Phuket is such a mystic place that even after what it seems like a thorough exploration, there are few more unexplored hot spots that many tourists let pass. One must definitely venture to travel around the isolated beaches and concealed islands. You might have to put up more effort to locate such places, however, the joy and pleasure on reaching the place is inexplicable and worth the effort.
One such concealed island is the Koh Mahprao, better known as Coconut Island. It is located off the east coast of Phuket. There is no difficulty, whatsoever, to reach this island, which is deprived of tourism, but has several isolated beaches. An intriguing fact about the island, which also is the main reason for the lack of tourism, is that there are no proper electricity arrangements on the island. The inhabitants depend upon the solar electricity for their power needs.
You will not find any ostentatious restaurants or cozy bars or gaudy nightclubs on this island. So, you must not think high about finding a comfortable sea facing resort or hotel for your stay here. The accommodation could be found only by becoming a paying guest of any of the residents of the island. There are more than 150 families who are friendly and humble enough to let you stay over, provided you strike a good deal with them.
The way to reach the island is also very exciting. In order to reach the island, one must get a tuk-tuk, the local name for an auto-rickshaw, from Phuket Town and move to Laem Hin Pier, which is about a fifteen minutes drive. At Pier, you must catch a longtail boat to reach the coconut island. It would cost about 15 Baht per head. At the island, you may rent or hire a motorcycle to reach the Long Beach.
The Long Beach is not long at all; it is an exquisite, hush-hush beach where one can bathe in the sun, swim in the sea and sink in the beautiful, romantic and panoramic outlook. You are bound to be smitten by the place and might want to stay for a day. So, it is advisable to carry sufficient amount of drinks with you.
If you do happen to rent a motorcycle, or a bicycle, you should go for a drive all around the island. You might find a few people who may give you a stare or two; nevertheless, you must be polite and courteous to all the residents, as they are not used to a lot of tourists on their island.
All in all, if you are visiting Phuket and you want to have a real experience of the right way to live on an island, then a visit to the Coconut Island is a must.
