| Golden
beaches on the Andaman Sea, national parks with sheer limestone
scenery rising above azure waters, lush plantation country, a
leisurely island paradise in the Gulf of Thailand, and the seat
of culture in Southern Thailand - all may be included in tours
that begin in Phuket.
 Originally
known as 'Junkceylon', Phuket was a highly valued source of
tin in the Ayutthaya period from the 14th century. Various powers
threatened to take over the island, including the Burmese who
were driven back from a siege of Thalang in 1785 by defenders
led by two women. Large numbers of Chinese arrived in the 19th
century, leading to the exhaustion of the tin deposits.
Rubber,
first introduced to the island in 1903, became the main source
of income and the town of Phuket with its distinctive Malaccan
style architecture was built. Tourism only began to evolve in
the 70s, but the industry now occupies much of the island's
current estimated population of 200,000.
Phuket Island is 44 kms in length as the crow flies.
Though never long, distances can be greater than expected as
the asphalt roads (generally two-lane) twist between the hills
and around headlands.
 A
visit to Phuket City is a must for the Malaccan style architecture
of the old city (Dibuk and Thalang Roads), and you may drive
up to the telecommunications towers overlooking the city for
views south and east.
Near the Suriyadet Fountain (the right turn off Phuket
Rd down in Ratsada Rd comes after a small clock tower on the
right) are the fresh food market and the Jui Tui Chinese temple
(Ranong Rd). The latter becomes the focus of the noisy vegetarian
festival held in the first nine Tage of the ninth lunar month
(usually October). Several hotels and good local restaurants
including Sweet and Sour (Rasda Rd) and Khrua Thai (Rasda centre)
are located nearby.
Inland
and East Coast destinations
From
Phuket City trips may be made south-east to the aquarium on
Cape Panwa, east to the fishing (sea gypsy) villages on Si Rae
Island, and north to the Boat Lagoon (a yacht marina) and H4027.
H4027 leads from the Heroines Monument past the National Museum
(09:00 - 16:00 Wednesday - Sunday) through rubber plantations
to Bang Pae waterfall and a gibbon rehabilitation project in
Khrao Phra Khaeo National Park. Side roads lead to the eastern
coast of the island.
Phromthep
Cape and the Western Coast
 Starting
in Phuket City, the most scenic drive on the island goes south
on H4021 to Chalong and Phromthep Cape before following the
west coast north. Wat Chalong is one of the best Thai temples
to visit on the island, and Chalong itself has useful sea sport
shops catering to the residential expatriate population as well
as two well-known restaurants - Gan Eng and Jimmy's Lighthouse.
From Chalong the road goes south to Rawai beach, where
Thai style restaurants can eb found by the casuarina trees and
boats may be hired for visits to nearby coral islands. Promthep
Cape offers a viewpoint before the road turns north to pass
close to the less developed Nai Harn beach (turn left off H4233
to go to Nai Harn).
More
Thai style restaurants can be found by the casuarina trees that
line the road along Rawai beach, where boats may be hired for
visits to nearby coral islands. Phromthep Cape offers a viewpoint
before the road turns north to pass close to the lovely and
less developed Nai Harn beach (turn left off H4233 to go to
Nai Harn).
Hotels
and resorts line the beach from roads along Kata and Karon beaches,
but it is at Patong where seafood restaurants, tailors, travel
agents, souvenir and dive shops compete on the grandest scale.
Bars and discos promise wild nightlife.
H4233
along the coast north from Patong leads to more tranquil beaches.
Restaurants in quiet spots can be found at the north end of
Kamala and on Laem Singh. True exclusivity may be found around
Pansea beach north of Surin.
Turn
left (north) at the lights at Ban Choeng Thalae for the fabulous
(Laguna), and the underdeveloped beaches that lie to the north
in the Sirinath National Park (after approximately 3 kms. keep
going straight on a side road when H4030 turns sharply right
at a village for a route to Nai Thon). The southern end of Nai
Yang beach has local style seafood restaurants, but Mai Kao
beach and the headquarters to the north are best visited when
leaving the island on Day 1.
Overview
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