A Photo Guide to

Phuket

Copyright 2014 by Lawrence Michaels and www.intophuket.com All Rights Reserved. No part of
this publication may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or
by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written
permission of the author.

AMAZING BEACHES

Kamala Beach located north of

Patong is a busy tourist
destination during the high
season. But what it lacks in
privacy, it more than makes up
for in natural beauty. It also has
plenty of resorts, restaurants
and shopping opportunities for
the weary traveler not wanting
to stray far from home. The
bars around the beach offer a
welcome change to the hustle
and bustle of Patong. Going out
for a quiet evening is a real
possibility at Kamala without
fear of constant harassment.

KAMALA BEACH
Paradise Beach is situated on
the far side of Patong Beach
and is a welcome solace away
from the busy tourist areas.
Unfortunately, the beach is
accessed across private land
and so you will be charged for
entry. However, the charge is
nominal and includes the use
of a beach chair. Paradise is
divided into two separate
beaches with a rocky outcrop
dividing the two. The first area
is most popular with tourists;
however, the second beach
offers a much nicer experience.

PARADISE BEACH
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Kata Beach is one of the most

popular of all the beaches in
the south end of Phuket. This is
of course for good reason as
the beach is absolutely
stunning. Along the south end
of the beach, there are a
variety of restaurants that
range in price from very
affordable to very expensive.
Along the northern end of the
beach, the vast majority of
beachfront is occupied by Club
Med. Unlike some parts of
Phuket, Kata offers a very
family friendly environment.

KATA BEACH
Located on the far south of
Phuket, Nai Harn Beach has
managed to retain its beauty
despite the influx of tourism to
the island. This is due mainly in
part to the Nai Harn Temple
which occupies the vast
majority of beachfront. On a
really busy day, Nai Harn will
have far fewer people than the
more popular tourist beaches
along the west coast of Phuket.
Because of this, Nai Harn
always maintains an air of
privacy even during the peak
season.

NAI HARN BEACH

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Just south of the popular

tourist area of Kata Beach, is
the lesser known Kata Noi
Beach. Unlike its big brother
Kata which is a tourist Mecca
with an abundance of
restaurants, and shopping
venues, Kata Noi is more
upscale with an air of
exclusiveness. The entire
beachfront is dominated by up
market resorts and although
the beach is free for anyone to
enjoy, the majority of
beachgoers are staying at these
pricey accommodations.

KATA NOI BEACH

Laem Singh Beach is located
between Kamala and Surin and
is one of the nicest beaches
you will find in Phuket. It sits
within a sheltered bay and is
relatively unknown to most
visitors. This is likely due to its
location at the bottom of a
steep hill. There are two
parking lots located at the top
of the hill and a long and steep
staircase that winds down to
the beach below. There are a
couple of restaurants located
directly on the beach, but not
much else.

LAEM SINGH BEACH

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Bang Tao Beach is one of the

longest beaches on the entire
island, coming in at around
eight kilometers. It is also home
to some of the priciest resorts
in Phuket. Due to the sheer size
of the beach and the fact that
only the most expensive of
resorts are located here, youll
find that there are barely any
people at Bang Tao, even
during the peak season. It is a
great place to go if you want to
enjoy a day at the beach but
without the crowds of some of
the other tourist beaches.

BANG TAO BEACH

Surin Beach is a one kilometer
stretch of golden sand and may
have the cleanest looking
water of all the beaches on the
island. It offers all the activities
of the booming tourist beaches
such as Patong, but without
the crowds and pollution.
During the peak season, Surin
will surely draw a crowd, but it
is nothing compared to some
of the more popular beaches. It
is a quieter more local friendly
place to enjoy your day without
all the added hassles of Patong
Beach.

SURIN BEACH
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FANTASTIC VIEWPOINTS

Known as the best sunset

viewpoint on Phuket, Laem
Phromthep manages to attract
hundreds of visitors every day,
hoping for a beautiful sunset.
Whether Laem Phromthep
actually has the best sunsets
in Phuket or not is open for
debate. However, there is no
denying that on a clear day,
the place offers some amazing
views. If you want a good spot
for the sunset, it is best to
arrive a bit early, as there are
always lines of tour buses
arriving around sunset.

