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Phuket Big Buddha, is a must see attraction

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If you want to visit any temple while travelling around Phuket, Phuket Big Buddha is the most renowned and attractive one to visit.

Location

Big Buddha (or Ming Mongkol Buddha) is Phuket’s newest white marble covered religious statue on top of the Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata. It is an important and revered landmark, visible from almost everywhere in Phuket. It is also one of the largest Buddha statues in the world.

How it is built

Phuket Big Buddha is 25.45 metres wide at its base and 45 metres high. It is built of reinforced concrete, and adorned with white jade marble shining in the sun, making it a natural symbol of hope. The weight of the white jade marble is about 135 tons. The entire spot sits on 49 rai (around 7.8 hectares) and is surrounded by a tropical rain forest. Views inside the structure are very colourful and tidy. This temple is highly impressive and spiritual to locals and international Buddhists.

How to go

Phuket Big Buddha is easily reachable by a 6 kilometre road leading from Chao Fa West Road, just 2 km from Chalong Circle. In case of coming from Kata Beach, you will turn left, then find the Phuket Big Buddha sign. There are large signs pointing the road to the top of the mountain. It’s about 17 km away from Phuket city. Since the road condition is very good, there is no problem to head to this temple by a car, or a tuktuk. But the hill up to the Phuket Big Buddha is a steep road, so drive carefully. Below this temple, you will notice a bigger car parking and some nice & hygienic toilets. You will find lots of shaded areas in the statue ground to relax.

Dress Code

There is no strict dress code for entering the Phuket Big Buddha Premises, but it is a sacred site, so visitors are asked to dress politely. You should wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees. Avoid beachwear, short skirts and T-shirts with offensive images. But in case you have come directly from the beach or did not know about the dress code, you can always ask for a free sarong from a booth on the Phuket Big Buddha premises. You will also have to take off your shoes before entering the temple.

Entry Fee

Whilst entry to the Phuket Big Buddha in Phuket is totally free, donations are encouraged. If you donate 100 baht for a marble tile, you are handed a black marker to sign your name and write a message on the tile. Nobody is pressured to donate; donations totally depend on your intention.

Meditation Hall

Inside the meditation hall is a platform where a line of monks are sometimes seen sitting and saying prayers. They can accept offerings for merit making while blessing. From here, a covered concrete path and a staircase lead up to this temple. It is only about a five-minute climb.

Big Buddha is an exquisite viewpoint

The views from the top of the hill where the Phuket Big Buddha is located are mesmerising. This spot will provide you with the opportunity to enjoy a 360 degree panoramic view of Phuket Town, the islands around Phuket and the Andaman Sea. You will also get a unique chance to see breath-taking views of Karon and Kata Beaches.

Nearby Hotels & Restaurants

Along the road leading to the famous Phuket Big Buddha, there are at least five restaurants (including Nakkerd Seaview Restaurant located close to the Big Buddha), an ATV riding centre and an elephant riding operation. In these restaurants you will find cheap tasty Thai dishes, soft drinks and ice-cold beers at a reasonable prices. Vendors are also seen selling snakes and drinks. You will also find many hotels, resorts and villas in Kata and Karon near it for staying overnight.

Other Attractions

Next to the Phuket Big Buddha, there is a smaller Buddha statue that looks golden, but is made of 22 tons of brass worth about 8 million Thai Baht. It is 12 metres in height and very attractive. This statue was dedicated to HM Queen Sirikit.

Via downhill ATV driving and riding an elephant, you can also discover tropical jungles while visiting this temple. For shopping you will find some stalls at the top selling gift and souvenir items.

When to visit

Considering the heat of the day and the tourist crowds, it is best to visit this temple in the morning. But a late afternoon visit offers a great chance to watch the sunset over Karon bay in the west and Chalong Bay in the east. Consuming Thai dishes at Nakkerd Seaview Restaurant in the evening will be a fantastic experience.

Time needed to visit

It will take approximately 1 hour to discover the whole of the Phuket Big Buddha area. But you can spend more than 1 hour enjoying an overall look over southern Phuket. You can also attend impromptu meditation training sessions to relax as well.

Hundreds of tourist flock to this famous temple every day to enjoy the magnificent views of Chalong Bay, Phuket Town and Kata Beach.

The Phuket Big Buddha not only offers a great opportunity to take in the views but raises your spiritual feelings when you visit this iconic and scenic destination.

11 Reasons why Phuket is the best holiday destination in Thailand

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Did you know that Phuket is the best holiday destination in Thailand?

When you are thinking about and planning to visit Phuket, a number of questions come to mind, and we set out some great reasons below:

1. Tourist-friendly Weather:

Being an island city, Phuket enjoys a pleasant weather throughout the year. It is one of the loveliest sunny lands in Thailand. Unlike other areas of theholiday destination in Thailand world that experience extreme warm or cold weather, Phuket remains relatively warm during the entire year. Although there is division of the whole year into “High season” (from November to April) and “Low Season” (from May to October), you can travel to Phuket all year around. Comfortable weather, gentle breeze, turquoise water, eco-friendly environment, hill areas and marine beauty of the Andaman sea make Phuket the best holiday destination in Thailand.

2. Fantastic and Marvellous Beaches:

holiday destination in ThailandWhen you think of Phuket, spectacular beaches come to mind first. Very few cities in the world boast of so many fantastic beaches as Phuket. But some beaches are very popular with locals & tourists alike. Some unrivalled beaches to remember are Patong, Karon, Kata, Nai Harn, Kamala, Bang Tao, Surin, Mai Khao, Paradise, Ya Nui, Banana, Rawaii and Laem Ka. These beaches are the most concentrated areas of tourist accommodation, shops, nightclubs, restaurants and many exciting beach activities. Phuket Beaches are one of the main reasons why Phuket is the best holiday destination in Thailand.

