The Phuket Bungy Jump is just one of many attractions in Phuket and gives you the chance to bungy jump from a height of 50 metres (165 feet) with some spectacular views across the green jungle of Phuket Island. The jump takes place over a lake, so you have the choice to touch the water or not. If you have a day off from diving why not take a bungy jump into the jungle!

The bungy jump is located a few kilometers outside Patong Beach, on the road to Phuket Town. You will pass the Go Kart Speedway on the way. Any taxi driver will know where it is, or you can rent a car or motorbike for the day. There are signposts that will point the way for you – just look for the bungy jump logo along the way.

The Phuket bungy jump and the staff are certified to International standards. The owner is a Kiwi jumpmaster with experience of bungy jumping worldwide. The same bungy company also operates jumps in Chiang Mai and Pattaya, and are often consulted for expert advice by other bungy jump operators all over Asia.
Price for one jump is 1,600 Baht ($40US) including insurance and a bungy certificate. Your second jump is 1,000 Baht, 3rd jump 500 Baht and your 4th jump is FREE! Tandem jumps are also possible. You choose if you wish to touch the water. For just an extra 350 Baht, you can get a complete roll of pictures of your jump into the jungle. Bungy t-shirts and caps are also on sale.

Special : Jump, T-Shirt, Insurance, Certificate and Photos – Only 1900 Baht!!

Phuket Bungy Jump – Contact Information

Address : 61/3 Moo 6, Kathu District

Phuket 83120 Thailand

Telephone/Fax : (+66) 076 321351

Phuket’s international airport has direct flights from many Asian countries, such as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Tokyo. Regular domestic flights to/from Bangkok take about one hour. Phuket also has connections to the airport of Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Koh Samui, Krabi, Surat Thani and Trang. Low cost regional airlines, such as Air Asia, Bangkok Air, Nok Airways and the national Thai Airways, all fly in and out of Phuket.
Airport departure tax for international flights is 500 Baht; domestic flights charge 30 Baht, paid in the airport.

If you have not arranged transport with your hotel, you can either rent a car at the airport or take a taxi. Touts hang outside the terminal, offering rides in cars or mini vans for a fixed rate. Metered taxis are yellow and red and have a stand outside in the parking lot. Pay 100 Baht at the meter taxi stand and the rest of the journey will go by the meter. This is a cheaper option than the non-metered taxis.

Buses in Phuket ::

Buses in Phuket are more commonly known as Songtao or Baht buses. These buses look like large colourful Station Wagon and can be seen on most main roads around the Island. All buses start and end their routes at the central bus terminal which is located in Phuket Town opposite the market on Ranong rd. Buses leave the central terminal approximately twice an hour from 7am until 6pm. The advantage of using these buses is that they are cheap costing only 30 baht per ticket. They also have good connections between Phuket Town and all of the major beaches in Phuket where the vast majority of tourists stay. The disadvantage, however, is that there are no bus routes that run between beaches making it entirely unpractical to use a bus in such circumstances.

 Tuk Tuk and Taxi ::

The public transport situation on Phuket has even the Governor perplexed. Basically, the tuk tuk drivers don’t want the taxi drivers, who in turn don’t want a bus service, which in turn stops running after dark when the tuk tuk drivers hike their fares despite being warned not to. See what we mean? As a result, everyone suffers, but none more than the public themselves. Even Thai university students claim to be gouged by greedy tuk tuk drivers, and that’s saying something. As previously mentioned, it’s really best to hire your own vehicle as soon as possible after your arrival but if you don’t want to do this please follow these tips when using taxis or tuk tuks.

• Always agree on the fare before setting off
• Every tuk tuk on Phuket is required by law to display a list of prices. If the route includes a hill then the fare is hiked. If the price list is not displayed then it’s not advisable to use that tuk tuk
• There is no need to tip at the end of the journey
• If your taxi has a meter, insist that it be turned on for short distances. This way you have no need to haggle over the price unless the taxi driver states a reasonable starting price. The only exception is if you book a taxi to the airport. In this case the fare at this time of writing is 250 Baht
• If the stated tuk tuk or taxi fare is considered too expensive, smile and walk away

Motorcycle Taxis

These chaps wear numbered red or green vests and you can flag them down almost anywhere. Again, always agree on the fare before setting off. They’ll be cheaper than tuk tuks (who isn’t?) but will ask a silly asking price in the hope of a quick buck. Haggle them down with a smile and a laugh.

