Phuket

The island stretches thirty kilometres from north to south and twenty‑one kilometres at its widest point, its western side lined with sandy beaches and its eastern shore marked by muddy stretches. Forests, rubber and palm oil plantations cover roughly sixty percent of the land, while the Khao Phra Thaeo No‑Hunting Area protects a rainforest core that includes peaks such as Khao Prathiu and Khao Bang Pae. Sirinat National Park on the northwest coast, established in 1981, encloses the marine zone around Nai Yang Beach, a nesting site for sea turtles, and the southern tip of the island is identified by Laem Phromthep, a popular viewpoint.

Cultural landmarks include the Phuket Big Buddha, a 45‑metre concrete figure sheathed in Burmese white marble that overlooks Ao Chalong Bay and was designated the Buddhist Treasure of Phuket in 2008. In Thalang District, the Two Heroines Monument commemorates Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Sunthon for their role in repelling a Burmese invasion in 1785, while the Thalang National Museum, opened in 1985, presents the island’s historic artifacts.

Tourism now drives the province’s economy, supported by a tropical monsoon climate that brings a dry season from December through March and a wet season for the remaining months. The 45‑metre Big Buddha, recognized as the Buddhist Treasure of Phuket, remains the island’s most visible landmark.