How to go

By Air : Phuket Airport now is an international airport, so Phuket can be reached directly from points all over the world. For further information contact Thai Airways International or travel agents. Thai Airways numbers in Bangkok are Tel. (02) 2800070 2800080, and in Phuket, the numbers are Tel. (076) 211195, 212499, 212946. For More information visit http://www.thaiair.com

By Sea : Port of Phuket at Ao Makham has facilities for cargo transfers, and is also a frequent stop of cruise ships both from Thailand and from abroad. Contact Tel (076) 391155 for information about cruises touching at Port of Phuket.

By car or coach : From Bangkok use route 4 passing Nakorn Pathom, Prachuabkirikan, Chumphorn Provinces, Kraburi and Kaper districts in Ranong Province, and Kuraburi, Takua Pa and Takua Tung districts in Phang-nga Province. There you will reach Ban Kok Kioy, the last big town on the road to Phuket, which, though an island, is.reached by crossing the Thao Thep Krasattri Bridge. The total distance is about 867 kms.Bus transport includes both air and non - air conditioned coaches leaving from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal daily. Phone numbers to contact for further information:

The Transport Company Ltd.
Tel. (02) 4351200 or, in Phuket Tel. (076) 211480,
Phuket Central Tours
Tel. (02) 4343233 or, in Phuket Tel. (076) 213615 and 214335,
Phuket Travel Service
Tel. (02) 4355018, 4355034 or, in Phuket Tel. (076) 222107-9.

Local Transportation

From the Airport : there is limousine service for town, Patong Beach, Kata - Karon Beach. Departure times depend on the arrival times of airpianes. For your convenience, there is also taxi service to all destinations.

To the Airport : Limousines depart from Holiday Charter Tel. (076) 246088 at Phunphol Night Plaza. Departure times depend on the departure time of flights. However most first-class hotels also have such a service for their guests.

In Town : No public buses, but there are Tuk Tuk which operate a communal service. Just tell your destination to the driver.

To Beaches : There are local buses (Songthaew) between the town and all tourist beaches. Buses leave for the beaches at the market on Ranong Road at half-hour intervals until 6:00 p.m. After that, you must hire a Tuk Tuk.

Private cars jeeps and motorbikes : can be hired from a car-rent company for your convenience. Those who hires must hold a Thai or an international car or motorbike license.

Place to go

Rawai Beach
It lies on the very south about 17 kms. from the town. Before reaching the beach you can find the Sea Gypsy village on your left-hand side and the route to Phromthep Cape on the right-hand side. Along that route the beach is aside where you can look for the long-tail boat which can bring you to many islands around that area such Raja Is., Hay Is. and elsewhere. Rawai beach is a popular recreation for locals and typical destination for a weekdays outing.

Phromthep Cape
Only about 2 kms. from Rawai Beach you will find the stretching piece of island into the sea and seems the real south-end of the island. Phromthep Cape is quite popular place to catch the sun-set into the sea for both locals and the tourists. On the top of Phromthep Cape, there are two holy places; the Golden Julibee Lighthouse which is built in the auspicious occasion of the 50th Anniversaries of Accession to the Throne of King Bhumipol the Great, and the spirit house of "Phrom" or "Brahma".

Wind-mill view point
Not so far from Phromthep Cape, the mid-way to Nai Harn Beach, the wind-mill is there on the top of the hill under the purpose of electric supply project and is one of the newest view point.

Nai Harn Beach
In the northwest from Phromthep Cape, the white sandy beach could be seen. It’s clear, clean and rather quiet place for tourists especially for those who like swimming. During the monsoon season, from May to October ,the sea is quite turbulent and swimming should not be attempted.

Ao Sane
Only pass through the gate of a hotel in Nai Harn Beach to the northwest, Ao Sehn is at the end. It’s just a small bay decorated with large and small rocks ,but quiet and good for fishing.

