Phuket, is Thailand's largest island, and the country's only island province. It is also a regional government headquarters, and with a population of 1.6 million, Phuket ranks as the sixth largest province in Thailand.
Known as the Pearl of the Andaman, Phuket derived much of its former glory and its enormous wealth from tin production, which dates back over 500 year.
Today, Phuket is the country's major tourist attraction. The surrounding waters contain much varied marine life and the island itself is blessed with lovely seashores and forested hillsides. Approximately 1.75 million Rai of the island is forest. Phuket Town also has some wonderful examples of Sino-Portuguese architecture.
The dream of escaping to an idyllic tropical island becomes a reality on Phuket; Thailand's southern paradise.
Phuket, Shaped like an irregular pearl and measuring approximately 21 km wide by 48 km long, the island is sparsely populated outside Phuket Town. The landscape is one of lush green hills, coconut groves, rubber plantations and a coastline dotted with a dozen spectacular beaches. (Beaches of Phuket)
Unspoilt stretches of fine white sand are found along the entire west coast of the island. Each sun-drenched beach has a character and charm of its own, and is separated from its neighbors by picturesque headlands and backdrops of wooded hills. Lapping the shore are the sparkling warm blue waters of the Andaman Sea.
