Cape Phrom Thep

Phrom Thep Cape forms Phuket's southernmost point and is the perfect place from which to witness spectacular sunsets coloring the island-dotted sea.

Rawai Beach

On the eastern side of the southern tip of the island, the palm-fringed Rawai Beach, 17km (11mi) from town, hosts Phuket's sea Gypsies. Several offshore islands have gleaming white beaches and dazzling underwater scenery which attracts dedicated fishers and scuba-divers.

Mai Khao Beach

The pine-lined Mai Khao Beach, 40km (25mi) from town, is Phuket's longest beach. Between November and February each year gigantic sea turtles struggle ashore to lay their eggs.

Wat Phra Thong

Inland from Nai Yang Beach is Wat Phra Thong where a famous half-buried Buddha is enshrined. According to local legend, a boy tethered his water buffalo to a post protruding from the ground. Subsequently, both boy and animal fell mysteriously sick. Suspicious villagers uncovered the post and discovered it was the decorative topknot of a buried golden Buddha. They were able to unearth only the upper half of the image, over which they built the present chapel. Burmese invaders attempted to remove the image in 1785 but failed when they were attacked by vicious hornets.

Wat Chalong

The Wat at Chalong Bay, immediately south of the town of Phuket enshrines statues of Luang Pho Chaem and Luang Pho Chuang, Phuket's most revered monks.