Phuket Coast

Phuket lies off the western coast of the Malay Peninsula, with bays facing the Andaman Sea and sheltered waters between the island and mainland. Its tin deposits made the island an important destination for merchants. In the seventeenth century traders from across the Bay of Bengal exchanged Indian textiles for tin, while Siam and European companies sought influence over the trade. Different anchorages offered shelter as the monsoon winds changed direction.