Phuket activities: diving, beaches, sailing and yachting

Hotels by Location General Information Festival & events Phuket Dining How to Get There Nightlift Things to see & do Bay Cape Beach Island

Tourist Attractions
Chalong Temple
is about 8 kms. outside town. Take Vichit Songkram Rd., to the Bypass Rd., and turn left, and drive for about 10 mins. Wat Chalong will be on your left. 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. Other monks, who were abbots of the temple during later times, and who are the objects of respect and recipients of the offerings by Phuket people generally.


Antique Buildings
The beginning of the tin boom during the Nineteenth Century led to construction of many fine old mansions and shops 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 on the street but stretch back a long way. Many, especially on Dibuk Rd., have old wooden doors with Chinese fretwork carving. Other streets, forming what might be called "Old Phuket", with similar structures are Phang-nga, 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.

Saphan Hin
A land reclamation project provided abundant new land now used for parks and public facilities at Sapan Hin, located where Phuket Rd., 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. The Sport Center is located in the park.



Patong Beach
This is Phuket's central tourist and night time entertainment district. Over the years, Patong has turned from a fishing village into one of the island's two cities. The famous bay and 4 km. beach is know as a centre of entertainment with restaurants catering to every nationality. Live music can be found in most pubs and bars. Accommodations range from budget to five-star. Shopping opportunities appear to be endless. In addition, there are many tour companies waiting to help visitors plan their vacations. Some of the options available are listed below.

Kalim Beach
This beach is really a continuation north of Patong's strand, from which it is separated by some rocks. It is not yet developed and thus affords some privacy. At the back of the beach are accommodations. The waters contain extensive coral reefs.

Kamala Beach
Kamala is a Muslim fishing village north of Patong. Tourist development on the beach much of which is covered by a Muslim graveyard and a police outpost has been slow in coming. Buffalo herds still come down to the beach to cool off in the afternoon. The beach is beautiful and about 2 kms. in length. There are accommodations ranging from guesthouse to international class, and a number of small Thai restaurants specializing in seafood for the tourist. Kamala is the perfect place to get away from it all and has little to offer in the way of entertainment for that go across the mountains to Patong. Regular bus service to and from Phuket Town during daytime; tuk-tuk service available to Patong, 5 kms. away on the new road.

Phra Tong Temple
This temple enshrines a golden Buddha image that sprang up from beneath the earth long ago. The story is of a young boy who tied his buffalo to what he thought was a post; it was in an area at that time given over to the raising of animals. 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.
Later, at the time of Thao Thep Kasatri's heroic defense against the Burmese in 1785, the invaders tried to succeed where the villagers had failed; their intention was to take the Buddha image back to Burma. Sacred objects and slaves were then the most sought after spoils for armies. The Burmese, however, were unable to retrieve the golden Buddha despite several attempts; they were finally driven off by a swarm of angry hornets.
After this the villagers decided to protect their miraculous statue by covering the part that stuck up from the ground with a plaster cast of Buddha's head and shoulders's which is the way it is today. Located north of the traffic light on the outskirts of Thalang Town. A large sign shows the entrance.

Surin Beach
Evergreen trees rim this small, curving bay beneath the foothills north of Kamala. Surin is home to Phuket's first golf coures, a nine-hole course laid out more than sixty years ago during the reign of King Rama VII. It is now largely in disuse except as a park. The steep incline of the beach, turbulent water, and big waves make Surin a dangerous place to swim during the rainy season. Located at the end of Sri Sunthon Rd., the road running west from the Two Heroines Monument, 24 kms. from Phuket Town. Accommodations and restaurants are nearby.

Sing Cape
The name means Lion's Point in English. The beach is in a small, curving bay with rocky headlands at the foot of forest-fringed cliffs and is among Phuket's most beautiful spots. Located about 1 km. south of the entrance to Surin Beach. Look for signs indicating the path down to the beach.

Bangthao Beach
Bangthao is a large open bay with one of Phuket's longest beaches. It was once used for tin mining, but has since been developed into a luxury resort. Most of it is occupied by the Laguna complex, a massive five-hotel development with golf course. There are, however, accommodations available outside Laguna at the bay's south end. Dry season swimming is excellent, and at the bay's north end is a smaller bay, almost completely enclosed, at the mouth of which is some fine coral. Plenty of places to eat, tour companies, and other tourist facilities available either at Laguna or in the nearby town of Choeng Thale.
The beach is located off Sri Sunthon Rd., in Choeng Thale. As for access to Laguna; the south end of the bay may be approached by taking the road north from Surin Beach. To get to the far north end from Sri Sunthon Rd., take the road leading to Laguna, but do not enter, continue on to the town of Bandon where there is an intersection of asphalted roads, and take the one leading west toward the sea. This road leads also to Nai Thon Bay and makes a very pleasant drive. Along the way are some small bays with good swimming and no development.

Nai Yang Beach
This is where the National Park office is located. The beach itself is on a long curving bay lined with evergreens that provide shade to picnicker. The large coral reef is home to many different species of fish, and Nai Yang is well known as a site where sea turtles come to lay their eggs during the period from November to February; the population of these has however, dropped off greatly. First class accommodations are available and small food vendors cater to the many day trippers. To get there take the Nai Yang Rd., and look for signs indicating the park entrance.

Nai Thon Beach
This quiet bay nestled at the foot of high hills has a fine strip of the sand. There are some accommodationes but virtually no other business. Located between Bang Thao Bay and Nai Yang Beach, Nai Thon Beach can be reachd by taking Thep Krasatri Rd. Turn at the first traffic light north of Thalang Town to Nai Yang Rd. Look for signs indicating the turn-off to Nai Ton.

Mai Khao Beach
Many kilometers of deserted beach characterize Mai Khao where there is little tourist business. The water is fine for swimming during the dry season; the rainy season brings big waves and strong currents that are dangerous. This lonely beach is another area where sea turtles come to lay eggs. It is also home to what the Thais call a sea cicada, which is a form of marine life. To get there go to the northern tip of Phuket; the beach lies along the road's length