Tour Routes

• Beach Route • City Route • Northern Route • Southern Route

Wat Phra Nang Sang

• Wat Phra Nang Sang Wat Phra Nang Sang
• Wat Phra Nang Sang Wat Phra Nang Sang
• Wat Phra Nang Sang Wat Phra Nang Sang
• Wat Phra Thong Wat Phra Thong
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Northern Route (Route 402)

Drive out of town to the North by Route 402 (Thep Krasattri Road) Notice the signs of the attractions on the right and left of the route. (See Route Map of Phuket Island for the locations of the following attractions.)

Monument of the Two Heroines (Thep Krasattri Road or Route 402)

This is the most famous landmark of Phuket located about 12 km. off Phuket town. The monument comprises two statues of women standing side by side which were the two heroine sisters of Phuket -- Thao Thep Krasattri, the widow of the governor and her sister Thao Si Sunthon. The sisters courageously rallied islanders to repel Burmese invaders in 1785 when the town was without a governor.

For taxi : อนุสาวรีย์ท้าวเทพกษัตรี

Thalang National Museum (Route 4027)

Established in 1985, the museum is located in Thalang District, 200 metres from the Heroines Monument. Built in a southern architectural style, the museum exhibits the Battle of Thalang, the way of life, culture and history of Phuket and the South.

There is also an exhibition of antiques, ancient artefacts and remains discovered on the Andaman Coast. It is an ideal place for history-oriented tourists.
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Information         Tel. 0 7631 1426

Open                  Daily, 09.00-16.00 hrs., except national holidays

Admission Fee   100 B

For taxi :             พิพิธภัณฑ์ถลาง

Wat Phra Nang Sang (Thep Krasattri Road)

This old temple, about 20 km. from town, is also an important temple of the province. Inside there are 3 historically valued bronze heads of Buddha images recently discovered, estimated to be over a thousand years old.

For taxi :  วัดพระนางสร้าง ถนนเทพกษัตรี

Wat Phra Nang Sang

Wat Phra Thong

Wat Phra Thong (Thep Krasattri Road)

For people in Thalang District, Wat Phra Thong is the most important Buddhist temple, enshrining a most revered Buddha image called "Phra Thong", meaning the Gold Buddha. The image is also called "Phra Phut" which means a Buddha image emerging from the ground.

According to local legend, about 200 years ago the villagers found the image buried in the ground and tried to excavate it for enshrinement, but only the upper part could be uncovered. Later they built a temple over it and covered it with gilded stucco, and it has remained so ever since.

The temple also houses a museum, keeping religious artifacts and ancient weapons, tools and household items.

For taxi : วัดพระทอง ถนนเทพกษัตรี

Khao Phra Thaeo National Park (Route 4027)

Located in Thalang District about 20 km. north of the provincial town, Khao Phra Thaeo National Park is the only remaining virgin rainforest on the island. The most interesting plant in Khao Phra Thaeo is Palm Lang Khao or white-backed palm (Kerriodoxa), a unique species of palm which is found nowhere else in the world and considered the world’s most endangered palm species. The elegant green foliage of this rare deciduous palm can spread out to 2 metres and the tree can grow up to three to five metres.

There are two small waterfalls in the park that are best visited in the rainy season. Ton Sai Waterfall is located near the park headquarters and can be accessed by a four-kilometre trail. Bang Pae Waterfall, a small size waterfall with a height of 10 metres, is a popular recreational place for local people.

The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project, located near Bang Pae Waterfall, is a non-government organization (NGO) with the aim of taking captive gibbons and training them before releasing into the wild. You can visit and witness some gibbons, but cannot touch them. The Center opens daily from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. except Saturdays it is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

How to get there

From Phuket International Airport, follow the road signs to the Heroines Monument and turn left onto Route 4027. Follow the road until you reach the sign for Bang Pae Waterfall, then turn left and continue for 1 km to the park’s entrance.

