Phuket Day Trip Opportunities

By Author: Andy Burrows
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When visiting this South East Asian tropical paradise taking day trips from Phuket is an absolute must. Within a boat ride of just a few hours or drive are several world-class scenic nature attractions including the renowned Phi Phi islands, the breathtakingly beautiful Pha Nga Bay, exclusive diving off the Similans, the Khao Lak shore and Krabi's mesmerising karst-scapes. There are dense forested national parks, picturesque fishing villages, fabulous waterfalls, crystal clear waters, private tiny islands, exclusive beach areas and majestic mangroves to check out.

Phuket is definitely the best developed and most popular island in Thailand, a first-class, jet—set holiday destination that has become very upmarket in the past two decades. If you're planning to spend your next holiday on Phuket you'll perhaps find yourself based at one of the six awesome bays which line the West Coast. From here you have the option to rent a car or tour Phuket to any one of a dozen different day trip destinations. This is the essence of a holiday on Phuket and there are numerous opportunities and tour operators.

For beginners ...
... exploring Phuket itself is highly advisable. There are plentiful fantastic and thrilling beaches. The finest are clustered from Kamala towards the south, past touristy Patong, and onwards to the posh Kata and sweeping Karon. Each of these localities is worth visiting for at least a few hours to get a nice tan or sample a spicy and healthy papaya salad for lunch. You'll end up at the undeveloped and tranquil Nai Harn beach if you keep going south, a great spot to avoid the masses. All of Phuket's beach areas boast their own particular ambience.

It takes a little more than 60 minutes to drive to the island's northern part, which fortunately has escaped the devastating tourist infrastructure's development and the east shore's mangroves provide an altogether different view of the island. While exploring the environment you might want to drop in on the ‘singing gibbons' at the Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre and enjoy some refreshment at the Khao Phra Thaeo National Park's Bang Phrae Waterfall. It's just one of Phuket's several gorgeous falls. Touring this territory of Phuket is truly rewarding.

But offshore you can experience the most stunning scenery, and on top of all itineraries should be a tour to Phi Phi Island. This distinctive craggy butterfly—resembling isle, starring in the Hollywood feature, The Beach and Tsunami catastrophe, never disappoints. In fact there are several islands, and most day trips stop off for an en-route snorkelling event. Packed lunch is in general served once you access Phi Phi Ley's paradisiacal Maya bay. Since solely campers and park rangers are allowed to spend the night, you will have this untouched beach entirely to yourself, unlike Phuket the island of Phi Phi Don is more dramatic and was disturbingly overdeveloped before a huge wave washed it all away. The resorts are placed between two wonderful bays on a small sandwich of coconut palms, with out of the ocean rising karst cliffs all around. You'll never want to jump aboard the boat back to Phuket!

Equally popular and impressive is Pha Nga Bay's unique karst seascape, that became world-famous thanks to the James Bond 007 film, The Man with the Golden Gun. The renamed James Bond Island is a must-see on all trips from Phuket but it is all part of a colossal theatre of pillars that dot this vast bay and probably ranks among the Andaman's most photographed spots. A lunch stop at the Koh Phan Yee fishermen's village, which on stilts is positioned in the water, serves fresh seafood. Don't miss the opportunity to buy a few unique souvenirs and stroll around this quaint community. Navigating by kayak among the karst cliffs and caves is especially rewarding and usually included in tours from Phuket.

If diving is your passion and have only one option to view the most stunning, then you may want to sign up for a couple of days on a live—aboard diving adventure to the enchanting Similan islands — West of Phuket. These protected islands belong to a marine reserve and diving excursions or day trips are the only options getting to the area's unspoilt reefs, or enjoy a swim in its serene waters. If you haven't quite got around to getting your dive certificate, there are plenty of good schools on offer. Alternatively take a tour to Hong Island, positioned between Krabi and Phuket and simply snorkel and unwind. This great island boasts a hidden lagoon inside, reachable via a cave tunnel at low tide only.

Also rewarding might be renting a car for a scenic drive into the hinterland. A short causeway provides the link between Phuket and the mainland and after that you'll have the freedom to roam the southern lush isthmus provinces. Travel to Khao Lak, by road an hour north, to absorb more wild and unspoilt coastline along with several tremendous coastal parks. Khao Sok National Park with its vast lake is only a bit beyond this, featuring fabulous rainforests and idyllic landscapes. You may even wish to spend a night in the cosy park chalets here. The tropical national parks in Thailand are fascinating ecosystems enriched with waterfalls, nature trails, streams, birdlife and several rare animal species.

If you are covering the distance out of Phuket by rented vehicle you might want to spend a few days exploring the environment with its bizarre landscapes and rubber plantations. Experiencing less-visited but jaw-dropping parks such as Than Bokkharani National Park and Sa Nang Manora Forest Park as you travel across Pha Nga en-route to Krabi town, is an unforgettable adventure. Positioned all around you are more of the many lofty karst mounds that make the environment renowned for daytrips from Phuket.

Andy Burrows is very familiar with the most exciting daytrips from Phuket and regularly tours the many pretty islands himself. He would like to recommend; Similan islands guide and Phuket tours and activities guide