Phuket Travel Guide

Phuket is the biggest destination for tourism in Thailand. This is where you see all the good and bad of Thai tourism – from overdeveloped beaches and sex tourism, to tiny towns with no tourists and authentic Thailand. You’ll find great beaches and amazing activities this island, and if you stay away from Patong Beach, you can avoid most of the over-development and crowds. Phuket draws a lot of tourists, and if you really want to enjoy the area, get out of the main spots.

Things to See and Do
Typical Costs
Budget Tips
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Phuket

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Phuket

1. Chill on the beach

Phuket is all about the beaches. If you stay away from Patong Beach, you can avoid most of the overdevelopment, expensive prices, and crowds and see how Phuket is a lovely destination. Check out Mai Khao, Surin, Freedom, and Naithon for the best beaches!

2. Visit the temples

Most of Phuket’s population is Thai-Buddhist and there are close to 40 Buddhist Temples located all over the island. Phuket’s Big Buddha is one of the island’s most important, Wat Suwan Khiri Khet; the only temple in Karon Beach, is small but attractive; Wat Chalong, which has been welcoming visitors for over a century.

Photo by Rob Taylor (flickr: @britsinvade)

3. Cruise Phang Nga Bay

Lined by limestone cliffs and collapsed caves, these glorious emerald-green waters form a delightful bay. This is one of the most gorgeous spots on Phuket, and it’s where the James Bond movie The Man With the Golden Gun was filmed. Day trips can be had from anywhere on the island; cruises from 2,650 baht.

4. Visit the gibbons

Run by volunteers and financed by donations, the Gibbon Rehabilitation Center rescues gibbons held in captivity, then rehabilitates them before safely reintroducing them to the wild. There is no touching of the animals but visitors can watch them from a viewing platform and talk to the volunteers about the work done at the center.

5. Make a trip to the Similian Islands

Just 84km northwest of Phuket are the Similan Islands. It’s one of the few places in Thailand where there is some environmental protection! The Similan Islands are a nationally protected nature preserve of nine islands, but only two (#4 and #8) are allowed to have people on them.

Other Things to See and Do

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1. Skip Patong

This is the main tourist section of Phuket, filled with crowded beaches, resorts, hawkers, stores, bars, and sadly, a lot of sex tourists. Unless you want to get drunk a lot, try to avoid this beach at all costs (although I do still recommend taking a cooking class near here!)

2. Learn to cook traditional Thai food

If you are looking to learn some Thai cooking tricks, take a class at Pum’s Thai Cooking School. Located near Patong Beach, you can take classes ranging from 30 minutes to 6+ hours. Why not get a souvenir you can take back with you, and bring back the knowledge of how to make some of your favorite dishes from Thailand! Classes start at 500 THB.

3. Watch some Muay Thai fighting

To see something truly Thai, book yourself in to watch some Muay Thai. This is a form of combat that combines striking techniques using fists, elbows, knees, and shins, and is known as “the art of eight limbs.” It requires extreme mental and physical discipline to train to be a Muay Thai fighter. The Saphan Hin Stadium is the destination to see regular matches or go to Patong Beach where you can watch these disciplined fighters in action. You can usually find tickets starting around 1,300 THB.

4. Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Park

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 which is home to a number of endangered animals, and also contains giant trees in the midst of dense a dense forest. Make sure to check out the Nam Tok Sai waterfall, which is located close to the park headquarters. There is also a floating restaurant located in the mangroves! Admission is 400 THB.

5. Stop at the Thalang National Museum

If you are eager to find out more about historical Phuket, then make a visit to the Thalang National Museum. The Museum holds an exhibition of ancient artifacts from Old Phuket and items used during the war with Burma. This is a great way to immerse yourself in the history of the island. It’s 30 THB for entry.

6. Enjoy the viewpoints

Phuket has many viewpoints- there are 10 in total. Promthep tends to be the most popular, but other great spots include the Kata viewpoint. Nothing is better than watching a golden sunset from these points. Your camera will thank you!

7. Rent a bike

Renting either a bike or motorbike will give you more freedom to explore Phuket. Find your way to Laem Singh Beach, a more secluded and laid-back spot with some great snorkeling opportunities. Be careful- biking in Phuket can be a little tumultuous. You can expect to pay about 200 THB a day for a bike.

