Phuket, Thailand is a wonderful place to take a long and relaxing vacation. Located off the west coast of southern Thailand in the Andaman Sea (about 500 miles south of Bangkok), it is a tropical paradise. Nestled in the mountains that are north of the island is the Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Sanctuary, which protects more than seven square miles of Phuket’s last area of virgin rainforest. Seventy percent of the island is complete forest. Phuket in general has a lot of hills, which are covered in beautiful and intriguing jungles. The pure majesty of the island is one of the top reasons to visit Phuket.
What To Know
In the past ten years, tourism has become the biggest moneymaker in the area, enabling the island to grow from a fishing village to a resort town. Phuket now gets around an estimated three million visitors a year; however, there are places that you can go to stay out of the mainstream, if you so wish.
There are many facets of exotic beauty to the island. Enchanting waterfalls and magnificent coves along with the lush jungle of the forest provide awesome views; make sure to pack your camera!
One of the biggest reasons why tourists flock to Phuket is the miles of white sandy beaches that are among the finest in the world. The main beaches are located along the western coast. Phuket and the many surrounding islands are ideal for all kinds of sports; water sports include sailing, diving, and snorkeling; even golf is a favorite pastime. The watery border of Phuket provides a great opportunity to see the colorful and mystifying marine life. You don’t just have to snorkel or dive, you can opt to take a submarine tour instead if you prefer.
There is so much to do in Phuket that you may get overwhelmed by the mere thought of all the possibilities. Below are some things to consider that will make your trip a whole lot of fun.
Nightlife in Phuket
One thing Phuket is known for is its partying and its nightlife is something you don’t want to miss. Beer bars line the streets, and the music becomes more deafening as the evening progresses in one of the highly touted hot spots, Sol Bangla. Almost all of the bars, in addition to discos, pubs, and restaurants, are outdoors, which makes it a great place to walk around and meet new people.
Another popular nightlife attraction is Club Insomnia. It has an excellent sound and lighting system (DJs grace the club occasionally), a large dance floor and you can even play pool. Weekends are the best times to go, so take a cue from Loverboy and live for them, when in Phuket.
The best of all nightlife in Phuket, however, is the Phuket FantaSea Show in Kamala Beach. Billed as the Ultimate Nighttime Cultural Theme Park, it is a 140 acre theme complex, with a carnival village, complete with games, handicrafts, and shopping, and has a 4,000 seat restaurant that offers the best of Thai and international cuisines. The main attraction, however, is the theatrical show that uses state-of-the-art technology and special effects to show facets of Thailand’s “Myths, Mysteries, and Magic.” The Phuket FantaSea Show is a good time for the whole family.
The Beauty and Recreation of Phuket
If you are not really the partying type and would like to see genuine Thailand, there is a plethora that will make your vacation a memorable one. You can go on different types of safaris that let you experience the nature of Phuket: whitewater rafting and elephant trekking are among the most popular. You can take a sea kayak out so you can explore the true depth of the sea caves. If you like to cook and you love you some Thai food, there are cooking schools that you can go to learn to cook authentic native cuisine. If you love the water and would like to do something different, you can try cable-skiing. A lake that was built just for cable skiing provides exhilarating entertainment on the water, and if you don’t know how to do it, no worries; there are qualified instructors that can teach you, free of charge!
You can go on tours that involve entering a sea cave, or explore the temples and learn more about the culture of Thailand. How about dining at night on a Chinese Junk? Phuket also has its share of wonderful spas where you can get the best Thai massage you’ll ever have. The list goes on and on and, well, on!
Phuket has so much to offer that it guarantees a memorable, fun vacation. And, really, like the Hokey Pokey: isn’t that what it’s all about?
This guest post article was written and provided by Erica Gustafson who currently resides in Australia. Erica works as a freelance digital media consultant for Expedia. She enjoys flying around the world and writing about her experiences.