 

 

3.Comfortable Accommodation:

holiday destination in ThailandPhuket is undoubtedly a very popular holiday destination in Thailand because it guarantees a memorable vacation experience offering great accommodation for everyone’s taste and budget. Phuket accommodation includes beachfront hotels, luxury hotels, world-class chain resorts, private villas and low-cost hotels. You will find a complete array of hotels, resorts & villas offering excellent facilities and services including Thai décor air-conditioned rooms with attached bathroom, beach view balcony, traditional Thai spa centre, free wifi, car & bike rental, free parking, world class restaurant serving Thai and International cuisines, bars for wide ranges of beverages to enjoy an amazing holiday. You can visit our All Hotels By Area , Hotels & Resorts  and Villas & Others pages to choose the perfect accommodation in Phuket.

 

4.Unforgettable Hospitality of cordial Locals:

holiday destination in Thailnad

“Cherubic” and “Friendly” are perfect words to describe Thai people. They are always happy, always smiling, absolutely polite, and always helpful to the tourists. In order to understand Thai language, they will help you translate. You will always feel safe and comfortable to be with Thai people. They rarely steal or cause any problems though you should be very protective of your belongings. Phuket’s credit for being the best holiday destination in Thailand totally bestows on the Thai people’s world-renowned hospitality. This is surely one of the main reason for you to revisit the wonderful, warm and friendly people of Phuket.

 

5.Delicious Food & amazing restaurant:

holiday destination in Thailand

Phuket food is distinctive in flavour, taste, quality and style. Here, tourists can consume lots of insanely delicious Thai & International dishes in numerous restaurants.

Almost every restaurant in Phuket lists all Thai healthy dishes like Pad Thai, Tom Yang Goong, Massaman Curry, Roti Nam Geang, Por Pia, Oh Eaw, etc. International dishes including Hamburgers, sandwiches, fish and chips, salads, ribs, calamari, pasta, etc. are endless with all to be had in beachside areas, in shopping malls, and also in rustic eateries. Best Thai foods, international dishes, and excellent restaurants are good reasons behind why Phuket has become an attractive holiday destination in Thailand.

 

6.Best & Enjoyable Shopping:

holiday destinatin in ThailandPhuket is a shoppers’ paradise. Ample shopping opportunities make Phuket the best holiday destination in Thailand. In addition to roadside stalls and markets, there are lots of big departmental stores, shopping malls as well as a good number of boutiques shops around the entire island. Some of the best shopping places are Jungceylon, Central Festival, Banana Walk, Karon Bazar, Phuket walking street, Banzaan Market and Premium Outlet Phuket. You can shop for a broad range of products from international and local names, including handicrafts, clothing, jewellery, fashion accessories, electronics, toys, sporting goods and books at a reasonable price. Beach area markets sell all kinds of products, including T-shirts, DVDs, watches, gifts and souvenirs. Fresh Markets also sell fresh products such as raw vegetables and an expansive range of exotic fruits like coconut, toddy palm, tamarind, lychees, papaya, pomelo, etc. You will have a wonderful shopping experience in Phuket.

 

7. Bustling Nightlife:

holiday destination in ThailandPhuket hosts unparalleled nightlife entertainment near all its famous beach areas. Patong is the most concentrated place for enjoying nocturnal nightlife activities. Centre of this nightlife is Soi Bangla (Bangla Road) where you will find discos, beer bars, sports bars, wine bars, go go bars, live bands, concerts, girly activities to enjoy unforgettable night-out. Some of the popular night spots of Soi Bangla road are Soi Sea Dragon, So Crocodile, Soi Tiger, Soi Vegas, Soi Gonzo, Rat-U-Thit Road. Some good nightclubs, bars and pubs host nightlife activities in Kata, Karon and other beach areas. If you love to enjoy night-time activities, Phuket is the unparalleled holiday destination in Thailand.

 

8. Attraction & Entertainment:

holiday destination in Thailand

Apart from the nightlife, Phuket has some other attractions to entertain tourists. These attractions include wonderful museums, zoo, outstanding religious & cultural structures and exciting shows. Museums include Philatelic museum, Thai Hua Museum, and Phuket Trickeye Museum. Wonderful cultural & religious structures are the Big Buddha, Wat Chalong, many decorative temples and shrines, Sino-Portuguese Buildings and Heroines Monument. Shows that attract the tourists most are Phuket Fantasea Show, Simon Cabaret Show, Siam Niramit Phuket and King Cobras Show. Besides these, you will also enjoy Suriyadate Fountain, Ao Yon waterfall, Baan Teelanka, as well as many sunrise and sunset viewpoints over east and west Phuket. All these attractions make Phuket the best holiday destination in Thailand

 

9. Wonderful Islands around Phuket:

holiday destination in Thailand
Phuket Island is surrounded by more than 38 of smaller islands. But the islands closest to Phuket are Coral Island (or Koh Hae), James Bond at Phang Nga, Racha Yai & Noi, Koh Yao Yai & Noi, Koh Khai, and you can reach them by speedboat within the shortest time. Some of these islands are very famous for fishing, diving, snorkelling, and marine life. Other most popular and most visited islands in the Andaman Sea are Phi Phi Islands, Koh Lanta, Koh Similan, Koh Thachai, Koh Bon, Koh Surin, Richelieu Rock to enjoy the idyllic natural beauty of them. These islands are also suited for sailing, diving, snorkelling and many exciting activities. Sailing to Phuket islands is a memorable experience to treasure as well. While visiting Phuket, you should plan a tour to explore these magnificent islands and discover the underwater marine beauty that abounds near them.

 

10. Outstanding Tours:

holiday destinatin in ThailandPhuket, surrounded by the Andaman Sea boasts all necessary ingredients to make wonderful holiday tours. These tours include on-land local tours to explore Phuket, marine adventure tours, jungle adventure tours, live aboard tours and breath-taking diving tours. All these tours will provide you with ample opportunities to discover and enjoy white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, unique landscapes, and marine life of the Andaman Sea. These tours also include scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking, fishing, landscape sighting, zip-line adventure, bird watching, cycling, visiting national parks etc. Build Your Tour Package to plan your very own fantastic tour and discover why Phuket is the best holiday destination in Thailand.

