Ground Report

The largest island in Thailand, Phuket is a beautiful destination for sightseeing and adventuring. The island itself is rife with diverse landscapes, from its famous sandy beaches to forested hills, mountains, limestone cliffs, low plains, lagoons and lush tropical vegetation.Patong Beach is the most popular and developed beach in Phuket. With its white sands and beautiful waters, this beach attracts families, couples and single travelers looking for a lively vacation in a hopping tourist spot. Jet skis, motor boats, vendors, sunbathers and tourists engaged in all kinds of water sports make this beach anything but tranquil. For a more relaxing visit you might enjoy the much quieter Kalim Bay to the north of Patong.The beaches of the south coast of Phuket are very popular with tourists, with their fine white sand beaches and lush vegetation that stretches up from the coast to the nearby mountains. Between Relax Bay in the west and Cape Panwa in the east, this coast includes some of the most idyllic stretches of beach in the world.The beaches of the north coast are by far more tranquil than those of the south. Visitors with a desire for a tranquil tropical vaction will enjoy the unspoiled beaches and rugged beauty of this region. Majestic casuarinas form natural parasols that provide a reprive from the heat of the sun.Surin, Bangtao, and Layan beach, in the north west, are all lovely beaches.  They are much less developed, more spacious, relaxed and romantic, better for couples and young families. With instruction and equipment available at many of the major beaches, activities such as diving and snorkeling are vastly popular in Phuket. Even if you have never gone scuba diving, this is a beautiful place to learn. Sailing, wind surfing and sea canoeing are also exciting and popular choices. Swimming is also very popular, but not recommended during monsoon season. Make sure to observe the warnings on the beaches. If the red flag is flying, don’t go in! Even with such observations to keep in mind, there is no shortage of seaside activities for the adventurous traveler in Phuket.From http://gongga.flixya.com