An Introduction To Phuket Island

It is undoubtedly Phuket Island’s diversity, well-developed infrastructure, scenic beauty, accessibility, and wide-range of accommodation that makes it one of the premier vacation destinations in Asia.

If you need help selecting the right accommodation for you my 25 year’s experience as a tour operator will help. Naturally I do not have the detailed knowledge of a local but I do know Phuket Island as a visitor, and I understand the things that are important to you.

Incidentally I know that some people have trouble pronouncing Phuket: especially those of us who usually pronounce ‘ph’ as ‘f’. If you say it as puket (or pooket), you’ll be close enough.

Diversity

Over the centuries its sheltered location made Phuket Island an ideal trading post for sea merchants. During the 16th Century in particular the island gained prominence as a popular trading port for tin and attracted English, Dutch, French and Portuguese traders to the island.

It was not long before tin mining become one of the two major wealth creators on the island (the other was rubber) and this in turn attracted Chinese businessmen and miners to the island. This immigrant influence can still be seen today in Phuket Town where there are a number of examples of Sino-Portuguese architecture. This Chinese heritage can also be witnessed in the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival.

Tin continued to help make Phuket Island one of the wealthiest islands in the region right up until the 1980s when the price of tin fell dramatically.

Phuket Island - Location, location, location

All of the luxury hotels and most of the luxury villas are sited along the West Coast facing onto the Andaman Sea. However, given the shortage (and cost) of prime real estate we are now seeing developments on the east coast which does not have the beaches but surely has the views onto the spectacular limestone outcrops of Phang Nga Bay.

From north to south then the current major beach resorts on Phuket Island are:

Mai Khao Beach To the north of Phuket Airport this is said to be the longest Phuket beach: it is a protected area and part of Sirinath National Park. The only development of any note here is currently the J W Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa . I have read that more development might follow but I have no details at the moment.

Bangtao Beach This is one of those places that, for me, provides a powerful positive voice for development. Long before tourism became the major force that it is now, tin mining was one of Phuket’s major wealth producers. When that industry declined parts of Bang Tao Beach were open caste mines and the area was considered a wasteland.

That is until the 1980s when a Singaporean, Mr KP Ho, Chairman of the Wah Chang Group, had the vision to turn part of this wasteland into an international resort. Now this was about the time I first visited Phuket but I can claim no kudos! Suffice to say the tourist industry was a tiny fraction of what it is now so he did indeed have great foresight. If only….

Anyway today this 8 km stretch of beach, known as Laguna Phuket , is probably Phuket’s premier resort. Comprising the Banyan Tree Phuket , the Allamanda, the Sheraton Grande Laguna, the Dusit Laguna and the Laguna Beach Resort Phuket

An important point to note. As a result of the tin dredging pre-1980, there are, I believe, huge holes in the sea bed just off-shore and thus when the south-west monsoon arrives the tides endeavour to fill these holes by taking sand from the beach. Each year then from around May to October there are bulldozers on the beach replenishing the sand and there are sandbags along the top of the beach providing protection. I know from personal experience that this is not a major problem because the seas are generally too dangerous for bathing at that time anyway; however, I believe it important that the visitor should be aware of what for some could be an eyesore. During this low-season period the watersports tend to take place on the protected lagoon which snakes its way between and behind the hotels: below you can see me and Alex, on the lagoon, taking our first (and probably my last!) tentative ride on a Jet Ski.

Surin Beach is just around a small headland. This is a very long beach with, for the most part, simple basic accommodation.

Kamala Beach This long stretch of beach around half way along the West Coast of Phuket Island is one of the last to be developed. Just back from the beach is a Muslim cemetery which is protected from development in perpetuity. Although the passing visitor wouldn’t know it is a cemetery as all you can see is grassy land with sugar palms.

A new road development in recent years has opened the area up considerably and the Phuket Fantasea, which describes itself as “the Ultimate Nighttime Cultural Theme Park” has put the area on the tourist map.

There are a number of guest houses in the area but still limited hotel development.

Patong Beach What I remember, from the 1980s, as a few streets has turned into a bustling town with high rise buildings dotting Phuket’s skyline.

Here you will find the many facets of Thailand tourism from street stalls, to shopping malls, to a whole gamut of restaurants to discos and girlie bars.

I would never book my high-end clients into this busy, noisy conurbation but it can be fun to visit for dining and shopping.

Karon Beach After Patong this is probably the next most developed resort area on Phuket Island but it has a long way to go before it catches up with its neighbour to the north (although I hope it never will).

The main road from the north runs along the stretch of Karon and most of the development is on the land side of that road.

There is a good selection of restaurants and some limited shopping.

Kata Beach This delightful beach is occupied mainly by the unobtrusive Club Med which means there is limited development.
Mom Tri’s Boathouse is tucked away at the far south of the beach surrounded by a small collection of small shops and restaurants giving it a village-like feel. Up on the headland is Mom Tri's Villa Royale

Nai Harn Beach A small bay dominated by Le Royal Meridien Yacht Club

Rawai Beach (pictured right)

The Mangosteen Resort and Spa is just inland from here.

Chalong Beach Here you will find the Evason.

Cape Panwa This sheltered area in the south-east corner of Phuket Island is great when the south-west monsoon starts and home to the Cape Panwa Hotel.

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