 

11. Opportunities to explore the Andaman Sea on outstanding yachts:

holiday destination in Thailand

When it comes to yachts in Thailand, Phuket yacht charters are the most exciting and luxurious. Either a Sailing or Motor Yacht is an ideal choice to explore the beauty of the Andaman Sea. You can discover the Andaman’s natural treasures including a wide variety of marine life. Most of the Yacht charters you will find in any of these 3 piers in Phuket named Rasada (Ratchada), Chalong Bay, Yacht Haven Phuket Marina, Bang Rong Pier Phuket. You can book charters that include Sailing Yachts, Motor Yachts and Speed Boats. Exploring the Andaman Sea on a Yacht will make your holiday amazing in Phuket.

These are the many reasons why Phuket is the best holiday destination in Thailand. Phuket is absolutely a preferred place for tourists of all classes & ages because it offers many opportunities to experience a wonderful holiday. Start your holiday here with PhuketNow.com, where your holiday begins!

The 8 Best Shopping Places in Phuket

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Looking for the best shopping places to go while visiting Phuket?
Phuket is a reputed destination for shopaholics, which offers an extensive range of shopping opportunities to be enjoyed on a holiday adventure. Whilst Phuket abounds with shopping spots, some shopping malls and markets are more popular and enjoyable to locals and travellers alike.
We recommend 8 shopping places in Phuket where you will get famous Thai items to international brands.

Here are our selected 8 best shopping spots you can go:
shopping places in Phuket1. Jungceylon: Jungceylon Shopping Complex, located in the very centre of Patong beach at the end of Soi Bangla, is the largest of the 8 best shopping places in Phuket. It hosts a wide variety of food outlets & restaurants offering various food types where you can spend a great time. First floor is full of designer labels, the top floor contains gizmos and gadgets, the cinema at the far end shows films with excellent seats. It also features Millennium Resort which is a popular hotel, a bowling zone, a famous rooftop nightclub and Big C supermarket. Undercover parking makes it nice when you need to park with quick access to the mall. It is a must visit if you are in the Patong area.

 

 

shopping places in Phuket2. Central Festival Phuket: Located at the intersection of Bypass and Wichit-songkram roads, Central Festival Phuket is the second largest shopping mall in Phuket. It provides one-stop shopping facilities in Phuket. It has a lovely local ambience, and you can purchase almost everything including electronics, clothing (local or international), groceries (local fruit, nuts, spices, etc.), chain pharmacy stores (Boots and Watsons), Thai artisan spa products, a large collection of sporting gears, jewellery items, etc. Being one of the best shopping places in Phuket, Central Festival Phuket offers numerous restaurants. You can also enjoy parlour services including massage, facial, manicure, pedicure, eyelash extensions, etc. Parking facility is also available underneath the centre.
 

 

shopping places in Phuket3. Phuket Weekend Market: Phuket Weekend Market (locally known as Naka Market), located along Chao Fa West Road near the central festival Phuket is a suitable place for local foods & second hand goods. It offers an extensive variety of clothes, food, costume jewellery, and some crafty stuff. It is more interesting to just walk around the market and find curios, live animals and the local delicacies being prepared. This is one of the 8 best shopping places in Phuket, where tourists can learn a lot about Phuket from the food to the culture of the people.
 

 

shopping places in Phuket4. Karon Bazar: Karon Bazar is a beachside shopping market on Karon beach. It is a tourist shopper’s dream where you will find everything under one roof. Within the bazaar, you will find an assortment of DVD’s, CD’s, sunglasses, hats as well as beach costumes, shorts and shirts. Here, tourists can purchase fashionable clothes ideally suitable for everyone. Although prices may vary from shop to shop, with a bit of bargaining it’s possible to get a good deal. There are bars outside where you can enjoy a drink after shopping as well.

 

 

 

5. Banana Walk: Banana Walk is one of the newer and best shopping places in Phuket located on the Patong beach road just a few meters south of Soi Bangla. With its three floors, Banana Walk covering an area of over 4000 square meters is a modern shopping centre. It is another popular and one of the best shopping places in Patong. You can eat & drink at one of the many restaurants and will also find a few ATM’s, a spa center, a hairdresser, a nail club as well as a Momento Aesthetic Centre. Besides these, you will notice some world famous electronics and technology stores, fashion houses & sportswear shops as well.

 

 

shopping places in Phuket6. Phuket Walking Street: Every Sunday evening, Thalang road situated in the heart of old Phuket Town, is transformed into walking street .This is a weekly market and known as Phuket Walking Street (Lard Yai). This 400-metre walking street is packed with food, souvenirs and live street shows. You will discover plenty of cheap and tasty local dishes. While cheap, the items at the street are really unique. It also allows visitors to find southern Thai gift stalls and handicrafts. This a place where the whole family and the children will enjoy themselves with numerous toy stalls. Over the years, the walking street has become a great attraction for tourists and a popular destination of the best shopping places in Phuket.

 

 

shopping places in Phuket7. Banzaan Market: Banzaan market (‘Banzaan’ meaning ‘fresh market’) is located just behind the Jungceylon Shopping Mall on Patong Beach. The building hosting the Banzaan market has a modern décor and style. This is another of the best shopping places in Phuket, where you will get everything fresh. Here you will find fresh fish, meat, vegetables, fruits, juices, all the cooking ingredients and ready foods to eat. The foods are of very good quality, and all products are well-arranged to give this place a very attractive look. This market is open all day long but it is much nicer in the morning.

 

 

shopping places in Phuket8. Premium Outlet Phuket: Premium Outlet Phuket is located in Tambon Thalang district on the Bypass Road (Chalemprakiat Road), almost exactly in the middle of Phuket Island. It is the most spacious of the 8 best shopping places in Phuket. It features over 300 retail outlets within the complex with over 500 parking spaces. It is a market of clothes and accessory shops selling high-quality goods. It is also a popular place to buy leather goods, houseware, home furnishings, gifts, toys as well as computer equipment & audiovisual items. Here you will also find products at up to 80% discount.

These shopping places in Phuket are absolutely wonderful to buy Thai and international items in an enjoyable way. You must visit one of these places to have an amazing shopping experience in Phuket.

Phuket Fantasea Show, the best entertainment event in Kamala Beach

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Are you looking for a night time entertainment show with your family or friends in Phuket? Phuket Fantasea Show is an amusement theme park which has started in 1988 on 40 acres at Kamala Beach in Phuket. It is renowned for its great stage show and aerial activities that present Thai cultural extravaganza of myth, mystery and magic by use of cutting edge technologies with lighting special effects.

