Patak Road 9/11-13 soi 10 Kata 83100 Phuket Thailandia Tel + 66 76 284480 Fax + 66 76 284569 Web Site : www.phuket-boomerang.com www.phuketboomerang.com E-mail : info@phuket-boomerang.com info@phuketboomerang.com Skype : boomerangvillage

Immaginati un paese ricco di una storia millenaria, pieno di misteri, colori e suggestioni...un paese il cui popolo è amichevole e pieno di fascino. Immagina un arcipelago tropicale formato da migliaia d'isolette. Ora immagina una di queste isole, un verde gioielloincastonato in un turchese blu, il suo meraviglioso mare. Immagina spiagge di candida sabbia, palme, acqua chiara. Immagina un mare ricco, incontaminato, piacevolmente caldo (temperature dai 27 ai 30 gradi centigradi durante tutto l'arco dell'anno).Quest'isola esiste: è semplicemente Extraodinaria Phuket ! Phuket è un centro balneare estremamente affermato, agli amanti del mare puo' sembrare solo un'isola formata da un'infinita catena di magnifiche baie con spiagge e palme da dove la vista spazia fino alle piccole isole sparpagliate nel mare, ma Phuket e' anchestoria e ospitalita' meravigliosa. La morfologia di Phuket e' molto varia e le sue ampie dimensioni circa 60 km x 20 hanno favorito lo sviluppo di microclimi in diverse zone .Se avete tempo,vale la pena di esplorare tutta quanta l'isola. Non perdetevi la zona interna, ricca di campi di riso, piantagioni di Caucciu', noci di cocco, cacao, ananas, la foresta pluviale. Phuket offre inoltre la possibilita' di misurarsi in una moltitudine e di interessanti attivita': trekking con elefanti, escursioni nell'arcipelago nelle vicine isole e ogni sport d'acqua immaginabile. La capitale Phuket town ricca di fascino orientale, mercatini tipici locali con svariati prodotti artigianali dove si possono fare ottimi aquisti, antichi Templi Buddisti e Cinesi, uno tra' i piu famosi il Wat Chalong, Il view point all'estremo sud dell'isola dove si possono ammirare e fotografare stupendi tramonti. L'intera isola e' orientata alla felicita' e alla soddisfazione dei visitatori.

Accoglienza e assistenza, due parole da non sottovalutare in un paese cosi’ diverso dal nostro, significano costruire insieme e serenamente una vacanza ricca di emozioni e luoghi paradisiaci da visitare, cultura, sport e spettacoli indimenticabili. La nostra qualità attestata dai media come “velisti per caso”, radio nazionali e riviste sportive di diving e boxe thailandese, partecipazione al Salone Internazionale delle Vacanze Lugano (Svizzera) 2004 e’ in continua evoluzione proprio grazie agli amici che come voi soggiornano regalandoci preziosi consigli e tanta simpatia… Serena vacanza e Sawasdee krap!

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Phuket

Phuket is Thailand's largest island, andis approximately the size of Singapore.

Phuket nestles in balmy Andaman Seawaters on Thailand's Indian Ocean coast-line 867 kilometres south of Bangkok.

Phuket formerly derived its wealth fromtin and rubber, and enjoyed a rich andcolourful history. The island was on oneof the major trading routes between Indiaand China, and was frequently mentionedin foreign traders' ship logs. The Port-uguese, French, Dutch and English tradedwith Phuket. Other visitors were lessfriendly. Phuket's most famous monumentis the memorial statue of the heroines ThaoThepkasattri and Thao Sisunthon, whorallied islanders in 1785 to repel Burmeseinvaders.

Phuket is blessed with magnificent covesand bays, and powdery, palm-fringedbeaches; sparkling island-dotted seas; sin-cerely hospitable people; superb accom-modation and seafood; delightful turn-of-the-century Sino-Portuguese architecture;numerous sporting and leisure opportuni-ties; a lush tropical landscape -- all of whichcombine to create a delightful ambiencefor truly memorable holidays.

ClimatePhuket has two major seasons: the RainsSeason from May through October, andthe Hot Season from November throughApril. There are many sunny days through-out the Rains Season: showers customar-ily last little more than 2 or 3 hours. Sep-tember is the wettest month. The bestmonths are November through February.Average temperatures range between 22and 34 degrees Celsius.

