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PHUKET TRAVEL GUIDE

Phuket is Thailand's premier resort , has enough diversity to accommodate most tastes. Patong is hedonistic, Phuket torn is historical: beaches in the west are long and sandy and those in the northwest are quite .

Each beach area has its own character , which offer to some extent the kind of holiday you will experience . Phuket town , on east coast and without a beach , deserves a visit and is also worth considering as an accommodation base.

Hedonistic and exciting Patong . has a terrific beach and is dense with hotels and amenities . Patong is the most famous beach resort on Phuket. With its wide variety of activities and nightlife, Patong is an ideal place to party and play. By night the town has a bustling nightlife which includes literally hundreds of restaurants, chic lounge bars, beer bars and of course discos. The nightlife is centered around Soi Bangla (Bangla Road) however there are quiet parts of town.

Visitors hoping for a glimpse into the exotic East might not find it here, though the steaming hot streets, neon lights and chaotic atmosphere of Patong can be overwhelming for the new arrival. The key to full enjoyment of the place is to pace yourself, drink lots of water and learn the meaning of 'mai pen rai' - which translates roughly to 'It doesn't matter' or 'Don't worry, be happy'.

Patong nightlife. If you are looking for nightlife in Phuket then Patong is the number one choice. Patong has a lot of bars, discos, karaokes massages and a gogo bars with beautiful thai girls (bar girls).

Although there is a heavy nightlife in Patong, we think Patong is also suitable for families with kids anyway because the nightlife is centralized to just a small part of Patong; Bangla Road and Soi Sunset and if you avoid these streets on evenings and nights you will never noticed it.

Infract Patong, once known as the sleazy, red light district of Phuket, has undergone a period of transformation in recent years. The area's once notorious nightlife has been tamed somewhat to make it friendlier to women, couples and families and Patong now has something for everyone. That's not to say that you can't find some wild action anymore - you certainly can - but it does mean that a much wider variety of entertainment options exist to make your nights in Phuket as much fun as your days. Patong plays host to several nightclubs and discos where those so inclined can let their hair down and get their boogie on. While not featuring top DJs (indeed, most clubs play the exact same music every night, sometimes more than once a night) they do have heaving dance floors and a lot of energy. Most discos in Patong charge a 100 baht admission fee but rather than being a cover charge, this is actually a drink minimum since you get a voucher and most clubs charge 100 baht for almost all drinks.

Tiger Disco is located on Soi Tiger, off of Bangla Road. This place is happening almost every night of the week and is often full of 'freelance' bar girls. Tai Pan is located at the intersection of Bangla and Rat-U-Thit road and has long been a favorite Patong hot spot. Although the laws now force it to close at 02:00 instead of sunset it still gets pumping every night.

Next to Tai Pan you'll find Baya Beach, a more mellow place with a tropical theme. On the beach road look for Banana Disco, popular with young people for its two level dance floor and hip lighting. Downstairs is Banana Club, with live music and a weekly Elvis impersonator. Safari Club is located on the hill that overlooks Patong from the south.

Go-GO Bars. This is the reason why many people come to Patong in the first place - sexy young girls barely wearing bikinis swaying seductively to the music. Go-Go bars aren't the raunchy circuses they used to be but they still provide plenty to look at. According to the law, there is no actual nudity anymore but these rules are often bent if not outright ignored .

Drink prices tend to be higher in Go-Go bars but this is offset by the fact that many of the girls in them are free to come and go as they please, with no bar fine involved. Soi Seadragon has the most go-go bars in Patong, with Playschool, Showgirls, Lolita and The Heights. Next door is Rock Hard Café, above Club Rio, which has (some say) the sexiest dancers around. Dragon Club is also popular, but some think the music is a little on the loud side.

Family Friendly Karon.  Karon is concentrated around three main areas : The Karon Plaza area on the south end features a number of budget guesthouses, restaurants and bars. The side sois are worth exploring, particularly the one that leads to a small art community, where some budding Thai painters have built a complex of huts, pubs and art galleries in which they live and work.

