Phuket island, Thailand travel information
 From
a few minutes by speedboat to a day's sailing away, Phuket is surrounded
by so many tropical islands, of such outstanding natural beauty,
that literally weeks can be spent exploring.
At the far north of Phuket's cruising grounds lie the nine islands
of the Similans - noted for their magnificent dive sites - to the
south, the brooding intensity of Taratao - a prison colony during
World War II and now part of the fifty-one island Taratao National
Park - and in between dozens of isles offering pristine beaches,
spectacular scenery and a peace and serenity unique to the Andaman.
 Perhaps
the most popular - and populace - of the islands off Phuket are
the twins, Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Ley. The latter of these was
the stage for the recent Hollywood movie - The Beach, while the
former has become a busy tourist destination, offering a range of
accommodation and watersport activities. 20km southeast of Phuket,
the Phi Phi islands also afford visitors some excellent diving and
snorkelling opportunities - the nearby islets of Bida Ley and Bida
Nok of particular note.
The sheltered waters of Phangnga Bay have their own gifts of nature
peculiar to this region alone. Scattered around the bay, craggy,
hollow limestone escarpments thrust up from the sea like primordial
fortresses. Caves, cut through the friable rock by salt water and
usually only accessible at certain times of the tide, allow access
to remarkable microcosms of nature. These lost worlds are havens
for rare forms of flora and fauna and are also home to the swftlets
whose nests are considered great delicacies by the Chinese.
 It
was in this region that part of the James Bond movie, The Man with
the Golden Gun, was filmed, and the gravity defying Raya Ring Island
is now one of the bay's busiest tourist sites.
Best explored by yacht, charters and day cruises around Phangnga
Bay are readily available from Phuket, while ferry services and
dive trips run to Phi Phi daily. If time is of the essence, high
speed motor launches can be hired from several locations around
the island.
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Coral Island (15 km from town)
Koh Hey, off Phuket's south coast, is so well known for its
coral reef that it is often referred to simply as Coral Island.
In addition to the splendid reefs there are two fine beaches
on the north and west of the island. Koh Hey is part of a
marine preserve, but accommodation, restaurants, various watersports
and diving are all available. Boats leave from Rawai and Chalong.
Package tours are also available.
Phi Phi Islands
 Of
the two islands, Phi Phi Don is the larger and more developed.
The smaller, Phi Phi Le, recently took the title role in the
film adaptation of The Beach - starring opposite Leonardo
Di Caprio. Despite misinformed protests and bad press regarding
environmental damage to the island during filming, Phi Phi
Le is, in fact, in better condition now than before filming
began. International environmentalists report that the removal
of two tons of tourist rubbish before filming could begin,
did not adversely affect the island's delicate ecological
balance.
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Similan Island
 From
the north to the south, the archipelago comprises Koh Bon,
Koh Ba Ngu, Koh Similan, Koh Payu, Koh Miang (actually two
islands), Koh Payan, Koh Payang, Koh Ku Yong. Except for park
officials and occasional tourist groups, these petite islands
are mostly uninhabited. The waters around the islands are
home to a considerable variety of fish and crustaceans, and
other marine life flourishes. The water in the area is as
clear as glass and makes an excellent deep water dive site.
Maiton Island
 This
tiny island off Phuket's southeast coast is highly prized
for its still perfect natural environment, including fine
white beaches and crystal waters; ideal for swimming, diving,
or fishing. The only business of any kind is the plush Maiton
Island Resort.
Those not wishing to stay overnight may take a daytime excursion
leaving from Ao Makham Deep Sea Port.
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