Phuket TownThe compact provincial capital servesmainly as a dormitory and commercial andshopping centre. Splendid colonial-styleresidences built by late 19th-century tinand rubber barons, and shophouses fromthe same period, with shaded walkways,provide distinctive character.Rang HillThis provides a pleasant view of town whiledining, and has a Fitness Park, a series ofhillside sculptural tableaux which enhancecalisthenics.The Thai VillageAlso on Thepkasattri Road, the villageserves daily a typical southern Thai lunchthat is followed by a spectacular culturalshow including Thai dances, sword-fight-

Area featured in this brochurePhuket, Phangnga, Krabi and Trangprovinces

TTTTTOOOOOURIURIURIURIURISSSSSM M M M M AAAAAUUUUUTTTTTHHHHHOOOOORITRITRITRITRITYYYYYOOOOOFFFFF TTTTTHAILHAILHAILHAILHAILANDANDANDANDANDPhuket Office73-75 Phuket RoadPhuket 83000Tel: (076) 212-213, 211-036Fax: (076) 213-582Airport InformationCounter: 327-110Krabi Information CentreTel: (075) 612-740

ing, Thai boxing, southern customs andelephants. Handicrafts are also on display.Thalang National MuseumLocated near the Two Heroines Monu-ment, this museum contains permanentexhibition of life in old Phuket, ancient ar-tifacts and remains discovered on the coastand , materials used during war with Burma(Myanmar).

Island AttractionsPhuket's glory is its magnificent coastline.Beaches range from gentle crescents ofwhite sand with calm waters to rocky head-lands pounded by raging surf. Counter-clockwise, from Phuket's northern tip,where the Sarasin Bridge connects the is-land with the mainland, Phuket's majorbeaches (and temples and botanical gar-dens) are as follows:Mai Khao Beach(40 kilometres from town)This pine-lined stretch of sand is Phuket'slongest beach. Each year, from Novemberthrough February, gigantic sea turtlesstruggle ashore to lay their eggs on MaiKhao Beach.Nai Yang Beach(30 kilometres from town)This forms part of a national park. Thetranquil surroundings are ideal for relax-ation, picnics, swimming and snorkelling.Wat Phra ThongInland from Nai Yang Beach, the templeenshrines a famous, partially buried Bud-dha. Local legends relate how a boy teth-ered his buffalo to a post protruding fromthe ground. Subsequently, both boy and

animal fell mysteriously sick. Suspiciousvillagers uncovered the post and discov-ered it was the decorative topknot of aburied golden Buddha. They were able tounearth no more than the upper part of theimage, over which they constructed thepresent chapel. Burmese invaders at-tempted to remove the image in 1785 butfailed when they were attacked by vicioushornets.Ton Sai WaterfallForest Park & Khao PhraThaeo Wildlife Park(22 kilometres from town)The 22-square-kilometre area teems withvarious mammals, including bears, porcu-pines, gibbons and macaques, reptiles andlizards, and over 100 bird species, in anidyllic setting cooled by sonorous cas-cades.Pansea Bay, Surin Beach,(24 kilometres from town)Sing Cape & Kamala BeachThese unfold in rapid succession. Swim-ming is not recommended at Surin Beachdue to powerful surf and a treacherousundertow. The beach is a favoured spotfor witnessing sunsets. The northern endof Kamala Beach is suitable for swimming.Patong Beach(15 kilometres from town)Phuket's most developed beach offers nu-merous leisure, sporting, shopping andrecreational options along its 3-kilometre-long cresent bay. Windsurfing, snorkelling,sailing, swimming and sunbathing numberamong popular daytime activities. Patongis equally well known for its vibrantnightlife, among which seafood restaurantsprominently feature.

Karon & Kata Beaches(20 & 17 kilometres from town)Both beaches are impressively long, rela-tively peaceful and eminently suitable forswimming, snorkelling, sailing,windsurfing and sunbathing.Nai Han Beach(18 kilometres from town)The white beach fronts a shallow lagoonbetween rocky headlands. Swimming,

windsurfing, sailing and sunbathing num-ber among popular activities.Phromthep CapeAdjacent to Nai Han Beach, Phuket'ssouthernmost point is the perfect placefrom which to view spectacular sunsets.Rawai Beach(17 kilometres from town)The palm-fringed beach is best known for'sea gypsies', a formerly nomadic fishingminority believed to be of Melanesian de-scent.Chalong Bay(11 kilometres from town)This beach has several restaurants sellingsome of Phuket's best seafood.Wat ChalongA few kilometres inland from ChalongBeach, this Buddhist temple enshrines stat-ues of Luang Pho Chaem and Luang PhoChuang, Phuket's most revered monks.Phanwa Cape(10 kilometres from town)The southernmost tip of this cape is hometo a Marine Biological Research Centre andPhuket's Aquarium where visitors mayinspect several hundred exotic, grotesqueand flamboyantly colourful marine speciesfound mainly in Phuket's teeming waters.

