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Phuket is located on the southwest coast of Thailand, 860 km south of Bangkok and 830 km north of the equator (7.5 degrees latitude), placing the island on the same parallel as countries such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Venezuela.
Situated in the Andaman Sea, part of the Indian Ocean, it is the largest island in Thailand and the only one large enough to constitute a province in its own right. Measuring 49 km in length and 21 km in width, with a total area of 570 km², including 70 km² from 39 smaller surrounding islands, Phuket is separated from the mainland by a narrow channel and connected by the 600-meter Sarasin Bridge.
Phuket features a diverse geography, primarily composed of granite and sedimentary rocks. The topography is marked by numerous hills, mainly concentrated on the island’s west coast, with some exceeding 500 meters in elevation. The plateaus are primarily used for agriculture, including rubber and coconut cultivation. Inland, the Khao Phra Thaew National Park is renowned for its tropical rainforest and mangroves.
The most popular beaches in Phuket line the island’s west coast. These beaches have been shaped by waves during the rainy season, forming spectacular stretches of sand nestled in bays, separated by rocky promontories. In contrast, the island’s eastern coast features modest beaches of white limestone pebbles.
Phuket’s surroundings include two distinct types of islands. First are the granite islands, located to the west and along the southern and eastern coasts, typically characterized by their low elevation and dense vegetation, with beaches such as Koh Racha Yai and Koh Hee (Coral Island). Then there are the limestone islands, situated further northeast and farther out to the east and south. These islands often rise vertically from the sea, creating breathtaking panoramas like those of the Phi Phi Islands and Phang Nga Bay. The limestone platform responsible for these formations extends east of Phuket, from Phang Nga province to Trang, offering spectacular landscapes along this coastal region.
Phuket is generally considered a geographically stable location. Until the 2004 tsunami, it was not viewed as a region prone to major natural disasters. The rainy season occasionally brings significant storms, but nothing severe enough to be classified as a typhoon. The rainy season sometimes causes localized flooding, as well as occasional landslides, which have resulted in some fatalities. However, landslides have primarily occurred at construction sites where trees and shrubs that support steep hillsides have been cleared.
