Phuket

Phuket or Samui?  It's a difficult choice between laid back Samui and the idyllic charms of its big sister on the Andaman Sea coast.

Larger and more commercial, Phuket also has a coastline dotted with islands that extend north into picturesque Phang Nga Bay, and south towards stunning Krabi province. World class accommodation, top class golf courses and a surprising nightlife are all part of the Phuket allure.

Phuket Excursions

Phuket's mountains and the neighbouring province of Phang Nga are famous for their stunning scenery and provide a wonderful setting for eco-tours and activities. Charter a boat,  take a sea canoe tour around Phang Nga Bay or go elephant trekking. And for the kids?  There's horse-riding, mini-golf, miles of beaches, elephant trekking and lots more. Many of the hotels offer facilities like kids' clubs and babysitting services. (Read more...)

Phuket Nightlife

Phuket offers an entirely different scene from Samui. Most of the action is centred around Patong Beach which offers a raunchy combination of girls, loud music, great food and general street life. Bar-beers, A go-gos, pubs, discos, music bars, transvestite cabarets and a whole lot more compete for your attention. Phuket Town , provincial capital and relative newcomer to the night scene, offers a more low key approach - trendy fusion bars, funky restaurants and fantastic local food. (read more about Phuket Bars and Nightlife ...)

Getting There

Phuket, located on the opposite Andaman coastline, is just a one hour flight from Koh Samui. Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways operate regular flights between the two islands throughout the year. Flight schedules can be found on the Thai Airways web page or Tel: (076) 327 144 (Phuket office). Alternatively you can catch the ferry to the mainland (Suratthani) and drive across the isthmus to Phuket. (Depending on traffic, the drive can take around 6 hours from the ferry terminal to the bridge which connects Phuket Island with the mainland.