Phuket is one of the biggest islands in Thailand, located in the Amdaman Sea off the southern coast of the country. The island is rugged with a mountain range present in the west of the island. The mountains in Phuket Thailand grace the southern end of the island, stretching about 440km from Kra Isthmus. Mai Thao Sip Song, which stands at 529m, the highest point in Phuket.
Phuket has a total area of about 570 square kilometres and the main island is about 50km in length and 20km wide. About 60% of the land is covered in forest, rubber and oil plantations.
There are several beaches along both the coasts of the island. The western coast is covered by sandy beaches, whereas the beaches in the eastern coast are muddy. In the southernmost part of Phuket is Laem Promthep, which is a spectacular sunset viewpoint.
The northern part holds the Khao Phra Thaeo nature preserve, where more than 20 square kilometers of rain forest are protected. Khao Prathiu (384m), Khao Bang Pae (388m) and Khao Phara (422m) are the three highest points in this rainforest. On the northwestern coast is the Sirinat National Park, which protects both forest and marine life. Nai Yang Beach is near here where sea turtles come for nesting.
Patong beach is one of the most popular tourist areas. It is on the western coast of Phuket Thailand. The nightlife over here is very vibrant and shopping here is cheap and cheerful.
Adjacent to Patong, there are plenty of other beautiful beaches. Some of the best beaches are Karon Beach, Kata Beach and Kata Noi Beach. At the southern tip of Phuket Thailand you will find Nai Harn Beach and Rawai Beach. Towards the north of Patong are the beaches of Kamala, Surin and Bang Tao. Although much less developed than Patong, these beaches are some of the very best in the world. These places provide isolation for those who seek it.
There are also many smaller islands dotted around the coast of Phuket. Bon Island is one of the better ones and is a few kilometers away by boat. Coral Island is also very nice and this is where the marine life is particularly diverse. The Similan Islands to the northwest and the Phi Phi Island to southeast handle lots of activities such as scuba diving and snorkeling.