Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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 waterfront
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 boutique hotel
Cloud 19
( 0 7620 0920;
www.cloud19phuket.com
; 30/10 Moo 8, Th Bor Rae-Ao Yon; r from 4150B; )
. For a splash of seri-
ous luxury above the main strip, find
Sri Panwha
( 0 7637 1000;
www.sripanwa.com
; 88 Moo 8, Th
Sakdidej; d from 14,280B; )
. This is as decadent as the cape gets.
To get to the cape, take Rte 4021 south and then turn down Rte 4023 just outside Phuket
Town.
TOP OF CHAPTER
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 not just defined 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-
gether by just a few roads - although more are being carved into the hills each year. Still,
even with the growth you can feel nature, especially when you hit the beach.