At Phuket Fantasea Show, you will be amazed to see the surroundings including the sculpture of a man sitting on an elephant. Gorgeously designed, the building of Phuket Fantasea Show represents Thai traditional arts. The front part of this vast hall decorated with many elephant sculptures, pool and subtly artistic walls look wonderful.

This spacious and giant hall has different carnival corners for various night time activities and dinner. Palace of the Elephant, Fantasy of a Kingdom, Similan Entertainment Centre, and Tiger Jungle Adventure are some names of exciting events to enjoy. Phuket Fantasea Show is not only for stage shows but also a lovely place for tasting wide range of cuisines. You will find Golden Kinnaree Buffet Restaurant and Suriyamas Buffet Restaurant where you can consume gourmet Thai foods and snacks. Also, you will get a great collection of shopping items including kids, men and women clothes and jewellery. You can ask friendly and cordial staff for assistance.

 

Pre-Attractions of Phuket Fantasea Show

Before starting the main event you can observe the following zones of Phuket Fantasea Show and you can take some amusement:

Palace of the Elephant is an enclosure where you can ride on an elephant before the main event gets started. Here many trained and well-dressed elephants are ready to take you for a ride. While elephants are walking on enclosed premises, sudden sounds of songbirds will amaze you.

The Fantasy of a Kingdom is the amazing world of 4-Dimentional illusion show that combines acrobatic activities, pyro techniques, stunts, and various ballet. The aerial performances of trapeze artists are stunning and presented with modern technologies and Las Vegas style in Thai culture. You can also enjoy funny games named Bottle toss, bartender spins, and flip.

Similan Adventure is a lounge for enjoying the island’s beauty and underwater animals. The lightings of this place will create an underwater environment. You will also find a game zone especially for kids.

In Tiger Jungle Adventure, you can watch the wonderful activities of tigers. Playing of tigers is really enjoyable. Tigers are well trained to present exciting activities by following their instructor.

The Golden Kinnaree Buffet is a well-decorated restaurant which has an arrangement for 4000 guests. You can taste many Thai and International dishes in a royal environment.

 

Main event of Phuket Fantasea Show

The main stage show starts at 21.00 with the biggest display of groups of performers. The hall can hold 3000 people at a time. The glamourous girls and boys perform different traditional dances of different regions of Thailand. Performances with white Smoke of artists, the explosion of fire, shimmering light effect and rhythmic music are extraordinary and mind-blowing of this Phuket Fantasea Show.

Phuket Fantasea show has a nice story line of Thai myth. The giant elephants perform many unbelievable activities. Some acrobats show their skills in an aerial ballet show in the dark light like fairies and ghosts. This outstanding stage show is well-planned for every emotion like silence, strange, horror, fun during the performance. 4-D illusion show of different themes is a really strange activity. Fireworks will attract your attention. In this show Phuket Fantasea Show, more than 400 staffs, 44 elephants, 40 goats, 400 pigeons perform to present a memorable entertainment event.

The following character will be cast in the storyline:

Kamala Boy- Whimsical young prince

Kamala girl- the beautiful country girl

Iyara- the magic elephant

Apsara- The free-spirited angel

Kinnaree– Evil 10 Headed Giant

Hanuman- Tricstar king of Monkey

Chang and Eng- world-famous Siamese twin.

Takhon Ghost- comical & fun loving spirit

Buffalo Demon-Kamala Boy’s devilish adversary

General Instructions:

  1. Cameras are not allowed inside of the hall.
  2. Pen and paper or drawing materials are prohibited.

Phuket Fantasea Show is the longest running show in Phuket that develops the theatrical experience in entertainment field. It is very easy to visit Fantasea theme hall and no special direction is needed. Please find the booking info of this great entertainment show below:

 

Brief of Booking Process

Phuket Fantasea Show

Location: Kamala Beach

Opening: 18.00 hrs (Other attractions gate open)

21.00 (Main Program)

Closing : 23.30 hrs

Ticket: Price starts from 1800 THB

Note: Package Price depends on the services like front seats, Thai foods, seafood, elephant ride etc.

The 8 Best Thai Food you can taste in Phuket

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While travelling Phuket, you will find a wide range of food in various restaurants. The flavour of Thai food is well known all over the world, so Thai food should come first on your food menu. There are lots of insanely delicious and incredibly flavourful Thai foods in Phuket. It is a pretty daunting task to choose the best Thai items for your lunch or dinner. Considering healthful food ingredients, spices, taste, smell and quality, we have chosen the 8 best Thai food you can taste whilst on your Phuket holiday.

In no particular order, here is the best top 8:

1.Pad Thai: When it comes to Phuket food, Pad Thai is very popular Best Thai Foodwith locals and expatriates alike. It achieves the prestige of being first on the list of the 8 best Thai food for its extraordinary style, taste & quality. It is a stir-fried dish made from rice noodles, egg, chilli and tofu along with a variety of accompaniments which include prawns or chicken. Whilst it is everywhere in Phuket, it is abundant at roadside cafes.

 

Best Thai Food2.Tom Yum Goong: Tom Yang Goong (‘goong’ meaning prawns) is arguably one of our selective 8 best Thai foods in Phuket. It is an aromatic dish of countless fragrant herbs & spices lurking enticingly inside. With lemongrass, lime leaves, shallots and local favourite galangal, it entices most visitors to ravenously consume. You can eat Tom Yum Goong in most restaurants in Phuket including Bang Pae Seafood restaurant at PA Khlok, Thalang, and Ang Seafood restaurant on Phuket road, on the way to Saphan Hin.

 

3. Massaman Curry: Massaman Curry is loved by people who are crazilyBest Thai Food fond of curries. It is basically a beef-based dish and popular for its coconut milk-infused flavour and soft potatoes. Finished with chopped roasted peanuts (or cashews) and an assortment of spices, it is one of the 8 best Thai Foods in Southern Phuket.  N.C. restaurant at Talad Yai, Muang, and Oriental Spoon restaurant on Surin Beach Road, Muang are 2 best restaurants to consume Massaman Curry.

