Maphrao
Enjoy a solitary trip amidst true natural gifts
If you are planning a trip around Phuket don’t forget to include Maphrao Island (or Ko Maphrao as the locals call it) in your list. Ko Maphrao is located on the west coast of Phuket distancing about four kilometers away from the famous 402 Thepkhrasattri Road and about four and a half kilometers away from Trang Road. Maphrao Island has small yet beautiful sandy beaches with a coral reef at its west.
To get to Maphrao Island you need to hire a long tail boat from the pier at Laem Hin. It takes only 10-15 minutes boat ride to reach the island for a price of only 15 THB each way.
Maphrao is basically a village of Muslim fishermen. You can have a home stay together with the locals who would love to give you an agro-tour. You can find villagers who are willing to demonstrate their rubber collection skills, Thai martial arts or a bout of cock-fight. Furthermore you can explore through the mangrove forests in and around the island by boat rides. The environment is extremely peaceful and homely.
The downsides in a trip to Maphrao are the lack of resorts and electricity. But that makes it a better natural habitat. You can get a feeling of stepping into the past as you land at the beaches of Maphrao. Many tourists don’t yet know about Maphrao. So your privacy and solitude-seeking trip is going to be quite pleasant as you land at Maphrao’s sandy beaches.
Floating restaurants are available in plenty between mainland Phuket and Maphrao Island. They all feature delicious cuisine of seafood prepared from fresh from the fishes available in the waters. The area also features some floating bungalows where you can enjoy a pleasant and comfortable stay. These are perfect for those who prefer solitude for a night or two...