Phuket's
last significant
virgin rain forest
is a designated
national park located
in the northern
part of the island.
Spend a morning
taking a leisurely
walk up by the Tonsai
waterfall, or, if
you want to spend
the day walking
in the quiet majesty
of a tropical forest,
there's an eight
kilometre trek right
through the park
from Bang Pai to
Ton Sai. Guides
are available at
the park, and for
8 kilometres definitely
advisable! Much
of the forest's
wildlife tends to
stay out of sight,
but stay still for
a while and your
guide will point
out the telltale
sounds of all sorts
of animals. If you're
lucky, you may even
see some of the
forest's unusual
creatures. A small
museum and information
centre is located
near the bottom
of the waterfall.
You can hire a car
and go by yourself
(but expect to pay
200 Baht entrance
fee) of take a local
sightseeing tour
which includes the
park on their itinerary.
Gibbon
Rehabilitation Centre
Gibbons are among humankind's
nearest relatives, and
when young make adorable
pets. When mature however,they
outgrow their cuteness
and can become aggressive
and even inflict injury.
Thailand's wild gibbon
population suffers from
the poaching of baby gibbons
for illegal sale as pets.
This often involves killing
the fiercely protective
mother gibbons, and the
abandonment or killing
of matured aggressive
pets. The project, located
in the Khao Phra Thaeo
National Park, near Bang
Pai Waterfall, tries to
rehabilitate abandoned
pet gibbons, to the wild.
You'll find it fascinating,
and your donation and
T-shirt purchases will
help keep the Rehabilitation
Project, the only one
of its kind in the world,
going. Go trekking and
enjoy the park as well.
Rent a car, or go with
an experienced guide from
Adventure Safaris Tel:
341 988.
If you'd like to volunteer
to help, please contact
the project for information.
Local
Phuket
Get
a glimpse of the other
side of Phuket. The real
people from farmers to
local business people,
who live and work in the
forest and on the land.
The guides at Siam Safari
Nature Tours (Tel: 280
116) or Adventure Safaris
(Tel: 341 988) will introduce
you to the island's environment,
culture and lifestyle.
Tours are aimed at small
groups or individuals,
and offer forest walking,
Land Rover touring, river
canoeing or rafting and
elephant trekking, with
visits to rubber plantations,
schools and temples.
Laem
Promthep Viewpoint
This rocky headland stretching
into the sea at the southern
tip of Phuket Island is
a very popular place to
watch the sunset and many
local tours end the day
here. Formerly called
by local villagers "Leam
Jao" (The Gods' Cape)
the view over the Andaman
sea and outlying islands
is inspiring. There's
also a lighthouse at the
top with a visitors centre
where you can get a 360
degree view over the southern
half of the island and
on a clear day, almost
see Phang Nga province.
Butterfly
Garden and Aquarium
This
large open-air enclosure,
landscaped with waterfalls
and lush scenery, is
the home of thousands
of vivid butterflies.
Explanations of the
fascinating life cycle
of butterflies and tours
of butterfly breeding
rooms are included.
There's also a tropical
aquarium with "landscaped"
tanks featuring live
coral gardens. Located
on the fringe of Phuket
town, not far from Tesco
Lotus - follow the signs
from the Tesco - Lotus
intersection. Open Daily
9.00am-5.00pm.
71/6 Moo 5 Soi Paneang,
Phuket Sam Kong (2 km.
from Phuket Town)
Thai
Village & Orchid Garden
A Thai cultural show featuring
different types of dancing
from all parts of Thailand,
a Thai boxing performance,
handicrafts, elephants
and a demonstration of
old tin-mining techniques
among the orchids. Located
in Sam Kong, about 3 kms.
from downtown Phuket.
The morning show starts
at 11:00 a.m. the evening
show at 5:30 p.m. Tel.
(076) 214860, 237400
Marine
Biological Research
Centre
The aquarium has some
wonderful tropical fish
and also the bigger
fish found locally.
The research centre
breeds young sea turtles,
an endangered species,
for release into the
sea. This is Thailand's
major marine biological
research station, undertaking
work on tropical reef
eco-systems, commercial
fisheries, and other
related projects. Located
on Sakdidet Road, Ao
Makham Bay, Cape Panwa.
Open 10.00am-4.00pm
daily. This is one of
Phuket's best value
attractions as the entry
price is only 20 Baht.
Phuket
Fantasea
A fantastic Las Vegas
style show with acrobatics,
pyrotechnics, aerial
ballet, special effects,
and an elephant circus
(with over 30 elephants
on stage!) The show
is a fusion of impressive
visual effects with
elements of Thai culture
which make it quite
unique. The theatre
facade represents old
Khymer architecture
similar to Angkor and
the area has a walking
street with interesting
and good value shopping.
You can have dinner
included in the ticket
price, or simply see
the show. Great for
both adults and kids.