 

Best Thai Food4. Roti Nam Geang: Roti Nam Geang is a spicy form of the sweet “roti”(or flatbread) found everywhere on this island. It is a favourite dish amongst the locals & expatriates alike. The Muslim spicy trade had a profound impact on this roti for spices, and flavours were preferred by Hokkien & Tamil migrants. Roti Nam Geang is generally served with delicious chicken, beef or fish variations.

 

5. Por Pia: If you would prefer a less spicy dish in Phuket, then you canBest Thai Food select Por Pia from­ the 8 best Thai food list. Freshly made fried spring rolls usually served with an apricot dipping sauce are known as Por Pia. It may also contain pork, lettuce or shrimp. It is more popular with tourists than its traditional counterparts and immensely found in sit-down restaurants as well as the street vendors.

 

Best Thai Food6. Gai Med Ma-Muang: Gai Med Ma-Muang is one of the 8 best Thai foods in Phuket and available on the menu of all restaurants. It is a sweet, slightly spiced dish packed with nutritious vegetables. It is a variation of “Kung Pao Chicken,” which is a Sichuan Chinese meal. Gai Med Ma-Muang may be a combination of chicken and cashew nuts instead of peanuts used in “Kung Pao Chicken”. It is a great opportunity for visitors to taste such a Thai food without succumbing to a spice overload.

 

Best Thai Food7. Homok Talay: Homok Talay is a spicy curry fish mousse which is steamed with the leaves of a local plant named Bai Cha-ploo and wrapped in a banana leaf. But before eating, beware, it might come spicy, hot and occasionally with a strong fishy taste! You can taste this dish in many restaurants including Ruen Thai restaurant at Bang Tao Beach.

 

Best Thai Food8. Oh Eaw: Oh Eaw is the best Thai Food and very familiar with locals and visitors for its unparalleled taste. It is a kind of dessert made from ripe banana. It is consumed with rice, red beans and sweet syrup. You can take it mostly during the summer season. For tasting this dessert, you can visit Phuket local food centres, like Loktien Restaurant.

The list of the 8 best Thai food will stimulate your appetite for some yummy Thai dishes. You can go to any local restaurant and order the desired item to take a taste of famous Thai flavour.

PhuketNow.com is committed to providing you with the best information for making your holiday an amazing adventure in Phuket-Now enjoy!

The 5 Best Jungle Adventure Tours in Phuket

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Do you have a thirst for jungle adventures but don’t know where to start?
While visiting Phuket, you can enjoy the best jungle adventure tours.

Phuket is a wonderful island to enjoy lots of adventurous and interesting tours. PhuketNow.com have selected the 5 best Jungle Adventure tours in Phuket offering you amazing activities such as Zip-line, Bird-watching, Elephant Trekking and more.Khao Yai is a great place for bird lovers. Khao Sok National Park is also an ideal location for tourists to enjoy many different activities.

All these tours mentioned below offer you natural jungle beauty and beautiful landscapes of Phuket. You can select one or more jungle adventure tours around Phuket.

‘Zipline Adventure’ is one of the most exciting jungle Jungle Adventure Touradventure tours. You can discover a great woody forest through this eco-friendly tour. You will also enjoy flying from tree to tree being a modern day Tarzan. A haul of about 400 m Zip-line taking about 2.30 hours will be an unforgettable adventure. You can view the details of Zipline Adventure.

 

Jungle Adventure TourBird Watching tour is a definite for those who love watching birds. Many herbs, shrub, and trees of Khao Yai National Park are abodes of various species of birds. Near the area of National Park Head Quarter, Khao Kaewand, you will be able to watch birds like Asian Emerald Cuckoo, Common Green Magpie, White-throated Rock Thrush, and Blue Pitta. The main road of the National Park is famous for the Red-breasted Parakeet, the Vernal Hanging Parrot, Lineated Barbet and Coppersmith Barbet. Around Lam Ta Kong Dam or other sites of the National Park, you will find Pratincole, Rain Quail, Oriental Skylark and many other birds. Twittering and chirping of different types of birds will make your holiday very amusing. Plan your jungle adventure tour on Khao Yai Bird Watching.

 

Safari 4 in 1 Adventure offers a nice opportunity to discover Jungle Adventure Tourjungle wonders of Phuket. Through this half-day tour you will enjoy trekking on elephant back, a panoramic view over Chalong Bay, visiting a local farmyard, cruising on a traditional wooden’ junk’  around  Chalong Bay and exploring ‘Lone island’. Safari 4 in 1 is a jungle Adventure tour that is really enjoyable for adventurous activities. For more information, go here – Safari 4 in 1 Adventure.

 

Jungle Adventure TourKhao Sok National Park, a reserved jungle in Southern Thailand, is one of the most-visited tourist attractions for its unparalleled natural beauty. It is also well-known for various jungle activities such as elephant trekking, visiting cliffs, watching birds, observing different species of reptiles & monkeys, canoeing, camping, etc. If you are fond of enjoying picturesque landscape and jungle activities, we recommend you go for this tour. To get details about this tour, go to Khao Sok National Park-Jungle Adventure.

 

White Water Rafting (WWR) and Elephant Trekking is a 1-dayJungle Adventure Tour tour from Phuket to Song Phraek, a sub-district of Phang Nga Province in southern Thailand. Song Phreak is situated in the high landscape between Kratha Kwum and Khao Hra Sung Mountain. It is also a perfect watershed from where you can start rafting activities like bamboo rafting & river canoeing. Other activities you can experience are feeding monkeys in Magical Monkey Caves and Elephant Trekking through the tropical rainforest of Song Phraek. Check this tour on WWR & Elephant Trekking.

 

These tours will provide you with the opportunity to have the most adventurous and unforgettable holiday. Plan your jungle adventure tour with PhuketNow.com to have an amazing holiday in Phuket – Now enjoy!

Cost-Effective & Easy Transport in Phuket and Thailand

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Cost-Effective & Easy Transport in Phuket and Thailand

Are you thinking about transport in Phuket, Thailand?

Don’t worry, when visiting Phuket, you will find the transport available is very reliable, low priced and traffic friendly.

