Holidays in Phuket Thailand

A magnificent, 8 kilometre long crescent shaped bay with pure white sand, fringed with casuarina trees, Bang Tao is one of Phuket's longest, least developed and most beautiful beaches. Anchored at the north end by the luxury Laguna Resort, a complex of five star resort hotels integrated into one development, and at the south by the famous Chedi Resort and the ultra-exclusive Amanpuri Hotel, host to international celebrities, Bang Tao Beach has truly earned its reputation as Phuket's upscale playground.

Dry season swimming is excellent, and the steady yet gentle breeze has made Bang Tao Beach a haven for sailboarders, playing host to several international competitions each year, including the popular annual Siam World Cup windsurfing championship. At the extreme northern end, where the beach merges with a river estuary and lagoon, lies a beautiful secluded area home to a wide variety of birds and animals, drawn to the marshy conditions. The many trails among the hills here, with spectacular views of the bay, are popular with hikers and birdwatchers.

A system of lagoons just inland from the beach has been uniquely designed to blend into the beautifully landscaped Banyan Tree 18 hole golf course, riding centre and a watersports complex. A small group of islands just offshore offer superb snorkelling opportunities, with vibrant coral reefs and rich marine life. Local longtail boats are available for daily private hire for the short crossing.

Bang Tao village offers plenty of traditional Thai eating, and international quality restaurants abound in and around the Laguna complex. The recently opened Bang Tao Shopping Mall also offers upscale shopping and restaurants. A few minutes south of Bang Tao lies the small curve of Surin Beach, a popular spot for locals to come and watch the sunset from lively beach bars and seafood restaurants.

With quick and easy road access to Phuket International Airport, International Schools, Hospitals, Phuket Town shopping and Patong's nightlife, Bang Tao is the perfect tropical hideaway.

In Thailand, Phuket (pronounce 'Pooket') generally surnamed 'Pearl of the South', and is the largest island in the kingdom. From north to south the length is 48 km, and 21 km. wide from east to west. Mountains and valleys all over the island. The main mountain chain runs from west to south and covers about 70% of the island's surface. The highest mountain is Mai Tao Song with 529 m, The other 30% of the island are rather flat and situated in the center and east. Situated in the Andaman Sea, west of Southern Thailand, the island has fantastic scenery's: rock parties, fantastic sand beaches, limestone formations, green hills, small creeks and lagoons, and of course a fantastic tropical vegetation. Thanks to the vast surface, micro-climates developed in several zones.

In the history of Phuket, on ancient maps of the south-west region of Thailand, the name 'Junk Ceylon' can be seen as a description of the island we call today Phuket. Al ready in the 3the century the island of Phuket was a popular stop for ships and its name probably from the Tamils en route to India by the start of the 11th century. The name means 'gems'. Phuket was part of the Malay Shivit kingdom, but most of it became part of Thailand. By the Thai Ayutthaya period tin was found on the island and the Thai government offered concessions to foreign companies. Later, in the 18th century, once again the Burmese tried to concur Thailand and they attacked the island to take the ancient capital of Thalang. One of the most bloodiest battles in that period took place in 1745 when Jan, the widow of the governor and her sister Mock drove the Burmese back into the sea. After Phuket became prosper by its tin mines, first on the island and later on the sea bottom. This days there is almost no tin anymore and the economy of Phuket depends on rubber production and now most of all on tourism.