Neil Aronson Phuket province is located in southern Thailand. It is the biggest Island of Thailand and sits on the Andaman sea. The nearest province to the north is Phang-nga and the nearest provinces to the east are Phang-nga and Krabi.
Phuket has a large Chinese influence, so you will see many Chinese shrines and Chinese Restaurants around the City. A Chinese Vegetarian Festival is held there every year. While the Chinese community is quite big, there are many other ethnicities bringing all their traditions and festivals from all over the world to Phuket.
Being a big Island, Phuket is surrounded by many magnificent Beaches such as Rawai, Patong, Karon, Kamala, Kata Yai, Kata Noi, and Mai Khao. Laem Phromthep viewpoint is said to feature the most beautiful sunsets in Thailand.
Why go to Phuket
Most travelers to this part of the country only see a small glimpse of what Phuket has to offer, which has given it somewhat of a bad name. Patong Beach is where most of the action’s at, but many visitors don’t see this as a good thing. Sure, the conveniences and amenities surrounding the area might be appealing, but with so much tourist traffic, year after year, it’s become overrun with shady operations, dirty establishments, and hoards of careless partiers. Our advice is to broaden your horizon and look outside of Patong.
If you’re willing to go a bit further out, you will discover much more of Phuket than would otherwise be possible. World class diving, snorkeling, island tours, swimming, surfing, free diving, sailing, and more can be had here. Add to that some of the most beautiful and relaxing beaches in the region and incredibly friendly locals, and you will certainly have enough options to fill your entire trip.
Of course, if you are looking for a high class, party-centred vacation that’ll likely leave more than just your bank account looking a little tired, Phuket has that for you, too.
When To go
Phuket, like the rest of Thailand, has its dry and wet seasons but is hot most of the year. The rainy season falls between July and October, but rain showers usually only last a couple hours or less. Prices are cheaper and less crowded. November through February are high season, with the best weather. This is also a good time to visit as it’s slightly cooler and less humid. The hottest months are April and May.
Resources
Agoda is the best place to book cheap affordable hotels in Thailand, especially near national parks. They also book flights as well.
Expedia is my favorite place to book flights, hotels, cars, and more. Their group includes Hotels.com and Vrbo for vacation rentals.
Viator is the top choice for activities. Book everything from a waterfall tour to scuba diving, jungle trekking to cooking classes.
12Go is the top transportation source for Asia. From busses to trains to regional flights.
Where to stay in Phuket
Since Phuket is so large, it’s easiest to break the island up into regions when planning your trip. The western part of Phuket encompasses a majority of sights, beaches, hotels, and things to do, while the southeast, and central sections both offer slightly different experiences. There are also a number of smaller islands along the coastline; many can be visited on day trips.
The west coast is where you’ll find the lively Patong Beach. You won’t be far from any number of luxurious resorts to rest your head here. In the southeast, you’ll be met with slightly fewer crowds and somewhat quieter beaches. Expect hotel prices to reflect that, although they’ll still be higher than much of the mainland. The interior section of Phuket sees far fewer visitors. Phuket town has some accommodation options much cheaper than the beach areas. Our favorite site to book hotels on is Agoda. For renting houses Vrbo is an option for vacation rentals.
The three main beach areas are:
Patong Beach: Famous for its lively atmosphere, water sports, and nightlife.
Kata Beach: Quieter than Patong, great for families and water activities like surfing.
Karon Beach: A beautiful stretch of sand, ideal for relaxation and swimming.
All the major beaches like Patong beach, Kata Beach, Karon beach, Nai Han beach, Mai Khao beach, and Nai Yang beach, offer instruction and equipment for diving, Snorkeling, windsurfing and sailing.
Recommended Hostels & Guesthouses
Things To Do Around Phuket
Besides the beach and ocean activities, below, Phuket has many other fun things to do and great places to visit.
Culture
- Big Buddha: A 45-meter tall statue that offers panoramic views and a serene atmosphere. Located in front of the Nak Koet Buddhist Park, this Buddha image, in the attitude of subduing Mara, is a stunning piece of contemporary art.
- Wat Chalong: The largest and most important Buddhist temple in Phuket, rich in culture and history. This impressive temple stands in Thanon Chao Fa, Chalong sub-district and is an important place of worship for devout Phuket locals as well as Buddhists from all around.
- Old Phuket Town: Explore colorful Sino-Portuguese architecture, charming cafes, and local shops. Way back in the reign of King Rama IV, the tin mining industry flourished but these days the mines are preserved as museums and many local buildings have been converted into accommodation, dining spaces, coffee shops and souvenir shops. There is also a large market and walking street which is organized every Sunday between 16.00-22.00 hrs. along Thalang Road
- Muay Thai Matches: Experience Thailand’s famous martial art at a local stadium.
- Phuket Fantasea: A cultural theme park with a stunning show featuring Thai culture, dance, and elephants. It’s a total touristy show, like they do in Hawaii, but could be fun for families with kids.
Food & Markets
- Local Markets: Visit the Chillva Market or the Sunday Walking Street Market for local foods, crafts, and souvenirs.
- Thai Cooking Classes: Learn to make traditional Thai dishes in a fun and interactive way.
Nightlife
- Bangla Road: The center of nightlife in Patong, filled with bars, clubs, and entertainment. It sometimes seems like anything goes along Bangla Road, with an incredible variety of things to see and do. Alongside international-standard nightclubs are hundreds of beer bars and dozens of go-go bars, as well as street performances, vendors, lounge bars, games, live music and more
- Beach Clubs: Enjoy cocktails and music at popular spots like Catch Beach Club or Nikki Beach. Beach clubs are the latest hot trend in Phuket, and a simple yet complex recipe with the right mix of ingredients is required to guarantee success.