There are many options to get around and include planes, trains, buses, taxis, Songthaews, Tuk-tuks, cars, motorbikes, and other transports in Phuket. Train service is not available in Phuket but you can reach Surat Thani, Phang Nga Province by train and then you can catch the bus to arrive on the island of Phuket.

 

Flights:

Cost-Effective & Easy Transport in Phuket and Thailand

The fastest way to move within Thailand is by air. Many flights are available at affordable prices to fly to several destinations in Thailand. Most air routes originate from Bangkok, but Chiang Mai, Ko Samui and Phuket also have routes to other Thai towns. Many airlines offer domestic as well as International Flights including Thai Airways. This is the most used mode to arrive Phuket and chosen by travellers among many transports in Phuket.

Bangkok is the major centre for International Flights throughout Asia as well as Thailand’s domestic hub. Suvarnabhumi International Airport is the new and improved airport located around 30 km east of Bangkok. The former International and Domestic Airport Don Muang (25 km north of Bangkok) has been reopened to handle the overflow of domestic flights since 2007.

Bankok Airways

Cost-Effective & Easy Transport in Phuket and Thailand

Thai Airways

Cost-Effective & Easy Transport

 

Train is the most convenient transport in Phuket as well as throughout the kingdom. Four main train lines from North Chang Mai to South Surat Thani cover the northern, southern, north-eastern and eastern parts of Thailand. Trains do not run directly to Phuket. But, you can travel by train to Phun Phin near Surat Thani from any place in Thailand. From Bangkok to Surat Thani is a 12-hour train journey and you then must take a 5-6 hours coach journey to arrive in Phuket.

The bus is the effective used mode of transport in Phuket for moving one place to another.  Phuket has two big bus terminals of different categories to travel to a long distance city. Private Coach and minibus are also available to see the countryside. Some of the cheapest and slowest buses are more common and carry many passengers at a time.

Taxi is another popular form of transport in Phuket to travel around the cities and beach areas. You will be able to find some metered Taxis to avoid being charged too much by unscrupulous taxi drivers. Sometimes, you will be charged too much if you do not fix the price with an unmetered taxi driver before you travel.

 

Motorbike Taxi

Motorbike Taxi is very convenient transport in Phuket for novice visitors; you will findCost-Effective & Easy Transport in Phuket and Thailand motorbikes in everywhere in Phuket, mostly in front of shopping malls, bus stations, hotels and business centres. Before getting on a Motorbike Taxi, you should also agree on the fare with its driver.

 

 

Songthaew

Cost-Effective & Easy Transport in Phuket and ThailandA Songthaew is like a pick-up truck with two benches on the back.

You will find them in every popular tourist area as they run on specific routes to help tourists travel much easier.

Sometimes, you can choose this type of transport in Phuket if you want to visit different places with a Tuk Tuk or rickshaw. Tuk Tuk or rickshaw are a three-wheel vehicle and they can be found everywhere in Phuket. Some motorized Tuk-tuks run fast, but non-motorized Tuk Tuks are much slower.

 

Car rental in Phuket

You can find a large number of luxurious and affordable transport in Phuket such as cars, jeeps and vans in Cost-Effective & Easy Transportmany areas of Phuket. You can hire them by agreeing on the rental fees upfront. Many rental car providers will give you various options of cars. You can also book them online before your arrival. The hotel that you have booked may also arrange your transportation for your arrival at the hotel and then offer car rental services during your holidays as well.

Motorbike Rentals

Cost-Effective & Easy TransportIf you want to move independently, you should rent a motorbike, is the another transport in Phuket. There are a lot of motorbike providers from where you can choose one by agreeing on the amount you have to pay per hour but usually you hire a motorbike on a daily rate.

 

Water Vehicles

Besides air and land vehicles, you will find many water transport in Phuket including Long Cost-Effective & Easy TransportTail Boats, Speedboats, Yachts, Catamarans, Liveaboard vessels, and Chinese Junks in Phuket. Long Tail Boats and Speedboats are available on every beach to travel as quickly as possible to the nearest islands.

Yachts & Catamarans are moored at many piers in Phuket and you can charter them to discover the islands of the Andaman Sea.

Liveaboard vessels are well-equipped with all diving materials to explore underwater marine beauty. Traditional Chinese Junks are also very popular to explore the islands’ beauty.

Whenever you visit, all forms of transport in Phuket are very cost-effective and offer a great variety of ways to get around and experience all that is on offer.

You can select from a great variety of tour packages on Phuketnow.com that offer mini air-conditioned buses to and from the tour operators who offer the variety of on water activities.

Plan an amazing tour to discover the wonderful islands around Phuket

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Plan an amazing tour to discover all the wonderful islands around Phuket

Do you want to explore the beautiful islands, cliffs and turquoise water of the Andaman Sea? Phuket is a spectacular province of Thailand and beautifully surrounded by the Andaman Sea. It has many attractive spots including world heritage sites and wonderful beaches. Discover many big and small mountainous and wonderful islands around Phuket in the Andaman Sea. Some islands have beautiful beaches where snorkelling and other beach activities can be enjoyed. Some of them are just high limestone cliffs on the sea. These astonishing sudden islands around Phuket on serene clear water are the mesmerising attractions that enhance the sea beauty.

 

Phuket, a perfect holiday destination

The Bay of Phuket is outstanding for its distinctive eco-marine area. If you want to see the surroundings including beach areas, snorkelling points and other charming islands around Phuket on a boat, you can book Phuket Island by Leisure Cruiser to explore the real beauty of the Andaman Sea.

Phang Nga, a world famous place for limestone cliffs

On the east-northern side of Phuket, mountainous cliffsPlan an amazing tour to discover all the wonderful islands around Phuket of Phang Nga province are famous for wonderful views. The dozens of cliffs on the sea create scenic views that must be explored on junk (June Bathra). Visit the James Bond Island where the James Bond Movie “The man with the golden gun” was captured. You can also discover various beautiful locations around Phang Nga. For your convenience, we arrange the tour Phang Nga by Chinese Junk to discover the world-renowned spots of Phang Nga.

