48 Hours in Phuket

[lokesh kumar saini]

Phuket is the most accessible of all of Thailand’s destinations. It’s also home to some of the best beaches and craziest nightlife in Southeast Asia, if not the world. If you only have 48 hours to see Phuket, you are going to have to hurry to squeeze as much into your trip as possible.

Here’s a guide to help you make the most of your brief visit to Phuket.

Phuket Town

Most visitors begin their journey to the island in Phuket Town. That’s because this is where most of the ferries land and where the airport is. It’s also home to the most popular restaurants, hotels, shops, bars and other businesses on the island. Phuket Town is sort of like the Manhattan of Phuket Island, only about 1/10,00^th the size and with far fewer rats and muggers.

You can find just about anything you are looking for in Phuket Town, from delicious, exotic street foods and noodle shops to beach vendors selling everything from bikinis to snorkeling gear. The town also is home to hundreds of businesses that can arrange all the activities for the rest of your visit, including snorkeling and dive trips, whale watching boat rides, elephant trekking, jungle safaris, championship golf courses, Thai cooking classes, traditional Thai massage, go-karts, water parks, shooting ranges, amusement parks … if you can think of it, it already exists somewhere in Phuket Town.

Relaxing on the Beach

Phuket is probably best known for its beaches. The island features some of the most exotic and exclusive beaches on the planet, from the crowded sands around Kalim Bay to the desolate, locals only vibe of Kata and Karon Beaches, Phuket has everything you are looking for and much, much more.

Kalim Bay is the go-to destination for the traveler who always wants to be in the most popular place where they can see and be seen. It’s the island’s ultra-hip hangout and home to all sorts of people from the super-rich to the poorest of the poor.

‘I Love the Nightlife’

Kalim Bay is also where you will find Phuket’s hottest nightlife, including gourmet restaurants, rowdy bars, and trendy nightclubs where you can stand behind a velvet rope and wait to be chosen to go inside (yes, even here in paradise).

Another must-see destination at night is Patong. This is where you will find Phuket’s wild side, with go-go bars, blaring discos that seem as if they have been transported by time machine from the 1970s, and clubs that cater to the curious and outlandish. Like the Las Vegas Strip, Munich’s Oktoberfest, and LA’s wacky Venice Beach, Patong is something everybody should see once in their life.

Tourist Destinations

If you are able to get up early enough the next morning, one great way to get rid of your Patong hangover is to join a sightseeing tour. There are a lot of great tourist destinations on Phuket Island, including the Big Buddha, an awe-inspiring site for even the most seasoned traveler. Located on the side of a mountain, the Big Buddha can be seen from most sites on the southern side of the island. Or make the trek yourself and check out the big guy face to face.

Thailand is known for its ancient temples, and Wat Chalong on Phuket Island is one of Southeast Asia’s best. Richly decorated with beautiful gems and thousands of different images of Buddha, Wat Chalong is an inspirational, spiritual site that will amaze and inspire you. Even if you have seen pictures of it, photos don’t do it justice. You truly have to see it to believe it.

Take A Step Back in Time

While Phuket has been a tourist destination for more than a generation, the island itself has been home to native Thais for thousands of years. One of the best ways to understand and learn about this ancient culture is to visit Phuket Old Town.

Unspoiled by modern development, Phuket Old Town gives visitors an idea of what life was like on the island in the years before tourists descended upon it. The site of both Chinese and European invasions, Phuket has experienced more history per square mile than most modern countries.

Here you will find many examples of Sino-Portuguese architecture, a combination found in few other places in the world. There also are many Chinese shop houses still standing. The locals are very friendly, so if you ask sincerely and are genuine, they usually will let you take a peek inside where they still make everything from textiles to printing to gold by hand.

Seeing Phuket in 48 hours can be a challenge, and there’s no way you are going to experience everything and see all of what the island has to offer. But if you are lucky, you can catch enough a glimpse to make you want to come back time and time again.

Image courtesy of surasakiStock/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

About the Author – Ronald Baxter, the contributor of this guest post writes occasionally in support of Phuket Ferry.