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Phuket,
Samui and Krabi
Golden beaches on the Andaman Sea, national parks with sheer
limestone scenery rising above azure waters, lush plantation
country, a leisurely island paradise in the Gulf of Thailand,
and the seat of culture in Southern Thailand - all may be included
in tours that begin in Phuket. |
Originally
known as 'Junkceylon', Phuket was a highly valued source of
tin in the Ayutthaya period from the 14th century. Various powers
threatened to take over the island, including the Burmese who
were driven back from a siege of Thalang in 1785 by defenders
led by two women. Large numbers of Chinese arrived in the 19th
century, leading to the exhaustion of the tin deposits. Rubber,
first introduced to the island in 1903, became the main source
of income and the town of Phuket with its distinctive Malaccan
style architecture was built. Tourism only began to evolve in
the 70s, but the industry now occupies much of the island's
current estimated population of 200,000. |
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Phuket Island is 44 kms in length as the crow flies. Though
never long, distances can be greater than expected as the asphalt
roads (generally two-lane) twist between the hills and around
headlands.
A visit to Phuket City is a must for the Malaccan style architecture
of the old city (Dibuk and Thalang Roads), and you may drive
up to the telecommunications towers overlooking the city for
views south and east.
Near the Suriyadet Fountain (the right turn off Phuket Rd down
in Ratsada Rd comes after a small clock tower on the right)
are the fresh food market and the Jui Tui Chinese temple (Ranong
Rd). The latter becomes the focus of the noisy vegetarian festival
held in the first nine days of the ninth lunar month (usually
October). Several hotels and good local restaurants including
Sweet and Sour (Rasda Rd) and Khrua Thai (Rasda centre) are
located nearby.
Inland and East Coast destinations
From Phuket City trips may be made south-east to the aquarium
on Cape Panwa, east to the fishing (sea gypsy) villages on Si
Rae Island, and north to the Boat Lagoon (a yacht marina) and
H4027. H4027 leads from the Heroines Monument past the National
Museum (09:00 - 16:00 Wednesday - Sunday) through rubber plantations
to Bang Pae waterfall and a gibbon rehabilitation project in
Khrao Phra Khaeo National Park. Side roads lead to the eastern
coast of the island.
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Phromthep
Cape and the Western Coast
Starting
in Phuket City, the most scenic drive on the island goes south
on H4021 to Chalong and Phromthep Cape before following the
west coast north. Wat Chalong is one of the best Thai temples
to visit on the island, and Chalong itself has useful sea sport
shops catering to the residential expatriate population as well
as two well-known restaurants - Gan Eng and Jimmy's Lighthouse.
From Chalong the road goes south to Rawai beach, where Thai
style restaurants can eb found by the casuarina trees and boats
may be hired for visits to nearby coral islands. Promthep Cape
offers a viewpoint before the road turns north to pass close
to the less developed Nai Harn beach (turn left off H4233 to
go to Nai Harn). |
More Thai style restaurants can be found by the casuarina trees
that line the road along Rawai beach, where boats may be hired
for visits to nearby coral islands. Phromthep Cape offers a
viewpoint before the road turns north to pass close to the lovely
and less developed Nai Harn beach (turn left off H4233 to go
to Nai Harn).
Hotels and resorts line the beach from roads along Kata and
Karon beaches, but it is at Patong where seafood restaurants,
tailors, travel agents, souvenir and dive shops compete on the
grandest scale. Bars and discos promise wild nightlife.
H4233 along the coast north from Patong leads to more tranquil
beaches. Restaurants in quiet spots can be found at the north
end of Kamala and on Laem Singh. True exclusivity may be found
around Pansea beach north of Surin.
Turn left (north) at the lights at Ban Choeng Thalae for the
fabulous (Laguna), and the underdeveloped beaches that lie to
the north in the Sirinath National Park (after approximately
3 kms. keep going straight on a side road when H4030 turns sharply
right at a village for a route to Nai Thon). The southern end
of Nai Yang beach has local style seafood restaurants, but Mai
Kao beach and the headquarters to the north are best visited
when leaving the island on Day 1.
Overview
Day 1 Phuket - Kao Sok
National Park 175 kms.
Day 2 Khoa Sok - Ko Samui
Island 205 kms.
Day 3 Ko Samui - Nakhon
Sri Thammarat 130 kms.
Day 4 Nakhon Sri Thammarat
- Krabi 185 kms.
Day 5 Krabi - Phang Nga
- Phuket 185 kms.
Accommodation
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Cars
