The Botanic Garden in Chalong offers a different view of Phuket tourist places, far removed from the bars and clubs, busy beaches and bustling markets. The gardens are open to the public and sure to be of interest to anyone with a love of plants and flowers. Take your time when visiting as the gardens cover 15-rai of land and the displays are remarkable.
With more than 30 zones to explore, each with its own unique features and plant collections, you can spend a few good hours here. Along with being a tourist attraction, the gardens are also a research centre for many rare plant species.
The Tropical Palm Garden is very pretty and there are exotic plant species in the Rainforest Garden, check out the waterfall as you can walk right through it. We loved the cactus garden with its impressive 50 varieties, and the Aromatic Fragrant Gardens are charming.
Learn more about the fruits native to Southeast Asia at the Fruit Orchard – bananas and mangos, mangosteens and jackfruits, rose apples and lychee and many more. Then meander over to the Orchid Pavilion to admire the hundreds of different tropical orchids, many of them unusual and valuable.
At the Herb Garden, you can learn all about the use of herbal plants in the Thai community and culture, and their medicinal benefits.
The exhibition of a Thai farmers life gives an interesting insight into how the farmers work the land, in the past and today. There’s a rice paddy, traditional bamboo house and vegetable garden on display. It explains what kinds of crops they plant and how, years ago, country people lived off the land with little need for money.
Take a stroll around the pond and get up close to the beautiful water lilies, lotuses and Japanese carp. Don’t miss the Winter Garden as the air-conditioned room is a welcome respite from the heat. Most of the flowers and trees are native to the northern part of Thailand, and there’s Thai-style spirit houses and wooden artefacts on display that demonstrate the art of Thai workmanship.
Phuket Orchid Farm
Another option for Phuket island tours is the Orchid Farm, open since 1975. It has over 1,500 different hybrids and species on show. The vibrancy of the colours is delightful and the garden setting shaded and cool.
Just be aware that there’s not really that much to do here apart from admiring the beautiful orchids. You could always try the delicious homemade passionfruit and mango ice cream of course! They also have a small range of orchid-related jewellery on sale. The pieces are unique – created from real orchid flowers and coated with 24k gold plating.
It’s possible to buy an orchid as a gift to take home, ask the staff for advice on which orchid is best for your climate. However, according to some reviews on TripAdvisor, some countries stop you at customs and confiscate them, so keep that in mind before you buy.
La Moet welcomes everyone onboard for Phuket day tours, join us for a fun packed day and bring along your friends and family.
