Viewpoints
Phuket has views that would make
a landscape painter rush out and buy an easel and brushes and the great thing
is that you don't have to trek halfway across the country to appreciate them.
Whether it's a sunset-watching spot, a 360-degree panorama of the south of the
island, a vista from the top of Phuket Town or a
glimpse of swathes of tropical lushness it's all within your grasp in minutes.
All you need is wheels.
It's a matter of taste, of course, as some prefer
the 'outside-in' aspect of viewing the island from a yacht or tour boat. Others
prefer life way up in the clouds, looking down from on high while others favour
the exact opposite.
So let's mix and match. Here are some of Phuket's best
viewpoints for you to check out.
Phromthep Cape
We'll start with the island's most photographed and perhaps best-known
location, Phromthep Cape. Every evening, large tour buses, scooters and private
cars sweep through Rawai and up the island's southernmost hill to Phromthep.
On
the top of the hill stands a busy car park where the vehicles disgorge crowds
of people that come from every corner of the world. Cameras flash, fingers point
and lovers cuddle as Phuket's most fabulous free show is re-enacted nightly -
the sunset.
But is this all there is to it? Hardly; Promthep also has a lighthouse
that commands spectacular views over the east and southeast of the island and
its environs.
It is air conditioned inside and if you go up to the outdoors viewing
balcony you can see the distinctive shapes of the Phi Phi
Islands, Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi on a clear
day and of course a whole raft of nearer islands such as nearby Koh Kiaow with
its Buddhist monastery.
The view from the cape is like a huge eternity
pool from which you can mentally project the far-flung shores of Sri Lanka and
the Indian Subcontinent and when night falls here you can peek down to the twinkling
lights of Nai Harn Beach and
Le Royal Phuket Yacht Club. Some people make the rather demanding trek down
to the end of the cape but most stay up in the viewing part for sunset. By the
car park there is a handicraft shop and a series of stalls that sell shells, batik,
snacks, sarongs, shawls, toys and beachwear.
Jumbos
Up the steps from the car park is a shrine to Brahma
that is surrounded by thousands of wooden elephants of every size. It's all meticulously
taken care of and the arrangement is photogenic, colourful and impressive.
Breezy
dining
Phromthep is busy at most times of day and frankly gets pretty manic
at sunset but then all of a sudden peace reigns once again on this breezy hill.
For those who like dining with a view there is the Phromthep Cape Restaurant with
its vista of Nai Harn Beach. Reasonably priced, this restaurant is an excellent
place to enjoy the cool evening air along with a great view.
Windmill
viewpoint
Not far up the coast road from Phromthep you will see several tall,
slim white windmills that look just like airplane propellers on top of a hill
and facing out to sea. This is the Phromthep Alternative Energy Station and the
wind-driven electricity generators stand at this great viewing spot with a vista
not unlike that of Phromthep Cape itself - only with much more intimacy as there
is just enough room for a few cars to park here.
The daytime view down
on Nai Harn and Ya
Nui beaches is the sort of stuff that will have you kicking yourself if you
have left your camera at the hotel. There is an open-sided sala, or pavilion where
a rather eccentric (but harmless) jewelry maker plies his wares and a snack bar
to the side. Local enthusiasts fly model airplanes up here to ride the thermals
and if you are lucky you will witness sea eagles hunting over the sea between
here and Kho Man, a beautiful uninhabited island lying off the coast below this
cape.
Kata Viewpoint and more
The Thai name for this popular viewpoint is Kho saam haad which means
'Hill of the three beaches' because this hilltop looks down over Kata
Noi, Kata beach and Karon
beach, as well as Pu Island, off Kata Yai Beach.
Situated on the road
between Kata and Rawai,
it is a fairly well-frequented spot with a car park, nicely cultivated gardens,
a few snack outlets and two large pavilions to sit in while you admire the northern-facing
vista.
The road is fairly quiet and it is actually possible to walk up
to this viewpoint from Nai Harn and Rawai
although it's a bit of a challenge. If you like a drink or even a meal with your
view, further down the road towards Kata there
are two adjacent Reggae bars, the After Beach Bar and Viewpoint. Both are strikingly
similar with exactly the same view out over Kata Noi and both feature non-stop
throbbing reggae tunes. There is usually someone outside on the road flagging
cars down so you'll know where to stop.
Plub Pla
Halfway between Chalong and Kata
on the hill there is a sign saying 'Hilltop Restaurant.' This is the now-closed-down
Plub Pla site. There is a one-way system operating on this side road and it's
a good thing as the gradient is very steep. Park at the top and peek down at both
Chalong and Kata from the gardens above the restaurant.
This fantastic viewpoint is well signed and the 45-metre tall image
can easily be seen from most locations in South Phuket. Follow the red signs along
Chao Fa West Road and turn down the road with the red arrow and a Buddha sign.
Pretty soon the road turns into a fairly steep incline but not as pronounced as
to put people off and soon it almost levels off. Near the top there is a restaurant
with breezy views over Karon and the Andaman Sea. At the summit the Buddha image
is certainly impressive, seen from directly below.
There is ample parking
space and access to the image is through a Buddhist shrine. If you choose to enter
into or to participate in any ceremonies in the shrine please remember that beachwear
is highly inappropriate in temples or at shrines so please dress accordingly in
more formal attire.
Simply walk through the shrine and up the stairs leading to the image.