Pearl FarmsPearl farms are located on islands neigh-bouring Phuket, including Nakha, RangNoi, Rang Yai and Bon. Special permissionis needed to visit threm. Details are avail-able from Phuket's TAT office.

SportingOpportunitiesGolfThere are now 4 challenging, 18-hole golfcourses in Phuket, including the PhuketCountry Club (Tel: (076) 321-038-40)inKathu, Blue Canyon (Tel: (076) 327-440-7)in Thalang district nears the airport, theBanyan Tree Club (Tel: (076) 324-351-60,324-358) at Bangtao beach and the PhuketCentury Country Club (Tel: (076) 321-929,321-933-4) ain Kathu.

All courses offer reasonably priced golfclub rentals, green fees and caddy ser-vices.Horse RidingThree riding clubs, one on Patak Road, onthe way to Kata Beach, Ban Sai Yuan onthe way to Nai Harn Beach, and LagunaPhuket, Bangtao Beach, offer facilities forbeginners and experienced riders alike.WindsurfingThis popular sport is enjoyed at most ma-jor beaches. Boards may be rented by thehour, half-day, full day or week. Expert tu-ition from Thai teachers is free.SailingEnjoyed mostly at Nai Han, Patong andKata beaches. Toppers and dinghies areavailable at Patong. Catamaran, Hobie Catsand Top Cats are available at Kata.WaterskiingPopular at Patong on a half-hour or hourlybasis. Automated cable water-skiing isavailable at the Phuket Waterski Cablewaybehind the Phuket Century Golf Course inKathu district.Deep Sea FishingDaily tours are available, making earlymorning departures and late afternoon re-turns, mostly to lesser islands to fish forRed Snappers, Rainbow Runners and othergame fish.SwimmingThis can be enjoyed throughout the year,and is mostly safe. However, undertowscan be problematic during the Rains Sea-son. It is best to seek the advice of localpeople regarding swimming conditions.SnorkellingThis can be enjoyed in sheltered bays allaround Phuket. It is particularly enjoyableat easily accessible reefs at Patong, Karonand Kata beaches. Fins, mask and snorkelcan be rented on a daily basis from shopsall over the island.Scuba DivingExpeditions regularly leave Phuket fordives around neighbouring islands, andfurther afield, most particularly around theenduringly popular Phi Phi Islands inneighbouring Krabi province, some 2hours east of Phuket, and the Similan Is-lands, in Phangnga province, some 110kilometres northwest of Phuket, and theRaya Islands, 1-3 hours due south ofPhuket, depending on the type of boat.Several dive shops concentrated in thePatong, Kata and Chalong areas haveAsian and European expatriate(s) (spea-king English and several other languages)and bi-lingual Thai dive instructors whooffer inexpensive beginner's courses. All

and Krabi province, where mangroveswamps and island grottoes are accessibleonly by canoe.. Complete details of theseveral companies offering such tours isavailable from the TAT office in Phuket,and the TAT information centre in Krabi.

Yacht ServicesYachtsmen visiting Phuket can enjoy a fullrange of services, including dry dock fa-cilities and boat repairs, and safe and sec-ure moorings, principally at Ao Chalong,the Phuket Boat Lagoon Marina and LaemPrao Marina. Yachts of ever shape andsize can be chartered, either as bareboatsor with full crew. Please check with thePhuket Immigration Office for details re-garding bringing in a yacht, or leaving byyacht.

Special EventsChinese Vegetarian FestivalEach year, beginning on the first day ofthe 9th lunar month (usually October),Phuket islanders of Chinese ancestry com-mit themselves to a 9-day vegetarian diet,a form of purification believed to help make

the forthcoming year 'trouble-free'. Thefestival is marked by several ascetic dis-plays, including fire-walking and ascend-ing sharp-bladed ladders.King's Cup RegattaEarly each December, the Phuket Yacht Clubhosts international yachtsmen, largely fromneighbouring countries who compete inthe Nai Han Beach area for royal trophies.Phuket TriathalonEach December, the triathalon (a 1,000-metre swim, a 5-kilometre bike race and a12-kilometre run) attracts world-class ath-letes from all over the worrld and qualifieswinners for the prestigious Hawaii ironman

Triathalon.

