Phuket is located in the southwest of Thailand and is the country’s largest island. The island is famous for its beautiful beaches, comprehensive options for relaxation, excursions, and entertainment. It attracts a large number of tourists annually, especially during the winter months when the weather is most pleasant.
It has good public safety, and the cost of living is not high, making it ideal for relaxation, excursions, and honeymoons.
As in Bangkok, the tuk-tuk is the main means of transportation in Phuket. Here, you’ll mostly see three-wheeled motorized tuk-tuks.
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Phuket attractions
Patong
Patong is the most bustling part of the island. Most hotels are located here, making it a good starting point for exploring attractions.
Bangla Road is the center of this area, bustling with shops, entertainment venues, and restaurants. There are many 18+ bars here, potentially a favorite street for men. 🙂
However, the large crowd means that its beach can be quite dirty. When I was there, I didn’t even want to go into the water because of the litter on the shore. Below, I’ll list several beaches that are much cleaner!
Karon Village
Located south of Patong, it’s the second most popular place on the island. It’s much calmer and more subdued than Patong.
Its long beach features golden sand, providing an ideal setting for a quieter holiday.
Karon View Point
Located south of Karon, along route 4233, this viewpoint offers a beautiful view of the western coastline.
Big Buddha
The 45-meter tall marble Buddha statue is located on a mountain peak between Karon and Chalong.
It offers a dazzling 360° panorama of both the eastern and western coasts. This is why it was built here, to be visible from most places.
It’s worth renting a motorbike and going up through the bamboo forest (there’s a road from Phuket town). You can also hike up from Kata and Karon Village on a jungle trail, which is steep in places.
Admission is free, with donations used for the statue’s upkeep.
Tiger Kingdom
Located not far from Patong, in Kathu, this tiger park is controversial for keeping tigers, but the animals are visibly well cared for.
You can take photos with the tigers, pet the cubs, watch demonstrations, and many other activities are available.
There are several ticket categories, depending on the experience you want. Information can be found here!
Elephant riding, Elephant tour
There are several places to ride elephants, but it’s important to choose where the animals are well treated.
One of the best elephant riding parks on the island’s eastern side is Phuket Elephant Sanctuary.
At truly good places, interaction with elephants is supervised by trained caretakers. After feeding, you can ride an elephant, with various durations to choose from.
Information can be found here!
Gibbon Rehabilitation Project
Located near the above-mentioned elephant park, this center was created as a great initiative.
The staff here help illegally kept animals to reintegrate into the wild.
A short walk leads to the Bang Pae waterfall, cascading down a narrow rock corridor.
Information can be found here!
Dolphin Show Park (Dolphins Bay Nemo Phuket)
A relatively new park, starting with a seal show, followed by a dolphin performance.
The audience sits close to the pool, allowing an up-close view of the amazing show. There’s an opportunity to take photos with the dolphins.
Promthep Cape
The southernmost part of Phuket, with several restaurants and shops catering to tourists. Most people come here to watch the sunset.
A path leads to the tip of the small peninsula, allowing you to stand at the island’s southernmost point.
Aquarium
Located at the southern tip of the island. It’s quite removed from the main attractions and is a typical aquarium, so it’s worth visiting if you have spare time during your vacation.
Wat Chalong
Located north of Chalong, this temple is perhaps the most beautiful among the many in the area, and it’s well worth visiting at least this one! Women need to wear a dress reaching at least to the knees and a shawl covering the shoulders.
Botanical Garden
The plants are organized into thematic gardens, showcasing brilliant flowers. A special feature is the opportunity to touch koi fish during feeding.
Tarzan Adventure Phuket
This adventure park in the southern part of the island offers zip lines, climbing courses, and many other adrenaline-pumping activities.
Phuket Town
It’s not worth spending much time in the island’s central city. It’s best to visit the old town and the lookout points to the north.