For taxi : อุทยานแห่งชาติเขาพระแทว อำเภอถลาง

Map of Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Conservation Development and Extension Center

Map of Ton Sai Waterfall Nature Trail

Naithon Beach

This pristine beach backed by casuarina trees has a large open cove which serves as an excellent shelter from the wind and is suitable for swimming.

For taxi :  หาดในทอน

Naiyang Beach

Here is where the office of Sirinat National Park (comprising Naiyang, Naithon and Mai Khao beaches) is located. Blessed with shady pine trees and offshore coral reefs, this is an ideal place for swimming and snorkelling. It is also a good place to see turtles laying eggs in winter from November to February.

For taxi : หาดในยาง

Mai Khao Beach (Airport Beach)

This is the longest beach of Phuket, extending 9 km. from the northern end of the island to Nai Yang Beach on the west coast. It is here that until recently giant sea turtles had lumbered ashore to lay eggs from October to February. This beach is where the marine turtles release ceremony takes place every year on Songkran day, April 13.

For taxi :  หาดไม้ขาว

Tour Routes

• Beach Route • City Route • Northern Route • Southern Route

Khao Rang

• Khao Rang Khao Rang
• Old Buildings in Sino-Portuguese Style Old Buildings in Sino-Portuguese Style
• Old Buildings in Sino-Portuguese Style Old Buildings in Sino-Portuguese Style
• Old Buildings in Sino-Portuguese Style Old Buildings in Sino-Portuguese Style
• Old Buildings in Sino-Portuguese Style Old Buildings in Sino-Portuguese Style
• Old Buildings in Sino-Portuguese Style Old Buildings in Sino-Portuguese Style
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Old Phuket Town

It is the historic area of the city and is noted for Sino-Portuguese buildings (the Chinese row houses) and Sino-Colonial mansions on both sides of the streets. The main streets of Old Phuket Town are, for example, Thalang, Phang-nga, Phuket, Ratsada, Krabi, Dibuk and Yaowarat.

Most Chinese row houses date back to the days of the tin mining boom during the 18th - 19th centuries when thousands of Chinese migrated to Phuket to work in the tin mines.
Later when Phuket became popular tourist destination, these old buildings have been converted into shops, hotels, restaurants and museums.

Phuket Thai Hua Museum

Located on Krabi Road, it is one of the best looking and well-maintained Sino-Portuguese buildings in Phuket. In 2008, it received a citation from the Association of Siamese Architects for outstanding conservation of architectural arts. Comprising 13 exhibition rooms, the museum exhibits tell a fascinating story of Phuket’s heritage and of the Chinese immigrants who made the island their home and became a crucial part of the city. The museum opens daily from 9 am. to 5 pm. The admission fee is 200 baht.

Khao Rang, (Phuket View Point)

A low hill on Kho Sim Bi Road near the town centre, this is an excellent place to view the beautiful scene of the town and the surrounding sea, especially on a full-moon night.
There is also a fitness park near the hilltop which is frequently visited by townspeople.

Saphan Hin Mining Monument

It was built in 1978 to commemorate the first metal ore-dredger used in Thailand, introduced by Australian Captain Edward Thomasmile in 1909. With the large ground in this area and shady pine trees, it is frequented by townspeople in the evening.

Phuket Gateway

Phuket Gateway, a modern building in Sino-Portuguese style, was built to celebrate the 80th birthday of His Late Majesty King Bhumibol in 2007. Phuket Gateway was established on 10 acres of land in Thalang District to be the first stop to welcome tourists who arrive on the island by crossing Thao Thep Krasattri Bridge.

Its main feature is a series of 29 pillars, from which visitors can learn Phuket’s history, arts and culture. In front of the building, there are also the sculptural works of art displaying a sea turtle and several of its gigantic eggs. The building also provides the tourist service centre, a mini theatre showing information about Phuket province, a library, a café, a souvenir shop and seminar rooms.

Phuket Gateway is open every day from 09.00 am to 05.00 pm. For more information, please contact the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization at 07 621 1877 or 07 621 1866.

