Phuket

The Thai island is busy carving out a glittering new reputation beyond its fly-and-flop resorts: discover blissful beachside villas, design dens and stylish camps tucked away in the emerald interior. Words: Lee Cobaj

- By Lee Cobaj. Photographs by AWL Images, Basil Childers, John M. McDermont

The Pearl of the Andaman Sea is blessed with an intoxicating mix of beaches, coral reefs and rainforest-covered mountains. And while the island has developed something of a reputation for sprawling, mass-tourism resorts, there are still plenty of quiet sandy corners to lay your straw hat. Many of Phuket’s glorious, high-end hideaways are found along the island’s northwest coast, where a smattering of shops and nightlife strikes a balance between relaxed and sophisticated. The far south, meanwhile, has a more bohemian vibe, while the rugged east coast remains pleasingly undeveloped, and what it lacks in beaches it makes up for with easy access to breathtaking Phang Nga Bay. Many visitors opt to stay in one resort for the whole of their stay, but it’s worth setting a few days aside to venture to neighbouring islands, such as Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai, or to head north into Khao Sok National Park’s incredible jungles.

Best for the jet set

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