Phuket Phuket Phuket Wat Chalong CONTENTS HOW TO GET THERE 7 ATTRACTIONS 8 Amphoe Mueang Phuket 8 Amphoe Kathu 20 Amphoe Thalang 21 INTERESTING ACTIVITIES 27 Water Sports 27 Other Activities 29 MAJOR EVENTS 31 LOCAL PRODUCTS 32 SUGGESTED ITINERARY 33 FACILITIES IN PHUKET 34 Accommodation 34 Restaurant 45 USEFUL CALLS 48 Hat Patong Phuket Phuket In the early days of regional maritime Distance from Amphoe Mueang Phuket trade, the cape of Phuket was locally referred to other districts to as Jung Ceylon, frequently mentioned in Kathu 8 kilometres foreign traders’ ship logs The Island was on one Thalang 20 kilometres of the major trading port for tin routes between India and China. Jung Ceylon was later known, Distance from Phuket to other provinces while locals called it Thalang, which evolved Phang-nga 87 kilometres to be the name of the main town to the north Krabi 176 kilometres of the island. Suratthani 287 kilometres In 1785, Thalang was surrounded by Burmese troops who invaded the coastal area. It was HOW TO GET THERE under the leadership of Chan and her sister, By car: From Bangkok there are two routes: Muk, who united the local residents and 1. Highway 35 (Thon Buri-Pak Tho) Turn left at successfully fought and drove the invaders the Wang Manao T-junction and follow Highway out of Phuket. As a result of such heroic deeds, 4 (Phetchakasem Road) through Phetchaburi noble titles were granted to Chan and Muk as province, Cha-am, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Soonthorn. Thap Sakae. When you reach the intersection to They are still highly respected by Phuket Chumphon town (Pathomphon Intersection at residents even today. When the development of Km. 499), go straight on Highway 41, passing mining, Chinese businessmen and miners later through Amphoe Lang Suan into Surat Thani migrated to Phuket and soon enjoy thriving province. About 10 km. from the Surat Thani wealth. Airport, turn right at the intersection at Km. Phuket is the largest island in the country. The 18, and take Highway 401, passing the Ban Ta best time to travel is during the months of Khun District Office, Surat Thani province. Go on December to April, known as the pearl of the for about 5 km. and turn left at the T-junction Andaman sea. The beauty of the island of white onto Highway 415, passing the Thap Put District beaches, sparkling island-dotted seas, sincere Office. Go straight about 1 km., then turn hospitable people, superb accommodation and left onto Highway 415. Keep going until you seafood, delightful turn-of-the-century Sino- reach the T-junction to Phang-nga town. Turn Portuguese architecture, numerous sporting left and follow the road for another 89 km. to and leisure opportunities, and a lush tropical reach Phuket. (Take Highway 4 until reaching landscape-all of which have been combined Ban Khok Kloi in Phang-nga and turn left onto to create a delightful ambience for truly Highway 402). The whole journey is a total of memorable holidays. 862 km. This is the most comfortable route. 2. Take the same route as (1) to Pathomphon intersection to Chumphon town, turn right onto Highway 4, passing Amphoe Kra Buri and Amphoe Kapoe, Ranong province, Amphoe Phuket 7 Khura Buri, Amphoe Takua Pa, Amphoe Takua Taxi service charges by distance. Contact Phuket Thung, Amphoe Thai Mueang, Phang-nga International Airport Tel. 0 7632 7230-7 province, and into Phuket. This route goes along Transportation In Town winding roads which require low speed. There are three lines of public bus in Phuket By Bus: Take the daily bus from the Town. Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal on Line no.1 Big C-Saphan Hin Borommaratchachonnani Road, to Phuket. Line no.2 Super Cheap Grocery-Talat Si Mum The journey takes 12-14 hours. Mueang Transport Company Limited Tel. 1490, 0 2422 Line no.3 Saphan Hin–Leam Tukkae 4444, 0 2894 6122, 0 7621 1480 www.transport. Tuk-Tuk Serve in downtown only co.th Transportation to other Provinces Bus Express Company Limited Tel. 0 2894 6101-3, There are regular bus services to Krabi, Nakhon 0 7622 1736 Si Thammarat, Phang-nga, Takua Pa, Ranong, Phuket Central Tour Co.,Ltd Tel. 0 2885 8692-4 or Chumphon, Surat Thani, Trang, Pattalung, 0 7621 3615, 0 7621 4335 Satun, Sungai Ko-lok, Hat Yai, Ko Samui and Ko Phuket Travel Co., Ltd Tel. 0 2885 9025-6, 0 7622 Pha-ngan. Departures are from the Phuket Bus 2107-9 Terminal 2 on Phang-nga Road, Tel. 0 7637 3193 Phuket Bus Terminal 2 Tel. 0 7637 3193 By Rail: There are no direct train services to ATTRACTIONS Phuket. Travellers must get off at the Phun Phin Amphoe Mueang Phuket (อำ�เภอเมืองภูเก็ต) Railway Station in Surat Thani and continue Khao Rang (เข�รัง) by regular bus to Phuket. Please call Tel. 1690 A great view of Phuket town, the southern www.railway.co.th part of the island, and some of the offshore By Air: There are many airlines operating islands, can be obtained by going to the flights from Bangkok to Phuket, as follows: top of Khao Rang Hill. There are also several From Donmueang Airport restaurants featuring spectacular views of the Thai Air Asia Tel. 0 2515 9999 www.airasia.com city, a health park and a comfortable, expanse of Thai Lion Air Tel. 0 2529 9999 www.lionairthai. grass at the top with a bronze statue of Phraya com Ratsadanupradit, the model Governor of Phuket Nok Air Tel. 1318, 0 2900 9955 www.nokair.com. during King Rama V’s reign. From Suvarnabhumi Airpot Bangkok Airways Tel. 1771, 0 2270 6699, Phuket Saphan Hin (สะพ�นหิน) Office Tel. 0 7620 5400-2 www.bangkokair.com. is located end of Phuket Road. Now used for Thai Smile Airways Tel. 1181, 0 2118 8888 www. parks and public facilities at Saphan Hin. In the thaismileair.com circle is the Tin Mining Monument, shaped like Transportation from the Airport to town: Airport a large drill bit, dedicated to the memory of Bus service from 06.00 a.m.-06.30 p.m. Tel. 08 Captain Edward Thomas Miles, the Australian 6470 6675 www.airportbusphuket.com and who brought the first tin dredge to Phuket in 8 Phuket Old Phuket Town 1907. The monument was built in 1969 on the Phuket Thai Hua Museum (พิพิธภัณฑ์ภูเก็ต occasion of the 60th anniversary of tin dredging ไทยหัว) in Phuket. is located on Krabi road. It has been renovated to be one of the historical tourist attractions Old Phuket Town (ตึกโบร�ณ เมืองเก่�ภูเก็ต) of Phuket. The Sino-Portuguese architecture is located on Thalang, Phang-nga, Yaowarat displays a photos exhibition and video media and Krabi road. The beginning of the tin boom which tells the history of the Chinese people in the 19th century led to construction of many in Phuket, mining, local costumes, local foods, fine mansions and shops that are still well tradition and culture of Phuket. Open daily from preserved. The architectural style, typical of 09.00 a.m.-05.00 p.m. Admission fee 200 Baht. the region, is described as Sino-Portuguese For more information Tel. 0 7621 1224 and has a strongly Mediterranean character. Shops present a very narrow face onto the Chinpracha House (บ้�นชินประช�) street but stretch back a long way. Some other is located on Krabi road. It was built in 1903 old European-style buildings of note are the in the later period of King Rama V by Phra Provincial Hall, the Phuket Courthouse, and Phithak Chinpracha (Tan Ma Sieng), son of Siam City Bank. Luang Bamrung Chinaprathet (Tan Neow Yee). Phuket 9 Phuket Thai Hua Museum Chinpracha House 10 Phuket He was born in Fujian province, China, and presenting a beautiful show of Thai traditions held the military title of “Boontek Chongkul”. and culture, with state-of-the-art technology Ban Chinpracha is the 1st building in Phuket in light and sound spectacular performances with Sino-Portuguese architecture. Most of and special effects in extravagant setting; the furniture in the house was inherited from such as, flying angel, lightning, rain, etc. Open Chinese ancestors and other materials used daily except Tuesday, show time at 08.30 p.m. were imported from foreign countries because Admission fee 1,500-2,400 Baht. For more trading between Penang and Phuket at that information Tel. 0 7633 5000 www.siamniramit. time flourished tremendously. Open daily from com 09.00 a.m.-04.30 p.m. Admission fee 100 Baht. For more information Tel. 0 7621 1281 The Upside Down House (บ้�นตีลังก�) is located on Bypass Road (Chalermphrakiat Naka Market-Jao Fah Variety (ตล�ดนัด Road), called Ban Teelanka in Thai, the pink น�ค� เจ้�ฟ้�ว�ไรตี้) house standing upside down with the funniest is located on Viratchhongyok road. Visitors attraction for families and friends. Open daily will find all sorts of items such as clothing, from 10.00 a.m.-18.00 p.m. Admission fee 340 shoes, accessories, home decorative items, Baht for adult and 190 Baht for children. For flowers, fresh and preserved food items. It is more information Tel. 0 7637 6245, 08 4456 5279 very popular with local teenagers and foreign www.upsidedownhouse-phuket.com visitors. This market is set up on Saturday and Sunday around 04.00 p.m. onwards. Ko Si-re (เก�ะสิเหร่) Separated from the mainland of Phuket by Phuket Cultural Centre (ศูนย์ศิลปวัฒนธรรม Khlong Tha Chin, a shallow mangrove swamp, จังหวัดภูเก็ต) is connected by a causeway to the city.