Phuket

Spectacular scenery, stunning tropical sunsets and warm blue sea awaits you at Asia's most popular beach destination. This fun island provides an unbeatable combination of perfect silky soft white palm-lined beaches, superb hospitality and great value accommodation!

Whether it's world class diving in the Andaman Sea, golf at world-standard championship courses or exciting eco-adventures in tropical forests, Phuket is a place to extend your horizons.

Take an exhilarating speedboat trip to the surrounding islands, or enjoy a serene cruise around mystical Phang Nga Bay. Or why not simply enjoy Phuket's vibrant nightlife in Patong Beach? Total enjoyment! Not convinced yet? See our 10 Must See and Do list.

Whether it is luxurious and secluded, vivacious and untamed, or somewhere in the middle; your niche is here. You will find it. And you will be back for more!



Patong Beach

Patong is the most famous - some would say infamous - beach resort on Phuket. With its wide variety of activities and nightlife, Patong is an ideal place to party and play.

Patong's 2 km strip of golden sand is one of the most popular beaches in Phuket, it's a place to watch the world go by. By day, Patong Beach is a hive of activity with parasail and jet-ski operators, boat drivers, beach vendors and masseuses all vying for the attention of the many visitors relaxing on the beach chairs.

During November to April , the water is very flat and calm.

May to October , there can be some larger waves on some days however Patong beach is safe to swim on most days, pay attention to the red flags when they're out.

The northern part of Patong Beach, where the Novotel Phuket Resort is located, hides a beautiful small sandy creek where water is very shallow and clear during high season. Several beach chairs are available.

The southern part, near the bridge leading to Amari Coral Beach Resort is the mouth of a river where several fishing boats anchor. The other side of the bridge leads to a small fisherman village.

Patong beach is jet-ski and parasailing heaven, operators can be found every few hundred meters.

Exercise caution and wear a lifejacket when participating in motorised watersports - most jet-skis have "no insurance" stickers on them, very re-assuring! Also popular is banana boat, waterskiing and wakeboarding.

Some good snorkeling can be found by the rocks at the north end of the beach, equipment can be rented on the beach easily.

There are a couple of volleyball nets for those who enjoy beach volleyball, everyone's welcome to play - it's a great way to meet people. Games usually start around 4.30pm as it starts to get cooler.

What better location could there be for Thai massage other than the beach, readily available and excellent value for money, the masseuses are set up in the shaded areas. Other types of massage and reflexology are also available.

Being the main centre of tourist activity in Phuket, it's no surprise that Patong has the highest concentration of restaurants to be found on the island. Patong is a cosmopolitan place, attracting visitors from all over the world and the cuisine on offer here reflects this in its diversity.

Patong dining establishments run the gamut from hand-wheeled carts selling kebabs and sticky rice all the way to world-class fine dining, with celebrity chefs and award-winning wine lists. There are Thai food courts, where you can join the locals for a delicious and incredibly inexpensive meal, mid-range restaurants with solid and budget-friendly European food and trendy places with nouvelle cuisine and arty décor where the Beautiful People come to see and be seen.




Rawai beach

Rawai Beach is popular with locals who come to enjoy seafood and the lovely view of the islands from the shore.

In the days before Phuket became a popular holiday destination, Rawai Beach was where locals from Phuket Town would come to enjoy the seaside. These days, the beach itself is not that nice with many small boats anchored off the shore, although it is safe to swim all year round due to its position facing Phang Nga Bay.

At the eastern end of the beach is a sea-gypsy village which has a small fish market. Here you can also buy local handicrafts and assorted Thai snacks. The nearby viewpoint at Laem Phrom Thep, the southernmost tip of the island, is particularly popular at sunset.



Phuket FantaSea

Kamala is also home to one of the island's biggest night time attractions - Phuket FantaSea. A USD$100 million Thai cultural extravaganza covering an area of over 140 acres with a live show featuring elephants, tigers and other animals, traditional Thai dancing, pyrotechnics, light and sound, acrobatics and more. Two shows are performed nightly, with an optional dinner.

There's an opportunity to stroll around the grounds and find some more unusual souvenirs at some of the market stalls and shops after the show. You can also meet with the "celebrity" animals for a photo or two. Great for all ages.
Fantasea Park has 3 main attractions:

'Fantasy of a Kingdom' is the ultimate in Las Vegas style theatrical productions. Created and designed by international experts and local professionals, this audio-visual extravaganza incorporates 9 stunning show themes (Thai culture, magical illusions, 4-D effects, aerial performance, acrobatics, indoor pyrotechnics, special effects, elephant circus featuring over 30 elephants and stunt) into one unforgettable theatrical masterpiece that is guaranteed to thrill and delight visitors of all ages and nationalities.




'The Golden Kinnaree' is one of the world's grandest buffet restaurants. Fronted by a glorious Golden Pavilion, this 4,000-seat dining facility indulges every visitor with a sumptuous feast of Royal Thai dishes and international delicacies prepared by some of Thailand's finest chefs.



'Festival Village' offers an unforgettably enchanting and fun shopping experience unlike no other. Visitors can also enjoy activities such as elephant rides, cultural performances, parades, street shows, handicraft demonstrations, live bands, carnival games and much more.