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The
main resorts include Patong, Karon and Kata, but better beaches are scattered
all around the island. Roads radiate from Phuket Town, in the south-east of the
island, making it a good base for exploring.
Don't
ignore the island's interior which has rice paddies, plantations of rubber and
cashew nut, cacao, pineapple and coconut, as well as Phuket's last slice of rainforest.
There
are plenty of flights to Phuket from Bangkok. First-class air-con buses take about
14 hours to reach the island from the capital.
Local transport includes songthaews, which run to many of the island's beaches,
and motorcycle taxis.
Motorcycles and jeeps can also be hired by the day.
(A law
passed in 1996 makes it compulsory to wear helmets, so be sure to get one from
the company that rented you the motorcycle - the fine can be up to 500 baht if
you fail to comply.)
Ko
Samui:
Just
one of the many beautiful islands off the south coast: white sand, palm trees,
blue seas. Theses days like most of the southern beaches it's closer to a tourist
resort than a backpacker's secret.
For
those who want comfort that's a good thing and in most cases development is tasteful.
If you want the quieter life though travel a bit further to Ko Pha-Ngan. Flights
go direct from Bangkok.
Prasat
Hin Khao Phanom Rung Historical Park: This is
the Khmer temple complex located on an extinct volcano in north eastern Thailand
- the largest and best restored of all the Khmer monuments.
Visit early while
it's cool enough to enjoy and relatively empty. It takes a couple of buses to
get here but it's worth it.
Thaleh
Ban National Park: 101 sq km park on
the Thai-Malaysian border contains one of south east asia's best preserved sections
of white meranti rainforest.
Hilly
terrain includes caves, waterfalls, limestone cliffs, lake views and wildlife
including mouse deer, gibbons, macaques and many rare bird species.
You
can camp or bunk at the longhouses on the shores of the lake. |