How To Get ThereBy AirThai Airways operates daily jet flights be-tween Bangkok and Phuket. There are fur-ther domestic connections with SuratThani and Hat Yai. Phuket also enjoys in-ternational connections with Penang,Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan aHong Kong and Australia. Reservationsmay be made in Bangkok (Tel: 280-0060and 628-2000), and in Phuket (Tel: 211-195,212-946, 212-499 and 216-755) for bothdomestic and international flights.Bangkok Airways (Tel: Phuket (076) 225-033-4, Bangkok: 229-3434, 229-3456, 535-2429, 535-3756) offers direct flights linkingPhuket with Ko Samui, the principal islandin the Thai Gulf.Orient Thai Airlines (Tel: Phuket (076) 232-302-3, 327-270-1, Bangkok: 267-3210-5, 535-2021-2) offers direct flights linking Phuketwith Bangkok.By BusAirconditioned coaches and non-airc-onditioned buses leave Bangkok's Sou-thern Bus Terminal every day. For furtherdetails, please contact Bangkok 435-1200,434-3233, 435-3018.By CarFrom Bangkok, take Highway 4 throughNakhon Pathom, Prachuap Khiri Khan,Chumphon, thence through Ranongprovince's Kraburi and Kaper districts,Phangnga province's Takua Pa and TakuaTung districts and onto Phuket islandacross the Thao Thepkasattri Bridge. Thetotal distance is 867 kilometres.By SeaForeign and domestic cruise ships fre-quently berth at the Port of Phuket at AoMakham, and off Patong Beach, yachts atAo Chalong, the Phuket Lagoon Marinaand the Laem Prao marina.Please note that all pleasure boats andyachts arriving at Phuket must stop firstand register with ther Immigration Officeand Customs Office, and with the HarbourOffice within 24 hours of arrival

AccommodationA comprehensive list of airconditionedand non-air-conditioned accommodation,and restaurants, in Phuket, can be obtainedfrom the local Tourism Authority of Thai-land office on Phuket Road. The office isopen seven days a week, throughout theyear, from 8.30 AM until 4.30 PM.

Souvenirs

Cultivated pearls, batiks and pewterwareare Phuket's best known products. Shopsspecialising in such products are foundon Rasada, Phangng, Yanwarat, Montriand Tilok Utit 2 roads in town, and ontourist beaches such as Patong, Kata,Karon and Rawai.

Excursions & ToursPhuket is the ideal place from where to visitpopular attractions in neighbouring prov-inces, either on day tours or as overnightexcursions. Principal destina-tions include:Phangnga BayLocated northeast of Phuket, and con-taining scores of limestone islands, someriddled with aquatic grottoes, (seePhangnga information for further details)this picturesque bay is an enduringly popu-lar excursion. Tours are offered by hotelsand tour companies throughout Phuket.Phi Phi IslandsThese picturesque islands in Krabi prov-ince (see Krabi information for more de-tails) are probably Phuket's most popularexcursion.

Similan IslandsPhuket dive shops operate daily excursionsto the Similan islands (see Phangnga in-formation for further details) during thehigh season of November-May when un-derwater visibility is at its best..

EtiquettePolite behaviour is welcomed everywhere.What is considered polite in other coun-tries is probably considered polite in Thai-land, too. However, there are a few culturalpitfalls, mainly social and religious taboos,the breaking of which can cause offence.For example, visitors should dress neatlyin all religious shrines. They should nevergo shirtless, or in shorts, hot pants or otherunsuitable attire.Shoes should be removed when enteringprivate Thai homes, chapels where Bud-dha images are kept, and any of the Is-lamic community's mosques.

diving equipment is available for hire.Sea CanoeingThis form of eco-tourism is available in sev-eral forms, as popular one-day tours, ormore extended tours involving overnightcamping on island beaches, and occurs prin-cipally in the neighbouring Phangnga Bay

Each Buddha image, large or small, ruinedor not, is regarded as being a sacred ob-ject. Never climb onto one to take a photo-graph, or do anything that might show lackof respect.It is considered rude to point your foot ata person or object.Thais regard the head as the highest partof the body, both literally and figuratively.Therefore, they do not appreciate anyonepatting them there, even as a friendly ges-ture.

