Jacinta Fabricius

A 45m-high Buddha statue with 360-degree views from its hilltop vantage point. The statue’s construction of concrete, jade and marble glistens in the sunlight and can be seen from most of the island, even as far away as Phuket Town and Karon Beach.

The historical center of Phuket lined with brightly coloured buildings, budget accommodation, bars, restaurants and night market stalls. Narrow alleyways are best explored on foot, to admire vibrant wall murals, local shops and quirky cafes.

An undercover market with a huge selection of clothing, gadgets, electronics, and homewares as well as some second-hand stalls. One section is dedicated to street food where you’ll find buttered corn, seafood, curries, fruit, insects, and desserts.

A fully functioning rum distillery with a cocktail bar and restaurant. Most popular for its rum tasting and distillery tour which runs every hour from 2pm – 6pm. The tour includes a free cocktail, rum tasting and a detailed explanation of the fascinating distillery process covering everything from sourcing sugar cane to adding flavouring and labelling bottles. Cocktail workshops also available.

Phuket’s largest shopping mall open from 11am each day. Many international fashion brands and local artisan stores selling jewellery, clothing, souvenirs and electronics. The mall features a cinema and plenty of cafes, fast food and restaurants in an open courtyard setting.

The centre of Phuket’s nightlife scene lined with restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Closed to vehicular traffic after sunset when pumping music kicks off and neon lights blaze. Street vendors selling clothes, jewellery and imitation designer items can be pushy so don’t be afraid to say a firm ‘no’.

Combine sophisticated luxury with the convenience of easy access to Phuket’s party town, Patong Beach. Take the free shuttle into town to enjoy the famous beach and retail therapy then retreat to the resort when the sun goes down.

One of the largest Buddha statues in Thailand. The 18m high golden Buddha was built in the 1940s when Pattaya was still a small fishing village. The statue looks out over Pattaya and Jomtien Beaches from Pratumnak Hill.

A modern telling of Thai folk stories through drama, dance, acrobatics, and animation. Talented performers keep perfect timing with animated on-screen backgrounds and props like fire, water, puppets, and mechanical monsters to delight the audience.

One of the world’s largest man-made floating markets with over 100 stores selling clothing, souvenirs, homewares and food in a stilted village connected by a series of bridges and boardwalks. Visitors can purchase a long-boat ride along the network of canals to see the traditionally inspired wooden architecture and catch a glimpse of stalls you might like to visit, or simply wander through the market stalls to see the items up close.

A one-kilometer-long street that closes to vehicular traffic at 6pm each evening and comes to life with dozens of bars, restaurants, night clubs and go-go bars.

Live like a rock star at the Hard Rock Hotel. Faun over framed costumes and guitars that once graced the stage with iconic music legends. The celebrity treatment continues at dinner with performances by Hard Rock Café’s world-class rock bands.

A spectacular 18th century palace and former home to Thai royals. Exquisite buildings decorated in mosaic, painted ceramic and carved statues bring thousands of tourists to the complex each day. Also within the complex is Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, said to be the most sacred Buddhist relic in Thailand.

The ultimate tropical paradise. Coconut-clad sundrenched islands, with alluring beaches so divine they captured James Bond, are just the beginning. City streets harbor a utopia for foodies. Thai cuisine’s punchy flavors gained a global following and abound at bargain street food prices. Thailand's heartfelt culture is exemplified in its ornate Buddhist temples, dating back to the 16th century. Locals brim with kindness and happiness. It's no wonder Thailand is reputed as “the land of smiles”. Spend a few days in this tropical paradise and you’ll find yourself smiling too.

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