Attractions
Phuket Island , is Thailand's largest at 48km in length and 21km at its widest. It's in Southern Thailand, on the west-facing Andaman Sea coastline, suspended from the southern tip of Phang Nga Province by a pair of short but substantial road bridges.
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Rawai Beach
Rawai is located at the southern tip of Phuket. It is much less touristy than nearby Kata and Patong beaches and an excellent place to experience some real Thai culture. This palm-fringed beach is best known for sea gypsies, a formerly nomadic fishing minority believed to be of Melanesian descent. Get around : Rawai is quite spread out and a scooter is highly recommended. The longer your hire period, the cheaper it becomes and is possible to hire one for around 120 baht/day. Otherwise expect to pay 200-300 baht/day depending on the type of scooter.
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Nai Harn Beach
Nai Han , more commonly spelled and pronounced, Nai Harn, is a village and a beach of the same name at the southernmost tip of Phuket, near Phromthep Cape. The northeastern bit of Nai Han is Ao Sen. Some 18 kilometres from Phuket Town, south of Kata Noi and north of Phromthep Cape, Nai Harn is not Phuket's longest beach, but it borders the most gorgeous lagoon on the island. The middle of the beach is dominated by the Nai Han monastery, which has prevented excessive development and is the reason that the beach is generally less crowded than other spots on the southern part of the island.
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Chalong Bay
Chalong Bay is on the east coast of Phuket. This is Phuket's principal boat anchorage and the island's largest bay, 11 kilometres south of the town. It is very picturesque but not suitable for swimming. Boats can be chartered to go to some small island south of Phuket. A number of restaurants are on the road leading to the bay.
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Wat Chalong
A beautiful Buddhist temple located on the southern end of the island. This is where stands the cast statue of Luang Pho 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 Pho Chuang, and Luang Pho Cham, abbots of the temple during later times. Wat Chalong is about 8 kilometres outside town. Take Wichit Songkram Road to the bypass and turn left, and drive for about 10 minutes. Wat Chalong is on the left.
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Phuket Big Buddha
A white marble Buddha statue on the top of Naka Kerd mountain. Far south of Wat Chalong 3 kilometers. High grand view over east part of Phuket island.
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Phromthep Cape
Phromthep Cape is a headland forming the extreme south end of Phuket. "Phrom" is Thai for the Hindu term, "Brahma," signifying purity and "Thep" means 'God.' Local villagers used to refer to the cape as "Laem Chao", or the God's Cape, and it was an easily recognisable landmark for the early seafarers traveling up the Malay Peninsula from the sub-continent. Sunsets here are often fiery and spectacular, so much so that it's also known as Sunset Point.
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Phuket View Point
This is located mid-way between Nai Harn and Kata beaches. The scenic Kata Noi, Kata, and Karon beaches, and Ko Pu can be viewed from this point.
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Phi Phi Island
Ko Phi Phi is a small archipelago of six islands in Krabi Province, Southern Thailand. It is touted to be one of the most beautiful yet easily accessible island groups in the world. While the latter is certainly true, the former is quickly becoming less so. The entire region is technically part of a marine National Park, but the hordes of visitors have taken a toll on the beaches and reefs over the years.
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Raya Island
This is located mid-way between Nai Harn and Kata beaches. The scenic Kata Noi, Kata, and Karon beaches, and Ko Pu can be viewed from this point.