Self Driving

Hiring a Motorcycle ::

A ubiquitous sight on Phuket is a sun-reddened Westerner thundering by on a big bike with a Thai girl (or two) on the back. This daily vista recently prompted a visitor to ask: “Do the bikes come with the girls or the girls with the bikes?” By the day, a bike will usually cost US $4 upwards for 100cc/125cc Honda “step through” motorbikes to US $8 upwards for bigger bikes and choppers. Weekly/monthly rates are negotiable. Please insist on a helmet, or two if you have a passenger. Motorcycle hire shops will not provide insurance so if you find yourself in an accident you’ll have to pay. Sensible options? Always drive defensively as most locals will not have had a driving education. Look out for people overtaking when you’ve already signaled right. Warning: If you ride a motorbike without wearing a helmet during the day in Phuket Town you’ll be stopped and fined by the local police. Then again, if you ride without a helmet at about 6.pm in Patong you’ll be stopped and fined. The process, without being disagreeable or overly expensive, is time consuming and time’s the one thing you don’t want to lose on your holiday.

Car Hire ::

This is the only way to go if you’re in a group or value your life dearly. Again, all the major car rental names are here, but if you want a cheaper deal expect to pay about US $15 + a day for a Suzuki jeep from local rentals; less if you’re renting long term. It’s best to thoroughly check out your rental car’s insurance policy; especially if you’re planning to drive off the island in neighboring provinces, where it might not be covered.

Promthep Cape is a simple rocky hill with no immediate interest. However, this is the most southerly point on the island at it is sunsets and views of Phuket’s southern coast you are here for! A flight of steps leads to the top of Promthep Cape and from there you have an excellent view of the “half-moon” bay housing Nai Harn Beach. The site also has a lighthouse with an observation level. From the observation level, the views are even better! This is the ultimate spot to watch the sun setting over the water. The colours the sunsets produce are extremely rich and seem to permeate the air around you! If you have time, try to make a sunset – it’s well worth the effort.

Details: A visit to Promthep Cape is often combined with a trip to Wat Chalong and Rawai Beach, which are on the way from Phuket town. There is no admission fee to the lighthouse, but again donations are suggested.

How to get there: If you are coming from Wat Chalong, travel along the coast road to Chalong junction and then on to Rawai Beach. From there, a drive south will take you to Promthep Cape. As there are potentially a number of stops on this trip, it might be more convenient to move from one site to the next by taxi. Alternatively, take one of the many tours available from Phuket town and the hotels/guesthouses in the area.

is located 30 minutes south of Phuket by speedboat. Further to the south is the smaller sister island Racha Noi, who is popular among divers.

Day trippers flock to Racha Yai for snorkeling and diving in the veeery clear sea on the east coast.

The two main beaches, Batok and Siam, are located on the west coast, where Batok Beach is the far most developed beach.
A floating jetty contribute to the fact that Batok Bay is used as the harbor of Racha Yai Island in high season. I counted 30 boats on last visit and that is a lot in a so small bay.

Most of the area behind Batok Beach is occupied by the luxurious The Racha Resort.
Before the construction of The Racha there was no more sun beds on the beach that everyone could live with. But now, the whole beach is occupied by Coca-Cola and other colorful umbrellas that should make Patong Beach proud.
Even worse, 80% of the sun beds was not in use. What a waste of the perfect white sand!

Batok Beach is not the paradise beach it ones was. Lots of trees has gone since then and the water is not nearby so clear as it used to be, for whatever reason. The sand is still perfect powder white and the sea is much clearer than just after the tsunami.
Rest of the area along the beach that The Racha don’t occupy has a few shops, restaurant, public toilet (10 baht), bars and a diving shop.

When going on a day trip, Batok Beach is where you will stay most of the day. After one hour or so it’s time to go snorkeling a few minutes ride away. First stop is just northeast of Siam Bay in mostly deep waters. The second and last snorkeling spot is in Kon Kare Bay on the east coast where Ban Raya Resort is located. This small bay has fantastic clear water, but the sea on the east side of the island can be more rough. Kon Kare Bay is said to have the best snorkeling on the island but I can’t confirm it.

