Phuket FantaSea is arguably the biggest entertainment complex in Phuket. Aimed to highlight Thailand’s history and culture, it conjures up spectacular shows that reflect many aspects of both modern and ancient Thailand.

Phuket FantaSea offers nighttime entertainment on the tropical resort island of Phuket. Built at the cost of over 3,500 million baht (approx 78 million USD), it adds a new dimension to a theme park entertainment in Thailand, presenting the charms of the kingdom and its exotic culture and traditions, legends and myths with the magic of cutting-edge technology and special effects. It consists of the magnificent Palace of the Elephants, a state-of-the-art theatre constructed in the Sukhothai architectural style.

Its “Fantasy of a Kingdom” Culture-illusion Show consists of 9 themed shows, which are Thai culture, magical illusions, 4-dimensional effects, aerial performance, acrobatics, indoor pyrotechnics, special effects, elephant circus and stunts. Many of the technologies used in the shows are obtained from hotels and casinos in Las Vegas which are known for their excellent and innovative shows. The Thai creators however were able to use these technologies and expertise and mixed this with their Thai sense of showmanship. Other attractions include games, plays and exciting surprises for kids as well as traditional carnivals and live music, handicraft demonstrations, and cultural parades and street shows.

Phuket FantaSea is located at Kamala Beach, about 9 km from Patong Beach. This carnival village offers carnivals, games and handicrafts shops. The shows start at 9 pm and lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Regarded by travelers as one of the world’s most beautiful tropical islands, Phi Phi Islands is the most desired place of visit, besides Phuket, in the southwestern coast of Thailand. The islands have long been famous for their exotic appearance and gorgeous fine sandy bays.

The islands are part of a National Marine Park in Krabi Province. They are surrounded by azure deep crystal clear water and rich in marine lives and coral reefs. It is the most popular place in the south of Thailand for snorkeling and scuba diving. Your best bet is to see green and hawksbill turtles munching on bubble corals, black and white banded sea snakes, squid, angelfish, black-tip reef sharks and leopard (zebra) sharks.

The island group is composed of two rocky, tree-covered islets Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le. Phi Phi Don, the larger islet to the north, is well known for its beautiful beaches and coral formations. The 28-square kilometer island is inhabited by sea gypsies who emigrate from Koh Lipeh in the Tarutao National Park near the Malaysia water. The island’s best diving spots are located at the northern end at Cape Laem and the southern tip at Hua Rah Ket. There are long beaches with rocks scattered about. Ton Sai and Loh Dalam are the most attractive beaches on this island. Tourist facilities and accommodations and tourist services can be found here. Small tour shops here offer diving and snorkeling trips that will take you to nearby islands such as Koh Phi Phi Le, Koh Yung and Koh Mai Phai.

Located nearby Phi Phi Don is Phi Phi Le. The small island is entirely limestone and steep cliffs jutting from the sea. Surrounding waters average about 20 meters in depth, reaching 34 meters at the deepest point off the island’s southern tip. It has several beautiful bays, including Pileh, Maya and Loh Samah. Ao Pileh is a lovely cove enclosed by limestone walls of the island’s cliffs. Ao Maya, which is the shooting site of Leonardo Di Caprio film ‘The Beach’, is a small charming beach with fine soft sand while Ao Lo Sama has a good snorkeling place.

In addition, a neighboring island of Koh Yung north of Koh Phi Phi Don has a stone beach on the east and small sandy beaches amid valleys. The island is teeming with diverse colorful coral reefs. Koh Phai, another island near Koh Yung, has spectacular beaches in its northern and eastern sides. The bank of coral reefs comprised mainly of antler corals stretching from the north to the south of the island.

With its emerald crystal sea, secluded beaches, mountain cliffs, colorful coral reefs and undersea life, Phi Phi is a paradise in the Andaman Sea. The best time to visit Phi Phi Islands starts from November to April when the sea is calm. The islands can be accessed by boat from Phuket and Krabi, with an approximate journey time of 2 hours.

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.

Thailand’s largest island is a wonderland of wildlife and rainforest fringed by white sand beaches with some of the world’s largest island

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.

This collection of islands is populated by sea gypsies, riddled with spectacular caves and features great diving among its coral reefs.

Island Chain
Koh Lanta actually comprises about fifty islands, many with mangrove forests and coral reef beaches. The largest and most popular island is Koh Lanta Yai; the main village is Ban Sala Dan. Tourists stay in guesthouses and bungalows, although nearby islands have camping facilities.

Fishing Village
The people of Koh Lanta are mainly Thai Moslems, many of whom have mixed with sea gypsies. Most work on plantations, but some live from fishing. Ban Sangkha-U, a traditional southern fishing village, is a good place to experience the character of the local people. There are very few cars in the village, as on most of the island, and the main circular road is unpaved.