The sprawling grounds of Thavorn Palm Beach Resort and the Hilton Phuket Arcadia dominate much of the central part of Karon. Just north of these is Aroona Plaza which houses a range of handicraft shops, good restaurants and cafes, a few bars and a hotel modeled on the Sino-Portuguese architecture of Old Phuket. The wide beachside avenue is ideal for taking an evening stroll and doing some shopping.

If you want to strike a balance between rowdy and relaxed, Karon is a good bet. It attracts enough foreigners to support the beer bars but it's not the party Mecca that Patong is. The variety of atmosphere is a big bonus since in Karon you can be in a relaxed pub and not even notice the more raunchy beer bars only ten metres away. Going from sedate to scandalous and back again without moving more than half a block is the nightlife equivalent of a good sauna: get heated up and sweaty, go cool down and then come back for more.

The good news about Karon nightlife is that most of the bars are fairly close together, but not right on top of one another. This makes for good pub crawling, but without too much 'Battle of the Bands' action. The bad news is that, after a few places, you'll notice that it's all pretty much the same! This isn't terrible, however, since for a big night out you'll probably be heading just over the hill to Patong anyway.

Karon's nightlife is mainly centred on Luang Poh Chuan Road and, to a lesser extent, the Aroona Karon complex. Both of these areas have enough pubs and girlie bars to keep locals happy and Luang Poh Chuan has a couple of more upscale and trendy watering holes for the urbanites among you.

Luang Poh Chuan Road is Karon's version of Bangla Road in Patong, with a bar soi at either end, similar to places like Patong's Soi Gonzo or Soi Crocodile, but on a smaller scale (and lacking the ladyboy stage). At the western end (closer to the beach) is an L-shaped soi with Black Cat at the angle. Other bars in the area include Nan's, Hot Shot and Winner. There's also a side street with a few shops and restaurants here. Almost all of these bars have pool tables, which make for an amusing distraction while you are getting chatted up by the girls (‘where you flom?'). At the far end there's another bar soi with a little more lascivious feel. The places here all have names like Amazon, Bikini Bar and Easy Bar. Go figure.

For something other than simple beer bars, try out Karma Lounge, on the easterly corner of the road, Karma Lounge is a trendy looking place with occasional live music. Culture lovers will go for Nakonai Art Plaza, a bohemian little colony with a coffee house and bar attached. Diagonally opposite Karma Lounge is the aptly-named Farang Bar (farang is Thai for westerner). In the middle of Luang Poh Chuan is a short cul-de-sac known as Bangla Plaza. While nothing like its Patong equivalent, this area does have Harry's Steakhouse, a popular restaurant, as well as Sanook Sports Bar .

Phuket Town. The bustling, administrative centre of Phuket is often overlooked in favor of the beaches, but there's a lot to see and do (and spend your money on!) in Phuket City. Having been recently upgraded to city status, Phuket City features an exciting mix of old and new, simple and sophisticated, peaceful and pulsating.

The activity in Phuket City is nearly around-the-clock . In the early morning, stoic monks take to the streets on their daily alms round and the fresh market buzzes with restaurant owners buying ingredients for the day's meals. Non-stop bustle characterizes the daytime, and lasts well into the evening. Nights are reserved for enjoying good company, whether at a restaurant, a disco, a quiet bar, or a combination of all three.

The nightlife scene in Phuket City is certainly different from the all-out assault on the senses of Patong. If Patong is Rocky Road, with everything sweet crammed in willy-nilly, then Phuket City is Green Tea: a distinctly Asian flavor that's an acquired taste, but a delight once you get used to it.
Rather than being an animatronics , Disneyland-ride version of Thailand, Phuket City is a great window into the life of real, everyday, modern Thais. The scene in Phuket City's nightclubs and bars is very indicative of Thai culture: it's fun, slightly corny and no one is taking anything seriously.

The big draws in Phuket City are the Thai-style night clubs - cavernous rooms packed wall to wall with people drinking, dancing, shouting and laughing. The main entertainment of these joints is usually a live band playing a variety of music ranging from western favourites (usually about three years out of date) to Thai folk music that's been amped up. There is rarely an actual dance floor as locals prefer to cluster around standing tables. Although the crowds are mainly Thais, there are plenty of foreigners scattered about, mostly expats who live and work in Phuket.

