A marvelous combination of sightseeing and nightlife, eco-tourism, shopping, island-hopping and people-watching.
Cultural Tourism
Suwan-Kuha Temple: A cave temple located on the top of the limestone mountain, houses a reclining Buddha which is 15 meters in height with tiny shrines and chedis. It is popularly known as the Monkey Cave as it is home to hundreds of long-tailed macaques.
Wat Phra Thong: The Phra Thong temple displays the beauty of an enormous Buddha statue that is partly submerged underground while the other half protrudes outwards. A myth prophesized that from this site whenever the Burmese, during the invasion in 1785, attempted to dig deeper and transport this statue back to their country, a swarm of hornets assaulted them, preventing the soldiers from excavating the site, and causing them to flee.
Wat Mahathat: This must-visit temple harbours the myth of the King of Thailand's favourite monk who had supernatural abilities to predict the future. In his name, this site erected a 15-meter high black monk statue. It also hosts a freshly-built temple and a separate shrine where visitors can pay their respects to the surreal wax statues of the monks showering blessing upon their followers.
Eco Tourism
A unique and pristine natural habitat surrounded by diverse species of flora and fauna, the Phang-Nga National park covers an area of 400 square kilometers of gorgeous landscape and unmatched sparkling lakes. This National Park offers abundant adventures and thrills ranging from trekking, elephant riding and bamboo rafting to white-water rafting and simply cruising over the Andaman Sea.
The most majestic and dramatic tract of the virgin forests in Southern Thailand, Khao Sok National Park boasts 188 diverse species of fauna with the likes of elephants, monkeys, tigers, bears and boars being a part of it. Rafflesia Kerri, the largest and most foul-smelling flower in the world, is a part of the flora that punctuates a picturesque and extraordinarily scenic location.
Situated in a famous location, Khao-Lak National Park is widely known for its breathtaking scenery and numerous trekking trails.
Be it a hiking tip in the dense woods or an extreme ATV racing matchup, excitement and thrill are always experienced. Khao-Lak National Park also offers scuba-diving, fishing and surfing experiences. It harbours a Tsunami Memorial Park within its boundaries.
Island Destinations
Surin Islands
The Surin archipelago offers five dream islands to discover, two of which are the main islands where several snorkeling and scuba diving activities thrive. Mantay rays and white sharks are common visitors of this habitat. Due to the intense efforts of the Surin Marine National park, they lost a variety of sea turtles as well as flora and fauna that are rare in other regions of Thailand.
Similan Islands
Listed as one of the most exciting diving locations in Southeast Asia, Similan Islands are extremely friendly towards scuba divers and snorkeling fanatics. The islands topography is so diverse that you can simply swim 20 minutes into a whole new ecological system of aquatic life. Similan also harbor a few landmarks, especially the boulder formation that also serves as a viewpoint for several tourists’ ultimate vacation picture.
James bond islands
Famously known for 007, Khao Phing Kan islands are a splendid destination. These islands were featured in the 1974 James Bond movie, Man with the Golden Gun, giving it the name. Since then, it has simply been an attractive photo destination where tourists pose for a photo with a backdrop of the absurd rock formations and the turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea.
Koh YaiIslands
An island untouched by tourism that reminds you of the unspoiled beaches and truly tropical paradise of the past, Koh Yai is known for its peaceful and welcoming natives, the calm of the island and the purity of the forests. These islands are located southeast of Phang-Nga province and offer an experience into the natural way of living.
Adventure
Turtle Village:
Located in Northern Phuket, this mini ‘village’ offers some exquisite Thai souvenirs, memorabilia, gifts and even involves other offerings, such as clothing, food and drink, dining and many more. This village encompasses an area of 3,000 sqm of retail space and is a famous shopping destination in this region of Phuket.
Bangla Walking Street:
The Bangla Road in southern Phuket comes to life after sunset when the partygoers and bar-crawlers crave for entertainment. In a friendly atmosphere, it delights the people of all ages and has street performers that snatch you from a screaming night club. Bars, clubs, discotheques, restaurants and some souvenir shops all dominate this road.
Phuket FantaSea:
The ultimate cultural theme park of Thailand; located in central Phuket, this entertainment venue boasts elephant performers and their charming ladies. If that’s not enough, then you will be overwhelmed by the Tiger jungle theatrical safari that gives you goosebumps from their ancient myths. This venue also hosts a shopping carnival that is decorated with sparkling ornaments from the Thai culture.
Phuket’s Big Buddha:
Phuket’s Big Buddha sits tall on top of the hills in southern Phuket and is easily visible due to its unusual height. At a height of 45 meters, this statue can be seen from over five kilometers away and exhibits a calming ambiance. It also offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the city and is simply magnificent if encountered during sunset.
Hot Water Springs
A hot spring is located in nearby Natai offering mineral-rich hot water baths that have numerous salubrious benefits.
The chulabhorn underwater park conservation centre
A marine conservatory located within the Third Fleet of the Royal Thai Navy shares knowledge of the Andaman aquatic life and resources that are highly valuable to the Phang-Nga region. Established by Phang-Nga Naval Base, this two-story complex preserves the aquatic life and also aids in development of waste-water disposal.