Phuket travel guide
Thailand's largest island: beaches, boat trips and nightlife. Most people stay 3–5 nights. Best months: Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr.
Highlights
- Phi Phi speedboat day trip
- James Bond Island & Phang Nga Bay
- Big Buddha
- Phuket Old Town
Things to do in Phuket
- Phi Phi & Maya Bay speedboat day trip · 8 h · about ₹4,000 per person. National park fee (~400 THB) is often collected in cash on the day. Maya Bay usually closes Aug–Sep.
- James Bond Island & Phang Nga Bay with sea-canoeing · 8 h · about ₹3,500 per person. Big-boat tours are steadier for kids and seasickness; park fee ~300 THB extra.
- Big Buddha Phuket · 1.5 h · free. Free with a donation; sarongs are lent at the entrance to cover knees.
- Phuket Old Town & Sunday Walking Street · 3 h · free. The Lard Yai walking street runs Sunday evenings on Thalang Road.
- Wat Chalong · 1 h · free
- Promthep Cape sunset · 1.5 h · free. Arrive 45 minutes before sunset for parking.
- Coral Island (Koh Hey) or Racha Island snorkel trip · 6 h · about ₹2,500 per person
- Similan Islands speedboat day (mid-Oct to mid-May) · Full day · about ₹7,500 per person. The park is open only mid-October to mid-May; very early pickup for the boat from Khao Lak.
- Kata & Karon beach day · 3 h · free. Red flags in May–Oct mean rip currents; swim only between the flags.
- Patong beach & Bangla Road at night · 2.5 h · free
- Simon Cabaret show · 1.5 h · about ₹2,000 per person
- Phuket Elephant Sanctuary (no riding) · 4 h · about ₹7,500 per person. Observation-only visits; book a few days ahead in peak season.
Where to stay in Phuket
- Phuket Old Town (budget, ₹1,800–₹3,500 a night): Heritage shophouses and food; 30–45 min to the beaches.
- Patong (back streets) (budget, ₹2,000–₹4,500 a night): Beach, Bangla Road and tour pickups on the doorstep.
- Kata / Karon (mid, ₹4,000–₹9,000 a night): Calmer beaches with restaurants — good for families.
- Kamala / Surin (premium, ₹10,000–₹28,000 a night): Quieter west-coast bays with pool-villa resorts.
What to eat
- Mee hokkien (Phuket noodles): Old Town shophouses
- Moo hong & Peranakan curries: Old Town restaurants
- Seafood cooked to order: Rawai seafood market
Getting there
- International flights into HKT; Bangkok ~1h25m
- Taxi or Grab from HKT ~45–60 min to Patong or Kata
Good to know
- May–Oct monsoon: rough seas, red-flag beaches and cancelled boat trips.
Thailand itineraries with Phuket
- Phuket beach break · 6 days · 6 days, Phuket · from ₹28,750 per person, base estimate before flights. One base, no internal flights: fly straight into Phuket and add two boat days.
- Family: Bangkok & Phuket · 7 days · 7 days, Bangkok → Phuket · from ₹41,400 per person, base estimate before flights. Kid-friendly pacing: one big outing per day, pools in the afternoon and short transfers.
- Bangkok, Phuket & Krabi classic · 8 days · 8 days, Bangkok → Phuket → Krabi · from ₹43,600 per person, base estimate before flights. City temples, then the two best-known Andaman bases with one big boat day from each.
- Honeymoon: Phuket, Phi Phi & Krabi · 8 days · 8 days, Phuket → Phi Phi → Krabi · from ₹38,700 per person, base estimate before flights. Three island bases linked by ferry, with slow mornings and the boat trips timed for quiet hours.
- Bangkok, Pattaya & Phuket · 9 days · 9 days, Pattaya → Bangkok → Phuket · from ₹49,850 per person, base estimate before flights. The classic first-timer route, with a beach finish in Phuket.
- Grand tour: Bangkok, the north and the Andaman coast · 15 days · 15 days, Bangkok → Chiang Mai → Chiang Rai → Krabi → Phi Phi → Phuket · from ₹82,100 per person, base estimate before flights. Two weeks covering the capital, the old capital, the northern temples and three Andaman bases.