Main View Point
Along the coast road from Nai Harn Beach toward Kata Beach you can enjoy and take the rest at the most well-known view point in the west side of the island where the most prettiest bays (Kata Noi Beach, Kata Beach and Karon Beach) could be seen from the public pavilion.

Kata Noi and Kata Beach
Comparing "Kata Beach" as the elder sister, the younger sister should be "Kata Noi Beach". Kata Noi is smaller bay in size but both of them could attract both Thais and foreigners who would like to take a rest on the beach and play with the soft sea-wave including snorkeling, no matter what the current season is.

Karon Beach
It’s not so easy to look for the beach that could make a sound while stepping on. Karon Beach will be one of your choice if you would like to hear that sound. This quite long beach have the sea-waves which is big enough for some kinds of water sport such surfing-board.

Patong Beach
The most famouse beach and center of the island’s night-life located 15 kms. from Phuket town is surely Patong Beach. This soft white sandy beach is long, wide and gently curving, suitable for a wide range of water activities such para-sailing, wind-surfing and else. Because of the great demand for accommodation in Patong ,it tends to be priced compared to other beaches, however inexpensive accommodation still could be found. For dining out, a number of moderately priced seafood restaurants provide great sea-views along the beach road. After being full, there are still a plenty of a-go-go bars and femme fatales waiting to thin your wallets.

Kalim Beach
It takes about 2 minutes from Patong, the small charming beach with rocky points is on the left.

Kamala Beach
The perfect romantic hideaway where is quiet and peaceful with a roaming herd of buffalo.

Surin Beach
The first golf course in Phuket are established during the reign of King Rama VII at this quiet and peaceful beach, but the swimming is not advised due to the strong waves + currents and steeply drops-off.

Bang Tao Beach
This long sandy beach lined with casuarina trees is taken up primarily by the Laguna group, formerly was a tin mine.

Nai Yang Beach
By the Phuket International Airport, Nai Yang beach is a part of Sirinat National Park. Due to being under the authorization of National Park, Nai Yang Beach have the quiet atmosphere and full with casuarina trees. However, all accommodations and food are available.

Koh Hay (Coral Island)
Southwest of Cape Panwa, is an island sanctuary administered by the Department of Fisheries. You can take a boat from either Chalong or Rawai, or contact a tour agent for a package tour. There are two beaches at the island on the north and east, which are pristine. Beautiful coral gardens spread out a hundred meters from the beach, and in English the island is often called simply 'Coral Island'. Swimming, water-sports and accommodation are all available.

Raya & Raya Noi Islands
Comprising a paired of islands south of Phuket in a line running from southwest, to northeast. They are two islands where are unspoiled by mass development and providing only a few inexpensive bungalows and restaurants, Raya and Raya Noi Islands. The fine white sandy beach, horseshoe-shaped and clear waters are reminiscent of the Similan Island in their untouched beauty. There is a view point on the south at the top of the hill from which to take in the whole island. On the east, Kon Kae Bay is perfect place for looking at the coral gardens. Just 10 kms south, Raya Noi Island is a result of the action of coral formation over eons. Bay is much more rocky than white sandy. On the west is a small bay where boats can be anchored, the emerald green waters are not suitable for swimming but the fishing and diving is very interesting. Both Raya and Raya Noi Island are easily accessed by speedboat or long-tail boat about 1 hr 30 mins from Rawai Beach.

Koh Phi Phi (Phi Phi Don & Phi Phi Lay Island)
Phi Phi Island is 48 kms far from Phuket Island and 42 kms from Krabi. Phi Phi Island is declared a National Park in 1983. There are 6 islands in all but the well-know is Phi Phi Don & Phi Phi Lay.They are mountainous, and form themselves around nearly enclosed bays. The most interesting place are :

Phi Phi Don : There is a long beach and rock landing. Aside from this there are two beaches of considerable beauty among the world's most beautiful at Lodalum bay and Ton Sai bay, where accommodation is to be found.

