Phuket Destination Guide

When it comes to touring Phuket, you'll    never run out of choices. Choose your destination depending on your budget, personal preferences or age. The best thing about Phuket is that it has something for everybody from varying activities to a range of Phuket accommodation prices. There's a multitude of parks, beaches and forests that are waiting to be discovered. The artistically inclined can revel in Phuket's rich history and culture, while the food lover can rejoice in its gastronomic delights. 

There's good news for the party animal as well - Phuket has an extremely vibrant nightlife.

This Phuket Destination Guide and our Phuket tour page tell you all you need to know about the highlights and must-see's of a trip to Phuket. We also provide some useful general information about your trip to Phuket. Also check out the highlights of some other great Thailand destinations such as Bangkok, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, or Sukhothai.

Beach lovers, check out our Top Five Beaches in Phuket and for those who like to see what there is beyond the sun and sand, check out our ideas for getting off the beaches in Phuket.

If you by nature enjoy Thai food and are interested in learning the art of Thai cuisine from highly-experienced teachers who are expert in teaching on Thai-style cooking, the Phuket Thai Cookery School is now offering a comprehensive Thai cooking course, which starts right from the introduction to Thai ingredients, market tour, to actual cooking, with a wide selection of Thai main popular dishes.

Ao Phang Nga Marine Park is in a 400 km² bay in the Andaman Sea between Phuket and the mainland of the Malay peninsula of southern Thailand. Since 1981 a big part of the bay is protected as the Ao Phang Nga National Park and covers 42 islands. 

Phang Nga makes for a spectacular boat trip and a visit to James Bond Island is a must.  Dramtic limestone karsts abound, with some of the most pictureque beaches in all of Thailand.

One of the oldest and best-developed tourist areas, with a large number of accommodation choices and the most popular destination is Patong Beach, Phuket. The crescent-shaped beach of 3,000 metres offers plenty of activities and is a popular destination for all in search of sun, fun and frolic!   From jet skis and banana boats, to paragliding and cruises, Patong Beach, Phuket offers any visitor exciting activity choices.  For those just wanting to relax, beach recliners are provided for as little as 80 Baht - and even come with clothes hangers for you!

Patong Beach, Phuket also has the reputation of having an active nightlife. Bangla road is by far the most popular area for evening entertainment, and the beachside road offers a wealth of restauarants, including some great frsh seafood.

The pleasures of the city are often overshadowed by the splendour of the Phuket resort beaches. Yet beneath the busy administrative façade of Phuket City is a wealth of fascinating delights.

Phuket City has heaps of exciting experiences in store. Since its label as a "city" is quite recent, you'll find that a lot of the old world charm still lingers. The result is a heady mixture of the old-fashioned and the modern, the simple and the suave. Revel in the many local sights, or try out the interesting cuisine. Better still, go shopping!

You'll be surprised to find that this quaint little capital has some really chic little shops and many a Sino-Portuguese splendour.

Karon beach is the second largest of the Phuket resort beaches, and approx 20km from Phuket Town and 6km from Patong.  Large Phuket resort complexes line the beach road, but the long, beach itself has little development.

Restaurants and bars are located towards the north end of Karon Beach, near the traffic circle, and at the south end, which leads towards Kata Beach.   The narrow road between Kata and Karon has a number of small businesses as well as the Dino Park Mini Golf facility. Karon Beach is one of the more upmarket beaches around Phuket.

See why this is one of our picks for Top FIve Beaches in Phuket

Sheer indulgence or a must-have? A moot point indeed! Relax in the air-conditioned comfort of the Asian Spa and pamper yourself with a sensational body wrap made of natural ingredients. You could also try the traditional Thai massage or luxuriate with a massage beneath a shady tree, while listening to the soft ripple of the waves.

One of the most beautiful beaches in Phuket, Kamala Beach is surrounded by forested hills and is much quieter than areas like Patong, which lies just a couple of km south.

Kamala Beach provides a recluse for those who prefer a quieter holiday. With friendly service and a small village feel, a diversity of restaurants and small bars, Kamala Beach can easily captivate your heart.

