A trip to Thailand is not complete without visiting the magical islands of southern Thailand. Phuket Island has been the centre of tourist activities since the 1970s with a rich culture of holiday resorts and amazing beach parties throughout the years. The southern part of Thailand is home to some of the most beautiful beaches and coastal landscapes. A long strip of land called Kra Isthmus is lined with breathtaking beaches and thick jungles in the middle. I am exploring the best things to do in Phuket Thailand for one one-week stay.
Tourism in Phuket Thailand has picked up in the last ten years or so and there are plenty of options for custom safaris & adventure trips that can be undertaken with experienced guides. The best beaches in Phuket include Kata Beach, Karon Beach, Patong Beach and Nai Harn Beach. In this article, I am exploring some popular activities in Phuket that I undertook during my visit to this interesting part of Thailand in late 2019.
Best things to do in Phuket Thailand
Phuket has several options to travel from the airport to Patong, Karon or Kata Beach. The driving distance from the airport is approximately 40 km.
Taxi/minibus stand outside the International terminal in Phuket
The driving distance in normal traffic is around 45 minutes to an hour. A private charter taxi will cost around Baht 600 + Baht 100 for Airport Tax. A shared van (14 seaters) costs around Bhat 150. The van is equally comfortable and convenient if you are travelling by yourself.
Other amazing destinations near Phuket: Krabi, Koh Sumai and Koh Phangnan
For many tourists, Phuket is also a starting point to explore several interesting locations in Sothern Thailand including Krabi, Koh Phangnan and Koh Sumai. The famous Railey beach is located in Krabi and is accessible by a cruise from Phuket.
The driving distance from Phuket to Krabi is 162 km which can be covered in 3-4 hours. The ferry operates between Phuket and Krabi and takes an average of 4 hours. This is the best way to explore Krabi for a day or weekend trip if you are staying in Phuket for a long-term period.
For the more adventurous, a bus ride from Krabi to Surat Thani is a great option to explore the fascinating islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Sumai. If you are short on time, a flight from Phuket to Koh Sumai is a desirable option that can save a day's worth of travel time.
Best things to do in Phuket Thailand
Several popular beach areas in Phuket cater to a different crowd. If you are planning to explore nightclubs and nightlife, crowded beaches and shopping Malls, Patong Beach is the place to stay.
If you are planning a family holiday in Phuket I would recommend booking resorts in Karon Beach and Nai Harn Beach. These beaches are located on the southern side of the coastal strip of Phuket.
Karon Beach in Phuket has many accommodation options ranging from Airbnb locations to luxury beachside resorts and chalets. Nai Harn Beach is currently developed and is home to exclusive resorts.
Patong Beach area is my favourite place to find a hotel in Phuket. I have stayed a couple of times at Sai Kar Road, which is home to Expat Hotel, The Crib, Phoenix Grand and Patong Hotel.
The Nightlife at Bangla Road, Patong Beach Phuket
Bangla Road in Phuket is the heart of the nightlife in the Patong Area. The Bangla Road starts from Patong Beach and extends to Thanon Rathuthit Road. Both sides of this busy road are lined with bars, restaurants, shops and some of the most popular nightclubs including Illuzion Nightclub, Tiger Club and Shark Club. These clubs are the centre of attraction for partygoers and stay busy till the early hours of the day.
The side streets along Patong Road have venues for adult entertainment including live sex shows.
Planning on visiting Phuket and not sure what are some of the best things to do in Phuket? If you like noise and commotion, the Bangla Road Patong Beach neighbourhood is a great place to stay. Spend a lazy day hanging at the local bars or walk along the busy street with many local restaurants, art and craft shops, souvenir stores and lots more.
This section of the town is densely populated and you can find all services including the post office, money changers, clinics and massage places. Patong Beach is popular for watersports including kids' attractions like banana boats, boat tours, paragliding and water scooters.
Popular Night Club "Illuzion" on Bangla Road
Bars at Bangla Road Phuket
Best things to do at Patong Beach Phuket: Watersports, Beach Fun
The waterfront area at Patong has some mid-range resorts, bars and western food outlets. Patong is undoubtedly the centre of attraction and the most crowded spot in Phuket. With a large number of tourists to Phuket staying in Patong, this area is the heart of shopping, eating out, nightlife and all other services related to tourism.
Best Tours in Phuket
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Bangla Road is located within walking distance of Patong Beach and is the centre of activity all through the night. If you like crowds and a bit of commotion, Patong should keep you in the middle of all the activities in Phuket.
Parasailing at Patong Beach Phuket
The Patong beach area is popular for watersports. Embrace the adventure and enjoy parasailing, a popular activity on Patong Beach. You will be strapped onto the Parachute tied to a speedboat. An instructor will accompany you on your flight.
