Kata and Karon beaches

View on Karon Beach from Patong Road

For the first part of the tour we passed Kata Beach and Karon Beach, which are like sister beaches, and both are located near Patong Beach. Here, you can find middle-to-upper-range accommodation. Driving along the front, we gazed at the powdery white sand, glowing in the heat of the morning sun. The heady combination of the sand, the sea breeze and the waves was almost spiritual. There’s no doubt that the view out to the Andaman Sea from here is special.

On the way up to Kata Viewpoint we saw some dark-grey objects moving through the jungle at the side of the road. Then, as we passed an elephant camp, we realised what they were. Three of the elephants were going on their morning walk while several others were enjoying their breakfast.

The ‘Long and winding road’ (with apologies to the Beatles) led up the hillside to a view of the surrounding treetops and – much further below – the indigo sea.

Kata Viewpoint

Kata Viewpoint

At Kata Viewpoint we discovered that we weren’t the only ones who had opted to take a tour. Several people were already there, taking photos of the breathtaking scenery below. A few were filming where they had been only minutes before and when you gazed down, ogling at the vista of Karon, Kata and Kata Noi beaches below, it was easy to see why this viewpoint is so famous.

Here, even the rainy season has warm sunny days with sea breezes wafting ashore. In Phuket, taking a stroll down the beach is not the hot humid experience that it is in the Gulf of Thailand.

Phromthep Cape

Lord Brahma's guardians

As we wound down again through the green hills we became curious as to where we were heading so we took a peek at our tour itinerary: Phromthep Cape was next on our agenda.

At Promthep Cape (Laem Promthep in Thai) you can see the Lord Brahma and his ‘guardians’ – thousand of carved wooden elephants of every size. Down below to the right of the cape lies Nai Harn Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Phuket, and above, as if standing guard, are several white windmills that generate clean, non-polluting power to the area.

The cape commands a great view out to sea and at that time of day it wasn’t crowded at all, although I heard that it gets quite busy around sunset. Yong, our guide, pointed out the trail that led to the end of the promontory. “Can we walk all the way out there?” we chorused. “If you’re fit enough,” he replied.

Phromthep Cape

Well, maybe we could have done it if we were still in our twenties but we didn’t feel so confident so we contented ourselves with taking pictures instead. After all, in that way our families could see where we’d been. It was sort of strange as even though we were high up on the cape I felt as though I could easily reach down and touch the sea from there.

We all got back into the minivan and the driver took us down to Rawai Beach. There were so many boats there that I realised that it is a ‘working beach’ where fishermen moor and repair their ‘longtail’ boats. “Over there the Sea Gypsies have a seafood market,” Yong pointed out. He explained that a long time ago a Polynesian tribe sailed here and stayed. Locally, they’re known as ‘Water People’ or ‘Chao Nam’ but most people call them Sea Gypsies.

Wat Chalong

Wat Chalong

I had Sea Gypsies on the brain when, a few minutes later, we pulled up outside an elegant Buddhist temple. This was Wat Chalong, considered by many to be the spiritual heart of Buddhist Phuket.

This temple played a significant role in Phuket’s history as over 100 years ago the Abbot at the time was instrumental in healing many immigrant Chinese labourers who were injured when rival gangs fought. Today, the wat is visited by thousands of the faithful every month and is said to contain a fragment of the Lord Buddha’s bone.

Cashew Nut Factory

Sri Bhurapa Orchid cashew nuts

But what on earth is that huge red object up ahead? Yong explains that it’s Sri Bhurapa Orchid cashew nut factory and yes, we’re due for a visit. These trees grew wild in the old days but now they’re cultivated.

Actually, cashew nuts are a staple of Thai cuisine and are a good and inexpensive souvenir of Phuket. Another cashew fact that amazed us was that cashew makes a fantastic health drink. Mixed with soda it’s delicious, too. You can buy this life-giving beverage at the factory, where they give out free samples.

Wang Thalang Pearl Gallery

Beautiful rings

After the end of Phuket’s tin mining boom, pearl cultivation was introduced to the island. We arrived at Wang Thalang Pearl Gallery where we were told about pearl farming along the sheltered Eastern Coast of Phuket.

At the pearl gallery there are many ranges of pearls to choose from and prices are extremely reasonable. Cultured sea pearls are developed from natural pearls using high technology and the resulting product is definitely for the romantic-minded.

Old Phuket

Sino-Portugese architecture

For the last stop of our tour we were introduced to the charms of Phuket’s old town. Over the centuries Phuket has been subjected to many foreign influences, resulting in its distinctive and eclectic architecture. ‘Sino-Portuguese’ is the term used to describe the houses in the old town.

This part of Phuket features European house designs with a Chinese touch and many have been well-preserved over the years, thanks to their enthusiastic owners. The archways separating the houses and shops on these streets allow visitors to walk along them sheltered from the elements. Many of these roads, such as Phang Nga, Thalang, Dibuk are parallel and feature interesting artifacts shops, restaurants, textile outlets and art galleries. This part of the tour is a fascinating glimpse into Phuket’s past. (read more...)

Our five-hour tour was packed with cultural information and set us up for an interesting stay on the island. We wondered if the whole of our stay here would be as fascinating and the prospects certainly seemed good. After all, the combination of history, nature, and Thai friendliness is a captivating one.

Interested in this tour?

Phuket Island & City Tour Half Day - from 550 Baht
	Give yourself a culture and scenic treat of beautiful Phuket in this program and your holidays memories will be enriched. Take in the islands natural beauty as we drive along the beach roads through Patong, Karon, Kata and Rawai. Visit View Point where you can witness the beautiful bays of Kata Noi, Kata, Karon and Kho Poo Island, one of the island's best scenic spot. Read more...

Photo Gallery of the tour