Phuket is the southern province of Thailand and the kingdom’s largest island in the Indian Ocean. Three bridges span between it and the mainland. It was once the site of rubber and tin mining and a major trade route from India to China.
Now it is the second most popular resort in the country. People often honeymoon in Phuket, come here on vacation with children to swim in the sea and relax on the soft white sand. Every year new restaurants open here and tourist routes appear.
I will tell you what to see in Phuket, where to go on your own, and where to visit with a tour.
Big Buddha
The Big Buddha Temple is located on Mount Nakaked. It is the first place to go on the island. The statue is 45 meters tall and it is the largest monument in the entire kingdom.
The observation deck for tourists is located at an altitude of 500 meters. It is an ideal place to meditate while looking at the surrounding beauty. Here you can reflect on the eternal for a long time.
It will take a couple hours to get to the top on foot. Choose clothes that cover your shoulders and knees, but if not, a light hoodie will be issued at the top.
On the way to the temple, you will see clay tablets on which you can scribble your wishes. At the foot of the temple is a monument to Rama V and a gong. If you touch it, it will make a soft ringing sound.
You can get there from Karon Beach by moped, tuk-tuk or car. It takes about 20-25 minutes and you have to drive first to Chalong and then follow the signs.
Lying Buddha (Wat Sisunthon)
The Temple of the Lying Buddha is located in Talang district and dates back to 1792. The complex is called Wat Sri Sunthon – in honor of one of the heroines who saved the island from the Burmese and created a female army.
The territory is very beautiful: trees grow along the perimeter, multicolored carps live in the ponds, fountains ring. In the park there are figures of birds and animals, as well as heroes of myths: demons Yaksha and Rakshasa, Nagas. In the hall for ceremonies there is a Buddha sitting in the lotus posture.
If you are looking for interesting places without fuss – you will definitely come to this temple.
On the roof of the main building is the Buddha. You can climb up the stairs on the right side of the building. The Buddha has a characteristic bulge on his head (ushnisha), long earlobes, and the fingers on his hands are identical.
You can get to Wat Sisunthon by bus to Sarasin Bridge or by car. There are no stops and the driver has to signal by pressing a special button.
Wat Chalong Temple
There are several dozen Buddhist temples on the island. The most popular of them is Wat Chalong. The exact date of its construction is unknown, but it is said to be more than a century and a half old.
In 1876, within its walls, the inhabitants were saved from looters, so now in one of the buildings of the temple you can see sculptures of monk defenders.
People come to Chalong for the local divination ritual “siamsi”. You have to shake a special vessel from which a bamboo stick with a number falls out. Then you have to find a fortune-teller with this number on the shelf and read it. The text, however, is written either in Chinese or Thai, so you will need a translator.
Another ritual is to tie a thread on your hand. It is believed that the wish will come true when the thread breaks.
There are several buildings on the compound. The large cross-shaped Ubosot building is where people come to worship a piece of Buddha’s ashes. Only monks are allowed to enter it for services.
There is a cute goldfish pond near the temple, as well as a cafe and a souvenir store where it’s easy to find the prettiest little things.
Entrance inside the temple is free of charge. And if you want to learn more about the construction, explore its official website.
Fantasy Park
It is an amusement park where you can visit rides for all tastes, watch animal shows, eat unusual local food and go shopping.
Several ponds with fish that are considered “money” will greet you at the entrance. There are almost tame carp, and further away you can take a photo with an elephant or ride one.
One of the zones is the Carnival Village. It is full of carousels, shopping pavilions and… tropical jungles. They have been recreated almost in their natural form: huge butterflies, lizards and colorful birds live there. And here artists paint pictures, carve wooden items, create shaped soap, glass souvenirs and other things.
There is also a grand Thai show – a mixture of circus and dance, magic tricks and pyrotechnics, just an extravaganza of entertainment. At the performance you will see acrobats, illusionists, musicians, and all this – under the simulated tropical downpour. At the end, several dozen elephants appear on stage.
A little further away is Asia’s largest restaurant, the Golden Kinnari. Four thousand visitors can be seated inside. Asian and European cuisine, including vegan dishes, is served, and drinks are served with dinner.
Tickets are sold right on the grounds of Fantasia. The price ranges from 1,800 to 2,000 baht, you can find out more on the official website. Tickets that include dinner at the restaurant are more expensive.
Monkey Mountain
Macaques inhabit the entire hill, the road to which stretches for three kilometers. Along the way you will come across viewpoints, resting places and public toilets. There are TV towers and antennas at the peak of the hill.
At the bottom, at the beginning of the path, they sell food for the monkeys. These are bananas and nuts, which can be given to the animals directly into their paws.
