Even though my wife lived seven years in Phuket, she was never up to the hills of Patong. She didn’t even know there was a panoramic view of Patong until I showed a picture on the internet and suggested that we should drive up and take a look. There are a few restaurants and bars up here, but it is a very quiet area despite its closeness to Patong Beach.
Phuket is bigger than many realize. In fact, Phuket is not only the country’s largest island with another 32 smaller islands off its coast – it’s a province with three districts grouped into 17 sub-districts consisting of 103 villages. Patong is the most popular resort town, famous for its nightlife with go-go bars lined up at Bangla Road and the 3½ km long beautiful beach. If Patong doesn’t suit you, don’t worry – Phuket has something for everyone which I will guide you through in this post.
Koh Yao Noi is a secluded island in the beautiful Phang Nga Bay. Located less than an hour away from both Phuket and Krabi, it’s amazing how untouched this island still is. My wife and I stayed at Paradise Koh Yao, and it was a real gem that we would happily return to. Here are some pictures from our stay in March.
Paradise Koh Yao with its private beach as viewed from a longtail boat.
There is a white wind turbine (not windmill despite its name) standing on the hill between Ya Nui Beach and Nai Harn Beach in Phuket, catching the energy of the wind to generate power to the area. This hill is also a popular spot for model airplane enthusiasts as well as paragliders. At the top of the viewpoint, there’s an open-air pavilion where you can sit and enjoy the stunning views of the Andaman Sea.
When I asked the girl who would later become my wife out to dinner the first time, I asked if she knew a good restaurant. Sure, she knew. She knew very well! Oh boy, DID SHE KNOW?! When it was time to pay I was a bit shocked it was so expensive. I thought it was cheap eating out in Thailand. It turned out she had taken me to one of the finest and most expensive restaurants in Phuket. She has never eaten there before, but she wanted to try. She is not dumb, my wife. But it was probably the best dining experience I ever had in Thailand. The bill landed at around 2,500-3,000 THB (600 Norwegian kroner or 75 USD).
When my wife drove to Koh Sirey on the east side of Phuket Town, I had no idea I was on a small island. Koh Sirey (or Koh Siray) is so close to shore that it feels more like a cape. Just 20 km2, this area offers a completely different side of Phuket. Think Phuket 20-30 years ago. Think mangroves and rubber plantations. There’s even a sea gypsie village here, known locally as “Chao Ley.” Now we didn’t get to explore the island that much; we came just before sunset to visit the Koh Sirey Temple: a replica of the famous Kyaiktiyo Pagoda (Golden Rock) in Burma (Myanmar).
If you have been in Phuket Town, you have probably seen the high hill with TV and Radio masts at the top. Perhaps you didn’t know that this hill is home to hundreds of macaques monkeys. There is a road leading up to the top, where a viewpoint platform was built in 2015. Some people like to walk up there for a good sweat, while others prefer driving a motorbike or car. Before we headed up to Monkey Hill, I read about an “Uncle Hog” who is there daily to do a “show” for you with his little monkey friends. But we couldn’t see any uncle here – just some Russian tourists and many monkeys.
Mai Khao Beach is an 11 km long sand stretch, making it the longest beach in Phuket. The beach is deserted at most places, but the International Airport on the south end has become a popular plane spotting location. The first time we visited the beach was on a late afternoon, which was a bit of a disappointment since the planes were taking off from the beach; we came here to watch the planes landing. So we decided to come early the next morning – and yes, this time, the airplanes were landing over the beach. What a spectacular sight!
Phuket is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Asia with millions of visitors every year. You probably already know about the beautiful beaches, but did you know that the island boasts 36 of them? Below is a list of all the beaches in Phuket.
Patong Beach one April morning.
