Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Laem Phanwa
Laem Phanwa is a wooded, elongated cape, jutting into the sea south of Phuket. Some say
this is the last vestige of Phuket as it once was. It's an all-natural throwback and just 15
minutes from wonderful Phuket Town. The biggest bloom of development can be found
near the harbour at the cape's tip. That's where you'll find
Phuket Aquarium
( 0 7639 1126;
www.phuketaquarium.org
;
adult/child 100/50B; 8.30am-4.30pm)
, which displays a varied collection
of tropical fish and other marine life. The
seafood restaurants
along the Laem Phanwa water-
front are a great place to hang and watch the pleasure skiffs and painted fishing boats
passing by.
On either side of the harbour, the beaches and coves remain rustic and protected by
rocky headlands and mangroves. The sinuous coastal road is magic. If you just can't
leave, check into the family-friendly
Panwha Beach Hotel
( 0 7639 3300;
www.marcopolohotels.com
;
5/3 Moo 8, Ao Yon; r from 4000B; )
, on the east cape, for four-star setting and service
at a three-star price tag. Or go with the adults only
Cloud 19
(
0 7620 0920;
)
, a boutique hotel. For
www.cloud19phuket.com
; 30/10 Moo 8, Th Bor Rae-Ao Yon; r from 4150B;
a splash of serious luxury above the main strip, find
Sri Panwha
(
0 7637 1000;
)
. This is as decadent as the cape
www.sripanwa.com
; 88 Moo 8, Th Sakdidej; d from 14,280B;
gets.
To get to the cape, take Rte 4021 south and then turn down Rte 4023 just outside
Phuket Town.
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Rawai
Now this is a place to live, which is exactly why Phuket's rapidly developing south coast
is teeming with retirees, Thai and expat entrepreneurs, and a service sector that, for the
most part, moved here from somewhere else.
The region is defined not only by its beaches but also by the lush coastal hills that rise
steeply and tumble into the Andaman Sea forming
Laem Promthep
, Phuket's southernmost
point. These hills are home to pocket neighbourhoods and cul de sacs that are knitted to-
