Phuket

Phuket is the largest and perhaps most famous island in Thailand. Fragmenting off the western side of the country into the bath-warm Andaman Sea, it's a captivating blend of natural beauty, cultural heritage, vibrant nightlife, and downright luxury. The famous sands string down the western coast, rolling from the long, uninterrupted stretches of Airport Beach to the exclusive enclaves of Karon and Kata, where whitewashed villas with infinity pools perch high on the cliffs and gardens of coconut palms sway along the shoreline.

Patong Beach is Phuket's most energetic and bustling destination. Famous for its water sports, shopping, and nightlife, it's a hubbub of activity by day and night. Surfers, parasailers, and jet skiers whiz across the clear waters while the sun's up. As evening descends, the area transforms into a party hub, with Bangla Road's neon-lit clubs bursting into life.

South of that is where you'll enter Phuket's most exclusive holiday zone. It begins with family-friendly Karon Beach, a two-mile ribbon of glistening white sand with big resort hotels, chic spas, and manicured golf courses just behind. Next is Kata Beach, a glitzy cluster of minimalist villas that halo a bay of scraggly sea pineapple trees, all interspersed with Italian fine-dining restaurants and French bistros.

Meanwhile, the eastern shores of Phuket spill into Phang Nga Bay. Here is the Thailand you've seen in the travel brochures, awash with needle-like spires of limestone that erupt suddenly from the turquoise waters. Island hopping across there is a must. You'll visit paradise rocks like Ko Yai Noi for sunbathing in solitude. You'll encounter the butterfly-shaped archipelago of the Phi Phis, one of the most iconic sights in the Land of Smiles (largely thanks to its role in the hit 2000 adventure film The Beach).

A luxury villa holiday in Phuket can also be your chance to explore the immersive heart of old Phuket Town. There, you'll wander the charming streets to discover Sino-Portuguese shophouses, local markets, and traditional eateries serving up fresh fish marinated in ginger, soy, and chilli. Before that, though, be sure to drop by the Big Buddha for sunset shows under a serene statue, taking in 180 degrees of the Andaman Sea and the tropical Thailand coast.