PhangngaThis province is directly north of Phuketand covers an area of 4,170 square kilom-etres. The provincial capital is 788 kilo-metres south of Bangkok. The province'smajor attractions are the marine nationalparks of Ao Phangnga (Phangnga Bay),Mu Ko Similan (Similan Islands) and MuKo Surin (Surin islands). Phangnga Bay

has beenfeatured inseveral in-ter-nationalmovies, in-cluding the007 adven-ture TheMan withthe Golden

Gun, and contains some 100 largely unin-habited limestone islands scattered aroundalmost perpetually calm waters. Many is-lands are riddled with aquatic grottoes, andare best explored aboard sea canoes whichare able to enter inner chambers, essen-tially collapsed cave systems, sometimesonly at low tide. The timeless 'Jurassic Park'atmosphere of such islands contrasts viv-idly with more popular venues such asJames Bond island, Nail island and Panyiisland which supports a Muslim villagebuilt on stilts embedded in the sea. The far

less commercialised Similan islands, ninein all, are renowned among diving enthu-siasts for the variety of dives, superb un-derwater visibility between November andMay, and teeming marine life. The Similansoffer more than 30 dive sites, with coral

walls, huge sea fans and barrel sponges,big rocks, swim-throughs, coral gardensand plenty of shallows for snorkelling. Thefive Surin islands, equally secluded, offersimilarly good diving opportunities and,because of seasonal weather changes, arebest visited between December and March.Phangna is conveniently accessible byroad or boat from Phuket and offers ac-commodation ranging from bungalows todeluxe hotels. Full transport and accom-modation details are available at the TATPhuket office.

KrabiThis coastal province covers an area of4,709 square kilometres. The provincialcapital is 814 kilometres south of Bangkok,and is conveniently accessible by roadfrom the capital (Tel: (02) 435-1200 and 435-1195-6 for bus service information) andPhuket. Krabi's major attractions are lo-cated largely along its extensive coastline,which contains several well-knownbeaches and bays, and numerous offshoretropical islands. Most such attractions fallwithin the aegis of national parks. Majorislands include the Phi Phi cluster whichis popular with yachtsmen, scuba-divers,snorkellers and day trippers from Phuket.The islands are characterised by rockycliffs, tranquil seas, dazzling underwaterlife, birds' nest caves and fine white sandybeaches. Accommodation is available onPhi Phi Don island. The Ko Lanta NationalPark, conveniently accessible by regularboat services from Phi Phi Don island, of-fers several coral-fringed islands, and primediving sites, and comparative solitude. Thelargest island, Ko Lanta Yai , is the site ofpark headquarters, and is also home toChao Le, or sea gypsies who sustain them-selves largely through fishing. The islandsare best visited during the non-monsoonmonths of October through April. Yet moreislands, some 80 in all, and most relativelysmall, are located off Ao Nang beach on

the mainland. Ao Nang is some 6 kilome-tres from Hat Noppharat Thara, probablyKrabi's finest mainland beach which isfronted by pine trees, coconut groves andresort hotels. One of Krabi's most unusualattractions is a 'shell graveyard', known

locally as Su San Hoi, where fossilisedshells, believed to be 40,000,000 years oldform coastal slabs resembling ancientconcrete.Two predominantly mainland na-tional parks, Khao Phanom Bencha andThan Bokk-horani, offer scenic attractionsincluding waterfalls and caves, and oppor-tunities for trekking, birdwatching and sa-vouring the lush southern tropical land-scape in natural surroundings. Krabi of-fers a wide range of accommodation atmajor attractions, including award-winningresort hotels. Accommodation details maybe obtained from the TAT office in Phuket.

TrangThis coastal province covers an area of4,917 square kilometres. The provincialcapital is 828 kilometres south of Bangkokand is conveniently accessible by air, roadand rail. Contact Thai Airways (Bangkok628-2000), the Transport Company Ltd.(Bangkok 937-0261-70) and State Railwaysof Thailand (Bangkok 223-0941) for rel-evant details. Trang's major attractions arescenic, largely within the confines of ter-restrial and marine national parks such asMu Ko Petra and Hat Chao Mai featuringAndaman Sea beaches and islands, andwildlife sanctuaries such as Khao Chongand Khlong Lamcham Waterfowl Park fea-turing waterfalls, nature trails and caves.Accommodation ranges from resortbungalows to urban hotels.