In monkeys, bared teeth mean a grin and a threat. Therefore, do not smile at them – they may misunderstand you. In general, the animals are friendly, not afraid of people, sometimes even behave impudently: jumping on their heads, climbing into the car, snatching personal belongings out of their hands or trying to pull off jewelry. Therefore, keep a close eye on your belongings, do not leave anything unattended and do not wear bright and expensive clothes.
More often than not, the parking lots are jammed with cars and the roads are very narrow, so it’s easier to take a cab. From 17:00 to 20:00, traffic is blocked for cars because locals are out jogging and exercising.
Follow the road towards Phuket Town and turn left at the fork of the road at the sign. Then you will see another sign and go straight to Manki Hill. If you take public transportation, the pink bus will take you to the hill for 10 baht.
Patong
The most famous and crowded beach on the island, which is called “little Pattaya”. Along the shore there are nightclubs, restaurants, dozens of massage parlors, hotels and inns.
The beach is often called “Asian party capital”. It is well equipped: there are sun beds, umbrellas, gazebos, toilets and changing rooms. But if you want privacy and silence, you should look for another place – this is not Patong.
To the beach, buses leave from the city center every 45 minutes. And in Patong itself, transportation departs from the southern part, heading to Phuket. There are also plenty of scooters for rent and cab drivers, so you won’t have any problems.
Bangla Road
350 meters of parties: if you don’t know where to go, go to Bangla Road. Located in Patong, this is considered to be the most happening place in Phuket. It is quite small – 350 meters.
During the day you won’t notice much: stores, souvenir stores, kiosks, a couple of currency exchange offices. That’s it. But in the evening there are callers inviting tourists to tattoo parlors and nightclubs. Behind them are dancers, musicians, magicians and other artists.
From classic American burgers to Indian specialties, there are plenty of options for eating out. You can also find a seafood market here on the street, which is open only at night and will cook your meal right on the spot.
James Bond Island (Ko Tapu)
About 20 kilometers from Phuket is the place that is photographed the most. The name “Ko Tapu” translates as “nail island”. It has a really unusual shape: in the lower part of the diameter of about four meters, and at the top – about eight. The height is about 20.
You can’t land here, nor can you swim close to it – these requirements are not only for safety reasons, but also to preserve the site. You can see eagles circling overhead, with their nests at the top. Sometimes the base of the island is reinforced to prevent it from accidentally collapsing.
But on nearby Khao Ping Kan Island, seen in the movie “The Man with the Golden Gun”, you can walk around and check out the local caves. It’s basically two islands with a sand spit. They sell James Bond-themed souvenirs here. But you can’t stay here for more than 30 minutes. Try to fit swimming, caves and shopping into half an hour.
The standard tour includes a stop at three more islets, a swim in the sea and lunch.
The best time to visit is at low tide. In one of the caves there is a sculpture of Buddha and you can make a wish by touching it.
Butterfly Garden
Fluttering flowers are the name of the colorful butterflies in Phuket Garden. There are more than 40 species of winged ones, and all of them are circling, flying, landing on the hands and heads of tourists, drinking nectar and delighting guests. The only thing that limits them is a small net, but otherwise it feels like the park is completely open air.
The amazing place is over thirty years old. Originally it was a research center that preserved the population of rare species of butterflies. There are also museums where you can admire the collection of insects, including through a microscope.
At the entrance you will be offered mashed bananas – butterflies are happy to flock to it, so don’t refuse, you can attract more fluttering flowers.
A silk museum is open in the Butterfly Garden. It will tell you how silkworm caterpillars live and how the finest thread is created.
It will also be interesting in the insectarium, where you will see dragonflies, cicadas, grasshoppers and other insects.
The souvenir store sells silk products, unusual butterfly jewelry and sweets. There is a cafÊ nearby.
Admission is charged: 300 baht for an adult ticket and 150 baht for children. Children under the age of four are free of charge.
Phuket Aquarium
There are over three hundred species of marine life: stingrays, including giant mantas, powerful sharks, fish in patterns, coral reefs, urchins and starfish, octopus, jellyfish and crabs.
Each zone has conditions suitable for the inhabitants of different parts of the world. There are tropical warm waters and harsh northern pools.
There are separate programs for children: educational sessions, lectures with multimedia elements, where you can learn a lot about the biology of the sea and watch animals feeding. A special mention should be made of the Museum of Optical Illusions, where both adults and children will find it interesting.
It is equipped with rest areas, cafes and souvenir shops Details on ticket prices and current exhibitions are best found on the official website.
Pra Tong Temple
A very unusual temple where Buddha is depicted as a bust and no one knows what the whole statue looks like. Every person who tried to dig it up completely would die – that’s the mystique.
