Discover the lush paradise of Phuket Island with its white sand beaches, lively markets, tranquil coves, and sizzling nightlife.

Tour ID	THKT0125
Destination:	Phuket, Thailand
Activity:	Arts & Culture
Price:	start from 2,340 Baht per person
Duration:	Half Day

Tour Rates* (Price/Person) in Thai Baht
Period	Single	Double	Triple	Group 4-6	Single Supplement
1 Nov 2010 – 31 Oct 2011	4,390	2,340	1,650	N/A	N/A

Rates include 7% VAT tax and 10% hotel service charge. Major credit cards accepted. No extra charge, no minimum

Note: Booking should be made at least 7 days in advance. The Triple rates are based on a twin sharing room with an extra bed for the third person.

Itinerary

Pick up from your hotel in Phuket and depart to to visit Phuket Hill, Phuket City with its Portugese-style buildings, Ban Chinpracha (with coffee break) and Wat Chalong

Price Includes:

• Private round trip transfers from/to your hotel in Phuket
• Soft drinks
• An English-speaking guide

Price Excludes:

• Lunch
• Personal expense
• Other services not mentioned in the program

About the Package

Pearl of the Andaman
Southern Thailand’s tropical paradise of Phuket Island is one of the world’s most sought-after tourist destinations. With abundant natural resources and varied terrain, teeming with plant and animal life, this island paradise is one of the richest areas of the country. Visitors can explore long, sandy beaches backing onto limestone cliffs, green-flecked crags, tropical jungles and rainforest reserves.

Settlers
Original inhabitants, both Chinese and Thais, lived a simple life from the riches of the land and sea, but Phuket’s location on the sea routes from China to India, made it a convenient port-of-call for traders. The first European settlers were Dutch pearl merchants who arrived in the 16th century seeking new sources of pearls. However, it wasn’t until later that it was discovered the area was rich in large deposits of tin, which attracted miners from around the world, most notably the seafaring Portuguese.

Cultural Blend
Immigrant settlers brought their own traditions, resulting in a cultural blend that includes sea gypsies and other indigenous groups, giving Phuket its own unique identity.

Cape of the Gods
About two kilometers from Rawai Beach on Phuket Island’s southernmost tip, is Cape of Phrom Thep. Known locally as Laem Chao (Cape of the Gods), it is one of the most scenic spots on the island. Neat lines of palm trees, on nearby hills, reach to the foot of the Cape where waves pound against giant boulders. The top of the sheer cliff provides breathtaking, panoramic views including Koh Kaew and Nai Han Beach in the distance. A passage leading down to the tip of the Cape is an excellent spot to watch Phuket’s famous sunsets – and sunrises.

City Views
Visitors to Phuket City can enjoy panoramic views of the town, and surrounding areas (particularly during full-moon nights) from the top of Khao Rung, a small hill near Phuket’s town center.

Uniquely Phuket
Sino-Portuguese architectural influence is embodied in the structures of old buildings which, combined with surrounding modern architecture, give Phuket its distinct character, setting it apart from other Thai towns. A walk around the market area reveals a lively city with hundreds of colorful stalls. Everything is on sale here including fresh fruit and vegetables, household goods, clothing, and souvenirs.

Architecture and Art
Away from the clatter and chatter of the marketplace, visitors can stroll around Phuket town, past a mix of Chinese temples colonial-style houses built in the rubber and tin boom of the 19th century. Phuket’s Town Hall, Provincial Court and Nakorn Luang Bank exemplify the Sino-Portuguese architecture of the period. For those with tastes more aesthetic, wander around the shophouses and art galleries, which feature ceramic and wood antiques, fabrics and centuries-old art collections from countries in the region.

Famous Temple
About eight kilometers from town is Wat Chalong, Phuket’s best known temple. It enshrines the statues of the island’s most revered monks, Luang Pho Chaem and Luang Pho Chuang, honored for suppressing rebellious Chinese mineworkers who tried to overrun Phuket in 1876.

Thai Village Show
The Thai Village runs daily cultural performances and entertainments including tin mining and rubber production demonstrations. The cultural aspects include Thai dancing, sword fighting, and Thai boxing plus an elephant show at 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Handicrafts are also on display in the Village.