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
If you are interested in visiting an elephant sanctuary, PES is the most ethical one. Inspired by Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is a new and final home for elephants who have worked their entire lives in the logging and tourism industry. By joining our programs, visitors can support ethical elephant tourism while enjoying an inspiring and educational experience.
The Best Activities & Adventure
1. Island Hopping
- Phang-Nga: Ao Phang-Nga National Park is famous for the iconic James Bond Island and known to be the best canoeing destination in Thailand.
- Similan Islands: With a rich marine life consisting of hard and soft coral reefs, crystal clear waters and white beaches, Similan Islands are considered to be one of the best diving sites in the world.
- Jet Ski Islands Tour: Spend the day exploring five to eight different islands on this private drive-yourself jet ski tour, following your local guide to picture-postcard tropical islands fringed with beaches dotted with palm trees.
2. Play Golf
- Red Mountain Golf Club in Phuket winds its way through a truly dramatic 1400 rai former tin mine site in the heart of Phuket. Red Mountain is one of Asia’s most exciting new courses that officially opened in 2008.
- Loch Palm, which is located by Red Mountain, has earned the title of being the most relaxing golf course in Phuket. Its convenient location makes it a great place to start your golfing tour of the island. Many locals take advantage of the cooler weather in the early mornings where players are encouraged to complete their rounds in 3.5 hours or less.
- The course is a popular choice with residents due to its central location and is conveniently located a 10 minute drive from Phuket Town and Patong Beach. The 18 hole, par 71 course offers a relaxing 6,000 yard challenge from the Blue Tees which offers enjoyment for golfers of all levels.
- Tinidee Golf Resort. Stay at this resort for an amazing hotel and golf experience in Phuket.
3. Diving & Snorkeling
- Diving is the best in this southern Thailand area. Divers come from all over the world to dive in among the islands, as this is one of the best national parks for clear waters and coral reefs.
4. Kayaking in Phang Nga Bay
- Go kayaking through stunning limestone caves and visit James Bond Island. Ao Phang-Nga National Park is famous for the iconic James Bond Island and known to be the best kayaking destination in Thailand.
5. Zipline and Jungle Treking
- Explore the lush jungle around Phuket on an ATV before flying through the treetops on a zipline on this fun-filled small-group tour.
6. Than Bok Khorani National Park
- Known for its waterfalls, caves, and dense forest. You can explore caves like Tham Phi Hua To, with prehistoric paintings and stalactites.
- The landscape is dominated by a series of limestone mountains, evergreen forests, mangrove forests, and numerous islands. The main flora are evergreen forest, peat swamp forest, strand forest, and mangrove forest, as well as, various types of marine flora. Two natural trails are available. Firstly, a 1-kilometre path within the National Park. Secondly, a trail of some 3-4 kilometres from the park to the mangrove forest. No accommodation is available.
7. Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Sanctuary
- Take a trip to the Khao Phra Thaeo Conservation Development and Extension Center, a center focused on preserving the environment. The center contains a park with giant trees in the midst of dense a dense forest that is home to a number of endangered animals and wildlife including boars, mouse deer, langurs, and gibbons. It’s also the last remaining evergreen rainforest of Phuket.
- Make sure to check out the Nam Ton Sai waterfall, which is located close to the park headquarters. There is also a floating restaurant located in the mangroves! .
8. Sirinat National Park
- Sirinat national park was founded in the early 1980s and consists of three beach areas along the northwest coast of Phuket. It includes the beaches Nai Yang, Sai Kaew, and Mai Khao, as well as the mangrove forest where saltwater and freshwater mix.
- This is a good place for camping too if you enjoy the outdoors. During the spring, endangered Leatherback Turtles come here to lay their eggs. Park entrance costs 200 THB. The park is closed between June 1st-July 31st.
How to get to and from Phuket
Due to the island’s popularity, you won’t have trouble traveling to and from Phuket from pretty much anywhere in the world. Its own international airport operates a multitude of flights daily. Travelers come in from all over the globe, often connecting through neighboring countries, and even more frequently, through Bangkok. 12Go is a great source for booking transportation within Thailand, including local flights.
If you’re flying in from Bangkok, expect relatively cheap one-way prices. Actually, even if you’re traveling from outside of Thailand, it can sometimes be cheaper to go to Bangkok and then book onward travel to Phuket through a budget airline such as Air Asia.
We’ve seen direct flights from Bangkok (DMK) to Phuket City – and from Phuket to Bangkok, too – with AirAsia for slightly over THB1000. With the trip lasting under an hour and a half, we think it’s a great option to consider. Expedia is another option for local flights to Phuket. The same flights can also be taken from Chiang Mai, it will just cost a bit more.
Train travellers might be disappointed, as there’s no direct service all the way into Phuket. The best way to travel via rail is to take a train going from Bangkok to Surat Thani and then continue from Surat Thani to Phuket by bus.
Train tickets cost an average of THB700 for a second class sleeper, and the connecting bus from Surat Thani to Phuket will run about THB220. The train journey will take 8.5 to 9 hours, and the following bus ride will last closer to 4 hours.
Unless you love traveling on ground, our best advice is to take one of AirAsia’s quick, short-haul flights from Bangkok or Chiang Mai to Phuket.