8. Explore Sirinat National Park

This national park was founded in the early ’80s, and consists of three beach areas along the northwest coast of Phuket. It includes a couple of beaches, including Nai Yang, Sai Kaew, and Mai Khao, as well as the mangrove forest where the saltwater and freshwater mix. This is a good place for camping. During the spring, endangered Leatherback Turtles come here to lay their eggs. Park entrance costs 200 THB.

9. Check out the Phuket Mining Museum

Located in Kathu, this museum is one of the most interesting in my opinion. There are a couple of neat models, and even a recreation of an opium den! Some of the models seem so real, it’s like you are living it. You will get a chance to see some of the mining methods used back when Phuket was a major tin mining center. Entry is 100 THB.

10. Stroll the Phuket Weekend Market

Known also as the Naka market, this market is located right outside of Phuket Town. It is a crazy assortment of local and secondhand goods, interesting objects, and a huge variety of food. The market is broken up into two sections- the covered section (everything from jeans to pirated DVDs), and the open market (food, food, food!)

11. Snorkel the waters

Phuket has over 33 beaches, all of them pretty incredible. While not all of them are great for snorkeling, some of the best are Laem Singh Beach, Ao Sane, Ya Nui, and Surin. You might want to bring your own gear, as renting can get a bit pricy. It is possible to buy some cheap gear in Phuket if you look hard enough.

Typical Costs

Hostel prices – Hostels are a great way to save money on Phuket. Most hostels have dorms with 4-8 beds to sleep in. Most of the 6-bed dorms are in in the 250-300 THB range. Private rooms for two people with ensuite bathrooms start at 700 THB. Aside from saving money on this touristy island, you’ll also get to meet other travelers with all of the common spaces offered at the hostels on the island.

Budget hotel prices – A night in a centrally-located two-star hotel starts around 350 THB for a room with air-conditioning and free WiFi. About half of this selection includes free breakfast. While still pricey, Phuket does actually have some of the least expensive 5-star hotels in Thailand (as low as 2,400 THB)! The Memory at On On Hotel is a great choice (and it was featured in the movie The Beach)! On Airbnb, you can find a large number of shared rooms in apartments for 315 THB. There’s also a selection of entire apartments/homes starting from 390 THB per night, with many priced around 1,050 THB. I’d definitely look into staying in an Airbnb here since there are so many quality ones available!

Average cost of food – Compared to the rest of Thailand, food is a bit more expensive here. Lunch at a local Thai restaurant will cost around 150 THB. Western meals will cost around 330 THB. Dinner with drinks can typically cost around 270 THB or more. If you are having a fish meal or getting wine, expect to pay around 675 THB. In the major tourist area, you’ll probably pay 25% more. You can grab a beer for about 60 THB. A week of groceries with the basic staples should cost you around 1,040 THB. Eat at the street stalls, the food is not only cheap, it’s utterly delicious. Remember that buying beers from 7-Eleven vs in bars and restaurants will save you lots of money.

Transportation costs – A motorbike taxi will cost on average 60 THB, with a 3km ride in a tuk tuk around the island costing about 335 THB. A ride in a songthaew (a covered pick-up truck taxi) usually starts around 25-50 THB. Walking and bicycling is a great way to get around the island too!

Suggested daily budget

1080-1450 THB / $30-40 USD (Note: This is a suggested budget assuming you’re staying in a hostel, eating out a little, cooking most of your meals or eating cheap street food, and using local transportation. Using the budget tips below, you can always lower this number. However, if you stay in fancier accommodation or eat out more often, expect this to be higher!)

Money Saving Tips

Eat street food – Speaking of street food, don’t be afraid to eat it. It’s safe – even safer than most restaurants. If it weren’t, the Thai wouldn’t be packing the stalls each day. You’ll find the best of Thailand’s food on the street, and it will cost you a fraction of what you pay at a restaurant.
Buy beer at the 7-Eleven – Buy your beers from the supermarket as they are much cheaper here than anywhere else. Most bars don’t have corkage fees, so you can also bring spirits and just buy ice and mixers.
Ride in a songtaew or rent a bike – These are converted pickup trucks are shared taxis that cost a lot less than a tuk-tuk or a taxi, coming in at around 25 THB. If you are looking to get around on your own, renting a bike is also a great option, and can usually be done for about 200 THB/day.
Couchsurf – Nothing’s cheaper than sleeping for free. Couchsurfing connects you with locals who will give you not only a free place to stay, but also a local tour guide who can introduce you to all the great places to see.
Bargain hard – When shopping at the markets, whip out your negotiation skills. The rule of thumb is the more you buy, the cheaper the prices will be. So shop in packs for the best deals.

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