Phang Nga offers different looks at different times. If you wish to visit Phang Nga in the evening, our Sunset Cruise at Phang Nga tour offers you the opportunity to observe the stunning appearance of Phang Nga from afternoon to dusk. Enjoy the panoramic beauty of crimson sunlight, the limestone cliffs and the colourful sky shadow on the calm water. You may also take some drinks and snacks for passing relaxed time.

 

Explore the wonderful Islands around Phuket

Plan an amazing tour to discover all the wonderful islands around PhuketPlan a trip that includes visiting 5 islands in a single tour. PhuketNow.com can arrange a tour to visit Phi Phi, Tonsai Bai, Koh Rok, Racha, and Phang Nga islands which are the well-known Islands around Phuket in the Andaman Sea. You can enjoy a wonderful holiday to have an unforgettable time around these outstanding locations through this tour 5 islands by luxury Yacht.

 

Design your tour and own Itinerary to visit somewhere in the Andaman Sea

Do you want to visit your favourite Island or indulge Plan an amazing tour to discover all the wonderful islands around Phuketyourself in sea activities? You can plan your own itinerary to enjoy the pelagic marine area of the Andaman Sea. If you want to go somewhere in particular, just inform us the route and we will arrange all necessary steps to fulfil your desire. Just check the yacht tour Design Your Tour with SY Capricorn  tour and enjoy your customised voyage.

All tours are perfectly operated by PhuketNow.com to offer you an amazing holiday experience. Our every operation is smooth and secure with modern water vehicles that maintain all safety matters during your journey.

Plan your tour with PhuketNow.com. It’s where your holiday begins!

Respectful and Cultural Traditions to follow when in Phuket

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Respectful and Cultural Traditions to follow when in Phuket

During your stay in Phuket, you should be aware that Thai social culture is quite different to the more direct European and Western style. Thai beliefs, norms, values, and etiquettes are also a little distinctive from other Asian countries.  Some following points of etiquette will be important for making your stay in Phuket safe, interesting, and possibly a little less stressful.

 

About Greetings

Thais are more cordial, tolerant, and hospitable than most Nations. The people Respectful and Cultural Traditions to follow when in Phuketof Phuket shake hands a little it depends on their time in Phuket and their level of exposure to westerners. If they are comfortable with a handshake they will usually offer their hand first to westerners.  They will usually and most often welcome you with the traditional Thai ‘Wai’ the custom of greeting or showing respect with two palms and fingertips together in front of the face while making a small bow.

A nice big smile is also a great way to win a heart, to get a smile back, or to diffuse a tense situation.

Foreigners should not Wai first because you are a guest. If a Thai person  Wai you first, you can reply with a Wai,  or a smile and a nod is most acceptable. If you Wai first,  they will understand and giggle to welcome you.

 

About Thai Royal Family

Thai people have a deep traditional reverence for the King, Queen and the Royal Children.

As a visitor, you should also show respect to the Thai Royal family.

Don’t disapprove of the Thai monarchy or make any fun publicly about The King or any member of Royal Thai family. Don’t criticize the Government of monarchy as well as political affairs.

In Thailand, there are strict Lesse Majesty laws.

 

Thai Religion

Respectful and Cultural Traditions to follow when in PhuketThe national religion of approx. 90%  Thai people is Buddhism. Respecting their religious activities and dressing appropriately at temples and cultural centers are expected. Dress in a proper way when entering a temple or a religious shrine.

You should not dress (also including see through dresses) in such a way that shows your bare arms, legs, belly, and thighs. Crop tops, hot pants, bikinis, and bathers are prohibited at temples, and shrine and are most unwelcome well in public places like supermarkets/shopping centres.  Beach attire is preferably kept to the beach and areas very close to the beach.

 

Head and Feet

The Head being the upper part of the body is spirit essence to Thais. Touching someone’s head is disrespectful and not likely to be well accepted.  On the other hand, feet, the lowest part of the body, are not well regarded.  Never direct someone by pointing with your feet and if possible try not to show the soles of your feet.  If you have an injury and cannot sit on the floor with your soles hidden just apologise “Kawtawt” (my core is taught) and mention it and any affront will immediately be forgiven.

 

Buddha Sculpture

The Buddha is a religious role model in Thailand, so please observe all likeness ofRespectful and Cultural Traditions to follow when in Phuket  Buddha respectfully. The Buddha Sculpture may be small, big or partly broken; it does not matter. Buddha Sculptures are considered a holy object, and deserve respect.

Don’t climb on any sculpture of Buddha and never do any activity that shows your negligence.

 

Monks

Monks are religious persons;  Women should not touch Buddhist monks, or Monks should not receive anything directly from a  women’s hand.  Any offering can be placed down for the monk to take but not passed directly by hand.

 

Shoes manner

Respectful and Cultural Traditions to follow when in PhuketOn temple premises, you can walk in your shoes. But you should shoe off before entering a temple or a shrine. This custom also applies to homes and also to many less public shops.

 

Irritation and shouting

Thailand has never been colonised.  Thais have no understanding or acceptance of the more confrontational and direct western style.

Thai people prefer a smile rather than aggressive behaviour.  Tolerance is more appreciated than an annoyance.

Try to be calm if any unpleasant situation arises. Shouting is not desirable from a tourist. Any bad situation will remain under control if you are quiet and thoughtful. Don’t get excited with drivers on the roads.  Horns are only used as a warning device tooted briefly.

 

Topless on the beach

It is illegal to be topless in public places. Thailand as a very tolerant society has not,  for the most part,  made too many objections to topless bathing on tourist beaches.  But it would be incorrect to mistake this tolerance as acceptance.

Thai nationals consider it simply as bad taste and a low standard of behaviour. It would be better to save topless activities for the more tolerant beaches of Europe.  Dressing properly is the most respectful way to travel anywhere in Phuket.

 

Romantic Activities

In Phuket, many hotels and resorts offer the opportunity to enjoy specialRespectful and Cultural Traditions to follow when in Phuket romantic moments with your loved one,  as they can offer gorgeous romantic accommodation, beach dining and many forms wedding and social activities.  There are nightclubs aplenty and bars are also available to enjoy local female companionship and drinks. Patong Beach nightlife acts as the most vibrant entertainment preference you that cannot be missed.