LAEM PHROMTHEP VIEWPOINT

Karon Viewpoint which sits in
the hills above Kata Noi, is likely
the most widely photographed
locations in all of Phuket. From
this point, it is possible to see
three of Phukets nicest
beaches as well as having a
clear view of the surround
islands and sea. These beaches
include Kata Noi, Kata and
Karon Beach in the distance. On
holidays, it is also a great venue
to watch the firework shows of
all three of these beaches as
well as those occurring far to
the north in Patong Beach.

KARON VIEWPOINT
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The Rang Hill Viewpoint is

located in the hills at the far
end of Phuket City. The entire
area on top of Rang Hill was
once a fitness park, but over
the years it has lost its
popularity. Nowadays, it is a
quiet spot to look south over
Phuket City and Chalong. There
are also a number of
restaurants on top of and along
the road leading up the hill.
Most of these places offer
similar views but with the
added benefit of food and
drinks.

RANG HILL VIEWPOINT

The Klong Mudong Viewpoint
is a series of Salas located
between Chalong and Cape
Panwa. From way up here, you
can view panoramic views of
the Chalong Bay, Chalong Pier
and the surrounding islands.
The best part about Klong
Mudong is that you can often
enjoy the view in private as the
viewpoint is less popular than
those found on the western
coast. Also, unlike some other
viewpoints, this one is quite
easy to find as it resides along
the main coastal road.

KLONG MUDONG VIEWPOINT

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The Khao Khad Views Tower is

situated in Cape Panwa and
should you find this viewpoint,
you are in for a real treat. From
the top of the tower looking
west there is a 180 degree view
overlooking Chalong and
Phuket City. To the east there
are stunning views of Cape
Panwa, the surrounding islands
and Phang Nga bay. The tower
is somewhat difficult to find
which means you will likely be
one of the few non-locals that
are visiting.

KHAO KHAD VIEWS TOWER

Radar Hill Viewpoint is located
on the highest point on the
island of Phuket. Accessed
from Chalong, this long and
winding road will take you just
shy of the government radar
facility at the peak. The viewpoint itself boasts amazing
views over the entire city of
Patong and better yet, views to
the East overlooking all of
Chalong Bay. Very few people
know how to get up to the top
of Radar Hill, so if you manage
to find it, you are almost sure
to be the only one visiting.

RADAR HILL VIEWPOINT

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SITES AND ATTRACTIONS

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The Big Buddha of Phuket sits

perched atop one of the
highest points in the south of
Phuket. It is a constant beacon
to locals and tourists alike as it
can be seen from almost every
point on the south of the
island. Despite being
incomplete as of this writing,
the Big Buddha is likely one of
the biggest tourist stops on the
island. Every day hundreds of
visitors flock to the monument
to see the statue as well as the
breathtaking views from atop
the hill.

THE BIG BUDDHA OF PHUKET

The Phuket Botanical Gardens
is located in the heart of
Chalong, very close to the
famous Chalong Temple. The
garden boasts a large
collection of tropical and exotic
plants within 30 different
zones. The garden as a whole
offers a very relaxing
environment where visitors
can experience everything at
their own leisure. One of the
highlights of the garden, is the
koi pond, which features a
tranquil waterfall and plenty of
shade.

PHUKET BOTANICAL GARDENS

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The Phuket Butterfly Garden

and Insect World is located in
middle of Phuket Town and is
one of those destinations a bit
off the beaten tourist track.
Although there are a number of
displays including an Insect
Museum, Bee Keeping Exhibit
and Silk Museum, the heart of
the place is the Butterfly
Breeding Area and Butterfly
Gardens. You can enjoy
watching the butterflies in their
natural habitat as they
sunbathe, drink nectar, mate
and lay eggs.