There are plenty of regular pubs around, as well. Many of these are run by and for foreigners and are popular meeting spots. Most of these bars are frequented by long established Phuket residents who gather after work to have a laugh and let off some steam. A few beers liberally spread around will get you the best inside information on the island. One such bar that is good for happy hour is Dorn's on Vichit Songkran (the road leading out of town to Central).

The pleasant bay of Kata, just a few minutes south of Karon Beach, entices and charms many visitors with its white sands and clear waters. Very popular with families, Kata is an all round favorite due to its spectacular palm-lined beach, great restaurants, lively but not raucous nightlife and varied accommodation options - all close to the beach. From May to October surfers flock to catch Kata's waves and from November to April the beach is alive with sunseekers.

Kata is split into two focal areas: Kata Centre, which is at the northern end close to Karon and Kata South, home to several resorts. Visitors will find an abundance of shops to browse in, from souvenir and ready-to-wear outlets, to 7-Elevens and local mini-marts, to name-brand fashion stores.

Nightlife in Kata Beach. Informal and laid-back, Kata is the kind of place to relax with a cocktail or beer in an open-air bar or restaurant, do some shopping, watch the big game on a pub screen, or enjoy a laid-back, balmy evening.

Less hectic than Patong, more compact than Karon, Kata is an ideal compromise between the two. Most evening venues are geared towards families and couples with outdoor cafes and good value local restaurants. Kata's small roads have contained fast and furious development and helped retain the village-like atmosphere. Since most of the beach lies within the province of Club Med, nightlife is concentrated at the ends of the beach rather than than the centre. A must for everyone staying in Kata is watching the sunset from the Reggae Bar overlooking Kata Noi, the view is spectacular - well worth the 5 min tuk-tuk journey.

Over the last year, Kata's small bar-beer areas at both ends of the beach have expanded, so you don't have to go far for more action. But for the real party scene head for Patong, just a 10-minute drive north.

Bang Tao is an area of distinct contrast with 6 kilometres of white sandy beaches that are surrounded by luxury hotels and large villas. Only a few minutes away there is the town of Cherng Talay where villagers still live and work as their ancestors did by fishing, farming and rubber tapping and are completely self reliant.
 

Taking up a huge area in the middle of Bang Tao beach, Laguna Phuket , one of Asia's largest resort complexes, comprises Sheraton Grande, Dusit Laguna, Laguna Beach, Allamanda, Laguna Holiday Club and Banyan Tree Phuket resorts, and some are open to outside visitors as well.

The northern tip of Bang Tao is untouched by property and hotel development, it is an area that has a number of completely secluded beaches and very little else. There are very few bars and restaurants in the area, most of the hotels are all inclusive resorts.

Just north of the lights and noise of Patong lies Kamala Beach, a quieter stretch of sand with more relaxed feel. This well-enclosed bay and fishing village surrounded by forested hills is one of the most beautiful places in Phuket.
 

With its quieter pace, over the last few years, Kamala has become a favoured spot for retirees and other longer-term visitors staying in small hotels, villas and apartment rentals nestled around the village. On the headland to the south, are a number of luxury villa developments, with great views of Kamala Bay and beyond along its winding road.
 

Laem Singh Beach is one of Phuket's most beautiful beaches and hides on the west coast between Kamala and Surin beaches. 'Laem' is Thai for 'cape' and this 150 meters beach is indeed situated under a steep promontory, nestled in a hidden bay surrounded by palm trees and dotted with giant boulders, it has a feeling of secret beach.

Because of its limited size, Laem Singh gets crowded during the high season but is pleasantly busy during low season sunny days.

A kilometer north of Laem Sing Beach lies the popular Surin Beach. As of now this beach has not been developed and it is a quiet and peaceful bay lined with a row of stately Casuarina trees.

A tropical beach with pine trees rather than palm trees may seem out of place to many but the local Thais flock to this beach on weekends and holidays and bask in the shade provided by these unusual trees. The middle of the beach front is occupied by a dozen Thai beach-style mini restaurants serving up sizzling seafood to hungry visitors. Surin Beach is usually the second stop on the north beach safari and a good place for lunch because the next beach stop does not serve food.

