There is more visible historical evidence of past eras in Thailand than in any other South-East Asian country. Thailand's islands and beaches are working definitions of heaven ( once you get out of the shadows of the evil multinational hotels. )


Thailand is an easy country to travel in, with efficient transport, cheap accommodation and a delicious national cuisine. The Thais are renowned for their friendliness and hospitality to strangers. Although they're often depicted as fun-loving, happy-go-lucky folk (which they often are), they are also very strong-minded and have struggled for centuries to preserve their spirit of independence.

Phuket is known as the Pearl of the South. It is Thailand's largest island, which is surrounded by other 32 islands, has total area 570 square kilometres and lies in the Andaman Sea off the country's south-western coast. The island is connected to the Thai mainland by a bridge, but has retained a distinct culture fused from Chinese and Portuguese influences combining with the culture of the chao naam, the indigenous sea-faring people.

The island's terrain varies from rocky beaches and long, broad sweeps of sand to limestone cliffs and forested hills. It has good beaches, tropical vegetation and a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere, but its ambience and ecology are under pressure from extensive and irresponsible development. The main resorts include Patong, Karon and Kata, but better beaches are scattered all around the island. Roads radiate from Phuket Town, in the south-east of the island, making it a good base for exploring. Don't ignore the island's interior which has rice paddies, plantations of rubber and cashew nut, cacao, pineapple and coconut, as well as Phuket's last slice of rainforest.

By Car :
Take Route 4 from Bangkok to the south. The distance is 867 kilometers.

By Bus :
The bus ride from Bangkok takes 14 hours or more for the nearly 900 kilometers, leaving there from the Southern Bus Terminal. The fare is around THB 700 to 800.

By Air :
Phuket Airport now is an international airport, so Phuket can be reached directly from points all over the world.
- Thai Airways International operates flights to Phuket daily. The travel time is 1 hour 20 minutes.
- Bangkok Airways operates flights from Samui to Phuket daily. The travel time is 50 minutes.
- Air Andaman operates flights from Bangkok via Chumpon every other day, Krabi and Nakhon Si Thammarat daily.

Getting Around Phuket :
Local transport includes songthaews, which run to many of the island's beaches, and motorcycle taxis. Motorcycles and jeeps can also be hired by the day.