An Expert Travel Guide to Phuket – What to look forward to

Phuket is an island that is part of Thailand and indeed is one of the most exciting destinations for those seeking an adventurous escape into bliss. Here are a few things to know about this absolutely beautiful island.

A beach paradise

If you love the beach, then you’ve certainly selected the right holiday spot for you. There’s plenty of sun, gorgeous beige sands and blue, blue waters lapping against the shores. Not to mention, there are plenty of beachside restaurants serving up great seafood and chilled beverages.

Visit the elephants

The gentle giants of the jungle are treated with great care in Thailand and this is evident at the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. The elephants are cared for here and guests are even allowed to observe them up close and interact with these wonderful creatures.

Image via pxfuel

Party, party, party

Are you a party animal? Well, Phuket’s got some good news for you! There are plenty of beachside clubs with popular DJs playing in the evenings. Dance to those beats by the ocean in the warm breeze with a cooler in hand.

Stay

Since Phuket is quite a popular destination among travellers, a Phuket resort isn’t difficult to come by! Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas and other hotels on the island offer a memorable, luxurious experience for your stay.

Best Diving Spots in Phuket

Phuket is a particularly renowned place in Thailand when it comes to aquatic wonders. There are many beautiful islands around her waters, and magical realms beneath them.

Koh Dok Mai

This refers to a small island that is covered in thick jungle to be found just a short distance away from Phuket. This island is actually composed of a massive limestone rock that steeply rises out of the sea. The island’s walls contain an abundance of marine life beneath the surface of the water.

King Cruiser

This was a notable car ferry that strayed way off course during a routine trip between Phuket and the Phi Phi Islands and ended up striking a reef. Luckily, all of the passengers and crew were rescued, and the wreck is now one of the region’s most famous dive sites.

File:Phi Phi Island Tour (4297215540).jpg
Michael_Spencer from Perth, WA, Australia, Phi Phi Island Tour (4297215540)CC BY 2.0

Anemone Reef

If you visit the wreck of the King Cruiser, it’s probably worth exploring the reef that resulted in its sinking. It’s slightly closer to Phuket city than the King Cruiser, and if you’re staying at a Phuket resort along the likes of Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas, you can reach the dive site within 90 minutes.

Shark Point

This is the most popular of local dive sites and is part of a marine sanctuary. In addition to notable quantities of sharks, you can also find many different species of tropical fish.

File:Thailand-Shark Point Sunset.jpg
jon hanson on flickr., Thailand-Shark Point SunsetCC BY-SA 2.0

Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+

Snorkelling Trip to Khai Islands

Nestled a little away from Phang Nga Bay, Khai Islands, with bright blue transparent waters are best known for providing a great snorkelling opportunity.

Snorkelling Trip to Khai Islands | Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikipedia Commons
Snorkelling Trip to Khai Islands | Image Credit – Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikipedia Commons

The islands

The three Khai Islands, namely Khai Nai, Koh Khai Nok and Koh Khai Nai are located approximately 30 minutes from the east of Phuket. Resort lovers who choose to stay at properties of COMO Hotels & Resorts will find that a day trip to these islands is the perfect escape from the crowds.

Snorkelling

Koh Nai Island and Koh Khai Nai Island are popular for snorkelers as the waters are teeming with a colourful range of marine life.

What not to do

No matter how tempting it looks, remember that you should not feed the fish, as this will harm the ecosystem since the fish will eventually become dependent on humans for their food! Also, you can be arrested for it.

Essentials

Everything from swimwear, sunscreen and sunglasses are essential. If you stay a property such as COMO Point Yamu, a tour to these islands can be arranged for approximately THB 2,500++ per person, which includes snorkelling equipment, guides and transfers.

Roland Lefevre is a travel writer who specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.