For the careful swimmer Surin offers some good snorkeling opportunities at both ends of the beach but during the rainy season the water visibility is not very good. Big waves that are common on Surin beach during the monsoon season have caused a steep drop from the shore to the water line and can create dangerous undertow conditions. During high tide when the swells are big and running swiftly good surfing conditions exist here and is becoming an increasingly popular sport. There are no vendors renting surf boards at the beach yet but that may change in the future. Good surfing conditions can make for hazardous swimming and care must be taken with children and non-swimmers.

Small and exclusive - the small cove at the northern end is reserved for the ultra-luxurious Amanpuri Phuket and Chedi resorts - haunts of megastars and celebs - the only access to Pansea Beach is through the hotel grounds.

Beautiful and almost deserted, Banana Rock Beach is not known to many people in Phuket as it is relatively isolated. Nevertheless, it really is one of Phuket's most glittering gems as far as beaches go and has the aura of a 'hidden beach'.

It is 180 metres long and features beautifully clear water. At high tide the waves can sometimes wash up as high as the tree line so care should be taken as to where you install yourself along this beach; the extreme southern and northern ends are perhaps the best bet.

Nai Thon is a beautiful stretch of sand that for reasons unknown has still been overlooked by large resort developers. Thus it's an ideal spot to get away from the crowds and enjoy a quiet swim.

It's a village of two seasons, during the high season the hotels fill up, the sea is flat, calm and crystal clear, beach restaurants appear where you can dine with your bare feet in the sand, very much a stereotypical tropical paradise. In low season the boot's on the other foot, it's almost a ghost town with an occasionally raging sea.
 

The journey to the beach is almost more enjoyable than the beach itself. On the southern approach to Nai Thon, the narrow road leads through some of the island's last remaining virgin jungle, and winds along a coastline that rivals Cote d'Azur in its brilliant beauty. If driving to Nai Thon from the north, the road takes you through a village then into a lush green valley before reaching the beach.

Activities to be enjoyed whilst staying here include exploring rocky coves only accessible by long tail boat and scuba diving which can be arranged by the dive shop on the Beach Road.

Nai Yang is noted for its impressive forest of tall casuarina trees, and as a picnic spot for Thais. Mobile food and fruit venders gather around the perimeter of the park and do a brisk business especially on weekends.

As throughout southern Thailand if you find a beach that is popular with local Thais it will also have a wonderful selection of grilled seafood stalls and other Thai munchies and Nai Yang Beach is no exception.

During low tide swimming can be good and a large coral reef a short distance offshore harbors a considerable variety us sea life and seashells are known to wash ashore here, especially after a monsoon storm.

Nai Yang Beach has a very different feeling than beaches to the south. The Pearl Village Hotel across from the beach usually has an elephant in residence that will give you ride on the beach and splash water on you for a few baht. Nai Yang is usually the last beach stop on the north beach safari.

A quiet little spot at the southern end of Phuket, Nai Harn is one of the island's most beautiful locations and most popular places with in-the-know locals. This quiet and tranquil place has only a few hotels including the Le Royal Phuket Yacht Club and is a favourite anchorage for boats during the high season.

Great for swimming from November to April, however care should be take in the low season (May-October) when there can be strong undertows on occasion. The local restaurants just above the beach make a great place to relax with a sundowner.

Just north of Nai Harn, along the coast, is Nui Beach, small, secluded and difficult to access. Further along is Ya Nui, a sandy cove that attracts snorkelers and divers. Another out-of-the way spot nearby is the tiny beach of Ao Sane, a great spot for snorkeling, reached by taking the dirt road that starts at Le Royal Meridien's car park.

Snuggled into the headland south of Patong, Emerald Beach ('Hat Tri Tra' in Thai) is the perfect place for sun lovers and those who are dead serious about going for the maximum tan. There is a long line of northern-facing sunbeds along this 500-metre beach and it is popular with guests from the nearby Merlin Beach Resort, being the nearest large beach to it.

This lovely beach is recognized on the Internet as being a peaceful haven of tranquility but ask the man in the street in nearby Patong where it is and he'll more than likely not know.

North-facing Emerald Beach has an open feel to it because, instead of the usual shade-providing palms and casuarinas, there is hinter beach vegetation and rough grass for over half of its length. You can relax in the shade near the restaurant or at the resort end but most of the beach basks in direct sunlight.