Pssstt.. This is one of our Top Five Beaches in Phuket!

A paved road runs the length of Kamala Beach, but is broken in the middle by the police station and a small park. Cheap Phuket accommodation can be found at both ends of the beach, including a couple mid-range Phuket resorts.

Kamala Beach is home to one major evening attraction - Phuket Fantasea, an amazing Las Vegas style cultural show complete with pyrotechnics, lasers and elephants.

Many an ambitious vendor has established a thriving trade for himself in the night markets of Phuket. The stalls situated along the roadside seem to change their locations with rapid frequency. The Patong Night Market along Pataong beach, Phuket is a comparatively permanent affair.

Wending its way into the back roads and smaller lanes, or soi, these stalls typically stock a range of items like handicrafts, luggage, wooden toys and silk scarves.

Near the Robinsons Department store is the busy night market of Phuket City. The weekend market found on Phang Nga Road is a great place for good bargains. Other popular markets are found near Chalong Circle and in Cherng Talay town, just opposite the police station.

The most famous museum here is perhaps the Thalang National Museum, which reflects the local culture and history. Also popular are the Sea Shell Museum of Rawai and the engaging little museum in the lobby of the Phuket hotel, Hotel Thavorn.

The gorgeous bay at Kata, just south of Karon Beach, has some great white sands and clear blue waters. Popular with families, Kata Beach is a long time favourite with a wide range of Phuket hotels, restraurants and resorts and a beautiful palm-lined beach.

This beach makes it onto our list of Top Five Beaches in Phuket!

Phuket does not have the reputation of Chiang Mai or Bali when it comes to art and heritage, yet it is home to several upcoming artists.

There are quite a few workshops and galleries belonging to local as well as expat artists. Some of these include the Rinda Studio of Rawai, located near Evason Phuket Resort, Karon Plaza's Nakonnai Gallery and Sarasil Art Gallery on Phuket City's Phang Nga Road.

If you're looking for masterpieces by Picasso or Van Gogh, try the beach road or the shops that dot Patong's Prachanukhao Road leading to Karon - you'll find that these hand-painted imitations are not only convincing but also pretty reasonable.

If you want to pick up works of local artists, the Dusit Laguna Phuket, Mom Tri's Boathouse and some other resorts are a good option, as they regularly hold art exhibitions. Several shops sell handicrafts and artwork too.

In the mid 19th century, there was a boom in the tin mining industry, leading to a huge influx of Chinese immigrants. The impact of this Chinese influence still lingers in the architecture of many buildings and streets.

To fully appreciate the Chinese legacy, take a stroll down the Dibuk and Krabi-Thalang Road, keeping your eyes open for the intricate latticework, multi-hued ceramic tiles and other typical Chinese designs.

The Sino-Portuguese style is also reflected in many mansions in the city. Though most of the old houses belong to private owners, some are open to the public and can be visited on a heritage tour.

The Chao Ley or sea gypsies are found in small communities on Koh Sirey and Rawai. Many tours include a trip to these villages. However, since these tours offer little pleasure to either tourists or villagers, they are best avoided. Most gypsy communities have degenerated to little more than human zoos, and it would be kinder not to affront the dignity of these people.

The wats or temples of Phuket perhaps fail to evoke the majestic aura of the religious sites in north Thailand and Bangkok. Nevertheless they do offer a glimpse into the beliefs and ideologies of the locals.

The best time to visit a wat is in the early hours of the morning, when you can watch devotees doling out alms to the monks, and enjoy the strains of Pali chanting in the main halls.

One of the most important wats is the Wat Chalong. Decorated with hundreds of small glass pieces, it exudes a charming iridescent glow. To experience the authentic local aura, visit the Wat Chalong during a "country fair".

A popular hilltop viewpoint, the Laem Phromthep is a great vantage point from which to see the ocean stretching to Phi Phi Island. End the day with delicious Thai food at the Phromthep Cape Restaurant and enjoy the cool ocean breezes.