This activity is a great adrenalin rush and a memorable experience on a crowded Patong beach. The local operators provide these services all day long till sunset. The cost is 1500 Bhat and the flight takes around 15 minutes.
Watersports at Patong Beach Phuket
Other interesting activities for the entire family include banana boats, water scooters, speedboat tours and boating tours. If you are into fishing you can charter a fishing tour. The prices are quite reasonable and the local tour operators around Bangla Road in Patong can charter a boat tour for a day. The prices vary depending on boat size and the number of individuals.
Patong Beach is full of activity throughout the day. Sunset brings a cool breeze from the ocean and a well-lit waterfront makes Patong Beach a great place to relax and enjoy or take a stroll along the water.
Water sports at Patong Beach Phuket
Enjoy Seafood at Banzaan Market near Bangla Road in Phuket
Banzaan Fresh Fruit Market is the main vegetable and fruit market during the daytime. You can buy a wide range of fresh seafood as well. The first floor of the market has several kitchen fronts that offer to cook your fresh seafood in the cooking style you like.
I bought some fresh prawns and crabs from the seafood market on the ground floor and took them upstairs to one of the shopfront kitchens. The seafood was cooked in spicy chilli sauce by an excellent Nepalese Chef. I enjoyed the double serving of prawns and crab with steamed rice. I highly recommend this experience if you are a fresh seafood lover.
Where to Stay at Patong Beach in Phuket
Staying at Phoenix Grand Hotel in Phuket
Phuket offers a great choice of budget hotels, mid-range resorts as well as luxury accommodations. Whatever, your budget or travel style you can find accommodation in all price ranges. It is advised to book online in advance as you can save up to 40% on bookings with AGODA . If you like noise, commotion and a bit of activity, Patong is the place for you. Many quality hotels are available along Patong Beach with easy access to Bangla Road. Plenty of luxury accommodation is also available on the hills overlooking Patong.
Best hotels in Phuket by Klook
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I booked Phoenix Grand Hotel for under $USD 20 per night. Advance online booking normally fetches good discounts and $ credit on the Agoda site which makes it my favourite platform to book hotels. The hotel was quite basic but fulfilled my requirements in the price range. The rooms were clean and well-managed. I was looking for cheap basic accommodation as I spent most of the time outside on tours and exploring Phuket. The room had air-conditioning and hot showers. Robinson Mall and Bangla Road are within walking distance of the hotel which saved me $$ on transport.
Several hotels are located adjacent to The Phoneix Grand. All basic services, including cafes, bars, restaurants, laundry and tour operators are located within walking distance of the hotel.
Phoenix Grand Hotel is ideally located at Banzaan Fresh Fruit and Seafood Market, Robinson Shopping Malls and Bangla Road. Several quality restaurants, cafes and bars are located within walking distance of the hotel. I highly recommend this location for budget-conscious travellers.
There are plenty of nice budget hotels located on the same street as Phoneix Grand Hotel. The hotel does not have a swimming pool, however, the rooms and clean and quite basic and great value for money.
The waterfront area in Patong and the starting point of Patong Beach near Kilim Beach and Patong View Point has many luxury and mid-range hotels. This place is ideal if you plan to spend most of your time on the beach or the Bangla Road area.
Recommended mid-range budget hotels in Phuket Thailand
Other recommended hotels in the reasonable price range and with great user reviews include:
Staying at Karon Beach in Phuket
Karon Beach is located south of Patong Beach and is quite popular with families. There are several luxury resorts and serviced apartments along the beach. The beach is monitored by surf guards. Be mindful of riptides from May to October which can create dangerous swim conditions.
The resorts along the beach are ideal for a family holiday, as the beach is 5 km in the stretch and offers plenty of spots where you can relax and enjoy many water sports including water scooters, windsurfing and paragliding.
Here are some interesting pictures from my day at this beautiful beach in Phuket.
Book a Phuket City Day Tour
Phuket City Tours and Phuket Old Town Tours are conducted by local operators and are designed to explore the most popular location in Phuket in one trip. Booking a day tour is the best and most hassle-free way of exploring most destinations in the Phuket Beach area and Old Phuket town in a single day.
Note: You can obtain the cheapest tour prices online. The walk-in rates with many vendors on Bangla Road are inflated as they charge their own commission. Online tours are independently reviewed by the users and provide a better experience with seasoned operators.
The normal price for adults is around 2300 BHAT and for the Children's price is 1400 BHAT. Check some Popular ours offered in Phuket
Exploring Phuket Old Town in Phuket
The day tours in Phuket are a great way to explore local attractions including lookouts, temples, the Big Buddha Statue and cashew nut farms. I visited Wat Chalong Temple during my day tour and simply loved the beautiful architecture of this temple. Towards the end of the tour, I spent the evening in Old Phuket Town. The townhouses on Thalong Street are brightly painted and many shops are turned into coffee shops and cafes. Phuket Old Town is a great place to explore if you have more time to yourself.
