Phuket Part VI

Kata Beach

Towards the southern end of Phuket's Kata Beach, which is divided into Kata Yai and Kata Noi. Both beaches offer stunning scenery and a relaxed atmosphere.

Kata Yai

This is the larger of the two beaches. The bay is very picturesque with Koh Pu (Pu Island) at the north end. Half of the beach is bordered by a road, while the southern half has a few resorts right on the beach. Club Med occupies much of the land behind the beach road to the north end of the beach, keeping the end of the beach fairly quiet.

Because of its relatively small size, Kata has a cozy feel about it and is ideal for families. There are quite a few shops, restaurants and bars around Kata Centre and between Kata Yai and Kata Noi. Kata is perhaps the best compromise between the frenetic pace of Patong and some of the quieter beaches on Phuket.

Kata Noi

Kata Noi only has a few hotels and is dominated by the Kata Thani Hotel. The beach is lovely and there has only been a little development.

There is a good range of accommodation in Kata, from luxury resorts to budget guesthouses behind the beach. At the southern end of Kata Yai beginning at Kata Beach Resort there are hotels right on the beach, which are a rarity on Phuket's west coast.

There are plenty of watersports to be enjoyed at Kata. The bay is excellent for sailing and plays host to the annual King's Cup Regatta every December.

Kata Yai and Kata Noi are quite popular with surfers during the rainy season. You can rent all kinds of boards on the beach. It is also one of the best beaches on the island for snorkelling. Confident swimmers can try swimming out towards Koh Pu to view the beautiful coral there, although don't attempt this during the rainy season. The area to the South of Kata Noi beach has some decent coral that is worth exploring.

It is a good variety of restaurants in Kata, especially around Kata Centre. Seafood restaurants serving Thai, Italian, Scandinavian and of course can all be found here. Restaurants right on the beach can also be found at the southern end of Kata Yai.

The nightlife in Patong is quite relaxed but there are a few bars to find, especially around Kata Centre. There is also a collection of beer bars title, the interior of the junction in Kata Center. However, for a great evening that you are better off heading to Patong.

Phuket Part V

Phuket View and Sightseeing

Laem Phrom Thep

Located between Rawai and Nai Harn beaches, Phrom Thep Cape is a dramatic promontory that extends into the sea at the southwest corner of Phuket Island. The course has spectacular views of the small island of Koh Kaew Yai and the Andaman Sea, and is an essential place to enjoy the sunset.

At the top is a shrine dedicated to Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, whose cape is named after. (Phra Phrom is the Thai name for Brahma, Laem means "cape" while Thep means "god"). To get a better view, climb a couple flights of stairs to an elevated platform in the Golden Jubilee Lighthouse. The lighthouse also contains a small nautical museum.

The view attracts many tourists and locals at sunset, so if you want to avoid crowds consider going earlier in the day. There is an outdoor restaurant with fantastic views of the cape that can sustain a memorable dining experience.

Laem Phrom Thep is located between Rawai and Nai Harn. Go south to Rawai for a couple of miles. There is ample parking and plenty of little souvenir shops so you will not miss it. The road is steep and windy so take extra precautions, especially if its wet.

 

Kata Viewpoint

A large sala or pavilion by the side of the road between Kata and Nai Harn marks the location of this view. Clear day the view over the bays of Kata Noi, Kata Yai, Karon and Pu Island all put on before you is nothing less than magnificent.

The view is approximately five minutes drive south of Kata on the way to Laem Phrom Thep.

 

Rang Hill

This hill is located at the northwest edge of Phuket City, providing lovely views across Phuket's capital. At the top is a fitness park as well as a statue of Phuket's most famous governor, Ratsada Korsimbi Na Ranong, who presided over the city's early development at the turn of the twentieth century.

The best reason to visit Rang Hill (Khao Rang in Thai), is to dine at one of the hill-top restaurants. The view, particularly at night, is a perfect accompaniment to a tasty meal.

Pictures Credit : navithaitour.blogspot.com

Phuket Part IV

Rawai Beach

Rawai Beach is popular with locals who come to enjoy seafood and the stunning views of the islands of the coast.

In the days before Phuket became a popular tourist destination, Rawai Beach was where locals from Phuket Town would come to enjoy the sea. These days, the beach itself is not that nice with many small boats anchored off the coast, but it is safe to swim all year round because of its position facing Phang Nga Bay.

At the eastern end of the beach is a village of sea-gypsy who has a small fish market. Here you can also buy local handicrafts and assorted Thai snacks. The view near Laem Phrom Thep, the southernmost tip of the island is especially popular at sunset.

 

Koh Racha, Phuket

Lying about 20kms south of Phuket, Racha Islands comprise two islands, Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi. To complicate matters, they are also known as Koh Raya Yai and Koh Raya Noi (Yai means "great" in Thai and as you may have guessed, noi means "small"). I've been bathing naked (really naked (-_-).

The islands have clear waters and white sand beaches (that I really really love it indeed). They are very popular with divers and snorkellers, with dive sites for advanced divers and difficult for many beginners and snorkelers. You can walk around the island but it take time.

Racha Yai:

Closest to Phuket is Racha Yai. The island is mainly inhabited by farmers and fishermen Muslims. This island is also where the whole property is located.

