Phuket, located to the south of mainland Thailand, is one of the country’s most popular destinations for visitors. Phuket luxury hotels are great for visitors looking for history and culture, water sports or a legendary party scene.

Phuket Town and the surrounding countryside

Phuket Town is the island’s capital. The Old Town is particularly charming and a great place to appreciate the island’s mixed heritage including the influences left by Chinese and Portuguese settlers. There are also several temples to visit here such as the colourful Wat Mongkol Nimit. The rural areas around Phuket Town are largely undisturbed by visitors and are great for nature lovers, especially the Phra Taew National Park.

The beaches of Western Phuket

Most visitors looking for fun in the sun and the island’s famous Full Moon Parties will head to the western shores of the island. All up the coast are popular spots ranging from the refined and authentic Mai Khao, perfect for families and luxury travellers, and vibrant Patong. The infrastructure for travellers in Patong is particularly excellent with a number of fantastic restaurants and top boarding choices. Karon is another beautiful and popular resort along the western coast with many more great Phuket luxury hotels.

Watersports on the smaller islands

For sailing enthusiasts, Phuket is an excellent destination. The smaller isles to the south are fantastic for island hopping, and many day excursions to the more secluded spots such as Phi-Phi and Khai are possible. Nai Thon and Nai Yang, near each other on the western coast, are particularly good for water sports including snorkelling and kite surfing.