But any obscene and offensive behaviour outside or in public is strongly forbidden at all times, and is punishable by law.  So don’t be crazy in public, and enjoy your holiday.

 

Your personal items

Be careful with your personal possessions, the same as anywhere in the world.  Life is tough without your passport and they are not so easy to replace these days so guard it carefully.

Credit card fraud is often experienced be careful at ATMs that there are no unusual attachments added to the machine

You can use safe deposit box at your hotel for valuable items or keep them in a secure place.

When planning to visit Phuket,  you should learn about Thai culture and the expected behaviour for a great relaxing holiday in the “land of smiles.”  Remember, Thais are very cordial and accepting of tourists, but you should not do anything that conflicts with their culture, as it will at times not be well received and cause more trouble than you were counting on.

Soi Bangla , Heart of Patong Nightlife

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Soi Bangla Road, Heart of Patong Nightlife

Soi Bangla , Heart of Patong Nightlife

Soi Bangla or Bangla Road is party central and the heart of the nightlife in Patong Beach. It is a 400-metre long main road that starts from Rat-U-Thit Road and ends at Thawewong Road in front of Patong Beach area. Soi Bangla is the centre of the bustling nightlife activities and other famous branch streets named Soi Seadragon, Soi Tiger, Soi Freedom, Soi Crocodile, Soi Vegas, Soi Gonzo, Soi Easy and Soi Lion offer many nocturnal activities. Every road (Soi) of Soi Bangla is full of boisterous activities of deafening music, nightclubs, disco clubs, go-go bars, beer bars, restaurants, pubs and shops.

Common activities are lightly-clad sexy girls dancing on open stage on every street to lure you to their bars. Wherever you visit this Soi, friendly ladies will call you to have a drink and play some bar games with them. Enjoy activities with girls but don’t be surprised at scam activities or you will fall into rip-off fun on any lane. This spot is not for prude and faint-hearted people although everything is part of the fun.

 

Other Sois in Soi Bangla

Soi Seadragon

Soi Seadragon is a 100-metre long road that originates from Soi Bangla. This road is basically full of go-go bars where girls of minimalist attire perform different types of activities on stage in front of bars. Seadragon has been remodelled recently (in 2012) that offers roof top activities with a huge booze and body emporium especially in low season. 46 bars of various brands with some renowned go go bars such as Devil’s Playground, Diablo A Go Go, Suzy Wong and Suzy Wong II and Exotica A Go Go offer you extensive girly activities. Two Brothers, Crow’s Nest, Micky Mouse, Butterfly, Bangla sexy 9, Hangover, Drinks & Dreams and Nida’s Bar are the few names of beer bars available with a big selection of beverages on this road.

This is a funky spot of ass-smacking fun. Almost every girl will stare at you to persuade you to enter their bar.  Colourful flashing tattoo parlours, souvenir shops, hairdressers exist on this road as well.

 

Soi Tiger (New Tiger)

Soi Tiger is a very popular road where many sexy girls always dance on open stage at night near every fancy designed beer bar. The statue of Big Tigers shows you that is Soi Tiger which is located next to Bangla Shopping centre where the opposite is Seduction Night Club.  New Tiger Disco established at Soi Bangla in 2013 after the old Tiger Disco was burnt in 2012. New Tiger provides you with a number of stages of sexy young girls. The Pink and Tiger live Band provide pool and live music to enjoy. The bars names of Hell Boys Bar, Blow Job Bar, Pube Bar, Hungry Tiger define the bar activities on this road. The go-go bars named Crazy Horse, Sin City Bar, Star 69 Bar and Cocktail & Dreams Bar offer night time entertainment with many distinctive services.

Some bikini girls always pose as sexual models to attract the customers. They will make fun by using debauchery conversation. The Blix, located on New Tiger Lane is a bar of flint-stones looking like giant caves. In this bar, most of the girls will offer you to take some drinks and to have a bar game with them. Here, the girls do not feel shy at all and they try to convince you in a professional way by offering a stool to sit. They will often make fun with you in an intimate way. But don’t forget that STD (Sex Transmitted Disease) is a common issue on Soi Bangla.

 

Soi Freedom (Previously Soi Eric)

Soi freedom is a narrow lane located between the Sharky’s, and Smiley bars and it is also branch road of Soi Bangla. It is basically a road of beer bars where the girls will call you to enjoy the drinks inside their bar. You will get beers and spirits at a lower price than any street on Soi Bangla. The ladies of this road are adult and do their job professionally.

The girls will convince you to play bar games called Connect 4, Jenga, and Jackpot. On this soi (road) you will find private DJ parties in every bar making chaotic and blended sounds to your ear. Almost every bar has open stages where 10-15 bikini girls show their ass and boobs to actively seek customers. Tao Bangla Bar, Lucky Bar, Hangover Bar, Kiran Bar are well-known bars in this area.

 

Soi Crocodile

Soi Crocodile is located in the middle part of Soi Bangla and a centre of nightlife attractions. The girls on this road are taller, sexier & slimmer, and they dance on stage with short skirts to allure guests. Actually, they are Katoeys (Transvestites) who are more feminine in every activity. In the middle part of the Soi Crocodile, a new stage has been added for open dance activities. Katoeys will call you ‘Hi handsome’ by twisting their body to persuade you to engage in some activities. If you are interested in take a picture with a Katoey, she will ask you for some Baht, requesting about 100 Baht. You can take drinks and enjoy your time with Katoeys in the bars of this road.

 

Soi Vegas

Soi Vegas is also known as Soi Happy which is situated close to Jungceylon Shopping Mall on Soi Bangla Road. It is a 60-metre-long road adjacent to Soi Tiger. You will get interesting adult entertainment on this road. This road is little gloomy with some neon lights from go-go and beer bars. The most famous bar on this road is Cocktail & Dreams lady-boy where on-stage cabaret shows are performed. Some girls are waiting in a queue wearing regalia to attract the guests. Moulin Russian Rouge, a Go Go Bar offers shows of Caucasian dancers. In this bar, the price is a little bit higher than other bars. Money Night A Go Go is another go-go bar on this Soi Bangla. You can have a great time and really enjoy some colourful nightlife activities.