PHUKET

Phuket Town

There are a lot of threads in Phuket’s tourism tapestry. The island is just off Thailand’s southwest coast and its capital, Phuket Town, is an animated city of early-morning markets and beeping tuk tuks.

40-kilometre coast

The coastline, meanwhile, is home to a league of beaches – 40 kilometres’ worth to be exact. Some of the stretches of sand are pin-drop quiet. All 11 kilometres of Mai Khao Beach are protected as part of the Sirinat National Park, so there are hardly any signs of life along its breadth.

Kamala Beach

Kamala Beach is another one that keeps itself to itself. The unspoilt sand here is accompanied by a village with Thai tradition at its heart. This is the place to come to learn local cookery or to experience an authentic Thai massage.

Patong Beach

At the other end of the scale you’ve got Patong Beach. Like all good sandpits, this place was made for playtime – it’s just footsteps away from a directory’s worth of bars and restaurants. After sunset, the main strip is closed to vehicles, and human traffic fills the streets, making U-turns in and out of bars and discos.