13 Incredible Attractions to See in Phuket, Thailand
Thailand is a stunning country with incredible beaches, vibrant culture and some of the best cuisine in the world. Many holiday makers head to Phuket; a large island in the Andaman Sea, which is mountainous, covered in rainforest, with beautiful coastline and lots of high end resorts. Here are our top recommendations for things to see and do on your Phuket holiday…
Beaches
Thailand has some of the most idyllic in the world and each one is different to the next. The best beaches are generally all on the west coast so you will also get the chance to see a mesmorising sunset. Head to the popular Karon Beach which has lots of bars and restaurants. There is also Wat Suwan Khirikhet temple nearby that you can easily walk to. If you are up for a longer walk you can actually walk to the Big Buddha (below) from here, but it is a hike so take lots of water, don’t go in the heat of the day and wear trainers.
Watch a sunset from Promthep Cape
This is possibly the best place on the island to photograph a sunset but don’t think that it’s a hidden gem as its pretty well known so can get very busy – but usually only for a short period of time. Its incredibly photogenic here, hence all the people! There is a restaurant too but again its busy around sunset but the rest of the time its relaxed enough.
Yao Island
Escape the crowds and see some beautiful Thai landscapes on Yao Island which neighbours Phuket. With its relaxed vibe and empty beaches, it makes a chilled day out perfect for lazy stroll or even a cycle around the island passing rice paddies and gorgeous countryside. Take a traditional long tail boat, laze on a secluded beach, relax and swim.
The Great Buddha of Phuket
No visit to Thailand is complete without visiting some kind of giant Buddha or temple – here you will get to see both. Big Buddha, as its affectionately known, sits on the top of the Nakkerd Hills and is visible from most of the south of Phuket looking down over Chalong, Kata and Rawai. Climb the 268 steps to a viewing platform and get fantastic views from the top.
Night markets
There are few night markets which is a nice way to spend the evening as it’s a bit cooler. Generally, night markets have lots of local (and cheap) food that you can try, clothing, handicrafts and some even have some entertainment. Phuket Weekend Market is probably the largest night market, but it can get a little busy, as the name suggests it’s just held over the weekend. In Phuket Old Town, Walking Street is great for a meander around as its quite picturesque. Try local foods, browse stalls and watch street performers.
Thai massage
Thai massages are very good – if you haven’t had one before be prepared to be pulled and prodded, twisted and somewhat confused! Thai foot and leg massages are amazing and perfect after a long day of exploring. Massages are generally very cheap so you can easily make this a daily occurrence.
Monkey Hill
See wild monkeys without the crowds on Monkey Hill. These little monkeys are playful and cute – but naughty! If you have food in your bag, they will hunt it out and take it off you. Some people feed them but beware as they are likely to snatch food out of your hand and could bite you. Be a responsible traveller and don’t feed them human junk food, just nuts and fruits if you must.
Khao Phra Thaeo National Park
Natures lovers should head to Khao Phra Thaeo National Park which is a virgin rainforest that covers about 22 square kilometres. There are lots of animals that you might be lucky to see including porcupines, deer, monitor lizards (they are huge!), monkeys and gibbons. The national park is also home to Nam Tok Ton Sai waterfall. Khao Phra Thaeo National Park is home to the Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre which nurses poorly (yet still utterly adorable) gibbons back to health and releases them back in to the wild.
Cuisine
Thai food is incredible! All those flavours and fresh ingredients, spices and lemongrass – yum. Get adventurous and try everything! If you eat in local eateries, you’ll get a really authentic taste of Thailand. Night markets will have street food so there is lots of scrumptious foods to try… there might also be less appealing local foods like deep fried insects.
Thai boxing
Even those that don’t really like sports will love Thai boxing! Head down to Patong Boxing Stadium on a fight night to watch incredible athletes in an exciting Muay Thai battle surrounded by an electric crowd. We guarantee that you will be out of your chair, waving your hands shouting encouragement at the fighters before the evening ends – you will not be disappointed!
Thai cooking classes
If you love Thai food as much as we do, then where better to learn how to cook than Thailand! Discover how to make your very own aromatic curries like Thai Red Curry and the popular Pad Thai noodle dish. Find out how to balance flavours and learn about the ingredients so you can recreate these fantastic meals when you return home.
Hiking
If you are a bit of an adventurer then there is a lot of interesting hiking opportunities; get impressive views and see Kathu Waterfall, hike from Karon Beach to Big Buddha, visit the national park or hike from Patong to Paradise Beach.
Where To Next?
Got somewhere in mind for your next trip? Let us arrange everything for you, sit back, relax and let us do all teh hard work. We will find you the perfect holiday – at the perfect price!
