Phuket is Thailand’s major tourist attraction with surrounding water containing a varied marine life and the island itself is blessed with beautiful seashores and forested hillsides.

The landscape is one of lush green hills, coconut groves, rubber plantations and a coastline dotted with a dozen spectacular beaches.

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 neighbours by picturesque headlands and backdrops of wooded hills. Lapping the shore are the sparkling warm blue waters of the Andaman Sea.

With a choice of almost 30,000 rooms, from exclusive luxury hotels to small bamboo bungalow resorts, Phuket has something to suit everyone and every scale of budget.

Many of Phuket’s most popular hotels and resorts are situated along the island’s west coast — in or near the beach communities of Patong, Kata and Karon — however, several excellent hotels are based in the business district of Phuket Town, and a full range of resorts can be found along the peaceful southeast coast beaches.

Without a doubt, Thailand is home to some of the finest and most beautiful beaches and islands in the world, surrounded by crystal clear water and stunning coral. And that is the main reason why the number of divers coming to Thailand has escalated over the past decade or so.

Phuket Island has some decent dive sites and the largest diving centre in Thailand. Even though the best time of the year to dive in Thailand is between October and June, it is still possible to dive virtually any day of the year.

As Thailand is considered one of the safest destinations for diving and snorkeling in the world, it is perfect for first-timers wanting to try these pastimes out.

The sea visibility in some parts of Thailand is unbelievable; visibility distances of up to 30 metres is unheard of in most parts of the world.

One can enjoy splendid sights of underwater mountains, coral gardens, undersea rock formations, hard and soft coral, whale sharks, silver tip sharks, manta rays and even sunken battleships.

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. Just off Phuket, is the limestone island of Koh Doc Mai, which soars vertically from the sea-bed. It is home to a diversity of fish and offers the opportunity to view leopard sharks, moray eels, octopus and turtles.

Perhaps the most popular of the islands off Phuket are the twins, Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Ley. The latter of these was the stage for the movie The Beach, while the former has become a busy tourist destination, offering a range of accommodation and watersport activities.

If seeing the natural wonders on land are what you are more interested in, then a visit to Tarutao National Park should be on your to-do list.

Used as a prison during the ‘40s, the area was designated a national park in 1974 and is the largest nature reserve in South East Asia. From tropical rain forest, limestone forest and coral ecosystems, the sights are awe-inspiring.

For more information visit www.phukettourism.org or www.tourismthailand.org to organize your itinerary.