Phuket, Thailand - Cruising to Phang Nga Bay

Mon, Jul 6, 2009

Asia, Musings from Viator's Founder, Suggested Itineraries

Thailand is one of those special places that has it all: amazing scenery, super-friendly people, a colorful and vibrant culture, great food, warm weather… and it’s all packed into a country that you can get around quickly, with low-cost air fares and plenty of other transport options.

You could never hope to see it all in one trip, so the experience most travelers have is that they want to come back for more, and they do. Thailand enjoys great loyalty from its visitors, who know that each part of the country offers its own pleasures, a fact I discovered for myself when I visited Phuket recently.

Phuket, don’t leave with a bad taste in your mouth

Phuket - now there’s a place, as they say in the classics! From the sleazy bars to the fabulous restaurants, from the crowded beaches to the quiet ones, from $20 a night hostels to 5-star resorts, Phuket actually does have it all. But my guess is that some visitors check out the downtown scene on their first day and get the wrong impression altogether, and maybe leave with a bad taste in their mouth.

Cruising from Phuket to Phang Nga Bay

That would be sad, because that slice of the nightlife (bar girls, a la Patpong Road in Bangkok) really isn’t important to Phuket at all; it’s just something that follows the crowds in Thailand. It’s easy to get away from the downtown scene, or not visit it at all, as you’ll find plenty of markets, restaurants and everything else you need outside the downtown area.

The beach at Phang Nga Bay

I took one of Viator’s most popular activities in Thailand, the Phang Nga Bay Eco Tour, and understood right away why people keep coming back to this area. No sooner have you left the dock than you see the strange islands of the Andaman Sea in the distance, like nothing you’ve seen before. As you approach… well, rather than trying to describe it in words, take a look at the brief Youtube video we put together on the tour. And check out Phuket next time you are in Thailand; you won’t regret it!