 Tourists interested in marine life are recommended to go to the Phuket Aquarium situated on the secluded Phanwa Cape, 10 km from town on Sakidet Road. |
 Wat Chalong is Phuket's most beautiful and renewed monastery. It enshrines the gilt statues of monk hero Luang Pho Chaem and his assistant Luang Pho Chuang, both much revered by local people because of their roles in quelling the miner rebellion in 1876.
Several different temples, including the orignal one from the 17th century, which is of wood, will give you time to contemplate. A new three storey high pagoda gives you a beautiful overview of the surrounding area.
This place is very much frequented by Thai people worshipping and praying. You can buy flowers, canldes and incents and place them there. |
| Located on the south coast of the island, Chalong Bay is in the mining area and is too muddy to swim in. However, a fine view of the coconut palm groves and delicious food in the good restaurants on the shore attract hundreds of visitors to the place daily. |
| The first beach that brought fame to Phuket island. The coconut fringed route from the Chalong intersection to Rawai is one of the most beautiful roads in Phuket. It is a good beach area where sea people reside and where several restaurants provide different styles of delicious foods, especially seafood. |
| Next to Rawai Beach on the east is Laem Ka beach, an excellent swimming area frequently visited by the local people. It is lovely and quiet. |
 Sometimes called Laem Phra Chao or God's Cape, Phromthep is a very special place at the southernmost tip of the island. It is a cliff where you can view the breathtaking panorama of its nice surroundings an the striking sunset. |
 Naihan is a place for those who love peace and quiet. Its most picturesque landscape can be seen on the way from the north of Phromthep cape down ho the beach. But it is not advisable to go for a swim here during the monsoon season (from May to October). |
| Composed of 2 lovely beaches called Kata Yai (Big Kata) and Kata Noi (Small Kata). Kata Beach is a thriving resort, suitable for holiday makers who look for tranquil surroundings with a bright sun, white sand, a calm clear sea and a colorful underwater world. Kata is located only 6 km from the Chalong intersection. The way leading to the beach can overlook the elegant scene of Chalong Bay on the southern coast of the island. Except those who like to stay in a busy area. Kata beach has never disappointed any visitors. Various kinds of accommodations, restaurants, shops and aqua sports facilities are available to tourists of different tastes. |
 Just across low hill to the north of Kata, the long white beach of Karon stretches magnificently with pines and palms standing tall over the rolling sand dunes providing a unique scene. It is flourishing side by Side with Kata Beach, but is more placid. The sea water here is clean and the sand is powdery. It is one of the best places For swimming, diving and sun-bathing You can come from Kata to Karon easily by road or by a path along the coast. |
 From the creators of Safari World, Thailand's most popular animal and leisure park, comes a new and unique cultural theme complex - Phuket FantaSea - that promises to be the ultimate in night-time entertainment on the holiday resort island of Phuket.
Inspired by Thailand's rich and exotic heritage, Phuket FantaSea not only showcases the charm and beauty of Thailand, but also enriches ancient Thai traditions with the wonder of cutting edge technology and special effects.
 The result is a stunning 140-acre theme complex, packed with a multitude of activities and entertainment: a festival village with carnivals, games, handicrafts and shopping; a 4,000 seat theme restaurant offering a grand buffet of Thai and international cuisines; and a breath-taking Las Vegas-style theatrical show, where state-of-the-art technology and special effects enhance the grace and beauty of Thailand's Myths, Mysteries and Magic in a wondrous extravaganza certain to delight the whole family.
Created a cost of over 3,300 Million Baht, Phuket FantaSea adds a whole new dimension to theme park entertainment, with marvelous attractions not found anywhere else in the world. |
 The gibbons you see in the bars, being carried around as tourist photo opportunities or as household pets started life high in the tree canopy of Thailand's rainforests. The mother was shot and fell from the tree with her baby still clutching her.
Until they reach five years of age they are cute, cuddly and amenable - then they become aggressive, they develop sharp canine teeth which can inflict severe injuries - so they are killed or abandoned.
The lucky ones are found and brought to this center at Bang Pae Waterfall where the rehabilitation project has been set up. Getting them back to the wild is a long process. They have to learn to recognize and eat wild food - they were probably fed on beer and peanuts, rice and sweets. They have to improve their strength and mobility - some may have never seen a tree - they may never have seen another gibbon, and so they have to learn to be a gibbon again.
The project is staffed mainly by European volunteers who pay to come. They feed the gibbons, clean the cages, run the tours and generally maintain this project.
Tours are free but as this project is funded entirely by the generosity of visitors and volunteers, donations are very welcome. The project is open from 10.00am to 4.00pm every day. The center is next to the Bang Pae Waterfall so you can visit two sites of interest at the same time. Do come - the gibbons would love to see you! |
 (April 13-15) The Traditional Thai New Year is an occasion for merrymaking as well as public festivities. Anyone who ventures out on the streets is likely to get a through soaking, but all in a spirit of fun to welcome the hot season. |
is also in April and is incorporated into part of the Songkran Festival or the Thai New Year, the Department of Fisheries has declared it as National Fisheries Day.
Baby sea-turtles are released into the sea at various beaches around Phuket. As the numbers of sea-turtles have been drastically reduced over the years this government sponsored program is hoped to both increase the number of turtles and increase public awareness about the importance of conserving and protecting this endangered species. |
 (November 22) Loy Krathong is a quiet and romantic event is which homage is paid to the Mother of Waters. All over the country people gather at rivers, ponds and lakes
under the moonlight to float krathongs, small lotus-shaped offerings containing incense, flowers, a candle, and a coin. This symbolizes the cleansing of mind and spirit as the previous year’s unwise thoughts, words, and deeds drift away on the vessels.
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 This festival, held every year in October, is the most well-known of Phuket’s local festivals. It is celebrated by descendants of Chinese immigrants who came in the last century to work in the many tin-mines of Phuket. It features elaborate ceremonies at local Chinese temples as well as street processions in which devotees perform amazing feats of self-mortification in the belief that they are protected by spirits. |
| (December 5) The deep reverence felt by all Thais for their King is perhaps unique in the modern world, and his birthday provides an annual occasion for public expression. Government buildings, businesses, and homes all over the country are elaborately decorated and the area around the Grand Palace in Bangkok is spectacularly illuminated. |
| (Beginning of December) Since its beginning in 1987, the Phuket King's Cup Regatta has grown to become Asia's premier yacht racing event. |
(December) The fourth annual Thai Airways Laguna Phuket Triathlon will be held at Laguna Phuket. It will consist of a 1.8 Km. swim, a 55 Km bike race and a 12 Km run. The Laguna Phuket Triathlon offers 25 guaranteed entries into the Ironman World
Championship in Hawaii to be awarded to age group finishers. The triathlon attracts world-class triathletes from all over the world and receives international and domestic television coverage. |
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