Khao Rang Phuket Town

Khao Rang, or Khao Rung as it is also known, is a large hill in the northeast of Phuket Town, away from the tourist areas. The journey to Rang Hill is such an interesting one. The ribbon-like road, meanders from the Westernized side of Phuket Town and takes you passed the more traditional Thai villages which are dotted along the east coast. The seemingly vertical journey towards the beautiful blue sky takes a little while, but the payoff is out-of-this-world. The view from the top of Rung Hill is incredible.

Overlooking Phuket Town and the eastern coast, whereby you can see odd-shaped limestone rocks jutting out of the crystal clear sea, this panoramic vantage point is a sight for sore eyes. When you visit Phuket and you want to find an area of tranquility, Khao Rung is the perfect place. There is a large picnic area, overlooked by a large bronze statue of the Governor of Phuket, Phraya Ratsada Nupradit, who held the reigns during King Rama V's reign of Thailand.

The expansive grassed area is popular with the locals and many visit there to exercise, stroll around or just sit on the grass and take in the beautiful panoramic views of the town below. With local restaurants dotted around at the summit, there is the opportunity to sample a fiery-hot Thai Green Curry and have the local favorite desert of mango sticky rice. Khao Rang is the ideal getaway place on Phuket Island. With the sounds of the exotic wildlife, tremendous views of the famous Phuket sunsets and a relaxing atmosphere, it is a truly romantic setting. Indeed, 'Rang' translates as den or nest, which indicates the cozy feel you get from being there.

One thing is for sure, coming back down the hillside heading towards the more touristy areas, you are gripped with that sense of knowing you have experienced an area of Phuket that most people never knew existed – a traditional off-the-beaten-track experience!