Phuket Zoo

Here is an ideal place for animal lovers. You can get a close encounter with an amazing range of animals like crocodiles, camels, tigers, ostriches, emus, and other rare birds.

Besides, its aquarium has an amazing entrance built as a giant crocodile’s mouth, you have to walk down the crocodile’s throat to get in. In the huge tanks of thirty thousands liters inside show a variety of both freshwater and saltwater species from around the world. There are also crocodile wrestling, elephant and monkey shows.

For more information, tel. 076 374 424.

Open: Daily, 08.30 - 18.00 hours

Phuket Bird Park

The park has over one thousand birds of more than 100 amazing bird species from Asia, Africa and South America. By nestling the birds in a beautiful garden with a natural waterfall, they are placed closest to their natural habitats. Visitors can enjoy the fascinating bird show on a large stage.

Open : Daily, 09.00 – 17.00 hours

Phuket Botanic Garden

Phuket Botanic Garden boasts various collections of tropical and exotic plants in over 30 zones. Each zone contains different species such as tropical palms, herb garden, fragrant plants, fruit orchards, orchid pavilion, etc.
It is an excellent place to enjoy beauty of nature and to learn about the nature of plants from all over the world. Phuket Botanic Garden is open for visitors as a recreational attraction as well as a research centre for many rare plant species.

Open : 09.00-17.00 hrs. / Closed on Wednesday

For more information, tel. 0 7636 7095.

Note : For your personal safety and protection by law, please use the services of travel agencies holding a TAT license only.

Canoeing

• Canoeing Canoeing
• Diving Diving
• Phuket International Horse Club Phuket International Horse Club
• Trekking Trekking
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Photo : www.phukethorseclub.com

Trekking & Elephant Back Trekking

Several adventure tour companies offer you a challenge to explore the rain forest in the interior of Phuket Island as well as the national parks and jungles in the nearby provinces, e.g. Phang-nga and Krabi.

An even more challenging activity is rock climbing in the limestone mountains where the adventurers can experience world class climbing opportunities.

Canoeing

Some islands in Phang-nga Bay and the sea off Krabi, contain caves accessible through small openings which are immersed in sea water at high tide but which are just a few feet above water when the tide is at the lowest. The world inside these undersea caverns is wonderful. The water is calm and clear, the sand is white and powdery, and the mangroves grow better than elsewhere.

To help tourists find out these secrets of nature, inflatable canoes are offered by some tour companies to explore these undersea caves which cannot be reached by long-tail boats. When making such a tour, the canoe is always paddled by a professional assigned by the tour agency. As a sport, you can also paddle it yourself, not to get into a cave, but to get a close look at the rocks and plants of the islet.

Diving

One of the major assets of Phuket as a flourishing vacation resort is its abundance of diving destinations, all offering a fantastic underwater world of tropical fishes and coral formations, so exotic and colourful. From Phuket, all sorts of diving tours are organized lasting from half a day to two weeks. The nearest are sites off the west coast where you can explore soft and hard coral reefs, with a large variety of tropical marine life.

Much more popular are trips to islands lying to the south and east of Phuket, including Coral Island (Ko He) with its very beautiful natural scenery; Ko Racha, with dives of up to 30 metres; Shark Point, a favourite sleeping spot of leopard sharks and stingrays; Ko Dok Mai offering an impressive wall dive and a series of cave dives; and Ko Phi Phi where you can see white-tip sharks, stingrays and moral eels.

Truly world-class diving sites are located farther away, including Ko Similan, Ko Surin, Ko Tarutao and Burma Banks. All the first three island groups are marine national parks which offer magnificent coral gardens. Many big diving companies offer extended three to seven-day trips on live-aboard dive boats to these destinations.

Phuket, with its surrounding Andaman Sea, boasts a large number of dive companies, the majority of which are located at Patong, Kata and Karon beaches. Others can be found in Phuket town and Chalong Bay.

Apart from day trips, all dive companies also offer the introductory course and the full range of PADI courses for learners. They are staffed with qualified instructors who are members of PADI or NAUI, and provided with all sorts of modern equipment which are also available for hire.