PHUKET BUTTERFLY GARDEN

Far to the north of Phuket is
the Gibbon Rehabilitation
Project. Located in the Khao
Pra Thaew National Park, the
project was established as a
place to study the whitehanded gibbon. Studies include
reintroduction methods,
behavioral research, and
research into disease of
gibbons in captivity. The
primary goal of the project is to
repopulate the last rainforest
in Phuket with gibbons, ever
since they were hunted into
extension over 30 years ago.

GIBBON REHABILITATION PROJECT

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The Muay Thai Boxing Stadium

off of Bangla Road in Patong is
a major draw for many people
visiting the island of Phuket. It
is without a doubt, the most
famous and most visited Muay
Thai Stadium on the island.
Bangla Boxing Stadium attracts
Muay Thai fighters from all
over the world to compete, so
you are sure to see some good
fights. With fights taking place
every couple of days, a visit to
Bangla Stadium is quite easy to
fit it into your schedule.

BANGLA BOXING STADIUM

The absolute spectacle that is
Soi Bangla cannot be explained,
it must be seen for itself.
Bangla Road is the beating
heart of the Phuket nightlife
and is one of the major reasons
for many tourists to grace the
shores of Phuket Island. It is
the heart of the Phuket sex
industry, and whether you love
it or hate it, it is one of the
must see tourist destinations in
Phuket Island. Despite its seedy
reputation, Bangla Road is
actually quite family friendly so
long as youre not out too late.

BANGLA ROAD
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The Phuket Zoo is located on

the east side of Chalong and
although it is not a wonderful
zoo, it is worth a visit. There
are three shows that run
multiple times during the day.
The first show is the Monkey
Show which offers such events
as monkeys doing math, lifting
weights and riding tricycles
around the stage. The
Crocodile Show features some
very brave Thai men. Lastly,
the Elephant Show, full of
dancing, painting, Basketball
playing elephants.

PHUKET ZOO
On the east coast of Phuket in
the heart of Cape Panwa is the
Phuket Aquarium. Although
the entire facility is a bit small,
they do offer a number of
interesting displays. Most
notably are the Sea Turtles
which are a favorite amongst
most of the visitors. Also, be
sure to check out the walk
through tunnel which makes
you feel as if you are inside the
actual tank. Towards the end
of the aquarium is a small
memorial to the Tsunami of
2004.

PHUKET AQUARIUM
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If you are a shopper or just

want to buy some souvenirs to
take back home, you must visit
the Night Market in Phuket
Town. There are literally
hundreds of stalls set up within
this tightly packed marketplace
selling all sorts of things. You
can buy most anything that
you can think of and expect to
get it at a very good price. The
market runs every weekend on
Saturday and Sunday night, so
be sure to plan ahead if you
intend on visiting the market
during your stay.

PHUKET TOWN NIGHT MARKET

A visit to Thailand wouldnt be
complete without getting on
the back of a six ton animal and
tromping through the jungle.
The ride itself may not be very
comfortable, but you will
remember the experience
forever. In additional to riding
on an elephant, you get an
opportunity to explore many
out of the way paths that
would otherwise be
inaccessible. It is a throwback
to the old days of Phuket when
there was much more green
than there was concrete.

ELEPHANT TREKKING
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The mangrove preserve at Bang

Rong in the north-east of
Phuket is one of the most
unique places on the island.
Mangrove Forests, once a
prominent feature on the
island has been utterly ravaged
in the pursuit of progress and
development. The Agrotourism
project at Bang Rong is one of
the last remaining Mangrove
Forests left on the island. You
can walk through the forest,
eat at the floating restaurant or
even take a kayaking tour, all to
protect the environment.

MANGROVES AT BANG RONG

Situated behind the famous
Chalong Temple, is what is
known by some as the Wat
Chalong Lake. Although not so
much a tourist destination, it is
a great place to visit and
possibly have a picnic. Most
people who visit the Wat
Chalong will never even know
of its existence, so you are
almost guaranteed to have a
bit of privacy. It is a nice
natural reprieve in the middle
of so much concrete and
development.

