Tourist Attractions on Phuket Island

Thailand's beautiful Phuket Island in the Andaman Sea is a treasure trove of tourist attractions. There are animal sanctuaries, water parks, lovely architecture, stunning temple complexes and amazing shopping malls, not to mention the beaches, the diving and other water sports!

Head to Phuket Old Town in Phuket City for a taste of traditional Phuket Island life. Presenting a lovely blend of Chinese and Portuguese architecture, Phuket Old Town is a thriving, cheerful place with a charming cosmopolitan feel to it. Best places to visit are Jui Tui Shrine, a beautiful Chinese temple, Dee Buk Road, Phang Nga Road and Thalang Road. If you prefer modern Phuket, head to the shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs, or visit the Phuket Trickeye Museum, an interactive museum that displays 3-D art. At the Sunday Walking Street Market its possible to find highly fragrant, tasty street food.

As Thailand's largest island, Phuket boasts some of the most famous beaches in the world. Patong Beach may no longer be the rain-forest-lined retreat it once was, but its still a great destination to start your life-long love affair with Phuket! It's a busy place with many tourist amenities, including great shopping, bars and restaurants. Some of the island's main resort hotels are located along this very beach.

Kata Beach is also touristy, but far less than Patong. Lined with palm trees and protected by forested hillsides at either end, Kata Beach overlooks a minuscule islet that sits temptingly within swimming and snorkelling distance. Kata Beach offers hungry beach-goers plenty of snack bars and seaside stalls as well as proper restaurants with international and Thai cuisine within a short walk.

Kata Noi Beach lies at the southern end of Kata Beach and is quieter still. Located on the southwest coast of the island, Kata Noi Beach overlooks the secluded Kata Noi Bay and is just an hour's drive from Phuket International Airport.

Located some 15 minutes distance from Patong Beach, the far less developed Karon Beach offers sun-hungry, peace-loving families around 3.5 kilometers of golden sands and sparkling blue sea that in windy weather is ideal for surfers needs. Several 4-star resorts line the beach, offering luxury bungalows as well as hotel rooms and suites. Some resorts have their own water parks.

Phuket's Big Buddha guards the island from the top of Nakkerd Hill. It sits serenely between Kata and Chalong and is one of Phuket's most popular tourist attractions. Offering stunning 360-degree panoramic views from the summit, Nakkerd Hill is an attraction in its own right, but the 45-meter tall Buddha is admittedly the star attraction here. Mornings are far less crowded than afternoons, and be sure to pick a clear day to enjoy the best views across the island and Andaman Sea. Constructed in 2004 and faced entirely in white jade marble, the statue is surrounded by prayer flags and tinkling bells that transport visitors to a peaceful frame of mind.

Chalong District is home to the stunning Wat Chalong temple complex, one of 29 such religious sites on the island. Probably the most beautiful of them all, Wat Chalong lies along the Chaofa Road and is dedicated to the memory of two monks, Luang Pho Chuang and Luang Pho Chaem, whose life-sized wax models still guard the complex with their gentle smiles. At the Grand Pagoda a fragment of Lord Buddha's bones is kept. Colourful murals depict scenes from his life.

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary honours Thailand's national animal and tries to protect this important species from abuse, exploitation and extinction due to loss of natural habitat. Visitors can come face to trunk with the majestic animals, as they are allowed to feed the elephants by hand.

Splash Jungle Water Park offers something for all the family. There are a wave pool, a 335-long Lazy River, a Kid's Aqua Play Pool, a 6-lane Whizzard anf Family Raft Ride just waiting to be tried and tested to the limit! Located in Chang Wat Phuket at 65 Soi Mai 4, the water park opens daily at 10.00 am.