Phuket has a bit of a reputation for being a playground for the world’s rich. While there are many 5-star resort experiences, there is plenty for everyone to do on Thailand’s biggest island. Seafood, diving, and other water sports are attractions alongside the natural beauty of the island itself. If you visit, be sure to circle Phuket by road at least once.

A visit to Patong Beach will reveal most of the best dive shops as well as other water sport opportunities. There are many paddling tours, which visit some of the quieter bays around the island. Patong is also the best place to rent jet-skis. Patong Beach ha a bit of racy nightlife, but along with the go-go bars, there are some popular nightclubs.

Visitors often comment on how Phuket’s restaurants cater to foreign tastes better than anywhere else in Southeast Asia. Some of Thailand’s, and indeed the world’s, best chefs call Phuket home. Local food is also widely available. Seafood is, of course, fresh and tasty when prepared in Thai or international style.

People usually want to know about the situation after the 2004 tsunami before visiting Phuket. The island was greatly affected by the wave, but, given that it was such a popular destination, the recovery was a lot quicker than other places affected by the same disaster. The Thai travel industry as a whole seemed to rally behind Phuket. Things have mostly returned to their pre tsunami glory and Phuket is once again a top destination for travelers.

What people forget, because of the spectacular beaches, is that Phuket’s inland areas are also exceptional. A trip to Phuket’s Khao Phra Thaew Forest Preserve offers some beautiful hikes through mountains and thick, lush forests. An interesting site in the park is the Gibbon Rehab Center. This charity seeks to reintroduced gibbons that have been captured and used in the tourist industry into the wild.

Renting a car or motorcycle and heading around the island is a great way to see the many beaches that Phuket has to offer. From busy Patong to quiet and picturesque Nai Han, there is a beach for everyone on Phuket. Rawai, one of the first beaches to be developed, has fallen from prominence as Patong and Kata Beaches have become more popular. Rawai has actually become a nice place to go if you want a quiet beach experience.

Phuket is one of Thailand’s main destinations. It is known for its magnificent beaches, but there is more to see, both inland, and under the sea.