Muay Thai or Thai kickboxing, as it is popularly known, has been rapidly gaining worldwide popularity. An enthralling show featuring martial experts can be witnessed at the Saphan Hin Stadium and at Patong beach, Phuket. The dexterity and skill displayed by these well-trained experts are definitely worth watching.

South of Kata Beach is Kata Noi Beach - smaller and less developed than its northern neighbour.  Golden beaches run down into an invitingly blue sea.  This romantic little bay is found at the end of a dead-end road, just a few minutes' drive over the hill from Kata beach.

Phuket offers a number of good golf courses and easily figures as one of Thailand's best places to golf. Attracting visitors from across the globe, the course can be quite challenging.

There are about 81 holes that can be played at three different golf clubs, and all three are open to the public. Caddies, equipment and carts can be hired at reasonable prices.

However, during the holiday season in December and January, Phuket gets pretty full. If you wish to play golf while you are in Phuket, do remember to register in advance.

Situated inside the national park, this little sanctuary near the Bang Pae waterfall has been responsible for preserving and breeding gibbons for almost a decade. The idea is to protect the apes from being sold at the markets or exhibited at tourist spots.

The trademark "singing" of the gibbons is pretty unique and impressive, and the volunteers give you a great introduction to the apes. If you want to find out more about the project, check with the visitor centre, which is managed by Western volunteers and Thais speaking fluent English.

While the talks are free, a generous gesture will be appreciated. You can show your solidarity for the project by purchasing a souvenir, making a donation or sponsoring a gibbon.

The centre is open daily from 10:00 hrs to 16:00 hrs. Your donation is your entry fee.

Since opening in October 1991, the Phuket Simon Cabaret prides itseld as Phuket's most reknown entertainment venue.  Offering a wide variety of song, dance, costumes and comedy from around the globe, this multi-lingual, multi-cultural performance offers a great evening's entertainment.  Show times are 7:30pm and 9pm, every night of the week.

For more information please see Phuket Simon Cabaret

There is a unique art gallery in Patong Beach, Phuket Modern Art. It is housed in the BYD Lofts apartment building.  Originally just designed to decorate the lobby and increase sales for local artist Suthirak, the popularity of the paintings has seen this grow into the home of Suthirak art displays and the paintings are now widely displayed throughout the building.

For more information see Phuket Modern Art

Phuket Zoo, located just outside of Phuket Town, offers a wide range of animals and activities - a children's favourite.  From daily monkey, elephant and crocodile shows to aquariums, bird parks and orchid gardens - there is plenty of fun for everyone.  For more details see Phuket Zoo

Visit one of the many Phuket resort areas beautiful waterfalls and National parks. The Khao Phra Thaeo National Park is a place of wild beauty while the Sirinat National Park boasts of a lovely beach.

The FantaSea show, while being lots of fun, is a highly professional performance, reminiscent of Las Vegas shows. Trapeze artists gambolling in the air, pyrotechnics and parading elephants combine to give a memorable show. Kids love visiting the theme park games, while adults enjoy shopping for souvenirs.

Located on Kamala beach, the park opens at 17:30 hrs and the main show starts at 21:00 hrs.

Known as a top beach resort, Phuket also easily qualifies as one of the top ten destinations for diving. With its exotic marine life and awe-inspiring coral reefs, the Phuket resort area is a diver's paradise.

The waters afford high visibility and warm temperatures, especially from November to April, making it even more attractive to divers. There is a whole range of diving courses offered by the dive shops here, so don't hesitate to add diving to your agenda.

Experience the great outdoors of Thailand by taking off on an elephant trek. The elephants are well trained and domesticated.

One of nature's most impressive animals, you'll better appreciate the intelligence, grace and strength of elephants when you travel astride them! The ride will probably be a bumpy one, but you'll enjoy seeing the world from a whole new perspective.

What's more, the mahouts quote pretty reasonable fares. Try tipping them by placing the money into the elephant's trunk. You'll be delighted to see them handing over the money faithfully to the mahouts.