Phuket, pronounced "Poo-get", is Thailand's largest island and also its second smallest province. It is 48 km in length, 21 km at its widest, and is located in Southern Thailand, on the west-facing Andaman Sea coastline, suspended from the southern tip of Phang Nga Province by a pair of short but substantial road bridges.

Phuket Town is the administrative centre of Phuket Province, and the island's main population centre.

Phuket enjoys great popularity as a travel destination. Most beaches are on the west coast, with Phuket Town to the south-east and the airport in the north.

Climate

Phuket is hot and humid throughout the year. The high season is generally considered to be from November to May. During the summer monsoon season, mornings and afternoons are still sunny and clear, but it tends to rain in the evenings and water clarity goes down. Locals consider May to October the "cool" season, and the weather is quite tolerable, much more so than in the tourism centers around the Gulf coast. It's comparable to Florida's summer weather in temperature and intensity of rain storms: 25-33 deg C, flying clouds, short and thunderous rainfalls in the afternoons and evenings. Surfing is possible off the western beaches.

The major beaches from north to south are:

Bang Tao - long, very quiet beach

Surin Beach - an up-and-coming destination

Laem Singh Beach - small bay with stunning views, between Kamala Beach and Surin Beach

Kamala Beach - a quieter beach to the north of Patong

Patong Beach - the largest beach resort, known for its nightlife

Karon Beach - a quieter beach to the south of Patong

Kata Yai Beach - busy, clean tourist beach with good surf

Kata Noi Beach - quieter sister of Kata Yai

Ao Chalong - home to Phuket's most popular yacht anchorage

Rawai Beach - set off point for lots of local islands, popular with locals for eating on the beach

Elephant riding

This is a good way to support the remaining domesticated elephants of Thailand and their mahout, is fairly cheap, and can be an interesting new experience. The elephants are well trained, and you can tip the mahout by giving the money to the elephant who will hand it to the mahout with its trunk.

Animal sanctuary

Visit the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project by the beautiful Bang Pae waterfall. They have a visitor centre manned by Western volunteers and English speaking Thai staff who will talk to you about the project. Talks are free, but please support the project by buying a souvenir, sponsoring a gibbon or giving a donation. Don't have your photo taken with a captive gibbon in Phuket or on the beaches.

Gibbon rehabilitation Project

Golf

The golf courses of Phuket are of international standard. Each one has its own particular challenges and scenic splendour that only Phuket can offer. Discount green fee are available by booking through Phuket golf booking agencies.

Blue Canyon Country Club

Laguna Phuket Golf Club

Loch Palm Golf club Phuket

Mission Hills Phuket Resort and spa

Phuket Country Club

Phuket Golf Courses Reservations

Thai Muang Beach Golf and Marina

Muay Thai training (Thai kick-boxing):

Suwit Muay Thai Boxing Camp

Chalong Chi Muay Thai and M.M.A. Training Camp

Experience the senses of Thai Spa:

Sukko Cultural Spa & Wellness

Watersports

Scuba diving, yachting, jet-skiing and parasailing are the most popular activities on the island. Most dive sites are off nearby islands, but distances are fairly short and there are dozens of dive shops and boats to cater to your needs, mostly based near Chalong Pier.

Other Activities

In Phuket, where everything happens for fun and adventure, you live life to the fullest with such a great variety of activities the paradise has to offer. Just besides the popular activities such as diving and snorkeling, golfing, Muay Thai, sailing and sport fishing, there are a bunch of other "must do while in Phuket" activities.

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