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Camping: Sirinat National
Park
 Camping
is permitted on both Mai Khao and Nai Yang beaches in the
Sirinat National Park. They are the longest beaches on Phuket
and are quiet and serene, apart from the occassional landings
and take offs at the nearby Phuket airport. The beaches are
located on the northwest part of Phuket. The Park's Visitor's
Center, located near the south end of Mai Khao, rents tents
and provides some minimal facilities for campers. There are
also some inexpensive bungalows for rent on Nai Yang.
Camping: Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife
Park
With much of the island given over to tourism development,
there are few places left on Phuket for trekking. The only
remaining patch of virgin jungle, Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife
Park, is home to rare wild animals, such as langurs, porcupines,
and macaques, which would become extinct in fast-growing Phuket
but for this nature conservation area.
The park offers the best trekking in Phuket with a well preserved
natural environment. May through October is the best time
for jungle trekking, when the forest is full of blossoms.
The park has a marked hiking route for visitors to follow.
Marine Biological Research Centre
The Marine Biological Research Centre at Cape Panwa offers
the opportunity to observe local marine life up close without
the necessity of diving beneath the waves. More than one hundred
aquatic species are housed at this facility, which is one
of Thailand's principle centres for research into the whales,
dugongs, sharks, dolphins and sea turtles that make their
home in the water around Phuket. The centre is open daily
from 8.30am to 4.00pm.
Scuba Diving: Koh He (Coral
Island)
Only 5 kms off Phuket's south coast and easily accessible
by boats from Rawai and Chalong, He Island is well known for
its unspoiled coral reef and is often referred to simply as
Coral Island. There are two attractive beaches on the north
and the west.
He Island is a part of a marine preserve, however, various
water sports, and diving, fine accommodation and restaurants
are all available. The Coral Island Resort can handle both
travel and accommodation arrangements. Day trippers from Phuket
make it somewhat crowded in the daytime during the high season.
Scuba Diving: Koh Racha Yai
Snorkelling: Koh Khai
Racha Yai Island has clean, powdery beaches like those of
the Similan Islands. On the east, at Ao Kon Kae Bay, is a
coral reef where the diving is excellent. With well preserved
hard corals in both shallow and deeper water, snorkeling and
scuba diving are the favorite activities.
A foot path leads to the top of a hill on the bay's south
side which provides a panoramic view of whole island. You
can follow the footpath down to the other side of the island
where there is a lovely, nearly deserted beach.
Scuba Diving: Naiharn Beach
South of Kata Noi and north of Promthep Cape, Naiharn is not
Phuket's longest beach, but it borders the most gorgeous lagoon
on the island. The middle of the beach is dominated by the
Samnak Song Nai Han monastery, which has obstructed excessive
development and is the reason that the beach is generally
less crowded than other spots on the southern part of the
island.
A wide variety of water sports can be enjoyed, but swimmers
should be alert for the red flag which warns of dangerous
currents during the monsoon season from May to October. One
can walk to nearby Promthep Cape to observe sunsets, which
are often fiery and spectacular.
Scuba Diving: Phuket's West
Coast
Phuket's western shore is dotted with a dozen pristine white
sandy beaches, including Surin, Patong and Nai Yang beaches,
which abound with aquamarine life. Listed among the top 10
Scuba diving destinations in the world, the beaches on the
west coast of Phuket offer some supreme Scuba diving with
the depths from about 30 to 45 meters. Good close-up photographs
can be taken. Also, regular diving cruises and private trips
can be arranged to other highly regarded diving areas such
as the Similan Islands.
Scuba Diving: Rawai Beach
 Rawai
beach is somewhat rocky, and generally inferior to the cleaner
beaches at Karon, Kata or Patong, but unlike those West Coast
beaches, it is safe to swim there year round as it is not
subject to riptides and undertows during the monsoon season.
Still popular with Thai families, it is also frequented by
foreign Scuba enthusiasts because it is convenient to the
piers where Scuba trips to nearby islands can be arranged.
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