Marine Life
Koh Lanta’s beaches do not match those of Koh Samui or Phuket, but they are relatively peaceful: all on the west coast, the nicest are on the northern and southern ends. This coast supports plenty of coral, and dive sites at Hin Daeng and Hin Muang offer rich marine life, including the occasional whale shark. Visibility is best from November to April.
Cave Complex
Tham Khao Mai Kaew, in the center of Koh Lanta, is a vast and disparate cave complex with stalactites, stalagmites, a cavern pool and thousands of bats. Taking a guide is recommended; there is a restaurant and guide service near the start of the path to the caves. Some guesthouses arrange transport to the trail. You can get good views of the island from Deer Neck Cape (Laem Khaw Kwang) in the north.

Koh Chang is the largest island in the gulf of Thailand and the second largest one in the country after Phuket. Visitors mostly travel for 5 and a half hours by road and take a 45 minute boat ride to the island. Nowadays, Bangkok Airways offers a 45 minute flight from the capital to Trad.

Its close proximity to the shore makes Koh Chang accessible all year round. The best time to visit the island is between November and April. The sea is less clear during the rainy season from August and October.

Touring the island on a motorcycle is also easy since the road network is now complete. There are a various styles of accommodation here, from a basic thatched roof bungalow to a boutique cottage. Grocery stores are plenty and tend to increase in number in the future. Presently, many pubs and bars are centred around Had Sai Khao and Had Kai Bae.

General Features
Located 463 km south of Bangkok, Chumphon is bordered by a mountain range and the province of Ranong and part of the Thai-Burma border to the west, the Gulf of Thailand to the east, Prachuap Khiri Khan province to the north, and Surat Thani province to the south. With a high mountain ridge to the east, as well as the west, Chumphon is vulnerable to monsoonal rains from the Gulf. There are two distinct seasons: the rainy season from June until January, and summer from February to May. The three rivers of Taphao, Chumphon and Lang Suan bring regular, year-round flows of water to Chumphon.

Riches on Land and by the Sea
Its proximity to the Gulf of Thailand means that the main occupation of Chumphon folk is agriculturally based in the fertile plains between the mountains where there is high humidity and good quality soil. The areas main income stems from cultivating par? rubber, palm oil, fruits and coffee. Most of Thailand’s coffee is grown in Chumphon. A wide variety of fruit is on sale alongside highways, such as Leb Meu Nang (cooking banana), pineapple from the Sawi district, longan from Lang Suan district, and durian and zalacca palm.

Gateway to the South
Chumphon is the first of Thailand’s southern provinces encountered when driving south, often considered less interesting than neighboring provinces such as Prachuap Khiri Khan, Surat Thani, Phang-nga and Phuket. Normally, tourists flow to destinations further south. However, Chumphon is the gateway to the south and has a number of natural attributes of interest ranging from high mountain ranges, mangrove forests, offshore islands and fertile coral reefs – especially those found in Mu Koh Chumphon Marine National Park. Touring Chumphon presents a variety of interesting attractions to visit such as caves, waterfalls, river rafting, mangroves, beaches and islands.

Trad, with a population of less than 15,000 people isn’t exactly known as a rocking town. However, because Trad province shares its eastern border with Cambodia, it is a major springboard for the gem trade (and other contraband) and for visitors to Koh Chang and the other 42 lush islands that lie just off the southern coast.

In the past, the city was called Muang Tung Yai (the city of a vast field) and a huge seaport where goods were changing hands here. Attractions in the city consist of century-old Buddhist temples and religious shrines – the kind of place that suits Thai pilgrims rather than weekend holidaymakers. The most visited temples are Buppharam Temple (1548), Yothanimit Temple or Wat Boat (the only royal temple in the province) and Kiriviharn Temple , which is situated on the mountain

Because of its nearness to the border, there are several old style markets in town and a few bargain souvenirs. Presently, Trad is known as a marketplace of second-handed foreign goods and, most of all, gem stones. The most famous of all is Siam Ruby, which is found in this province only – but don’t buy any gems unless you really know what you are doing.

The last province of Thailand on the eastern coast, Trad has many admirable beaches. However, more than eighty percents of tourists who visit this province are headed to either one of its islands or cross the border to Koh Kong on the trip to Cambodia . Thanks to this trend, most beaches along Trad’s coastline remain virtually pristine.

Laem Ngob
About 17 kilometers from the city centre of Trad, Laem Ngob is a cape that is a centre of transportation to several islands such as Koh Chang, Koh Mak, Koh Kradad and Koh Ngam. It is also a place fishing boats and ferries are anchored.