The main beach on the northwest coast of the island, and Ao Tawan Tok (also known as Ao Bungalow), which is located in a U-shaped bay The sand here is white as snow and has the consistency of talcum powder(It's great! great soft for your feet). There are a few bungalows and restaurants located here, although the area is fairly limited. There is only electricity for several hours in the evening.

Like many islands in the region, Racha Yai is popular with day-trippers from Phuket and Ao Bungalow can be a bit busy in the afternoon.

At night the island is pretty quiet with only a few restaurants and bars. The lack of light means that the night sky is light with stars, ideal for stargazing on the beach.

Racha Noi:

Just south of Racha Yai is her little sister, Racha Noi. This island is uninhabited and has more rocks than beaches. There is a small bay on the west coast and is a favorite spot for fishing, but outside of the diving there is not much to do here.

The main activities here are scuba diving and snorkelling. Racha Yai's east coast has a bay that is fine for diving even during the rainy-season. Visibility can be as as good as 30m.

Racha Noi is more suited to experienced divers as the sites are at greater depths. There are some sites where larger marine creatures, manta rays in particular, are regularly spotted.

Pictures Credit :
http://travel.upyim.com
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Thank to : www.accorhotels.com

Phuket Part III

Patong Beach

Phuket's busiest resort area, Patong has the greatest concentration of bars, restaurants and shops on the island.

Patong has suffered a lot of negative publicity in recent years to be over-developed and its hedonistic party scene. However, most visitors to Phuket still choose to spend their time in Patong and for good reason. Patong has much to offer and despite its reputation for naughty nightlife, Patong is also very popular with families.The 3 km long beach still has the beautiful white sand and clear water, which is now visibly clearer after the tsunami. The chairs and umbrellas are now back in full force, providing an ideal place to relax and enjoy the sun with all the amenities you could want nearby. You'll find everything you need for your vacation. There are many shops and stalls, and other leisure and recreational activities. However, if you are looking for a retreat at the beach, you probably will not find it in Patong.

Patong is where you will find the most varied choice of hotels in Phuket. Somewhere out there for every budget. Guesthouses cheap and easy to style complex of four and five stars, and everything else. There are even a few hotels on the beach. You can choose to stay near the nightlife or stay later. The beauty of staying in Patong, is that everything is just a short walk or tuk-tuk ride away.Patong is the busiest beach of the island and you will never be short of something to do here. If you like water sports, then this is the place. There are jet skiing, water skiing, windsurfing, sailing, parasailing.You can snorkel on the reef at the southern end of the bay or take a ride to the beach long tail boat to freedom best coral viewing. Further inland, you can try bungee jumping, go bowling or go through the hills in Kathu for a spot of carting. If you feel calmer, rent a beach for the day, slap on plenty of sunscreen and watch the show while you enjoy the rays. The sea is generally calm throughout the year and the deep seabed shelves gently makingit quite safe to swim in. For even more relaxation, there are usually many close masseuses who give massages on the beach (it quite good for me and you ^^). Patong is undoubtedly the center of the island's night scene. Bars in Patong can be roughly divided into beer bars, go-go bars and regular (ones that have not to go). The scene is centered around Patong Bangla Road and its many ramifications. The road is perpendicular to the beach road towards the northern end of Patong. Bangla is only about half a kilometer and is pedestrian in the evening making it easy to walk around and bar hop.

to be continue...

Phuket Part II

Phuket City

Phuket Town is well worth taking the time to the beach for its shops and markets, its Sino-Portuguese buildings, temples and many restaurants.

Most visitors to Phuket head straight for the beach and rightly so, but if you want to take a break in the sand and catch a glance of a more "real" part of the island, then Phuket City has much to offer. Phuket town is about 30 minutes drive from Patong and is easily accessible by songthaew (beach-bus) or tuk tuk if you do not have your own transportation.

Administrative center of Phuket that was recently awarded city status and is still commonly referred to Phuket Town, even on billboards. As living, breathing city of Thailand, it is not specially designed for tourists than other areas of the island. However, if you're willing to make the effort there are some delicious ways to spend your time.

You can get an overview of the history of the island by taking a walk along the roads Dibuk, Thalang and Krabi in the "old town". Here you can see many beautiful colonial mansions built in the Sino-Portuguese style by Chinese tin barons (see the history of Phuket) over a century ago.

In this area, there are also plenty of shops decorated houses which are built in the same style as those found in coastal cities throughout the Malay Peninsula. These old buildings were in danger of being demolished, but their historical value was recognized, and many have been restored.

While you are in this area, visiting some of Chinese shrines of the city, such as Jui Tui and Put Jaw which are just off Ranong road (near the fresh market).

For a magnificent view of the city, the jungle and the sea, go to the top of Khao Rang, a hill on the northwest edge of town. You'll find a couple of good restaurants where you can enjoy the view with a nice meal and a bronze statue of Phraya Ratsada Nupradit (also known as Ratsada Korsimbi Na Ranong ), a famous governor of Phuket.

Other attractions include: The Phuket Butterfly Garden and Insectarium, located near Tesco Lotus supermarket in Sam Kong district, the Phuket Orchid Garden and Thai Village, also in Sam Kong, which has cultural performances, including folk dances, Thai boxing and elephant shows.

to be continue...

 

Credit : Picture from Phuket.net