Phuket Essentials: Your Insider Guide To The Island’s Marvels

Located off the peninsular Thailand’s west shoreline in the southeastern part of the Andaman Sea, Phuket is a place where time slows down and the soul finds solace in the rhythm of the waves.

It is Thailand’s commercial hub and major port from where it exports fish, charcoal, tin, lumber, and rubber products in the south to Singapore and Malaysia and to Myanmar (Burma) in the north.

Known as the pearl of the Andaman Sea, Phuket is the country’s largest island with 360 sq mi/930 sq km of area which equals the size of Singapore. Pronounced as poo-ket, the island is connected to the inland by Sarasin Bridge and houses several beaches with luxury resorts and hotels to enjoy a comfortable stay. Tourists can enjoy playing several water sports, sailing with loved ones, relaxing in spas, and savoring authentic Thai food in top restaurants to relish the luxury Phuket holidays.

What is Phuket Known For?

Phuket is an island swathed with lush greenery, serene vistas, and sandy beaches with white sands and pristine waters. It is the melting pot of Portuguese and Chinese cultures that fuse and create a unique ambiance. Phuket is known for a large number of Buddhist shrines, each temple having its unique beauty. The Phuket beach scene is world-famous and travelers from all over the world head to a total of 49 beaches to enjoy sunset views, throw beach parties, host private events, and enjoy nightlife. The island bistros offer first-rate seafood and authentic Thai dishes that are healthy to consume, tasty, aromatic, and easy to cook.

How to Reach Phuket?

Being a global destination, it is easy for tourists to reach Phuket by air, land, or sea. Let’s explore these options a little further:

By Air: The most convenient mode of reaching Phuket is by flying directly to Phuket International Airport (HKT). It is linked with all the major cities and welcomes both global and domestic flights.

By Land & Sea: If you prefer a long journey with scenic views, you can travel to Phuket by bus from Bangkok or other Thai cities. To travel by sea, you can catch a ferry from adjacent islands and littoral towns.

What Should I Pack for a Trip to Phuket?

Consistent travelers know the vitality of carrying essentials while traveling to different places. Every destination has a unique must-pack items list and so does Phuket. You can follow this list and make your tour to Phuket easy:

Light Clothing: Beat the heat by wearing breathable fabrics like linen and cotton.

Modest Outfit: Wear modest clothing while visiting shrines and cultural spots.

Swimwear: Phuket is a beach haven so packing multiple swimsuits for beach-hopping is a must.

Comfortable Foot Gear: Make your exploration easy by wearing light shoes like flip-flops or sandals.

Sun Protection: It can get quite hot in Phuket so carry glasses, a wide-brimmed hat, and Sunscreen with yourself.

Mosquito Repellent: Guard yourself against those darned insects by applying mosquito repellent before sleeping and during exploration.

Rain Gear: It can get rainy in Phuket during specific months so always carry a raincoat and umbrella if you’re traveling in the wet season.

Travel Adapters: You may need your mobiles, pads, or DSLR cameras at any time so ensure full charging of your devices at all times and keep your travel adapters for this purpose.

Weather in Phuket

Phuket remains warm and humid year-round as it has a tropical monsoon climate. The best time to visit Phuket is between November and April which is the dry season and December to March which is the peak tourist season.

Dry Season: The average temperature during the dry season ranges between 24°C and 32°C when humidity is at its lowest. You can expect humidity, sunny days, and sapphire skies, which are ideal for tourists to explore the island’s marvels. April and May are the hottest time of the year before the wet season advances.

Rainy Season: The rainy season usually starts in June and remains until October. The southwest monsoon brings warm air and humidity with plenty of rain and stronger winds during this season. On average, September is the rainiest month of the year.

The rainy weather also offers its own scenic views, however, not as often as the dry season. The rainy season also proves to be ideal for tourists looking to book hotels at cheaper rates and want to explore the city in peace due to lower crowd.

Phuket Food Culture

You can’t leave Phuket without savoring its most famous Thai foods. Our list of top 6 Thai cuisines is a must-try:

Pla Pao: Popular Thai cuisine made from a whole fish, filled with kaffir lime leaves and lemongrass, spun in a salt layer, grilled over charcoal, and served with chili garlic sauce.

Pad Thai: Authentic Thai dish made from rice noodles fried with shrimp, eggs, tamarind sauce, and tofu and served with peanuts, bean sprouts, and lime.

Som Tum: Also called green papaya salad, Som Tum is a starter dish made with a spicy and sour fusion of torn fresh papaya mixed with dried shrimp, peanuts, long beans, chili peppers, and tomatoes.

Tom Yum Goong: A spicy shrimp soup flavored with lemongrass, lime leaves, galangal, kaffir, chili, and peppers, sure to give your taste buds an aromatic blend of fresh herbs and spices.

Mango Sticky Rice: A common authentic Thai dessert made with ripe mangoes, served with sticky rice and coconut milk, and capped with crispy toasted mung beans.

Pad ka Prao: A popular Thai street food, made from meat fried with hordes of garlic, holy basil, and chilies.

Relax on Phuket’s Sandy Beaches

Those who consider the beach to be their happy place will find Phuket heaven and our list of the top 3 Phuket beaches will prove that:

Freedom Beach: A 300-metre-long strip of white sand, Freedom Beach is located near Patong and popular for the bushy jungle in its surroundings and granite rocks that offer a beautiful view. It’s quite hard to reach this beach but its exceptional beauty makes the efforts worth it.
Karon Noi Beach: Also known as ‘Relax Beach’, this spot is the epitome of luxury with premium 5-star Le Meridien located in the vicinity. Tourists can relax on the soft white sand while basking in the beautiful views of pristine waters at the front and coconut trees at the back.
Ya Nui Beach: For tourists who want to avoid large crowds and relax in a much quieter place, Ya Nui is the perfect beach spot. Located amidst Promthep Cape and Windmill Viewpoint, the clear waters of Ya Nui are ideal for snorkeling, diving, and playing other water sports.

Paul Coelho said, “If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine, its lethal.” Following it, those who want to hop on an adventure ride can spend Phuket luxury holidays by availing of economical travel deals offered by Virikson Holidays.

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