A place to visit near Laem Ngob pier is a Naval War Memorial Park . The park exhibits information about the historical battle between Thai and French Navy Force on January 17, 1941 . This shady park is a popular hangout for locals who gather in the evening for respite. Souvenir shops, stores and sea-food restaurants are available here.
Islands and Beaches
Having the long coastline of 165 kilometers, Trad has 42 lush islands in its boundary. Beaches along the city shore, from the western coast to the eastern, may be not spectacular but worth wading through. Among beaches on the west, Ao Thamachad and Ao Tan Koo are best for swimming while Lam Ngob is the most well known pier from which travelers can embark for the most popular island off the city shore, Koh Chang, and other paradise islands nearby. At the very end of Trad-Lam Ngob Road , the platform at Lam Sok or Lam Nam is the best scenic place for watching the setting of the sun.

On the left side of Lam Sok are beaches of the eastern coast that dot the line all the way through to the eastern borderline of the country. Most of the beaches at this side are supremely serene, thus, offering privacy to visitors. Beginning with Lam Klad, Had Sai Ngam, Had Sai Ngen, Had Muk, Had Sai Kaew, Had Ban Chuen and Had Lek, which is the end of the journey in this province and of the Kingdom of Thailand .

Offshore are the two most popular sites of the province, Koh Chang and Koh Kood. Koh Chang, the largest island of the province and the nation’s second largest island after Phuket Island , is the nearest offshore paradise travelers can reach. Here, tourists will enjoy not only the beaches, but can also sail to other isles nearby, that is, Koh Sai Khao, Koh Prao Nok, Koh Laoya, Koh Wai and Koh Ngam. Most of the popular beaches on the island are on the western side, that is, Had Sai Khao and Had Kai Bae. From Had Kai Bae, it is possible to buy a package tour for a scuba diving at Koh Yuak, Koh Man Nok and Koh Man Nai, located just the opposite of the shore.

Travellers are required to hold a passport valid for not less than 6 months after entry into Thailand. For travellers aged 50 years or above wishing to take retreat in Thailand at least for a period of one year, their passports should be valid not less than 18 months. Before traveling, check that your embassy can replace your passport if it is misplaced. Make copies of the identification of yourself and of your family in case of emergency. If you lose your passport, contact the police and your embassy/consulate immediately.

Passport holders of 39 countries (see list below), including the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most European and Southeast Asian countries are automatically permitted to stay in Thailand for 30 days on a tourist visa status (no visa application needed). This 30-day tourist visa can be extended for before exceeding the permitted period at the Office of Immigration Bureau at Soi Suan Plu.
Ordinary and national passport holders of three countries—Peru, Brazil and Korea– that have concluded agreement on the visa exemption with Thailand are permitted to stay up to 90 days.

Passport holders from other 14 countries (see list below) get 15-day temporary tourist visa or visa on arrival. The visa on arrival will be provided at 23 designated international checkpoints (see list below). Applicants are required to attach their 2.5-inches photograph with their application form. The application fee is BHT300. Visitors who enter the kingdom with visa on arrival generally cannot file an application for extension of stay except in special cases such as illness which prevents them from traveling, etc. They can submit an application at the Office of Immigration Bureau at Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road.

Alternatively, you can apply for visa at a Thai embassy/consulate in your country for a 30-day transit visa or a 60-day tourist visa with the fee of THB200 and THB300, respectively. Both visa types are extendable within the permitted period of stay. However, it is obligatory that passport holders of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Sudan, Algeria, Libya, Yemen, Egypt and Palestinian States are required to file an application at the Thai Embassy/Consulate-General where they have their permanent residence.
Visa extensions are available at the Office of Immigration Bureau, Immigration Division 1, Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120. Tel. (662) 287-3127 or 287-3101-10 ext. 2264-5. Whatever your nationality and travel plans, confirm entry conditions.

Official agencies in charge of issuing visas are:
1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2. The Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates abroad
3. The Office of Immigration Bureau
NB.
- From August 26, 2003, the Office of Immigration Bureau will require the application fees for the transit and tourist visas to be THB800 and THB1,000, respectively.

- Overstaying your visas for more than 24 hours will be fined for THB200 a day upon leaving Thailand from airports. However, if exiting the country through immigration checkpoints, overstaying visitors will be fined THB200 a day even if the overstaying time does not exceed 24 hours.
More information about applying for a Thai Visa http://www.mfa.go.th/web/12.php#temp or http://www.thaiembdc.org/consular/visa/visa.htm.