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Snorkelling Trip to Khai Island

Angelique800326Snorkel-xel-haCC BY-SA 3.0

Khai Islands are located about 10 km from Phuket. Comprising of three small islands; Khai Nok, Khai Nai and Khai Nui, each island is blessed with an abundant number of marine life. The sands at Khai Islands are picture perfect – almost as if popped out of a postcard, with white soft sands and clear blue water that allures you from the moment you set your feet down. The waters around each island are safe and ideal for swimming and snorkelling and the white sandy beaches are best for relaxing and basking under the warm glow of the sun.

If you’re staying at a Phuket resort, you must take a traditional long tail boat ride to the Khai Island for a snorkelling adventure. Some accommodation providers such as COMO Hotels & Resorts, offer day time excursions for those who wish to explore the beauty of marine life living within the warm tropical ocean waters. A boat ride from Phuket should take on average 45 minutes to Khai Islands. A planned tour will first take you to Khai Nui which is surrounded by the colourful reefs that are teeming with fish like eels, clownfish, giant clams and many more. After you spend a couple of hours exploring and snorkelling here, you’ll be transported to the second island known as Khai Nok. This island is the best place to buy some fresh seafood, which will then later be grilled on a BBQ, as you unwind and relax with a chilled beer or a refreshing cocktail by the side of the beach. You can also rent jet skis and go for a spin on the azure waters around the islands. Khai Nai is the largest island of the three, while Khai Nui is comparatively the smallest.

Tourists who spend the day snorkelling here are advised not to feed the fish and leave as little a mark as possible so as not to damage the natural environment and its eco system.

 

Intrigued by history, art and food, Lavinia Woolf is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary and writes of the exhilarating and enchanting. Google+

Xtream Adventures in Phuket

While Phuket may be known for its laidback coastal lifestyle, thrill seekers have plenty to experience here as well, especially at Xtrem Adventures! Before embarking on your extreme escapades make sure to find a well placed Phuket resort which you can use as a base for your travels and tours. Situated along Mai Khao beach, Anantara Phuket Resort Thailand is an ideal Phuket beach resort which also has a spa where you can unwind after all your lively excursions. If you want to combine a day out in nature with adrenaline pumping activities then make your way to Xtrem Adventures which can be found near Chalong circle. This adventure park in Phuket gives visitors a chance to climb trees, walk along bridges and zip across flying foxes all within a forested area! Experience a Tarzan like adventure that is suitable for younger visitors as well. Safety standards are strictly followed and you will be “swinging” amidst the trees without a care in the world in no time!

Elephant Trekking in Phuket

If you are looking to truly experience and enjoy the stunning natural beauty that the island of Phuket has to offer, then make sure to sign up for an elephant trekking tour the next time you visit this enchanting island. It always helps to find a Phuket resort that gives you a chance to embark on such excursions and Anantara Phuket Resort Thailand is an ideal option worth considering. This Phuket beach resort is also near the Sirinath National Park and makes a perfect base from which to set off in search of elephant back adventures! There are several elephant trekking tour companies on the island, each offering you and your family a chance to get up close with these animals as you explore lush forests and go past spectacular views of scenic beauty. The elephants are guided by their mahouts and the tours range from half an hour treks to one hour excursions. As you sit atop these majestic creatures you may get lost in thought and enjoy a laidback lifestyle far removed from the concrete jungle of the city!

Sea Kayaking in Phang Nga Bay

Known for its stunning natural beauty and diverse marine life, Phang Nga Bay provides countless hours of exploration which can be enjoyed while kayaking! This famous Thai attraction can be found near the island of Phuket and those in search of a luxurious Phuket resort which to base themselves at can stay at Millennium Resort Patong Phuket. One of the best Patong resorts on the island, it also has its own spa where one can unwind in after a long day of sea kayaking. Named as a National Park, Phang Nga Bay is known for its towering limestone cliffs as well as its mysterious ‘hongs’. Best explored by kayak, these ‘hongs’ are limestone caves home to their own ecosystems of both flora and fauna. As you paddle your way through these caves it is easy to get lost in thought as you enter a truly fascinating world.