After snorkeling it’s time for some food. You never know which restaurant you will end up at. I have been to three restaurants trough the years: Batok, Siam and one located on the way to Ban Raya Resort. The quality of the food vary, maybe you are lucky, maybe not.

From Batok there is only a 5-10 minutes walk to Siam Beach. Siam has a long stretch of white sand and is located in a wide beautiful bay. But not so beautiful as Batok used to be. Siam is mostly undeveloped in comparison with Batok, except for a few basic bars, restaurants on the beach, and bungalows in the hill between Siam and Batok.

Siam Beach is now my favorite beach on Racha, where I will relax on the white sand, snorkel in the shallow bay and get that tropical paradise feeling!

Thalang National museum is the National Museum of Phuket Province. At the beginning of the Bangkok period, early 1790’s, Phuket was an important factor in the protection of Thailand’s independency from the invading Burmese, two Thai heroines, repulsed the Burmese Army from Thai territory. The place where the Thai Army withheld the Burmese was at the city of Thalang on the Island of Phuket. It is from this historic event that the museum takes its name of Thalang National Museum.
In 1985, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the Thalang War, Phuket Province, with the cooperation of the Fine Arts Department, established the Thalang National Museum. The museum stands as a monument to honor these two courageous woman, and is a repository of history, archaeology and culture of Phuket Province and its surrounding area along the Andaman seashore. In addition, the museum continues to preserve the cultural heritage and serves as a source of the information to those who visit Phuket.
The Thalang National Museum started construction in 1985 and was inaugurated on March 14, 1989 by H.R.H. Princess Sirinthorn

The exhibitions are housed in 2 buildings showing history, Archaeology, ethnology and art of Phuket Province and its surrounding areas as follows :
1. Prehistoric artifacts found and excavated along the Andaman seashore.
2. Indian civilization on southern peninsula of Thailand showing ancient relation between India and this region, the exhibits are Visnu, Buddhist votive tablet, replica of stupa, beads, etc.
3. Historical events of Phuket Province
4. Ethnology, the displays of culture, tradition, way of living and tools of local people of Phuket, etc.

Thalang Nation Museum
Thalang District, Phuket, 83110
Tel. (076) 311-426
Museum Service : special exhibition
- publication
- postcard and book shop
Museum Hours : Open every day Except national holidays
09.00 – 04.00 p.m.
Admission Fee : 30 Baht

Pearls are a treasure of the Orient and around Phuket, the visitor often sees a hotel, a business or a tour company with the word, Pearl, in its name. But it wasn’t until 1964 when the Hiranprueck family started developing a pearl farm, that these beautiful and valuable little gems were produced locally.

“My father started this business around 35 years ago and today we have 80 to 100,000 oysters at our pearl farm on Naga Island,” explains Suchart Hiranprueck, currently the Director of Naga Pearl. “There is a lot to learn about producing a high quality of pearl so we have brought technicians from Japan to teach us how to develop a local pearl that will compete on the international market.”

Visitors to Phuket are welcome to book a tour to their pearl farm on Naga Island. It’s a great way to spend the day. First, there’s the pick up at the hotel and a twenty minute boat ride to the island. Guests are shown the pearl farm and introduced to the studio where the pearls are developed and displayed. Then lunch is served and the afternoon is spent relaxing and swimming on Naga Island’s beautiful beach.

Pearls are available for sale on the island. “We produce pearls from several different kinds of oysters. Some are suitable for earrings and jewellry but now we are developing the more distinctive akoya Japanese pearl as it has a higher value and we think there is a market,” comments Michael Yaweephan, General Manager of Pearl Island Tour Company.

“There have been significant problems with the pearl industry in Japan so there is a good opportunity for us to develop high quality pearls for the international market.”

To book a tour to visit Naga Island and learn more about pearl cultivation, contact Pearl Island Tour Company at (66 76) 219 87

12/2 Viset Rd., Rawai Beach, Phuket 83000 Thailand

International shell collectors would sell their mothers for even half of the remarkable collection on show at the Phuket Seashell Museum, on Viset Road, near Rawai Beach. The exhibition features more than 2,000 species, including the only left-handed Noble Volute ever discovered, giant clams, 380 million-year-old fossils and one of the worlds rarest golden pearls.

