One of the charms of Thailand's Phuket is its Old Town and you cannot return home without having spent at least one day thoroughly enjoying its hospitality in full. The historic parts of the town are complete with the presence of Sino-Portuguese architecture and style are unmissable.
Both sides of the street have multi-colored shop fronts, restaurants and coffee houses with authentic Thai food. To your delight you will be amazed at the mural paintings and street artwork on many of the walls.
Read on to discover why Phuket is the best summer holiday Island, for this beautiful part of Thailand has in store for you.
There must be at least a dozen beaches on the Island, and we will cover some of the better ones in our guide. It's a safe bet Thailand has some of the best beaches in the world and Phuket wasn't left out in the cold. Our favorite is Nai Harn beach because it isn't as busy as the others but there are still enough activities to keep you amused.
There are so many beaches we can't cover them all in this guide, but we've handpicked the best in our opinion. Our favorite is Nai Harn because you are overlooked by the lush green hills and there's the small Islands. Traditional Thailand restaurants are within easy reach as are the street food vendors with their authentic dishes.
A little further north you have Kata beach which is super family friendly with its wide white sandy beach and clear blue crystal-clear waters ― especially throughout the months of November to April. Far less crowded than Patong, you will really enjoy the greatest choice for shopping and dining out on the Island.
Patong beach has all the action for those of you looking for a party atmosphere in Phuket. It's a relatively large town with many hotels and restaurants, shops and bars for a fulfilling nightlife for those seeking excitement. On the other hand, you have Kamala beach with the world-famous Cafe Del Mar beach club. A beautiful beach with welcoming waters and you can shop at the nearby hotels. Lastly, we have Laem Singh beach. Come to rest under the overhanging palm trees amidst peace and quiet as the beach is closed off to the public.
Rather sneakily though a few do find a way to access the beach. See if you can too for the pure pleasure of having a deserted beach to yourself. Dotted all along the Island close to the beaches, and bays are exclusive, luxury resorts. The resorts are perched up on the hills promising you amazing views out over the sea ― perfect for your evening after a meal, relaxing on your balcony with a glass of wine. Isn't this what your summer holiday is all about?
If you are so lucky, there is a room available for booking with a plunge pool too: a touch more expensive of course but really worth paying the extra for this little pleasure.
From the far north down through the full stretch of the Island you enjoy nature in Phuket Island, with mountainous terrain. Gratefully much of the Island is protected natural habitat with most of the built-up developments on the coastline.
There is numerous wildlife to be found in the jungles but on the flatlands, you'll find mostly farmed arable land. Thailand is famous for the efforts made to rescue and rehabilitate the elephant. There is top elephant sanctuaries all over Thailand worth visiting, and Phuket Island is no different.
But not only for the elephant, because on Phuket Island there are many parks and sanctuaries for all manner of animals, such as Gibbons and Macaque Monkeys. In fact, on many parts of the Island including throughout the rainforest jungles, the Macaque are found everywhere. The Island also hosts many bird species.
If bird watching is a favorite pastime back home for you, then you'll really enjoy the huge varieties of species found on the Island.
When we were holidaying in Da Nang, visiting one of the temples a cheeky monkey attempted a theft of a mobile phone from one of us.
Be wary of the monkeys ― they're far from shy, and they're super quick to snatch and flee. If a monkey does manage to get a piece of your belongings you won't get it back (they've scampered), so keep jewelry and valuables hidden. Another piece of advice to give you is to visit one ― or even two ― elephant sanctuaries. Not only will you have a wonderful holiday experience of being close to these beautiful creatures, but you're also paying the entrance fee to keep the sanctuary open, enhancing the lives of the elephants.
Each sanctuary has activities, which are great especially for kids, but adults too.
Check ahead before visiting whether or not there is a cafe or restaurant because not all have facilities, in which case bring along your own food for a pleasant morning or afternoon trip. If you book a guided tour to a sanctuary then the tour operator will provide food and bottled water ― one of the advantages of booking a tour, it's all inclusive.
One of the best things to see and do on Phuket Island is to go on one of the guided jungle trails, and trek to the interior jungle. Not only are the jungles cooling during the hot season, once you reach the top of a hill you have panoramic views of the Island below.
Great for sunset sightseeing, especially from Promthep Cape. Sitting there with an evening breeze blowing is an amazing experience for any holiday, watching the sailing boats pass by and, at times, those brave enough for the paragliding.
Difficult where to begin with this Island's cuisine. There is a dolly mixture of Chinese and Malaysian thrown in with European influence going back to the 16th century. What we will say is that pork is most definitely on the menu and the favored meat, despite there being seafood ― its soy sauce found in most dishes.
The dishes are less spicy too comparable to mainland Thai dishes. With so much variety on the menu we can only suggest you try something of everything and see what tantalizes your taste buds the most. Much of the fun with Phuket Street food is in pinpointing the origin of the dish you've just ate.