Paradise Beach will surprise you. For a start, it's stunningly beautiful; one of the most attractive of the many wonderful beaches Phuket has to offer. It also features safe swimming all year round.

It's compact and has a great view right across Patong Bay. The beach itself is barely 150 metres long and there is another small beach next to it, reached by a path through the rocks.
 

Paradise Beach features shade-giving palm trees and tropical almonds (terminalia catappa). There are large granite rocks at both ends of the beach and a coral reef some 100 metres out.

Jet-skis are actively discouraged from approaching the beach, resulting in a calm, peaceful location. The only negative point about the beach is that is relatively difficult to get to .

Laem Ka beach is unique for various reasons. First of all it's the only eastern-facing beach in the south of Phuket that offers good swimming and secondly, it's a total full-on Thai experience.

This sheltered, 150 metre long, boulder-framed beach is the ideal picnic spot as from midday on it is shady and cool. For many locals it offers the opportunity to chat away Sunday afternoon while their children splash around in Laem Ka's safe and blue waters just metres away.
 

Foreign visitors have a warm welcome here and often locals will ask to take a photo of you posing with them as a keepsake!

The views of nearby Koh Bon, Koh Lone, Coral Island and other surrounding islands are stunning, and the afternoon light playing on the water produces a deep marine blue next to the tropical green of nearby islands.

Rawai beach holds the distinction of being the very first tourist beach on Phuket. Years ago, people from Phuket Town would drive the 17km to Rawai on weekends to while away the afternoon underneath the beach's causarina trees rather than risk the (then) dangerous drive over the hill to Phuket's west coast.

Nowadays Rawai is a 'working beach' and a launching point for day boat excursions out to Phuket's surrounding islands. Many longtail boats available for hire line its shores, where you can arrange a trip to Coral Island, Koh Lone or Racha Island,or a fishing or snorkel trip. The beach is also used as a mooring point for the many fishermen who live in the area.

Rawai is home to the five-star resorts, Evason and Mangosteen and quite a few of Phuket's foreign expat population live in the area, lending a bohemian and laid-back flavour to the way of life there. Favourite nighttime haunts are Friendship Beach, towards Chalong, and Rawai's beachfront bars.

Chalong is on the south east coast of Phuket, a popular area for boat moorings. The muddy shore line makes it unsuitable for swimming but ideal for the boat lagoon marina. The three main marinas in Phuket are located only a short drive from Chalong. It is a very popular area for yachting enthusiasts as there is ideal mooring facilities and amateur yacht races.
 

Perhaps the most noticeable feature of Chalong is the 720 meter pier, which replaced the old wooden pier in 2001.  There are a large number of speed boat tour boat that take day trips to Krabi and Phi Phi Island, at a very reasonable rate. 

A parking area and a number of restaurants, shops, tourist information kiosks and open-air waiting areas have been built to serve the many visitors passing through. There's also a one-stop customs, immigration and harbour master service to assist visiting vessels, as well as a new marine rescue centre.

Chalong's many informal restaurants, bars and cafes are worth exploring, particularly the two Kan Eang restaurants, notable for their fresh seafood and attentive service. Another well known seafood restaurant is 'Palai Seafood' past the Phuket Zoo. Another favourite spot is Jimmy's Lighthouse, where a sundowner is not just a drink - it's an event.

Yachties, divers and water sports enthusiasts are well served by Chalong's many amenities, ranging from motor repair services to maritime equipment sales and rentals, to fishing and charter tour companies, all found along and around the road leading to the pier. For accommodation, there are a few bungalow and apartment-style spots to stay right in Chalong and further inland as well as B&B's along nearby Chao Fa (East) Rd.

Panwa Beach. This south-westerly facing beach - named after anearby Muslim village - has managed to remain exactly the same as it has been for years in spite of intensive urbanization in the direct area.
 

It's still tranquil and a haven for people who like peace and quiet. Khao Khat is eight kilometres east of Phuket Town and covers the west coast of Cape Panwa.

Its sand is rather rough and the water shallow but it's certainly very scenic with views out across Chalong Bay and Lone Island.

Luxury villas and condominiums line almost the entire beach but dotted in between are fishermen's huts and at the far west end of the beach there is a mangrove swamp.