A labour of love for the Patamakanthin brothers, it has taken over forty years and visits to the four corners of the earth to bring together this extraordinary exhibition.

History
Welcome to one of Phuket’s most treasured collections! For Fourty years, the Patamakanthin brothers have searched the world for the most beautiful and unique seashells. Today, their collection of over 2,000 species is displayed here at the Phuket Seashell Museum. You will see one of the rarerest golden pearls, the only left-handed Noble Volute, giant clams and fossils dating back 380 million years! Shell collectors from around the world have proclaimed this collection to be one of the most extraordinary collections to be found. You haven’t experienced phuket if you haven’t seen the sea, the sand and the Phuket Seashell Museum!

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Auto insurance provides financial protection for you and your family. It pays for the damage and injuries caused by an accident. Auto coverage may also repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged or stolen.

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After having had a fascinating dive in the Andaman Sea or after a night dancing in one of Patong’s discos, a relaxing massage done by the soft hands of Thai girls will help to refresh and revive you. Thai traditional massage is one of the most famous recreational activities in Thailand (this should not be confused with Full Body Massage, offered in specialized massage parlors like Christins in Patong Beach).

Practiced for centuries and passed down verbally from one generation to the next, from teacher to student or from parent to child, traditional Thai massage has a long history.

The roots of this way of therapeutically healing and recreation go back to India. Jivaka Komabhacca, a doctor friend and contemporary of Buddha, is believed to be the founder of this practice over 2.500 years ago. The heavy Indian influence on the southeast Asian cultures including Thailand and the Malay peninsula, helped spread the knowledge about massage rapidly throughout the region. Ancient Chinese medical techniques, brought in by a large number of immigrants, had further influence on Thai massage.

At the time that Thai culture came to full flower under the kings of Ayutthaya, a large collection of medical texts about Thai massage and its techniques existed. But with the Burmese invasion of 1776, leading to the destruction of the capital, most of these scriptures were lost forever. What was left was carved in the Wat Poh in Bangkok in 1832 by order of King Rama III, who wanted to preserve this great tradition.

According to these inscriptions, the theoretical basis of Thai massage are energy lines, of which the major ten are called “Sen”. Important acupressure points are located on these lines which run through the body and working on them will help to remove blockages of energy flow.

Therapeutic massage for treatment of specific conditions and diseases is also practiced in Thailand, but only by a small number of skilled practitioners. For a good experience of popular Thai massage, a massage girl from one of the many massage parlors all over Phuket or even one of the beach girls offering a massage for a few Baht will suffice.

While we mainly aim this article at visitors to our part of the world in Phuket, Thailand, you can apply a lot of the advice to holidays anywhere in the world.

One of the great attractions of Thailand is that it is cheap. The Tourism Authority of Thailand can carry on pushing their vision of Thailand as a millionaire’s playground for as long as they want but still the majority of visitors will be people who have a limited budget.

In this article, we will give a few simple tips to help you make your money go further. We are not talking about the sort of penny-pinching measures that backpackers use to make their tiny budget stretch a year. We are not going to suggest you eat noodles every day. After all, you are on holiday and holidays are meant to be enjoyed. However, most people have worked hard for their two-week holiday in the land of smiles and there is no reason why they should not get the best from their money. Here are a few simple tips to make the money go a bit further.

Accommodation

If you want budget accommodation then usually you can find good deals just by walking in off the street. Walk around the side streets of any of Phuket’s beach resorts and you will find guesthouses. During peak high-season (Xmas & January) it is better to book in advance as there may not be any rooms available. Whatever you do, do not ask a tuk-tuk driver for a recommendation. They will just take you somewhere that pays them commission.

If you want mid to high range accommodation then you should book in advance. If you walk in off the street, you will pay more for your room. It may seem strange but it is cheaper to book in advance through a travel agent or internet-booking site. The internet booking sites have the best rates. An excellent tool for finding the best rates is Hotels Combined. This Australian based website does a price comparison across 30 internet-booking sites and finds the cheapest available rates.