List of 39 countries eligible for a 30-day tourist visa
1. Australia : Commonwealth of Australia
2. Austria : Republic of Austria
3. Belgium : Kingdom of Belgium
4. Brazil : Federative Republic of Brazil
5. Bahrain : State of Bahrain
6. Brunei Darussalam : Negara Brunei Darussalam
7. Canada
8. Denmark : Kingdom of Denmark
9. Finland : Republic of Finland
10. France : French Republic
11. Germany : Federal Republic of Germany
12. Greece : Hellenic Republic
13. Hong Kong : Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
14. Indonesia : Republic of Indonesia
15. Ireland : Republic of Ireland
16. Israel : State of Israel
17. Italy : Republic of Italy
18. Japan
19. Korea : Republic of Korea
20. Kuwait : State of Kuwait
21. Luxembourg : Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
22. Malaysia
23. Netherlands : Kingdom of the Netherlands
24. New Zealand
25. Norway : Kingdom of Norway
26. Peru : Republic of Peru
27. Philippines : Republic of the Philippines
28. Portugal : Republic of Portugal
29. Qatar : State of Qatar
30. Singapore : Republic of Singapore
31. Spain : Kingdom of Spain
32. South Africa : Republic of South Africa
33. Sweden : Kingdom of Sweden
34. Switzerland : Swiss Confederation
35. Turkey : Republic of Turkey
36. United Arab Emirates
37. United Kingdom : United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
38. United States of America
39. Vietnam : Socialist Republic of Vietnam

List of 14 countries eligible for a 15-Day visa on arrival

1. Bhutan : Kingdom of Bhutan
2. China : People’s Republic of China (including Taiwan)
3. Cyprus : Republic of Cyprus
4. Czech : Czech Republic
5. Hungary : Republic of Hungary
6. India : Republic of India
7. Kazakhstan : Republic of Kazakhstan
8. Maldives : Republic of Maldives
9. Mauritius : Republic of Mauritius
10. Oman : Sultanate of Oman
11. Poland : Republic of Poland
12. Russian Federation
13. Saudi Arabia : Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
14. Ukraine

List of Thailand’s Immigration Checkpoints that provides facilities for issuance of visa on arrival

1. Don Muang International Airport , Bangkok
2. Chiangmai International Airport , Chiangmai
3. Phuket International Airport , Phuket
4. Hatyai International Airport , Songkla
5. U Tapao Airport , Rayong
6. Mae Sai Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai
7. Chieng Saen Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai
8. Chieng Khong Immigration Checkpoint , Chiengrai
9. Betong Immigration Checkpoint , Yala
10. Sadoa Immigration Checkpoint , Songkla
11. Samui Airport , Surat Thani
12. Sukhothai International Airport, Tak Immigration Checkpoint
13. Bangkok Harbour Immigration Checkpoint, Bangkok
14. Sri Racha Immigration Checkpoint , Chonburi
15. Mabtaput Immigration Checkpoint , Rayong
16. Nong Khai Immigration Checkpoint, Nong Khai
17. Samui Immigration Checkpoint , Surat Thani
18. Phuket Immigration Checkpoint , Phuket
19. Satun Immigration Checkpoint , Satun
20. Krabi Immigration Checkpoint , Krabi
21. Songkhla Harbour Immigraion Checkpoint , Songkhla
22. Chiangrai Airport Immigration Checkpoint, Chiangrai
23. Surat Thani Airport Immigration Checkpoint , Surat Thani

List of countries which have concluded agreement on the exemption of visa requirement with Thailand

- Country which has concluded agreement on the exemption of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic, official and ordinary passports with Thailand and permitted to stay for 90 days:
Republic of Peru

- List of Countries which have concluded agreement on the exemption of visa requirement for holders of national passport with Thailand and permitted to stay for 30 and 90 days:

90 Days
1.Brazil
2. Republic of Korea

30 Days
1. Hong Kong SAR
2. Socialist Republic of Vietnam
3. Macao Special Administrative Region

In Thailand, the medical treatment and facilities are generally good. Each province has at least one hospital and several public and private clinics scattering around town.
However, the most advanced hospitals flock in Bangkok. In the North, Chiang Mai provides the best medical care. In the Northeast, it’s in Khon Kaen while in the South, it’s at Hat Yai or in Phuket. When prescribed of antibiotics, strict to the given dose and intervals. When buying drugs at local drugs stores, travelers should be careful of the expiry date printed on the label. Travelers should take note that medications, drugs or even alcoholic beverages may be more potent and of a different composition than similar ones in their home countries. Each year, several foreigners die of premature heart attacks after drinking alcohol or using drugs of different composition. The best way is consulting with physicians at accredited hospitals. Ask your embassy or hotels where you stay for accredited clinics or hospitals.