Also known as the ‘Pearl of the Andaman’, Phuket is the largest island in Thailand and boasts of sandy beaches, towering palms, perfectly emerald waters, luxurious spas, classy restaurants, fantastic bars, incredible hotels and splendid fashion boutiques. Patong, Surin, Kamala and Kata adorn it with their beauty and entice travellers with their wondrous pearls while amusement parks such as ‘FantaSea’ keep the younger visitors happy. An ‘exotic’ beach destination in every imaginable way, the province stretches across some 600 square kilometres and was once an important trade route between China and India. Backpackers can’t stop dreaming about this place, while well-heeled tourists love it with all their heart. Phuket truly is a delightfully sweet escape.

Phuket, like most other South-East Asian beach destinations, sees continuous droves of tourists, and if you are looking to go off the beaten track, there are a number of idyllic getaways from the island. Most of these journeys are extremely pleasant and under two hours so you can rest assured that a lot of fun is in store for you.