The largest island of Thailand and one of the most famous provinces where thousands of our compatriots rest are resting. Huge advertising posters on holiday in Phuket can be seen in each self-respecting travel agency.
Phuket bathes in the Andaman Sea. The mainland is connected by three bridges.
Phuket is known for a long time, as in the annals about the island, it is mentioned at the beginning of the 11th century. The island economy was based on the extraction and sale of tin and rubber. And since Phuket was located on one of the trade routes between India and China, he was heard among merchants from different countries that were held along the way. Therefore, the history of the island is not an empty page, quite a lot of facts are known. Today is the chief business of Phuket - tourism.
Tourism on the island began to develop in the 1980s and immediately millions of tourists rushed to the paradise islands, which brought the state billions of Bat. Of all guests that Phuket are visited, almost half is foreigners. On the other hand, such a sharp flourishing of tourism led to the fact that this part of the country suffered serious environmental damage, organized by crime and other troubles.
An island stretched, from north to south by 50 kilometers, the width of the island - 21 kilometers in the widest part. The island is covered with low mountains up to 500 meters high, in the south is the island more flat, and in the north and northeast of the Earth cover dense mangroves. It turns out that more than 2/3 of the island are some irregularities and mountains. The highest point of the island - Mount Maithau Sipson The name of which is translated as 'Twelve Costs' (529 meters above sea level).
At the expense of the official recognition of this peak, the highest now much argue, because, it seems, found a mountain and higher - Mount Khuhanva, which is 545 meters above sea level. But it's all the little things, think 25 meters! On the slopes of these mountains, rare tropical plants are growing, which are protected by the state. Those parts of the island where there are no mountains, cover coconut palms, their state does not guard. Beach on site National Maritime Park Siri-Nat Also under guard, in particular, because sea turtles will negle there.
Western and eastern shores are chosen by bays, and in the south-east there are very beautiful rocks and capes. Nine rivers take place on the island, but they are all small and uninteresting.
The pearl of South Thailand, it should be noted, pretty quickly lost most of his gloss and romance plates over the past decades. Real estate prices soared, many locals sold their lands for the construction of national and international hotels, and many of the most beautiful beaches are currently not wild, but filled with crowds of tourists, with restaurants, bars, tourist agencies, massage salons and all such Other
For many, however, the beaches of the west coast of Phuket Island are exactly what they are looking for. From more than ten beaches and bays to choose from - including the luxurious beach of Patong, Kata Beach, Karon Beach, Kamala Beach and Surin Beach - Phuket is a great value for tired of tourists who want to sole all the week on a sun lounger under the hot sun lounger .
Today, few people arrive at Phuket with tents. And many seafood restaurants were replaced by KFC, Starbucks and Pizza Hut. Phuket is a fairly expensive place (compared to other resorts of Thailand): housing, food and transport here are much more expensive than elsewhere in Thailand. Of course, if you eat in street restaurants or in the "happy clock" in small restaurants, you can save.
In any case, everything is cheaper there than in any other resort of other countries, Thai dishes are only 100 baht! The movement here is quite crazy. The town of Tuk-Tuk Mafia is sching, and public buses ride only between the city of Phuket and beaches. So, if you want to move from the beach to the beach, it is better to rent a motorcycle or car.
For those who do not consider money, Phuket will truly offer the amazing range of more luxurious hotels and resorts that are standing on popular beaches, as well as on more secluded places in the northern part of the island.
Once, Phuket suffered during a terrible tsunami - the worst of all had to be the beach of Kamala, Patong, Bang Tao and Yashi. About this tsunami (and about Tsunami, who overturned Kao Luck in the summer of 2006) even was removed the mini-series, which was twisted in British and American television. By the way, many Thais were upset because of these filming and expressed that all this is too early, even despite the fact that after the tragedy took about two years.
Phuket is also considered a rapidly growing real estate market for those who retire or simply buys a summer house, cottage in Thailand, so to speak. With an international airport, highly developed medicine (Phuket - the main city on the gender change in Thailand), and all Western benefits of civilization, plus excellent nature and climatic conditions are easy to understand why for some phuket is really seen southern pearl.
In the city of Phuket - and especially in Old town - Many different attractions. The Old Town is the inconspicuous number of roads, and many interesting sights may seem very strange for the tourist. Chinese temples are scattered around the city - necessarily pay attention to them, they are insanely beautiful!
But you will read about attractions and entertainment on the island in another article.
The main thing is that tourist beaches go here. Beaches with fine gentle white sand. Most of the most suitable Beach - On the Western, southwest and southern coast of the island. Beach Patong. ('Banana Forest') is one of the most famous and beloved.
His "hug" shopping centers, shops and restaurants, nightclubs. It can be said that this is the busiest part of the island, and the most crowded, and the youth. At the same time, all the tourist infrastructure is constantly developing. Other popular beaches - Karon, Kata, Kata-Noi, Najan and Rawai.
Clear and less crowded beaches are south of Patong - Camala, Surin, Bangthau Najang . As a rule, families come here with kids and more adult tourists who do not need all the noise and gaps at all.