If you are on a longer-term holiday of a month or more then it may be worth looking for an apartment. If you go further back from the beach (e.g. Nanai Road in Patong), you can find nice one bedroom apartments from 12,000 baht a month.

Flights

Finding cheap airfares is a little more complicated.

There is a lot to be said for buying a package holiday from a travel agent. They will use their buying power to ensure you get good rates for your hotels and flights. However, many people enjoy the flexibility and independence of booking their own flights.

We would like to give a link to a single site that provides cheap international flights across the globe. Unfortunately, it does not work like that.

The airlines do not give their cheapest tickets to the major international travel sites. They know that companies such as Travelocity & Priceline have the marketing power to sell tickets that are more expensive. Therefore, while these companies sell in more countries and cover more destinations, they do not have cheap airline tickets.

The airlines give their cheapest tickets to small independent travel agents. These smaller agents usually only sell flights that depart from their local country. So for example, if you are in the UK you could check cheapflights.co.uk and they will check for the cheapest flights from a range of small agents. You will probably find return flights to Phuket from ?500 or less. If you try the major international travel agents then return flights start from $2,000. Therefore, whatever country you are in, check the internet or classifieds for your local travel agents and look around.

The best international internet-booking site is ebookers.com. This site covers most major destinations and sells tickets in most countries. While their prices are not the absolute cheapest, they are very competitive.

Travel Insurance

Many visitors seem willing to travel to Thailand without travel insurance. The low medical costs in Thailand mean this is not such a big gamble as at a destination such as the United States where high medical fees and a litigious society make travel insurance an essential.

However, we really would recommend that new visitors to Thailand get some form of travel insurance. Things can and do go wrong and it is best to be protected.

Do not get travel insurance from your travel agent. They may offer good deals on package holidays but they try to make the money back on the extras and their insurance rates are overpriced.

Get your insurance from a local and reputable insurance broker. There are no international insurance brokers providing competitive travel insurance to all nationalities. Instead, you need to go to an insurance broker in your home country.

Price comparison sites are the quickest way to find a good a good deal. You need to find a site that covers your own country. So for example you could try here if you are a US Citizen or try here if you are a UK Citizen.

Rather than just getting an insurance package for your two-week holiday, it may be a good idea to consider an annual multi-trip insurance package. If you have more than one holiday a year or even a few weekends away then these can be very good deals.

Money Exchange

Do not change money in your home country before coming to Thailand. You will get a much better rate of exchange in Thailand. Bring an ATM card or travelers cheques. In fact, it is nice to have two sources of money in case of problems so why not bring both.

Do not exchange your money at hotels. They give bad rates. Exchange booths at airports also give poor rates. The best way to get money when you first arrive is to use an ATM at the airport.

Tours

The tour prices in Phuket are generally very competitive. These organised tours are a convenient and reasonably priced way to see Phuket’s tourist attractions. There are many tour shops and lots of tours so the competition keeps the prices down. Just go to any tour shop and you are likely to find some good deals.

The only problem with booking tours is you do not know the quality of the tour service. The price may be competitive but if the experience is poor then you will still be disappointed. Most of the tour organisers provide a good service but there are also a few stinkers.

If you do not want to take a shot on an unknown tour company, you could book your tours in advance with Viators. Their prices are only a little above what you will find at the local tour shops and you have the benefit of knowing you are dealing with reputable tour operators.

Tipping

Tipping was never really a part of Thai culture. It is a custom that we visiting westerners have introduced and which Thai customers have now taken up. Most western visitors over-tip.

The normal tip in Thailand at restaurants or bars is 20 baht. That may seem like a derisory sum to leave by western standards but in Thailand they do not expect any more. You are not being tightfisted by leaving so little. In fact, some claim that westerners who come here and tip big are actually causing problems for everybody else. They are creating an expectancy of big tips from westerners that never used to exist.

Getting Around

The tuk-tuks have earned themselves a bad reputation for both prices and service. They are now charging a ridiculous 200-baht for short trips around Patong. Unfortunately, if you have bags or want to make a long journey then there is often no choice but to use them. All we would say is make sure you agree a price before starting the journey. Considering the prices they charge, there is no reason to give a tip.

