Phuket - the Pearl of the Andaman

Phuket is the second smallest province but at the same time the largest island in Thailand. Located on the Andaman coast in the south west of the country it has some of Southeast Asia’s finest beaches and offers something for every visitor. From first-class golf courses, high-end spas, historical sites, fun attractions for all ages and of course the famous nightlife, you will have so much choice to fill your days(and nights) when staying in Phuket. The east coast of the island is generally the preferred destination for holiday makers as this is where you’ll find all the great beaches but the west and south coasts offer plenty of things to see and do. Phuket Town is one of the oldest cities in Thailand once being an important port of call for Chinese and European traders. The old buildings indicate the former prosperity with a Sino-Portuguese architecture.

Major attractions in Phuket

Phuket is undeniably the most famous island in Thailand and the most visited. With Phuket airport taking many direct flights from Europe, Asia and Australia it is easy to get there. The island apart from the amazing beaches like Surin, Bang Tao, Kamala, Patong, Karon and Kata, offers so much for travelers. Great shopping with modern malls and traditional markets, some of Asia’s finest restaurants, fun-filled land and sea activities, animal sanctuaries, national parks and sightseeing, you are spoiled for choice. Something not to miss when in Phuket is the famous Phuket Fantasea Show which is filled with a range of entertainment and activities and the amazing Las Vegas style theater show. Phuket is also the gateway to visit many of the surrounding islands like Phi Phi, Similan and of course Phang Nga Bay.

Rent a luxurious holiday villa in Phuket

Phuket has a strong reputation as one of Asia’s premier destinations for a luxurious holiday experience. In recent years, the luxurious Phuket villas offer guests not only privacy but also gives them the best facilities and services to make their time unforgettable in Phuket. Whilst many of the villas in Phuket are high-end and attract the wealthier travelers there are also many villa options for the average holidaymaker seeking a different experience than a stay in a hotel. Nearly all Phuket villas will have a private pool and can provide guest services like chef and concierge assistance.

Koh Yao - Phan Nga Bay near Phuket

Koh Yao Noi and Yai are two islands in the Andaman that have yet to be westernized by tourism. This will change soon, as developments are already planned, so if you want to reconnect with nature and escape from modern commercialism, comforts and conformity, visit Koh Yao now.

You'll see tangled jungle and rocky shoreline, gibbons, hornbills, sea eagles, fruit bats, and the telltale tracks of monitor lizards on this paradise like island off the coast of western Thailand, near Phuket. You'll forget that the modernized towns catering to tourists on the mainland and Phuket island are just an hour away.

Koh Yao Noi retains its fishing villages and mangrove forests. Eagles soar in the skies, and the seas yield enough fish to satisfy the population and more.

Some years ago, Koh Yao Noi's 4,500 mostly Muslim resident villagers sought the help of the Responsible Ecological Social Tours project (REST), a Bangkok-based group that works with locals to develop community-based tourism, promote conservation, and develop a sustainable economy.

Thanks to its empowered community, Koh Yao Noi is able to offer visitors an authentic Thai travel experience.

Get to Koh Yao

If you're in Phuket, you can take one of the daily boats to Koh Yao Noi from the Bang Rong Pier on Phuket's northeast coast.

Why visit Koh Yao?

Visit Koh Yao for its trackless forests and untamed wilderness, where dirt roads turn unexpectedly into cow paths before being engulfed in forests of wild coconut palms and mangroves, where tourism is still an after thought, and where the clamorous din of commerce is nowhere to be heard. Koh Yao Noi and Ko Yao Yai (Little Long Island and Big Long Island) remain one of the last refuges for travellers who want to discover a lost Thailand.

The Yao islands are technically part of Phang Nga province and while accessible by boat from both Krabi and Phang Nga, the cheapest, easiest way to get there if from the eastern ports on Phuket.