Golden beaches on the Andaman Sea, national parks with sheer limestone scenery rising above azure waters, lush plantation country, a leisurely island paradise in the Gulf of Thailand, and the seat of culture in Southern Thailand - all may be included in tours that begin in Phuket.

Originally known as 'Junkceylon', Phuket was a highly valued source of tin in the Ayutthaya period from the 14th century. Various powers threatened to take over the island, including the Burmese who were driven back from a siege of Thalang in 1785 by defenders led by two women. Large numbers of Chinese arrived in the 19th century, leading to the exhaustion of the tin deposits. Rubber, first introduced to the island in 1903, became the main source of income and the town of Phuket with its distinctive Malaccan style architecture was built. Tourism only began to evolve in the 70s, but the industry now occupies much of the island's current estimated population of 200,000.

Phuket Island is 44 kms in length as the crow flies. Though never long, distances can be greater than expected as the asphalt roads (generally two-lane) twist between the hills and around headlands.

A visit to Phuket City is a must for the Malaccan style architecture of the old city (Dibuk and Thalang Roads), and you may drive up to the telecommunications towers overlooking the city for views south and east.

Near the Suriyadet Fountain (the right turn off Phuket Rd down in Ratsada Rd comes after a small clock tower on the right) are the fresh food market and the Jui Tui Chinese temple (Ranong Rd). The latter becomes the focus of the noisy vegetarian festival held in the first nine days of the ninth lunar month (usually October). Several hotels and good local restaurants including Sweet and Sour (Rasda Rd) and Khrua Thai (Rasda centre) are located nearby.

Inland and East Coast destinations

From Phuket City trips may be made south-east to the aquarium on Cape Panwa, east to the fishing (sea gypsy) villages on Si Rae Island, and north to the Boat Lagoon (a yacht marina) and H4027. H4027 leads from the Heroines Monument past the National Museum (09:00 - 16:00 Wednesday - Sunday) through rubber plantations to Bang Pae waterfall and a gibbon rehabilitation project in Khrao Phra Khaeo National Park. Side roads lead to the eastern coast of the island.

Phromthep Cape and the Western Coast

Starting in Phuket City, the most scenic drive on the island goes south on H4021 to Chalong and Phromthep Cape before following the west coast north. Wat Chalong is one of the best Thai temples to visit on the island, and Chalong itself has useful sea sport shops catering to the residential expatriate population as well as two well-known restaurants - Gan Eng and Jimmy's Lighthouse.

From Chalong the road goes south to Rawai beach, where Thai style restaurants can be found by the casuarina trees and boats may be hired for visits to nearby coral islands. Promthep Cape offers a viewpoint before the road turns north to pass close to the less developed Nai Harn beach (turn left off H4233 to go to Nai Harn).

Hotels and resorts line the beach from roads along Kata and Karon beaches, but it is at Patong where seafood restaurants, tailors, travel agents, souvenir and dive shops compete on the grandest scale. Bars and discos promise wild nightlife.

H4233 along the coast north from Patong leads to more tranquil beaches. Restaurants in quiet spots can be found at the north end of Kamala and on Laem Singh. True exclusivity may be found around Pansea beach north of Surin.

Turn left (north) at the lights at Ban Choeng Thalae for the fabulous (Laguna), and the underdeveloped beaches that lie to the north in the Sirinath National Park (after approximately 3 kms. keep going straight on a side road when H4030 turns sharply right at a village for a route to Nai Thon). The southern end of Nai Yang beach has local style seafood restaurants, but Mai Kao beach and the headquarters to the north are best visited when leaving the island on Day 1.

Overview

• Day 1 Phuket - Kao Sok National Park 175 kms.
• Day 2 Khoa Sok - Ko Samui Island 205 kms.
• Day 3 Ko Samui - Nakhon Sri Thammarat 130 kms.
• Day 4 Nakhon Sri Thammarat - Krabi 185 kms.
• Day 5 Krabi - Phang Nga - Phuket 185 kms.