Located
approximately 862 kilometers south of Bangkok is Phuket,
Thailand's largest island, which is often dubbed as the
pearl of the Andaman, or the pearl of the south. Its natural
resources- rocky peninsular, limestone cliffs, white powdery
beaches, tranquil broad bays and tropical in-land forests
contribute to making it the South's wealthiest, busiest,
most visited and most popular island and province.
Nestled in the tropical zone off the west coast of the
southern part of Thailand in the Andaman Sea and the Indian
Ocean, the province covers an area of approximately 543
square kilometers (excluding small islets). It is estimated
that Phuket Province covers an area of approximately 590
square kilometers if its 39 other small islands are included.
The islands total length, from north to south, is estimated
at 48.7 kilometers and approximately 21.3 kilometers wide.
Phuket
borders on Phang-nga Province to the north. The other 3
sides are encircled by the Andaman Sea the place where many
of the best diving sites are located. The island is connected
to Phang-nga Province by Sarasin Bridge and Thep Krasattri
Bridge.
Staying on the island is easy, as there are only two seasons
in a year - the rainy season (May to October) and the hot
season (November to April). Visitors are not recommended
to travel to Phuket between September and October as they
are the wettest months. The best period for a visit, is
from November to February, when it is possible to see the
clear blue sky, feel the fresh sea breeze and marvel at
the crystal clear water while lying on powdery, palm-fringed
beaches. Average temperatures ranges between 23 °C and
33 °C.
Phuket's topology is exceptional with 70 percent of its
area covered with mountains which stretch from north to
south and the remaining 30 percent being plains located
in the central and eastern parts of the island. The island
does not have any major rivers except for a total of 9 brooks
and creeks.
Phuket
is divided into 3 administrative counties namely Amphoe
Muang, Amphoe Thalang and Amphoe Kathu.
Phuket has a lot more to offer its visitors other than
its natural heritage sea, sand, sky, beach, forest, and
world renowned diving sites. Sino-Portuguese architecture
casts its spell delighting travelers to the city, while
Phuket-style hospitality has never failed to impress visitors
from all walks of life. In addition, accommodations ranging
from world-class resorts to tropical-style bungalows have
warmly catered to the different needs of travelers. For
seafood lovers, there is a lot more to sample than just
Phuket's famous lobster. Altogether, these characteristics
have made Phuket a truly unique destination.
Phuket has three seasons – warm, rainy, and hot.
The most popular time to travel is during the cool (warm)
season from November through February, also the best time
for diving and water sports. The rainy season is from May
through October, with the heaviest rainfall usually in October.
Rainfall is normally disrupted by moments or days of sunshine.
Hot, dry weather occurs from March through April. Average
year-round temperatures in Phuket are from 25 to 30 Celsius.
This is an island for all seasons and there is something
to offer the visitor, whatever the weather.