Thai Cooking classes are also popular attractions in Phuket Town conducted by Blue Elephant Cooking School. The Phuket Town Weekend night markets are also very popular tourist attractions and are a great chance to explore the local culture and food of Phuket.
How to book a tour in Phuket?
The easiest way is to book online and obtain the vouchers and contact details for operating before arriving in Phuket. During peak season tour slots might not be available due to the high volume of tourists visiting this region. Klook offers great prices and engages the best tour operators in Phuket.
Alternatively, most hotels have their tour desks.
What places do I visit on a Day Tour in Phuket?
The Day tour normally starts with an early pickup from your hotel around 8 am. The rest of the participants of the tour are picked from their respective hotels. A van normally occupies around 10-11 passengers and is air-conditioned. A tour manager usually accompanies every tour briefs the participants on various activities and provides useful information as well.
Visiting Cashew Nut Factory in Phuket
A tour van meanders through the hilly streets of Karon taking you to the vantage point lookout located above Karon called Karon Lookout. With traffic on the road driving time to the lookout can be around thirty minutes. This lookout commands a great view of the western coastline of the Phuket area. Other interesting places included in the tour are:
1. Big Buddha Phuket
2. Wat Chalong Temple Phuket
3. Honey Farm in Phuket
4. Cashew Nut Factory in Phuket
5. Phuket Zoo
6. Crocodile Show (optional)
7. Elephant Show (optional)
8. Monkey Show (optional)
7. Tiger Kingdom (option) - extra charges
8. Visit Old Phuket Town
Phi Phi Islands: Once Romanticised in the movie "The Beach" featuring Leonardo Di Caprio, Phi Phi Islands represent idealistic heaven-like places with crystal clear water and isolated locations for a perfect holiday. Other popular Island tour locations include:
- Similan Islands (one of the top ten dive sites in the world)
- Ko Lanta
- Khao Lak
Best Tours in Phuket
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On the opposite coast of the Gulf of Thailand is Ko Sumai Island. This area is surrounded by hundreds of small islands. You can get ferries to islands like Ko Tao and Ko Phangan.
The Similan Island tour is a must for nature lovers because this island is praised for its amazing coral reefs. This Island claims to be one of the most beautiful Islands on earth with amazing underwater life, green trees, and sandy beaches.
A normal tour starts around 8 am when you check in at Andaman private pier.
Private tour charter in a single-engine boat
After a briefing provided by your guide, you will depart for Similan Island. You will stop for snorkelling at Ba-Ngu Island and Similan Island. Most day tours come with a buffet lunch with a halal option. Snorkeling gear is provided by tour operators.
Essential Items to Carry on a Boating Tour
- Waterproof bag for mobile Phones [iPhone 13 Pro - 7 inches]
- Waterproof Dry Bag [Suite for boat tours, swimming, kayaking, etc]
- Swimming Aqua Socks [water shoes ideal for the beach]
- Beach Swimwear Cover-Up
You will, however, need to carry some cash to buy food or snacks. A beach shoes and water-proof bag/ mobile phone cover is recommended. You can buy these accessories from the Phuket shopping area before organizing the tour.
Buying Waterproof bags and beach shoes is a must to be safe on the Islands as jagged rocks or sea urchins can cause injuries
Phi Phi Island Tour from Phuket - Highly Recommended
Phi Phi island is one of the most popular tours offered in Phuket. These tours are offered in different price ranges with some destinations. You can either do the 4 or 7-Island Tour. However, with time constraints and distance, I suggest a lesser location is far better as you will get more time to enjoy snorkelling and other activities.
The best way to enjoy is to book your tour on a single-engine boat (a cheaper option). Alternatively book a 14 people catamaran, which is a bit expensive but offers a great opportunity to explore the island at your leisure.
Snorkeling near Phi Phi Islands
A cheap option is to book a three-engine tour boat with 40 passengers. This is the most popular option and a more affordable one.
A bigger cruise offers a much cheaper option as it docks at a distance from the Island and you can enjoy the great views from the deck. These tours do not provide an option to get into the water for snorkelling or swimming.
Boats stopping for lunch at Phi Phi Don Island
Birds Nest area on Phi Phi Island only accessible to authorized people
One of the interesting locations after Koh Phi Phi Island is Koh Noi Island. This is a small Island with a few rock formations. Nice shacks and cafes are serving chilled drinks, juices, and milkshakes. You will see plenty of people arriving on various tour boats and enjoying the calm water of this Island. This is one of the last Islands for the trip.
A common lunch area for various tours on Phi Phi Don Island
A boat ride back to the Phuket pier area takes approximately one hour. Most of the passengers who are tired from the day are seen napping on the way back to the piers.
Khai Noi Island visited during the Phi Phi Island Tour
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