Thailand's biggest island and its busiest beaches
Phuket is Thailand's largest island and its most developed beach destination. The west coast is a string of sandy bays, from the nightlife of Patong to the quieter sands of Kata, Karon and Kamala. Phuket Old Town is worth a day for its pastel Sino-Portuguese shophouses along Thalang Road, and the Big Buddha watches over the south. Boats leave daily for the limestone islands of Phang Nga Bay and the Phi Phi Islands, and the island is a hub for diving the Similan Islands.