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Thailand’s largest island is a wonderland of wildlife and rainforest fringed by white sand beaches with some of the world’s premier resorts.
Wild Interior
Visitors to Phuket Province generally head for the sea, but the interior is worth exploring for its vivid patchwork of plantations and rice paddies, crowned by the island's last rainforest in Khao Phra Thaw Royal Wildlife Reserve. Here, rainy season hikes provide the best views of Ton Sai and Bang Pae waterfalls, with possible sightings of resident wildlife such as flying foxes and slow loris: visit the Gibbon Rehabilitation Center near Bang Pae falls and see how they reintroduce captive gibbons to the jungle.
Trading History
Phuket Town was once a trading point for ships from China , India , Arabia , Malaya and Portugal . 19th century Sino-Portuguese shop houses on Phang-Nga, Yaowarat, and Ranong Roads stand testimony to those days, with fine restorations on Deebuk and Thalang Roads. Also on Phang-Nga Road , the mystical Shrine of the Serene Light is a 150-year-old Chinese temple with notable art and a tranquil garden. See the surrounding area from nearby Phuket Hill (Khao Rang).
Vegetarian Festival
A cultural legacy, the Vegetarian Festival ushers in Taoist Lent in September / October, when religious Chinese avoid eating meat. The festivities involve colorful, noisy street parades, with devotees doing penance through pain. Among other things, they pierce their cheeks and tongues with swords.
Beaches in Phuket
Patong Beach
Patong beach is about 15 kilometers from downtown Phuket. This is the liveliest beach in Phuket. The 9 kilometre white sandy beach is crowded with numerous restaurants, pubs, bars and luxury hotels. The nice beach and a lot of sea activities to enjoy make it one of those with the largest number of visitors most foreigners. It is the place where you find fun activities from dusk till dawn. Accommodation on Patong Beach is of various styles and prices from guesthouses to hip boutiques resorts.
Karon Beach
About 3 kilometres north of Kata Bay is Karon Beach. The beach stretches long with high and low sandy hillocks in the north. The sand is white and clean. The area is quiet, which makes an ideal place for sunbathing. A number of 4 star resorts are located here.
Kata Beach
Seventeen kilometers from Phuket town, Kata Beach is regarded as one of Phuket’s top beaches with white, clean sand and lines of coconut trees. It is divided to 2 bays; namely Kata Noi Beach and Kata Yai Beach. The water is shallow suitable for swimming. Also available are activities such as diving at Koh Pu or playing banana boats and jet skies. There are several 4 star hotels, seafood restaurants and shopping places along the beach.
Nai Han Beach
Bordered by hills on both sides, Nai Han Beach is considered the land of peace. The beach boosts white, clean sand. Standing in the middle of the beach looking out into the sea, ones will see two bays curving inwards to almost meet one other. Protected by the hills, the beach is haven of many expensive yachts which are docked here.
Other Islands
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