Voted best Phuket attraction
2001.
Historical
and Cultural Sites
Old
Chinatown During
the mid 19th century,
Chinese immigrants arrived
into Phuket, attracted
by theboom in tin mining.
Much of their legacy is
reflected in the architectural
style of the buildings
- grand mansions and streets,
around the inner heart
of Phuket Town. Walking
is the only way to appreciate
the local Chinese heritage.
Look for the fine latticework,
colourful ceramic tiles
and other traditional
design elements in the
facades along Krabi-Thalang
Road and Dibuk. Sino-Portuguese
mansions can also
be found throughout the
town. Heritage tours are
now available to some
of the old houses, although
most are privately owned
and occupied. Contact
a local travel agent for
details on arrival.
Thai
Temples You
can visit Thai temples
on your own but be sure
not to wear shorts or
skimpy clothing or you
won't be admitted into
the main place of worship.
Local sightseeing tours
visit Wat Chalong, one
of the biggest temples
on the islands, and Wat
Phra Thong (Golden Buddha
Temple) in Thalang. Wat
Phra Thong has a huge
"half buried Buddha"
in the temple floor. According
to legend, those who try
to dig it up will die.
Wat Phranangsang is Phuket's
second oldest temple and
features in Phuket's early
history as the rallying
point for the island's
two heroines who saved
Phuket from the Burmese
in the 18th century. It's
also called the "Temple
of the White Blood"
- find out why from amulet
seller, Khun Santi.
Museums
Phuket
Sea Shell Museum
Located near Rawai
beach at the southern
half of the island,
the Sea Shell Museum
contains some of
the most valuable
seashells from all
over the world,
Many are among the
most sought-after
by collectors and
are from Phuket
and Thai waters.
In addition there
are also some rarities
and odd shells including
the world's largest
golden pearl (140
karats) large sections
of sedimentary rock
containing shell
fossils that represent
the earth's earliest
life-forms, and
a shell weighing
in at 250 kilograms!
Open daily from
8:00 a.m. till 7:00
p.m. For details
call 381266, or
381274.
Phuket
Rare Stones Museum
A new tourist
attraction, Thailand
is one of the
main centres in
the world for
rare stones. It's
surprising how
many there are!
Located at 58/34
Thepkasatree Rd.,
Km.5 (about 700
metres from Super
Cheap Store)
Thalang
National Museum
Phuket's national
museum contains
ancient artifacts
from Phuket 's
long history and
exhibits detailing
the famous Battle
of Thalang where
the Two Heroines,
featured in a
monument in the
north of the island,
defended the island
against the Burmese
in the eighteenth
century. It also
has information
about daily life
in Phuket, and
the Sea Gipsy
culture. Tel.
(076) 311025,
311426. Open daily
except holidays
8:30 a.m. - 4:00
p.m. Located just
east of the Two
Heroines Monument
on the Pa Khlok
Rd.
Night
Markets
The island has
vendors who set
up stalls along
the side of the
road in various
locations, which
seem to change
with remarkable
frequency. In
Patong, the beach
road night market
seems to be fairly
permanent with
pavement stalls
selling handicrafts,
silk scarves,
luggage and wooden
toys, extending
to the back road
and into small
secondary soi
(lanes). For something
really different,
try the night
market in Phuket
Town. Surrounding
Robinson's Department
Store, this colourful
market offers
a wealth of Muslim,
Thai and Chinese
food and sweets.
Simply point at
what you want
to take away,
or eat right there.
Most vendors have
tables and chairs
and are perfectly
happy to share
the business with
other vendors.
What they don't
have, they'll
get for you from
another vendor.
Enjoy. (For daytime
colour, try the
fresh market in
Phuket Town or
the fishermen's
market on Rawai
Beach - not suitable
for sensitive
noses!)
"Sea
Gypsy Village"
Rawai
It is better to
give this "attraction"
a miss. Unfortunately,
what might have
been a healthy
community of Chao
Le, or sea nomads,
has been largely
turned into a
squalid human
zoo. Don't contribute
to the degradation
of these once-proud
people.
Beyond
Phuket
Phang
Nga Province
Leaving
Phuket over the bridge,
heading north, is Phang
Nga province where you
will find Khao Lak and
Khao Sok national park
and the stunning marine
national park which
forms magnificent Phang
Nga Bay. Tours leave
daily to all these areas
Phang
Nga Bay
Spectacular limestone
scenery rising from the
sea, mangroves, sea caves
with crystalline interiors
and hundreds of tiny islands
make up Phang Nga Bay,
one of southern Thailand's
most fascinating and scenic
areas.
Khao
Lak
Located in the mainland
province of Phang Nga
just north of Phuket
Island, Khao Lak has
only recently been "discovered."
