Phuket is one of the southern provinces of Thailand. Phuket is the largest island in Thailand, it is located in the Andaman Sea, southern part of Thailand. The island is generally mountainous with a mountain range in the west of the island from the north to the south. Since the 1980s Phuket has become one of the chief tourist attractions of Thailand, and most of the sandy beaches on the western coast of the island have been heavily developed into tourist centers, with Patong, Karon and Kata being the most popular ones. Along with its gorgeous beach, and picture-perfect landscape, the boost in tourists has been amazing. Thailand's western coast suffered widespread damage when they were struck by a tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. The waves destroyed numerous highly populated areas in the region. However, by February 2005 most intact resorts were back in business, and throughout 2005 life returned to normal for the people of Phuket, and the tourist industry which pushes the Phuket economy looks to have fully recovered.
One of the most widespread tourist areas on Phuket is Patong Beach. Most of Phuket's nightlife and its shopping is located in Patong, and the area has become gradually more developed. Patong means "the forest filled of Banana leaves" in Thai. Other fashionable beaches are to be found south of Patong. They include Karon Beach, Kata Beach, Kata Noi Beach, and Bang Tao Beach.
Visit the monastery of Wat Chalong, the Orchard Garden and the Thai Village, the Thalang Museum, and the Phuket Sea Shell Museum.