waterfall
 A
small falls, over which pours a great volume of water during the
rainy season. The trees, watercourses, and pools nearby provide
one of Phuket's loveliest scenes.
The park headquarters and a small restaurant with an excellent
view are also at Ton Sai.
Located near Thalang Town, 22 km. from Phuket Town.
Mangrove Forest
 Situated
in Sirinat National Park, near Ta Chatchai on Phuket's northern
tip, the mangroves--saltwater swamps with unique eco-systems much
prized by scientists searching for clues about adaptation and evolution--cover
about 800 rai.
Anyone with an interest in horticulture will be interested in the
many unusual perennial plants found here: mountain ebony (kong kang
bai lek), red cycas (prong daeng), black myrsina (samae dam), the
Lady's Nails quisqualis (leb mue nang), and various creepers and
climbers are among the more significant. There are also many mongrove-dwelling
animals with unique evolutionary characteristics. A nature trail
has been cleared for the convenience of visitors with signs indicating
and explaining the various species.
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Historical
Sites
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Besides sun, sea and sand, Phuket is a multifaceted destination
and offers ample scope for fascinating exploration.
Phuket Town is interesting for its surviving examples of old Sino-Portuguese
architecture - reminders of the island's long and interesting history
- and for its shopping and entertainment possibilities.
Old Phuket
The beginning of the tin boom in the 19th century led to construction
of many fine mansions and shops, that are still well preserved.
The architectural style, typical of the region, is described as
Sino-Portuguese and has a strongly Mediterranean chracter. Shops
present a very narrow face onto the street but stretch back a long
way. Many, especially on Dibuk Road, have old wooden doors with
Chinese fretwork carving.
Other streets, forming what might be called "Old Phuket,"
with similar structures are Phangnga, Yaowarat, Thalang, and Krabi,
and a walking tour of the area is easy and delightful. Some other
old European-style buildings of note are the Provincial Hall (Sala
Klang), the Phuket Courthouse (San Changwat), and Nakhon Luang Thai
Bank. Read More...
Sapan Hin Mining Monument
 A
land reclamation project provided abundant new land now used for
parks and public facilities at Sapan Hin, located where Phuket Road
meets the sea in Phuket Town.
In the circle is the Tin Mining Monument, shaped like a large drill
bit, dedicated to the memory of Captain Edward Thomas Miles, the
Australian who brought the first tin dredge to Phuket in 1909.
The monument was built in 1969 on the occasion of the 60th anniversary
of tin dredging in Phuket. A sport center is located in the park.
Thalang National Museum
 Ancient
artifacts from Phuket's long history are on display, including exhibits
detailing the famous Battle of Thalang involving the Two Heroines,
daily life in Phuket, and the Sea Gipsy culture. Tel: (076) 311025,
311426. Open daily except holidays 8.30 am to 4.00 pm. Located just
east of the Two Heroines Monument on the Pakhlok Road. Read More
about The Biographies of Thao Thep Krasatree
and Thao Sri Soon Thorn.
Wat Phra Nang Sang
The grounds of this historic temple are where the Battle of Thalang
took place in 1785. Inside are three very old statues of the Buddhawrought
in tin; they are the largest in the world and date from a time when
tin was regarded as a semi-precious metal.
The bellies of the three big statues each contains a smaller statue,
from which derives their name, "Monks in the Belly" in
local vernacular. or "The Three Kings" in formal language.
Located on Thepkrasatri Road, in Thalang Town at the tracffic light.
Wat Phra Tong
(Phra Tong Temple)
 This
temple enshrines a golden Buddha image that sprang up from beneath
the earth long ago.
The story tells of a young boy who tied his buffalo to what he
thought was a post. After doing so, he fell down in agony and died.
The father of the boy dreamed that the reason his son had died was
for the sin of tying a filthy buffalo to a sacred object, that what
the boy thought was a post was in reality the golden peak of the
Buddha's conical cap. He told his neighbors the dream and they all
went out to dig up the statue but had no success. Read
More...
Wat Chalong (Chalong
Temple)
 This
is where stands the cast statue of Luang Por Cham, who helped the
people of Phuket put down the Angyee, or Chinese Coolie Rebellion,
in 1876 during the reign of Rama V. There are also statues of Luang
Por Chaung, and Luang Por Gluam, abbots of the temple during later
times.
How to get there: Wat Chalong is about 8 km outside town.
Take Vichit Songkram Road to the Bypass Road and turn left, and
drive for about 10 mins. Wat Chalong is on the left. Read
More...
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