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The ‘Pearl of the Andaman’ is the largest and most visited island in Thailand and easily lives up to its nickname, with its fine weather, beautiful sandy beaches and nightlife. Most tourists head for the west coast beaches, in particular the buzzing Patong, which is loaded with hotels, restaurants and bars. Karon, Kata and Kamala are other well-known beaches where entertainment options are numerous day or night.
Phuket also has plenty of stunning natural attractions, such as the colourful reef systems just offshore, and you’ll find all the water sports action you can handle. The best thing about Phuket is that it is large enough to accommodate thousands of tourists at any one time, as well as being petite enough to explore on a motorbike in a day.
The following guide is just a glimpse of what Phuket has to offer:
Golfing:
 While other destinations in Thailand are also home to good courses, only in Phuket is it possible to enjoy first-rate golf, plus sun-drenched beaches and coral-reef diving, all close to fine cuisine and a varied nightlife.
Many people visit Phuket to enjoy its water and sand. Golfers will find plenty of both on the island's courses, mixing a little pain with their pleasure. Yet win or lose, Phuket is probably Thailand's best destination for wonderful warm-weather golf. The number of courses on the island is growing and they are well-maintained and constantly being upgraded. Facilities are excellent.
There are six existing golf courses in Phuket, including Phuket Country Club, Blue Canyon Country Club, Laguna Phuket Golf Club, Loch Palm, Mission Hills and Red Mountain. With the growth of Phuket’s tourism industry, the golf course market has grown in line.
Diving:
 Diving in Phuket and liveaboards in Thailand, the Andaman Sea offers dive sites that are considered to be amongst the top ten scuba destinations in the world. It boasts crystal clear water, spectacular reefs and rock formations, plus a colourful selection of marine life.
Phuket diving day trips operate throughout the year to local dive sites and islands like Racha Noi and Phi Phi (about 1 ½ hours south of Phuket.) Warm water (28C/ 86F average) and a thriving marine environment provides good diving for both beginners and more advanced divers. Equipment can be rented at low cost, and divers are accompanied by professional dive masters who have detailed knowledge of the dive sites, and a keen eye for local weather conditions. Languages spoken include English, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Japanese and Thai. Day trips depart regularly with options available for 2, 3 or 4 dives.
The main destinations for scuba diving are in the north of Phuket: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Surin Island and Richelieu Rock; and in the south: Phi Phi Islands, Koh Rok Nok, Hin Daeng and Hin Muang.
As in many sports the key to the full enjoyment of scuba diving is proper preparation, and practicing safe procedures before, during, and after the dive. Phuket has an excellent safety record and we hope you will enhance that record. Phuket has a number of very professional dive shops, and the world-class diving here attracts some of the best diving instructors and Divemasters in the world.
Choose them with care, and then let them do their job, your enjoyment and safety is their primary concern. There is no better place than Phuket to become a certified diver or to upgrade your level of diving skills.
The warm turquoise blue water of the Andaman Sea offers a superb underwater classroom. Most professional dive shops offer a full range of diving classes that allow you to earn full PADI or NAUI certification. One local dive shop, Dive Asia of Kata beach was recently designated as the the first Five-Star PADI CDC (Career Development Center) in Phuket and one of only two in all of Southeast Asia. Going with a diving school considered by PADI to be qualified to keep professional diving instructors up-to-date in their profession would seem a good bet for students at any level.
You do not have to know anything more than how to swim to take a course. It is not even necessary to be in tip-top condition physical condition as the courses are designed to make learning enjoyable. The dive shops carry a full line of dive equipment for use by students and also for rental.
We can assist by recommending reputable instructors to assist you to get the best training and enjoy your diving experience in Phuket.
Boating:
 Phuket has one of Asia’s most stunning boating waters, ideal for a cruise in the Andaman Sea and Phang Nga Bay, or even for a fishing trip. The island has four existing marinas including Royal Phuket Marina, Yacht Haven, Ao Po and Boat Lagoon, together providing up to 655 berths. Phuket is continuously developing itself to become the maritime capital of Asia. Chartered yachts are also available.
Thailand's cruising grounds cater to all tastes. To the South West of Phuket you find open water with a few dotted islands such as Koh Racha and Koh Rok Nok. In the South West monsoon sailing can be quite exhilarating whilst in the North East monsoon there is usually a steady moderate breeze.
