Phuket is the most visited tourist spot in Thailand; it attracts more than 3 million visitors annually. Thailand's largest island is a wonderland of wildlife and rainforest fringed by white sand beaches with some of the world's premier resorts.

In the Andaman Sea off Thailand's west coast, Phuket, or the 'Pearl of the South' as it has become known, is connected to the mainland by the Sarasin Bridge.

Although the island hosts thousands of tourists in peak season and has a population of 1.6 million, its sheer size allows visitors to escape from the madding crowds.

Phuket Airport is now an international airport, so Phuket can be reached directly from points all over the world.

Bangkok Airways and Phuket Air has daily flights connecting Phuket with Bangkok, Pattaya and Samui. Thai Airways has numerous daily flights servicing the Bangkok-Phuket route. In additon, they have regular flights connecting Phuket with Hat Yai, Surat Thani, and Narathiwat.

From Bangkok the total distance is about 867 kms. Bus transport includes both air and non-air conditioned coaches leaving from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal several times a day.

Phuket is incredibly diverse, with rocky and sandy beaches, tall cliffs, forests, waterfalls and temples.

Of course, Phuket's limestone cliffs and palm-fringed tropical beaches are its biggest attractions. Each of Phuket's many beaches has a character and charm of its own and is separated from its neighbours by picturesque headlands. From busy fun beaches, to secluded coves of fine white sand, there is bound to be at least one to suit the mood and mindset of every visitor to the island.

Visitors to Phuket Province generally head for the sea, but the interior is worth exploring for its vivid patchwork of plantations and rice paddies. Take a trek into the island's jungles on an elephant's back or hike through the virgin forests of Khao Phra Thaew, the last remaining rain forest of the island.

Phuket's weather conditions are dominated by monsoon winds that blow year round. It is therefore always warm and humid. There are two distinct seasons, rainy and dry. The rainy season begins in May and lasts till October, during which the monsoon blows from the southwest. The dry season is from November through April, when the monsoon comes from the northeast.

The hottest time is from April through May, with temperatures ranging from 80ºF to 95ºF (27ºC to 36ºC). There are frequent short heavy thundery showers, offering welcome relief from the temperature and humidity. During June, July and August the weather is usually fine. Expect some brief but heavy showers, with plenty of sunshine between downpours. Temperatures range between 70ºF and 90ºF (20ºC to 33ºC).