Picturesque Places
1. Ko Phi Phi Ley
With dramatic limestone cliffs giving way to powdery white sand and crystal-blue lagoons, this uninhabited island is a tropical paradise. Daytrippers enjoy snorkeling and swimming in the placid blue waters surrounding the island, as well as seeing the 400-year-old wall paintings rendered by fishermen in the Viking Cave. You can also spend a night camping on the famous Maya Bay (for further details see Ko Phi Phi Ley).
2. Bang Pae Waterfall
At a height of 59 ft (18 m), this isn’t exactly a breathtaking plummet of rushing water, but Bang Pae Waterfall offers a picturesque backdrop for swimming. Located in the jungles of Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, the waterfall is close to the Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre. It’s best visited during the rainy season between June and November.
3. Khao Rang Viewpoint
With sweeping views of Phuket Town and wide expanses of green ideal for picnics, the top of Rang Hill is one of Phuket’s most relaxing places to spend an afternoon. People come here to exercise or read a book. Others enjoy the restaurants with magnificent views and the island’s best iced coffee. The bronze statue of a former Phuket governor stands near the viewpoint.
4. Phang Nga Bay
Verdant limestone cliffs jut up from this bay, creating a dramatic backdrop with excellent photo opportunities. James Bond Island features one of the most popular of these majestic rock formations. But since it often gets crowded, look for full-day sea canoe journeys through less crowded aquatic grottoes and cavernous tunnels (for further details see Phang Nga Bay).
5. Khao Sok National Park
Beautiful lakes, thrilling caves, and limestone cliffs are interspersed with ancient evergreen trees in this virgin forest north of Phuket. Home to a diverse population of wildlife, as well as rare tree species, Khao Sok offers some of the best trekking, canoeing, and safaris in southern Thailand.
6. Phromthep Cape
Dramatic, swirling shades of red, purple, and orange appear on the horizon during the sunset crescendo at Phromthep Cape. The hilltop viewpoint also has restaurants, an outdoor market, an elephant shrine, and a lighthouse.
7. Mangroves
These fantastic trees, with their tangled and exposed roots, can be found along Phuket’s muddy shorelines. Sea canoe tours offer the best way to see the mangroves up close. Above ground, the trees provide homes to crab-eating macaque monkeys, while underwater they serve as nurseries for crustaceans and fish. The trees themselves are picturesque – and somewhat mystifying, because they survive in salt water.
8. Similan Islands
One of the top scuba diving destinations in the world, the Similan Islands are home to a variety of colorful and rare marine life, including magnificent coral reefs. Above water, the sight is just as spectacular, with unspoiled, unpopulated beaches. Overnight snorkeling or diving trips allow visitors to sleep in tents, or very basic bungalows, on the beach.
9. Sirinat National Park
Located in northwest Phuket, Sirinat National Park protects some of Phuket’s last mangroves, as well as a number of pristine beaches, including Mai Khao Beach – home to nesting sites for sea turtles. An elevated nature trail guides visitors through the mangrove forests, with signs explaining the various species.
10. Cheow Laan Lake
Framed on all sides by tree-covered limestone cliffs, this stunning natural lake in the heart of Khao Sok National Park is populated by floating bamboo raft houses and serves as an ideal venue for swimming and kayaking. In the early morning, the lake’s long-tail boats and mist-shrouded shores provide excellent material for photographers. Monkeys, wild boars, and gibbons populate the surrounding forest (for further details see Cheow Laan Lake).
