Phuketmania

So Phuket it was this time! After exploring many of the smaller and lesser known islands the previous years (like Koh Lanta and Koh Kradan), I came to the point where I wanted to give Thailand’s “queen” of islands and the “pearl of the Andaman” as they name themselves, another chance. Because Phuket and I didn’t have a good start. Back in 2009, when I visited Thailand for the first time as part of a university field trip, we could’t choose where we stayed, and our supervisors for some reasons, picked a hotel right in the busiest part of hectic, seedy Patong Beach. Probably not the worst location for a group of young students willing to party, but the masses of tourists in combination with all the go-go bars, tacky souvenirs and pushy ladyboys became a bit too much after 5 days. Not even the beach was that great. I know, the subject of our trip was the impact of mass tourism, however 1-2 days (or nights) would’ve been enough to recognize that 😛

Anyway, I knew there was a different Phuket somewhere – the one I heard of other frequent Thailand travelers. Luckily the island is rather big, so there’s plenty of space for everyone’s personal Phuket experience which has nothing to do with what I’ve described before. And we’ve found what we were looking for and even more – here are my hidden treasures of Phuket to avoid the island’s mass tourism:

1. Mai Khao Beach

We stayed away from Patong this time and found that Phuket indeed has some wonderful, quiet beaches. One of my favourite was Mai Khao Beach which is right by the airport and has become quite an attraction for plane spotters. Apart from aircraft noise here and there (which I found rather entertaining), this stretch of sand is the longest but also the least frequented of Phuket and therefore makes the ideal place for those who seek relaxation and peace. Click here for a list of hotels in the area.

Pure joy when I hit the beach after some time…

2. Phuket Town

The old part of Phuket Town is definitely worth visiting. Although Thailand never has been colonized (and they’re very proud of that), you can still feel the different cultural influences of Chinese, Portuguese and Arabian merchants thanks to the pretty architecture. Phuket Town makes a great base for those who like to go shopping, dining and/are culturally interested. Click here for a list of hotels in Phuket town.

Also there’s plenty of food options and we enjoyed some local specialties (like Hokkien noodles and shaved ice) and delicious seafood at some simple but popular restaurants.

Dinner at Ang Seafood in Phuket Town was outstanding, this simple but hugely popular restaurants knows how to do seafood right!

And there is this massive night market with tons of second-hand ware, souvenirs and of course, more food.

But this was where it must have happened… My bf and me suffered a severe food poisoning the next day. We’re still wondering whether it was that chicken or not :/ However it does look tasty doesn’t it?

Seafood Krapao (stir fried with Thai basil) – #nomnom

3. Koh Racha

Phuket has plenty of other, smaller islands with postcard-perfect beaches in close proximity. We went by speed boat to Koh Racha and were blown away by the turquoise water and white sand. The snorkeling was surprisingly one of the best in Thailand I’ve seen so far. If you wanna stay overnight you have the choice between only two resorts that are exclusively located on the island.

4. Cape Panwa

We stayed at the southeastern tip of Phuket which wasn’t too far from Phuket Town. Cape Panwa’s hotels cater primarily to families and couples who aren’t looking for 24/7 entertainment. The beach isn’t ideal for swimming but almost every hotel comes with a pool and you’ll be rewarded with the prettiest sunset views! Click here for a list of hotels in the area.

5. Useful information

Do some research before you arrive in Phuket because location is everything there. The island has so many beaches and resorts catered to everybody’s taste but distances are far, so if you’re not motorized, you may be stuck in the resort/beach you’ve chosen. This is one of the places in Thailand where renting a car is almost a must, because taxis are expensive and public transportation is equal to zero.

Thai island fever? Join the club!

Overdose of beach on Koh Kradan

The lazy days of Koh Lanta

Visiting Mu Koh Surin National Park