At Pra Tong, you can get a Sai Sin thread tied around your wrist. To do this, go to the monk and give him a donation of 20 baht. He will recite a mantra and thus purify the aura. Bracelets that were bought as souvenirs for loved ones are brought to him, so that the jewelry will be purified and filled with positive energy.
Entry is free, but offerings are welcome. Besides the temple, there are several other rooms where you should walk barefoot and not step on thresholds. Don’t forget about special clothing: cover your shoulders and cover your knees.
It is convenient to get to the temple by bus from the first terminal of Phuket Town Station towards the airport. The stop is called Thalang Public Health Center.
Phuket Night Market
Where can you go without souvenirs from Thailand! Given the variety of exotic products, clothing, jewelry and other interesting little things that the kingdom offers tourists.
The market is called Naka Nait Market and is open only on weekends: on weekdays there are very few vendors. It sells clothes, leather goods, cosmetics, unusual goodies and other interesting things. The prices are quite democratic.
Here you can try fried grasshoppers or grubs. Dare to crunch? According to the reviews, it’s even tasty and goes best with beer.
You’ll need a few hours to get around everything, especially if you want to check out a cafe or restaurant. The fair is divided into two main parts – food and everything else. Tourists leave here with huge bags of souvenirs and delicacies, as the price is attractive.
In general, the place is full of Thai dishes. Everything is cheap – you can have a hearty dinner for 100 baht. If you couldn’t eat everything you ordered, they will wrap up the leftovers for you.
The bazaar is located in the western part of Phuket, there are buses, cabs and rented vehicles. It is better to arrive around 5pm to find a parking space – after a couple of hours it will be difficult. Bring cold water, as the market is very hot: national food is cooked everywhere, everything is fried, boiling and steaming.
“Naka Knight Market is open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends.
Orchid Garden
From a family business, German Claudia and Thai Kun have managed to make a famous attraction and attract hundreds of thousands of visitors. Flowers have been grown and sold here since 1975.
The ticket price is 300 baht for an adult and 100 baht for a child. The owners greet visitors personally and give bouquets.
You’ll need at least a couple of hours to get around. The garden blooms all year round, but from May to September it is especially beautiful.
The plants live under a light net canopy that protects them from the direct sun, which can burn the thin leaves. There is a display board with information in three languages: Thai, English and German. The flower baskets are at eye level so you don’t have to bend down too much.
Guests are welcome to purchase seedlings. The farm will give you a receipt and the necessary paperwork to smuggle the flowers home. If you order plants with delivery, they will be sent to your hotel in a packed bag, ready for international flights.
In the on-site bird house you will see parrots, peacocks and even ornamental chickens. There are Indonesian roosters, whose cry resembles human laughter, and a white peacock with blue eyes. The way it spreads its tail is a special sight.
The garden features a jewelry store with orchid ornaments and a cafe.
The garden is located in Chalong district. Buses don’t want to go there, so you’ll have to take a cab or a rented moped. At Chalong Circle, turn towards Rawai Beach and follow the signs.
Elephant Sanctuary
This is a unique sanctuary for injured or old animals, where they are cared for by specialists. Elephants here live in their usual environment: jungle, ponds, relatives. They are calm, friendly, can be photographed and fed.
The Sanctuary is located in the northeast of the island. There are very few animals, less than ten, and they plan to bring in new ones.
Visitors can visit the unusual elephant village twice a day: in the morning or in the evening. First, tourists are collected at the office in Paklok, and from there they are brought by car to the park. For some reason, there is no hotel shuttle service, so you have to take a cab or a car.
At the Elephant Sanctuary, you will be told how hard life is for elephants in Thailand and shown a movie about these majestic animals. You will also hear the history of the sanctuary and finally go to see the elephants. There you can feed them and then eat yourself – vegetarian lunches are available for guests.
Before the tour you will be offered rubber boots and raincoats, but it is better to arrive in pants, a long-sleeved jacket, a hat and insect spray in your pocket. There are restrooms and souvenir shops on site.
It is better to book the tour in advance to be sure to get there. The meeting starts here: 100, Moo 2, Paklok, road 4027 in the northeast of Phuket. The ticket costs 3,000 baht for an adult and 1,500 for children. Details are listed on the official website.
Travel Tips
1. You can get around the island by bike. Rental costs about 200-300 baht per day.
2. There is a cab app called GrabTaxi in Phuket. But you will need a Thai SIM card to use it.
3. You always need a passport to exchange currency.
4. Thais have great love and respect for their king. Insulting his majesty is a criminal offense that can result in imprisonment for 30 years. His image can be seen on local money, so treat banknotes with care.