WAT CHALONG LAKE

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The Simon Cabaret in Patong

Beach is the largest
Transvestite show in Phuket
Island. It is a grand musical
extravaganza featuring the
famous ladyboys of Patong.
The show itself is of Las Vegas
quality, with fantastic
costumes and beautiful
kathoey performers lipsynching to the most popular
music from around the world.
It is one of the most popular
shows on the island and should
be seen if you can fit it into
your schedule.

SIMON CABARET
Said to be the ultimate Thai
culture theme park, Phuket
Fantasea is a huge 140 acre
complex full of activities and
entertainment located near
Kamala Beach. The highlight of
the park is the Las Vegas style
theatrical show. Live the myths
and legends of Thailand and
Ancient Siam through an
amazing show that should not
be missed. In addition to the
show, you may buy dinner at
the Golden Kinnarree which
offers a buffet with a huge
variety of international dishes.

PHUKET FANTASEA
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Although not specific to

Phuket, the Songkran Festival is
one of the pinnacle events of
the year. Falling on the days
leading up to and after April
13th to 15th, it is a celebration
of Thai New Years. The holiday
was originally a solemn
Buddhist day where
participants would celebrate in
quiet reverence. Nowadays in
Phuket, it is known as a wet,
drunken party that you will not
soon forget. It is literally the
worlds largest water fight and
can last for days.

SONGKRAN FESTIVAL
One of the most unique
festivals on the island is the
Phuket Vegetarian Festival. The
Vegetarian Festival is
celebrated in other parts of
Thailand, but it is Phuket that
takes it to the extreme.
Participants in the festival are
known for practices of selfmutilation. Calling on the gods
for protection, they puncture
their skin with various items
and parade down the streets of
Phuket in a sort of trance. If
you arent good around blood,
you should give this one a pass.

PHUKET VEGETARIAN FESTIVAL

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BEAUTIFUL TEMPLES

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Wat Chalong is the most

famous and important temple
on the entire island of Phuket.
It is said to house an actual
fragment of bone from the
Buddha. This is enclosed at the
pinnacle of the Grand Pagoda.
Chalong Temple is one of the
most popular stops for those
touring the island. On a given
day, there are hundreds of
people that visit the temple to
make merit or just take a few
photos. Dont forget to scale
the Grand Pagoda and get a
birds eye view of the grounds.

WAT CHALONG
Located in the center of Phuket
Town, Wat Khao Rang is home
to the original sitting Buddha
of Phuket. Now overshadowed
by the Big Buddha of Phuket,
the Golden Sitting Buddha of
Wat Khao Rang is still
impressive in its own right.
Unlike the Big Buddha, you will
find very few people visiting
Wat Khao Rang as it is off the
beaten track. Without knowing
where it is ahead of time, few
people would actually be able
to find this temple.

WAT KHAO RANG

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Wat Supan is located up a small

street along one of the major
roads in Phuket Town and is
thus often over-looked by
passing motorists. The temple
itself is not overly impressive,
in and of itself. What is nice
about the place is that it is
located on a hillside overlooking the east coast of
Phuket. From this vantage
point, there are pretty
spectacular views of the Phang
Nga Bay and Coconut Island
which is located directly off the
coast.

WAT SUPAN
Up on the northern end of
Phuket near Nai Yang Beach is
Wat Mongkol Wararam. This
temple is about as far off the
tourist path that you can
venture. This is a highly
religious site to many practicing
Buddhists, so modest attire is a
must. The temple features
many colorful murals depicting
the life and work of the
Buddha. At the front of the
temple is a garden area with
images of the Buddha and a
small Sala leading up the steps
to a golden Buddha statue.

WAT MONGKOL WARARAM

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OUTSIDE PHUKET

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Located just a short boat ride

from the Island of Phuket, Phi
Phi Island is one of the most
popular island destinations in
the south of Thailand. The
island was made famous after
being prominently featured in
the Leonardo DiCaprio movie
The Beach. Nowadays, the
island is a thriving tourist
Mecca. Despite the ever
increasing influx of visitors to
the islands shores every year,
Phi Phi Island is still stunningly
beautiful and a must visit for
those in the south of Thailand.

