Phuket Travel Guide

There is hardly any sport or recreational activity that is not catered for on Phuket Island, be it indoor, outdoor, active or more sedate, during the day or at night.

Water Sports

Phuket is the center for Scuba Diving. The Similan, Surin and Phi Phi Islands, as well as some of the smaller islands and beaches, offer great dive sites, perfect for Scuba or snorkeling. Many companies, including Coral Seekers, offer diving trips.

Sailing

This is a popular activity and anything from a dinghy to a yacht, with or without crew, can be chartered. The Andaman Sea provides great opportunities for big game fishing. Tours and charters are run by Surasak Fishing Tour and Big Game Fishing.

Phang Nga Bay, with its incredible marine topography, is an idyllic, all-year sea canoe destination, boasting Viking caves and mangroves. Trips are run by Santana Kanutouren and Sea Canoe. Near Kathu Waterfall there is waterskiing at Phuket Water-ski Cableways.

Outdoor Activities

For those who enjoy walking, conducted forest treks in either Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Sanctuary or Sirinat National Park are a great option. Elephant treks offer a traditional mode of transport, along the beach at Kalim and up into the hills. Tours can be booked through Kalim Elephant Trekking and Siam Safari Nature Tours. Horse riding can be enjoyed amid stunning beaches and lush, tropical scenery from the Phuket Riding Club.

Golf

Golf is popular on the island and there are courses at the Banyan Tree Golf Club, the Blue Canyon Country Club, Loch Palm Golf Club and the Phuket Country Club Golf Course. Miniature golf can be played at Dino Park Mini Golf. For those with a steady hand and good eye, target shooting with small and large-caliber guns and shotguns takes place at the Phuket Shooting Range. Nearby there is also paintballing at Top Gun's Paint Ball and bungee jumping at Tarzan Jungle Bungee Jump. Go-karting is another exhilarating option at Patong Go-Kart Speedway.

Films and Shows

Movies are shown daily at Pearl Cinema in Phuket Town, usually in Thai but sometimes in English. Traditional Thai dance, known as Khon, is performed to the accompaniment of classical Thai music. It can be enjoyed along with authentic Thai cuisine at the Thainaan Restaurant and the Old Siam Nakalay. At Patong Beach, the Phuket Simon's Group's Cabaret features a technically stunning, nightly show performed by katoeys—lady boys. Muay Thai, Thai Boxing, is held at the Phuket Town Stadium and the Vegas Beer Bar & Muay Thai.

Live Music

Live music venues throughout the island include the spacious Timber 'n' Rock, a great rock 'n' roll venue, and Gitano's, which caters for all musical tastes with blues and soul, golden oldies, Caribbean and jazz. In Patong Beach there is a piano bar at Baan Rim Pa, country and western at Pow Wow and jazz, blues and even opera at Da Maurizio.

Theme Parks

Well known throughout the whole of Thailand and a cultural must-see is the huge Phuket FantaSea at Kamala Beach. At Patong Beach there is the Horror House, which has 16 different horror movie theme rooms and the Graveyard Restaurant.

Museums, Aquaria and Galleries

The Phuket Sea Shell Museum near Rawai Beach probably houses the world's most valuable collection of seashells, while the Phuket Aquarium at Panwa Cape is an interesting place to learn about the environment and protection of marine species in Phuket. The Thalang National Museum details some of the history of Phuket with ancient artifacts and exhibits depicting the famous battle against the Burmese in 1785.

Spas

There are many spa and massages centers all over the island, ranging from simple beach massages to the herbal steam saunas used centuries ago as a method of healing. These include the Island Herbal Sauna, the Panwa Gardens Herbal Sauna where foot reflexology is performed by blind masseurs and the Banyan Tree Spa.

Shopping

Phuket Island is a great place to shop for goods, including pewter products, pearls and hand-dyed batik. The main shopping areas are Phuket Town and Patong Beach. Other areas to explore include Kata Beach, Karon Beach and the Canal Village Shopping Center.

Festivals

Many visitors plan their holidays to coincide with one of the many festivals that take place here each year. The Chinese Vegetarian Festival, usually in September or October, is the greatest draw. Other events include Chao Lay's Floating Boat Festival, which is held bi-annually, the The 16th Phuket King's Cup Regatta and the Phuket Triathlon.2008-08-02T07:29:22.000 422