To the South of Phuket there is a 100 nautical mile string of inshore islands, stretching from Koh Phi Phi to the Malaysian border. They offer tranquility and many opportunities for exploring. East and South East of Phuket Island, the fabulous Phang Nga Bay, Krabi and Phi Phi, together form an area of about 500 square miles. Here you will find sheltered sailing in all seasons. The entire area is dotted with impressive lime stone formations, honeycombed with caves and fringed by mangroves. Three major rivers plus a couple of smaller ones flow in the Phang Nga Bay.
This is very much catamaran country. One could cruise here for many months exploring creeks, rivers and drying out in the mangroves. A typical feature is the hongs, high limestone islands which have collapsed in the middle leaving a landlocked lagoon. Several of these lagoons are accessible by dinghy or kayak at low tide through caves. Further attractions are Railey Beach, said to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the world and the well-known Phi Phi Islands offering impressive surroundings as well as great nightlife.
North and North West of Phuket one finds the Similan Island Group- and Surin Islands, the latter close to the Burmese border. They offer the best diving and snorkeling in Thailand.
Nightlife:
Phuket is known throughout the world for its legendary nightlife which is centred around Patong. There are literally hundreds of bars along a few central streets in Patong as well as a huge number of nightclubs and go-go bars. Restaurants in Patong also serve the best seafood on the island, but if you prefer cultured dining and drinking, see more details below.
Dining & Entertainment:
Phuket has restaurants of all types and tastes, from fining dining to street-side dining. Seafood is naturally big in Phuket, especially within the main resorts of Patong, Karon and Kata, while traditional Thai noodles and a myriad of markets offer cheap single-dish meals. The cuisine of Phuket is typically southern and there are some fantastic specialised fish dishes and curries to be had. Restaurant prices along the beach in Patong are relatively steep.
Below is a list of CBRE Thailand’s staff favourite restaurants that we are happy to recommend:
- Taste, Surin Beach
- Flavors, Patong Beach
- Joe’s Downstairs, Kalim
- Les Anges, Royal Phuket Marina
- Sundown Cafe, Surin
- K Hotel, Patong
- Acqua Italian Restaurant, Kalim
- Hung Fat’s Chinese Restaurant, Kalim
- Pla Seafood Restaurant, Surin Beach
- Studio Lab, Surin Beach
Family Attractions in Phuket:
Those with children might like to head to Phuket Fantasea in Kamala beach, an extravaganza that is part Thai culture, part .jpg) Vegas show, but certainly well done, with its themed venue. On the other side of the island is the Phuket Zoo near Chalong, alternatively the Phuket Aquarium in Cape Panwa. For culture vultures Wat Chalong, in the middle of the island, is the most striking Buddhist temple and pagoda on Phuket. Phuket’s first themed water park at West Sands in Mai Khao will also be opening in November 2009.
Phuket Views:
Promthep Cape at the extreme south of the island is the main viewpoint, and although a little on the crowded side the sunsets here are great. The viewpoint from above Kata Noi beach of Kata and Karon, before you reach Promthep Cape (heading south), is particularly beautiful.
Shopping:
.jpg) Phuket has a range of shopping venues, from open-air markets and stalls, night markets to shopping centres including Central Festival Phuket and Jungceylon in Patong. You can find anything from Thai handicraft to good swimwear products, cheap clothing, as well as silk and cottons.Batik, leather goods, and jewellery are readily available in all resorts, while Phuket Town is known for its antiques shops and interesting morning markets.
Transportation:
The Phuket International Airport operates direct long haul flights from several European cities, as well as frequent flights throughout Thailand and other Southeast Asian cities. (Link to Phuket Travel Page). Transport options to hotels and resorts from Phuket International Airport include buses, minivans, and meter taxis.
The best way to explore Phuket is by car (See more details for Car Hire). There are also “Songthaew” pick-up trucks available that provide inter-resort travel around Phuket, while “Tuk-Tuk”, motorised rickshaws are the main mode of transport within resorts.
Car Hire:
The best way to explore Phuket is by car. Car hiring companies are readily available and can be booked online ahead of time, or we can recommend and negotiate the best rates for you from a number of companies which are reliable and provides back-up support.
Around Phuket:
There are also some stunning destinations within easy reach of Phuket and tours go from all major beach resort areas. Boat tours run regularly to the Phi Phi Islands, to the southwest, while just north is the otherworldly seascape of Phang Nga Bay, with its karst pillars. A slew of national parks and pretty countryside is also open to the discerning tourist in and around Phuket.
It is our aim to make your holiday as enjoyable and interesting as possible. We would therefore be happy to sit down with you on arrival and recommend various activities. We have negotiated competitive rates with various service providers and can make bookings for you.
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