In fact up here, as well as the large Buddha image there is another smaller, golden
one and a large bronze bell with a wooden clapper.
There are limited views over
the Andaman Sea but views to the north and to the east are fantastic and one can
see just how green this island is and, by contrast, how turquoise its surrounding
waters are.
The vista makes you think you can reach out and touch the islands
off the east coast and Chalong pier looks like
an extension of Patak Road, with yachts in the harbour appearing as white dots.
It's really worth taking a map of Phuket along with you to know exactly what it
is you are looking at down below.
Panwa Viewpoint or Khao Khad Views Tower
Head towards Cape Panwa and follow the
signs first for the Novotel then for 'Khao Khad Views Tower' (Khao Khad is a nearby
village). There is ample parking here as well as cafés and shops.
The
stairs are a bit of a climb but it's more than worth it once you're at the top
as the 360 degree views of Southern Phuket are immensely rewarding.
A two-level
view tower (the top floor is best) contains eight photo key maps in both Thai
and English so you will know what you are gazing at, although they do portray
Sirey Island in two different locations!
Chalong Bay lies below to the south, Makham Bay, Cape
Panwa and Phuket's deep water port to the east, Phuket
Town to the north and over in the distance you can see the Big Buddha sitting
serenely atop Ko Nakkerd - and that's a view that looks exotic in any kind of
weather.
So it's no wonder that they call this wonderful place Khao Khad
View(s) Tower as there is so much to see here. Like at the Big Buddha viewpoint,
it's easy to see from here where the island's open-cast tin mines were in times
past and how they have filled in with rainwater, some now serving the municipality
as water sources. Down the hill, overlooking Khao Khad Beach, there is a restaurant
modestly called Best Food Good View perched on the hillside where you can drink
a beer and take in the views over Chalong Bay.
Over Patong # 1
If
you head towards Soi Na Nai in Patong then turn up Soi Hassipi by Montes Restaurant
you will come across some virgin countryside and obtain good views over the town.
Okay, so they have built quite a few condominiums there on the best viewing spots
but there's still a lot to see. Stop off at Krua Chom View Restaurant if you're
hungry for food and a good view. If you carry on for two kilometres, the road
forks left into a track that goes even higher.
Over Patong # 2 Radar Hill
or Khao Mai Thao Sip Song
If you look up above Patong you will see a bubble-like
structure at the very top of the hill. This, at 500 metres, is the highest point
on Phuket Island. To get there, you'll have to go via Chao Fa West Road where
there is a gateway-like entrance and a big yellow sign in Thai and a road leading
to a temple. Turn down this road and keep going past the temple. Here the road
starts to ascend and at times it can be quite steep. If you are confused as to
which road to take ask for 'Grom Utu' (which means 'weather station) and point
upwards.
The views on the way up are spectacular and feature Phuket's Bang
Wad reservoir and of course Chalong Bay and the surrounding islands. It's worth
a few stops along the way to take it all in and when you reach the top you're
in for a big surprise as there below, on the other side of the hill spread out
like a toy town, is Patong.
The road ends at the military owned weather
station so park well away from it and do not point your camera at the gates. Fresh
air, great views and a sense of achievement from being on the highest point on
the island - what can beat that? Just remember to get enough petrol beforehand
because this is quite a trek - there is a gas station located on Chao Fa West
Road.
Phuket Town viewpoints
Monkey Hill
Take the first road left after Phuket Prison situated on Dammrong Road.
This is Toe Sae Road which leads up to Toe Sae Hill that everyone calls Monkey
Hill. The reason why becomes fairly obvious after a few hundred metres when you
come across a troupe of macaques munching away on fruit brought to them by locals.
There is one man in particular that is there daily and will do a 'show' for you
with his little friends. These macaques are not aggressive and do not approach
you as certain temple monkeys do, nevertheless care should be taken if you are
with small children.
Near the bottom of the hill stands a colourful temple
and halfway up there is a rudimentary exercise park. Unlike other viewpoints in
Phuket the views on the way up are better than at the peak itself. This is because
there is a TV station on the top and satellite towers dominate the summit, obscuring
the views down over Phuket. There are several places to stop and peek through
the trees at Phuket's port, the town and the sea.
Rang Hill
It's a fairly short drive up Rang Hill, but a leafy and green one.
There are two parking areas; one near the Phuket View restaurant and a larger
one at the summit.
This shady and breezy spot is very popular with couples,
students and tourists alike. Here, surrounded by clipped bushes and tropical flora,
you will find a statue of Kosimbee na Ranong, Phuket's forward-thinking governor
of 100 years ago.
There is a fitness park where students get together after
class as well as a snack bar and generally speaking this spot is much more organised
and accessible than nearby Monkey Hill. A stairway to the side made out of mahogany
ex-railway sleepers leads down to Tunk Ka - an excellent restaurant with another
good view out over Phuket. There are signs proclaiming 'Be ware of Monkey (May
bite ü)'. Rang Hill is also a popular jogging route and has the advantage
of being shady because of its lush tree canopy. There's plenty of covered and
non-covered seating and a one-way system at the top ensures safe parking and access.
It is accessed from two locations in Phuket Town: at the junction of Mae Luan
and Kosimbee roads and next to Vachira Hospital on Yaorawat Road. The road leading
up from this junction (Vachira Road) also features a Buddhist temple that is home
to a fine, large seated golden Buddha. |