The best diving months are December to May when the weather is good and the sea is very clear.

Golfing

Thailand has rapidly become an important golfing destination of Asia, boasting well over 100 golf courses scattered throughout the country. Many of them are newly opened with lush surroundings and superbly equipped clubhouses. The rapid booming of golfing facilities in Thailand has been attributed to several factors including the favourable weather conditions throughout the year and the comparatively low green fees and caddy fees.

Phuket and the neighbouring provinces of Phang-nga and Krabi boast a number of world-class golf courses. Some were designed by well-known international architects and golfers. The courses are set amidst lush mountains and some overlooking the crystal Andaman. Accommodations are also provided in some courses.

There are four challenging 18-hole golf courses in Phuket -- Banyan Tree Club at Bangthao Beach, Blue Canyon Country Club in Thalang District, Phuket Country Club and Loch Palm in Kathu District. All the courses, built on former tin-mine sites, have their own natural beauty and also offer a pleasant walk for non-golfers.

Sailing

The Andaman Sea around Phuket has become the newest addition to the foremost yachting regions of the world. An annual event, the King's Cup Regatta, first held in Phuket in 1987 as a 60th birthday tribute to His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who is a gold medal sailor himself, has taken place in Phuket with great success each time and is now one of the prime yacht-racing fixtures in Asia.

The rapid development of sailing activities in and around Phuket has been due to the natural beauty of the area, the warm climate throughout the year, the readiness of equipment and facilities for the sport, and countless other attractions in Phuket for the sailors.

Yacht charter companies can be found at Chalong Bay, Patong Beach and in Phuket town. All of them offer both bareboat and crewed charters. Day trips usually include boat, crew, lunch, soft drinks and snorkelling gear.

Gamefishing

Phuket is a top gamefishing destination in Southeast Asia. Indeed, the list of fighting fish species available in the Andaman Sea around Phuket is as long as one to be found in a game fisherman's handbook. They include Marlin, Sailfish, Tuna, Giant Trevally, King Mackerel, Wahoo, Cobia, Barracuda, Rainbow Runner, Dolphin Fish, Queen Fish and African Pompano.

The available fishing grounds in the Phuket area extend far beyond the nearby waters, to Krabi, a province about 75 km to the east of Phuket, the two Phi Phi Islands and the Similan Islands. To meet the needs of the ever increasing game fishers, more and more charter companies have sprung up in Phuket, Krabi and Phi Phi in the last few years, offering boats and equipment for hire, including professional flying-deck boats.

Surfing

This sport is popularly played on Kata beach which is peaceful and has very nice waves. Besides Kata, surfing is possible at most of Phuket's beaches, including Surin, Kamala, Karon and Naihan beaches. Anyway, a greater number of shops selling and renting boards can be found at Kata. The ideal surfing period is from May till November though surfing trips are mostly organized during October and November.

A surfing competition is held annually on Kata beach around September or October when the wave and weather conditions are perfect. Though it's not a grand tournament, there are contestants and spectators coming to join this joyful event from all parts of the world.

Horse Riding

To satisfy the needs of foreign tourists, especially those from Europe who enjoy horseback riding, riding clubs have been set up in Phuket. Instructors are available for beginners. And those accomplished riders can walk their horses to admire the natural beauty, or seek adventure by riding at a canter through the forests, along the beaches or over the hills.

Phuket International Horse Club

Phuket International Horse Club is a place where riders of all levels will enjoy riding along a stretch of the beautiful beach. Don't hesitate to get one of your greatest experience on the island. More details

Khao Lak Bamboo Rafting

Hop on a bamboo raft and float along the river. This calm, relaxing ride on a bamboo raft poled by a local boatman will take you on board to enjoy the stunningly beautiful rainforest. The elephant trekking included in the program is also breathtakingly fun, when the gigantic mammal walks you over the rugged hill and along the river. More details

For your personal safety and protection by law, please use the services of travel agencies holding a TAT license only.