PHI PHI ISLAND

Off the north-west coast of
Phuket, the Similan Islands
National Park is an archipelago
consisting of nine separate
islands. A few of the islands are
closed to the public due to the
presence of turtle breeding
grounds and reef preservation.
As the island chain has a
national park status, it has
been protected from
development and has thus
maintained its natural beauty.
The Similan Island chain is also
known for its fantastic dive
sites.

SIMILAN ISLANDS
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The island made famous in the

James Bond Movie, The Man
with the Golden Gun. The island
now known as James Bond
Island is a prominent feature
on many tours around Phuket.
Although it is less blissful than
all of the iconic photos would
lead you to believe, it is a
beautiful island, well worth a
visit. In addition to the
prominent rock which made
the island famous, there is also
a large cave that you can
explore, and of course, plenty
of souvenir vendors.

JAMES BOND ISLAND

A group of islands located
approximately 12 kilometers
south of Phuket is known as
the Racha Islands or Raya
Islands. Years ago they were
made famous due to their
excellent snorkeling and diving
locations. Many of the daytrips
out of Phuket will make a
stopover at the Racha Islands.
In recent years, there has been
an increase in development so
it is quite possible to now
partake in much longer stays
on these beautiful islands.

RACHA ISLANDS
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Although it is unlikely that you

would ever visit the floating
village on Panyee Island on
your own accord, if you are to
take a tour around the islands
surrounding Phuket, this is a
very likely stop. The town itself
is built primarily on stilts that
extend from the island out into
the sea. Originally a fishing
community, the locals now
make a large portion of their
income by selling souvenirs to
visitors and providing lunches
to the many tour groups that
pass through.

FLOATING VILLAGE ON PANYEE ISLAND

The Phang Nga Bay is the
stretch of water extending
from the island of Phuket all
the way east to the Malay
peninsula of Southern Thailand.
The bay is very unique as it
consists of hundreds of small
limestone islands with sheer
cliffs and caves. A large portion
of the bay is located in what is
now Ao Phang Nga National
Park. Almost every daytrip out
of Phuket will venture within
this national park, with various
island hoping and kayaking
adventures.

PHANG NGA BAY

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Just north of the island of

Phuket is the Khao Sok National
Park. Khao Sok is covered by
the oldest evergreen rainforest
in the world. It has very distinct
limestone mountains that
shoot vertically into the air,
with deep valleys and caves to
explore. While visiting the
national park, it is possible to
partake in elephant trekking,
trekking on foot, canoeing and
jeep safaris. There are also a
number of beautiful waterfalls.
Be sure to pack your hiking
boots.

KHAO SOK NATIONAL PARK

North of Phuket in Khoa Lak is
the Tsunami Memorial which
stands as a testament to the
Tsunami disaster that struck
Thailand on December 26th,
2004. The memorial is made up
of an actual police patrol boat
that is about 80 feet in length.
The force of the tsunami was so
strong when it hit the mainland
that it was able to wash this
ship over 1 kilometer onto the
land. The memorial is a
constant reminder of natures
power and to all the victims
that were lost on that day.

KHAO LAK TSUNAMI MEMORIAL

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All photos contained within this book are copyright

Lawrence Michaels unless stated below.
Gibbon Rehabilitation Project - roger smith on Flickr
Bangla Boxing Stadium - Kevin Tao on Flickr
Bangla Road - Nicolas Lannuzel on Flickr
Elephant Trekking - iris on Flickr
Simon Cabaret - donna rae skrypichayko on Flickr
Phuket FantaSea - Travis Longmore on Flickr
Songkran Festival - Karl Ward on Flickr
Phi Phi Island - Rob Smith on Flickr
Similan Islands - Kullez on Flickr
Racha Yai Island - Del Adams on Flickr
Khao Lak Tsunami Memorial - Fabian Mohr on Flickr

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