Old Phuket Town
The old town area of Phuket is worth a visit. It’s filled with beautiful buildings, temples, and markets offering excellent food at the cheapest prices.
It is characterised by its colourful buildings, which are a mixture of Portuguese and Chinese styles.
Sunday Night Market
On Sunday evenings in the old town, along Thalang Road, vendors set up their stalls.
Most shops on the street open during this time, making it a great Sunday evening program due to the wide selection and atmosphere.
Weekend Night Market (Naka Market)
If you’re in town over the weekend, don’t miss this fantastic market!
A wide selection of fruits, cooked and grilled foods, clothes, and electronics await tourists. Open Saturday and Sunday from 4 PM to 9 PM!
Monkey Hill
Located north of Phuket, along To Chae Road, you can encounter many monkeys on the way up.
They’re reportedly not aggressive, and it’s worth bringing some fruit to feed them. Be careful with your bags, as some monkeys might try to take them from you! 🙂
The road is closed to traffic from 5 PM to 8 PM!
Rang Hill
Located in the northern part of Phuket, this lookout offers views of Phuket’s colorful houses and the coastline beyond.
After seeing the view from Big Buddha, the cityscape might seem less impressive.
Excursions from Phuket
Phi Phi Islands: Maya Beach
To the east lie the two main islands, Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh. The former is the only one with accommodation, while the latter can only be visited during the day, in organized groups.
Many tour operators in Phuket organize daily trips to these two beautiful islands. Phi Phi Leh island is home to the famous and one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, Maya Beach. A must-visit for anyone holidaying in Phuket!
The beach was closed for an indefinite period due to environmental damage. It is promised to be opened in the future, but no date is known.
James Bond Island
Named after the protagonist of the film shot here, this island is located north of Phuket.
Characterized by interesting natural formations, beautiful lagoons, and bays, the easiest way to visit is through organized tours.
Its most famous feature is the standing rock pillar, Ko Tapu.
Phuket beaches
There are many excellent beaches, especially on the western side of the island.
From personal experience, I recommend choosing more secluded, lesser-known beaches. They are less crowded and much more beautiful than the well-known, often crowded beaches.
Patong Beach
Patong is the island’s center, so its beach is the most well-known.
As mentioned earlier, it’s not the most beautiful beach, often littered with trash. (When I visited, there was a lot of garbage and the water was murky.)
Karon Beach
Also mentioned earlier, located south of Patong is the beach of Karon Village.
The beach itself is much more beautiful, with golden sand and stunning views, making it a better choice to visit.
The beach has a gentle slope, making it an excellent choice for children.
Kata Beach
Further south from Karon, Kata Village’s beach is even quieter.
The sand here is a bit whiter and less developed. However, it’s worth visiting for a day!
Nai Harn Beach
Near the southernmost point is the beach of Nai Harn neighborhood, a peaceful beach surrounded by trees, offering a rural atmosphere with a touch of hippie vibe.
The bay’s beach has fine golden sand that slopes gently into the water.
Freedom Beach
My personal favorite is this secluded beach a few kilometers from Patong. Accessible by tuk-tuk or boat, many people are unaware of it.
Located in a small bay with white sand, rich marine life, and coconut palms, it’s a wonderful place for relaxation and usually not crowded.
Nai Thon Beach
Located close to the airport, it’s less crowded as it’s away from central areas.
The golden sandy beach is wide and has a gentle slope, making it suitable for children.
Kamala Beach
Located north of Patong is the beach of Kamala settlement.
The approximately 1.5 km long beach has fine sand, and the sea is shallow. It’s a great spot for water sports enthusiasts.
Weather
The climate is tropical monsoon. There’s little variation in temperature throughout the year.
The most pleasant time for travel is from mid-November to February, with very little rainfall and almost constant sunshine. However, sudden showers can occur at any time.
The rainy monsoon season is from May to October, during which the frequent rain and high humidity make it less ideal for holidays.