Phi Phi Lay : It is mountainous and rocky.Tall cliffs rise straight up from the sea's surface almost all around the island. Water depth averages 20 meters offshore; and 34 meters is deepest spot, at the south end of the island. The semi-circular bays are very lovely and include: Pilae, Mahya, Losama and others. On the northeast is the famous "Viking Cave" so-called from the paintings therein, which His Majesty King Bhumibol was pleased to grant also the "Payanak" meaning "Serpent Lord", in honor of the villagers who gather swallow's nests on the island. Inside, on the east and south walls of the cave, are paintings from historical times of an elephant, and boats of various kinds: European sailing ships, Arab prows, junks, sharpstemmed vessels probably of European origin, steam ships, and propeller-driven sailboats. It is theorized that these are the work of sailors, or perhaps of pirates, because the island provides refuge during the monsoons and lies on the main shipping lane from west to east. It was thus a place suitable for offloading cargo and conducting repairs.

Similans Islands
A group of islands in the Andaman Sea, about 90 km northwest of Phuket are a scuba divers paradise as one of the world 's best. These islands are a marine national park, and there are no inhabitants or infrastructure of any kind. They are strewn with gigantic boulders and surrounded by coral reefs, where well myriad species of colorful tropical fish. Liveboard dive cruises or bareboat sailing charters are the vest way to see the island group 's incredible under water beauty. Dive shops in Phuket run expeditions t the Similands daily, but it 's good idea to use tour operator that have been registered with TAT.

James Bond & Koh Panyi
One of the most spectacular sights in Thailand, locate in Phang-nga province, and the entire Phang-nga bay was declared a national park in 1981. Taking a boat directly from Phuket in to Phang-nga Bay is simple enough, with several operators offering tours, including lunch and transport to the dock for between 1,500-2,000 Baht. The more adventurous may want to drive into Phang-nga province and head almost into Phang-nga town before turning right into Phang-nga bay Resort, where long-tail boats can be hired for roughly 1,000 Baht for a day of touring to James Bond Island (Koh Phing Kan, in Thai). James Bond Island had its 15 minutes of fame as a location for the filming of "The Man with the Gold Gun", that 's why we names it as James Bond Island. This tiny island is now a major tourist attraction, where is host to dozens of high limestone island which rise sharply from its milky green waters. Koh Panyi, home to a Muslim village, is generally included with this tour and is a favorite stop for lunch. The basic tour, which can be purchase from any tour agent on the island, coast 450-500 Baht. This includes bussing from Phuket to Phang-nga, long-tail boat to the islands and lunch.

Wat Chalong
Wat Chalong is probably the largest and best-know of Phuket's Wats, or temples. Enshrined in one of the buildings are statues of two revered 19th century monks, Luang Pho Chaem and Luang Pho Chaung, who helped put down a rebellion by Chinese immigrants in 1876. The images are kept lavishly supplied with offerings of gold leaf, flowers, and lighted incense.

Wat Phra Thong
Wat Phra Thong is located on a road leading north from Thalang on the way to the airport. Its main feature of interest is a large Buddha image, allegedly of gold, half buried in the earth. Legend claims the image was discovered by the father of a child who died aster tying his water buffalo to a piece of metal protruding from the ground. Prompted by a dream, the father returned to the spot and dug, managing to excavate only the top part of the statue; Wat Phra Thong was built to shelter the image which in turn was covered with plaster to hide it from invaders.

Khao Phra Thaeo National Park
Locate in Amphur Thalang which is a virgin example of one type of tropical forest, it also displays features unique to itself. One of the reasons why this area was declared an official reserve in the first place, is the fact it is the only habitat of Keriodosa elegans, a distinctive species of palm which grows in clumps here and there throughout this forest and nowhere else in the world.

Aquarium
Aquarium is part of the Marine Biological Research Center. Open daily, it contains an interesting selection of sea creatures, attractively displayed, as well as educational exhibits on methods of fishing. Among the center's projects is the hatching of eggs laid by the giant sea turtles who come ashore on the island between October and February; the young are reared at the aquarium and later released into the open sea