Whether you opt for the street food scene or frequent one of the markets or food courts, that's your choice but either, or all will give you the true authentic Thailand experience you seek.
What is commonly found on Phuket's streets is Gai Tod and Khanom Bueang, both tasty and vendors all seem to have enough already prepared and warmed for you. That's what is huge about eating on the streets of Thailand, and elsewhere in Asia, is you've not long to wait. Further to this, also keep an eye out for Thai craft beer vendors, the best of local beer can be gotten from them.
You have little trouble getting to the Island. There is an international airport and easy ferry access from the mainland. Transport around the Island is reliable, and the road network is adequate to good in condition. Much of the signage is in Thai and English which is very helpful.
You can either depend on hiring a taxi, hopping on a tuk-tuk (easier, more sensible option for short journeys in town) or renting a motorbike for the day. If you can't find an airline to fly you direct to the Island, don't panic because the airline will likely take you to Bangkok.
You only then need to catch a connecting daily flight to the Island, with in flight time typically being 4 hours. Ticket prices are dependent on time of year and passenger numbers but expect to pay upwards of US$100 per seat during peak season.
There are many attractions on the Island, and we'll look at a few but our thoughts are the best experiences can be found on some of the smaller Islands surrounding Phuket. For sure you will have the urge to get off Phuket altogether and go exploring:
There are many other Islands of course but these are our recommendations. The one you may be more familiar with will be Ko Phi Phi. White scenic beaches and shimmering blue waters surrounded by picturesque towering limestone rocks. This is paradise and one you must visit at least once in your lifetime, because this is Thailand's crown jewels. On the Island of Phuket, you can enjoy boating trips to underwater caves, riding all-terrain vehicles, trekking, paragliding and much more.
Spectacular panoramic views all around greet you once you arrive at the summit. One of the Islands greater landmarks and definitely worth visiting just to stand in awe of the 45-meter-tall Buddha. Hire a taxi or tuk-tuk from Kata to take you to the summit and from there you must climb the steep steps yourself to the actual monument. As you climb, you'll hear many a small bell tinkle in the light breeze which adds to the experience.
Visiting the Big Buddha landmark can be considered one of the best things to do on Phuket Island, because no matter how many giant statues you've visited, each time makes you feel awe inspired on walking away from of it.
There are a total of 29 templates on Phuket Island and this one is the most beautiful of them. The temple has been dedicated to two monks, Luang Pho Chaem and Luang Pho Chuang and you can see two real life-sized models in the exhibition area.
Spend some time enjoying the complex but respect the monks by not wearing shoes and women must cover their shoulders and arms. There are many golden buddhas in different poses and there are murals on the walls depicting the Buddha's life.
Elephants are revered in Thailand, which explains why there are so many sanctuaries giving working elephants rest in their retirement years. Phuket Island is no different from its own sanctuary. This attraction should be part of your holiday itinerary because you get to feed the elephants and join them as they are led to the mud pools. Do not deny yourself some fun ― bring along a fresh change of clothes for your visit.
If you're looking for the nightlife in Phuket, then look no further than Patong and Karon beaches. Both have the beachfront and town life you can expect, with the usual holiday shenanigans:
Find the best nightclubs on Soi Bangla Road along with dazzling neon lights contributing to an atmosphere of loud music and cheap beer. Romantic couples can head for the sunset Wassa Homemade bar to enjoy cocktails as the sun goes down overlooking Patong Bay. Thai nightlife has always been about partying and music and the booze ― what makes it attractive to those under 30 ― but on the sidelines there are the sports too.
The buzz from the competition and spectators cheering, and jeering, on in support. The best and only sport that gets a mention is Thai boxing and Phuket has numerous venues for you to get excited include (but not limited to):
The Island is your best, perfect bet for an amazing winter break. The peak season begins from early October lasting through until the end of February. It's between those months the Island receives the largest crowds, hotel and flight prices are at their highest and so forth. If on the other hand you're after a summer holiday preferably, then book your flights and hotel accommodation months in advance of heading out from early March until mid-May.
The rainy season picks up from May, until the end of October nearly. Temperatures on the Island are consistent year-round from lows of 73°F to heights of 96°F but because of the Island being tropical in nature, accept there might be light rain.
Our guess is you'll be coming to Phuket either for the constant beat of its nightlife or to sit it out on the beaches and soak up the sun. Either way you are not going to be bored nor short of a few things to see and do. The Island has excellent transport, and you can get around with ease and Island hop for that "getting away from it all" feeling.
There are a lot of high-end luxury resorts and hotels near the beaches and they're all very affordable with quality facilities and modern amenities. You'll enjoy yourself that's certain and the Island is family friendly, the children will love it too.
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