The area, visited by
only a few tourists,
stretches across three
national parks and offers
nature lovers an unspoilt
landscape of beaches,
hills, mountains, forested
valleys, mangroves and
estuaries. Eco-tours
operate daily and include
elephant trekking and
in season, kayaking
along the river.
Phi
Phi Islands
A trip to the Phi Phi
Islands is an unforgettable
experience. The beauty
of the area with sheer
cliffs soaring from
calm, clear seas is
stunning. Phi Phi Don,
the larger island, has
idyllic tropical beaches
lining its southern
and eastern shores.
Phi Phi Ley, to the
south, has shallow coral
gardens, teeming with
fish and perfect for
diving and snorkelling.
Take a day trip or stay
overnight.
Outlying
islands
Phuket has many outlying
islands which can be
visited either by hiring
a local boat, or taking
a tour. These include
Ko Racha, Coral Island,
Ko Rang and Phi Phi
Island. Tours usually
include lunch, transfer
from your accommodation,
use of snorkelling equipment
and Marine National
Park fees where applicable.
See tours and excursions
for more details.
Naga
(Naka) Pearl Farm
This well-known island
pearl farm welcomes
visitors with demonstrations
of how to pearls are
cultured and extracted.
There's also the opportunity
to buy local and imported
pearls at reasonable
prices. Tours go every
day and usually include
a stop at other islands
for swimming, snorkelling
and other activities.
For details
Open 9.00am-3.30pm daily.
Pearl-extraction show
at 11.00am.
Phuket's
last significant
virgin rain forest
is a designated
national park located
in the northern
part of the island.
Spend a morning
taking a leisurely
walk up by the Tonsai
waterfall, or, if
you want to spend
the day walking
in the quiet majesty
of a tropical forest,
there's an eight
kilometre trek right
through the park
from Bang Pai to
Ton Sai. Guides
are available at
the park, and for
8 kilometres definitely
advisable! Much
of the forest's
wildlife tends to
stay out of sight,
but stay still for
a while and your
guide will point
out the telltale
sounds of all sorts
of animals. If you're
lucky, you may even
see some of the
forest's unusual
creatures. A small
museum and information
centre is located
near the bottom
of the waterfall.
You can hire a car
and go by yourself
(but expect to pay
200 Baht entrance
fee) of take a local
sightseeing tour
which includes the
park on their itinerary.
Get
a glimpse of the other
side of Phuket. The real
people from farmers to
local business people,
who live and work in the
forest and on the land.
The guides at Siam Safari
Nature Tours (Tel: 280
116) or Adventure Safaris
(Tel: 341 988) will introduce
you to the island's environment,
culture and lifestyle.
Tours are aimed at small
groups or individuals,
and offer forest walking,
Land Rover touring, river
canoeing or rafting and
elephant trekking, with
visits to rubber plantations,
schools and temples.
This
large open-air enclosure,
landscaped with waterfalls
and lush scenery, is
the home of thousands
of vivid butterflies.
Explanations of the
fascinating life cycle
of butterflies and tours
of butterfly breeding
rooms are included.
There's also a tropical
aquarium with "landscaped"
tanks featuring live
coral gardens. Located
on the fringe of Phuket
town, not far from Tesco
Lotus - follow the signs
from the Tesco - Lotus
intersection. Open Daily
9.00am-5.00pm.
During
the mid 19th century,
Chinese immigrants arrived
into Phuket, attracted
by theboom in tin mining.
Much of their legacy is
reflected in the architectural
style of the buildings
- grand mansions and streets,
around the inner heart
of Phuket Town. Walking
is the only way to appreciate
the local Chinese heritage.
Look for the fine latticework,
colourful ceramic tiles
and other traditional
design elements in the
facades along Krabi-Thalang
Road and Dibuk. Sino-Portuguese
mansions can also
be found throughout the
town. Heritage tours are
now available to some
of the old houses, although
most are privately owned
and occupied. Contact
a local travel agent for
details on arrival.
You
can visit Thai temples
on your own but be sure
not to wear shorts or
skimpy clothing or you
won't be admitted into
the main place of worship.
Local sightseeing tours
visit Wat Chalong, one
of the biggest temples
on the islands, and Wat
Phra Thong (Golden Buddha
Temple) in Thalang. Wat
Phra Thong has a huge
"half buried Buddha"
in the temple floor. According
to legend, those who try
to dig it up will die.
Wat Phranangsang is Phuket's
second oldest temple and
features in Phuket's early
history as the rallying
point for the island's
two heroines who saved
Phuket from the Burmese
in the 18th century. It's
also called the "Temple
of the White Blood"
- find out why from amulet
seller, Khun Santi.
Leaving
Phuket over the bridge,
heading north, is Phang
Nga province where you
will find Khao Lak and
Khao Sok national park
and the stunning marine
national park which
forms magnificent Phang
Nga Bay. Tours leave
daily to all these areas