There are motorcycle taxis everywhere. You can recognise them from their coloured vests. A short trip around town should cost 20-40 baht.

You can hire a motorcycle for 200 baht a day. They are a great way to get around town and see a bit of the island. Drive carefully and always wear a helmet. Bring an International Driving License and carry it whenever you are driving. If you do not carry an IDL, you may end up paying the police a few 300-baht fines.

You can hire jeeps from independent renters for 800 baht a day (but with very little insurance) or cars from reputable hire companies from 1,400 baht a day.

Restaurants

Eating out is remarkably cheap in Phuket. There are so many restaurants that there is a lot of competition and even the tourist restaurants will seem cheap to most visitors. Still there are big price differences between restaurants. Generally, the further you go from the beach, the lower the prices. If you eat at one of the major restaurants along the beachfront then you are going to pay for the location.

Thai food is cheaper than western food. It is also very good and there is a tremendous range of dishes. You are sure to find something you like and appreciating the local cuisine is part of getting to know the local culture.

You should also consider getting out of the tourist resorts and trying some real Thai style restaurants. The difference in price and style of food can be startling.

Check Your Bill

Do check your restaurant or bar bill before paying. We would not want to say this is common but it does occasionally happen that they add extra items or total it up incorrectly to get more money. Don’t feel bad about it. Thai customers invariably check their bill and are not embarrassed to point out ‘mistakes’.

Shopping

You should avoid shopping at the tourist stalls along the beachfront and around the tourist resorts. The quality of goods is unreliable and the prices are vastly hiked. Unless of course you just want the fun of haggling and do not mind that you may be buying overpriced rubbish.

You have to be careful when asking tuk-tuk drivers for recommendations. If you are looking for specialty shops (jewelry, tailors, etc) then there are a lot of these that pay commission to tuk-tuks for bringing customers. The tuk-tuks will take you to these shops rather than the places that will give you good deals.

You should do your shopping at the department stores, shopping malls, markets or at specialty shops which are mostly in Phuket Town. The new Jung Ceylon shopping mall is the best option in Patong. Beyond the tourist resorts are Robinsons, Central Festival, Tesco Lotus and Big C.

For cheap clothes, trinkets, accessories, etc, two good locations are the Weekend Market (Sat & Sun 3pm-10pm) on Wai-Rat-Hong-Yak Road in Phuket Town and Expo Indoor Market on Tilok Uthit 2 Road, Phuket Town.

If you are looking for gold, silver, pearls, jewelry, art, antiques, etc then the best specialty shops are in Phuket Town. The problem is finding them. You have an extra problem here because even if you know where you want to go, your tuk-tuk driver may still try to claim a commission from the shop. Unfortunately, the best option is to drive yourself or dump your tuk-tuk after the drop off and do your shopping on foot.

There are good gold & jewelry shops on Montree Road in Phuket Town. The best art & antique shops are in the old town area of Phuket Town around Thalang Road & Dibuk Road. You should be aware that you need an export permit to take genuine antiques out of the country.

Bartering

Bartering is part of Thai shopping culture but only at market stalls and independent shops. Try to haggle the price down a little (a lot if you are shopping at tourist stalls). It really helps if you have an idea of what is a good price. Try to haggle in good spirit with a smile.

If you can speak a little Thai, it will help. Not only does it create goodwill but it also gives the seller the impression you know a little about Thailand and might actually know what would be a good price. Even just an opening ‘Sawatdee’ may be enough to help your cause.

Girls

Yes, this little section is for the guys who intend to play around with the bar girls. If you are not careful, this will rapidly become the biggest expense of your holiday.

Just because you have picked up a girl at a bar, that does not mean you have to buy drinks for every other girl at the bar. They will try their luck and if you are a soft touch, they will keep coming back for more. Just say no from the start.

You do not need to ring the bell and buy everybody in the bar a drink.

If you take a girl back to your hotel then agree the price up front (usually 1,000 to 2,000 baht). You do not have any responsibility to buy her food, drinks or pay her taxi home. It is up to you.

Most of all, you do not have to pay for her family’s healthcare, sick buffalo or whatever other sob-story she may tell. And you definitely do not need to send her money once you have gone home.

Credit : James Spellman