Last updated on April 15th, 2023

Poda Island, Krabi

Phuket, Poda Island, Krabi, © Can Stock / muha04

Phuket – Patong Beach

Patong Beach is the most popular area on Phuket Island. If you like the beach, bars, night clubs and parties, then Patong Beach is for you. Patong Beach faces west to the Andaman Sea. Bangla Road is pedestrian only at night. It starts right at Patong Beach and takes you inland. You will find street food, restaurants, bars, night clubs, parties and the sex trade all on display on Bangla Road.

The gigantic Jungceylon Shopping Center is two blocks inland from Patong Beach along Bangla Road, so there’s something for everyone in Patong Beach. The Baan Saan Market is nearby too. A good area for street food in the Patong area is Malin Plaza.

Phi Phi Islands, Andaman Sea

Phi Phi Islands, © Can Stock / muha04

More Phuket Island Beaches

If the party scene is too much for you in Patong Beach, the west coast of Phuket Island has lots more beaches to choose from. To the south are Karon Beach and Kata Beach. As you head north from Patong Beach you reach Surin Beach, Laguna Beach and Nai Thon Beach. These beaches north of Patong Beach are just as lovely, but you will find more expensive hotels and fewer party goers.

Giant Buddha, Visit Phuket

Giant Buddha, thanks Pixabay

Old Phuket Town

A visit to Old Phuket Town gives you a very different experience than the beaches on the west coast. Night markets are common in Old Phuket Town. Start with the pedestrian only Walking Street, which has handicraft stalls and street food. Walking Street is busy on Sunday nights, but it’s an interesting walk on any day. Other options in Phuket Town include the Chillva Market, the Phuket Weekend Market and the Phuket Indy Market.

Wat Chalong, Visit Phuket

Wat Chalong, © Can Stock / paul104

Phuket Island – More Sights

  • Big Buddha Temple
  • FantaSea Show and Dinner – Night Time Cultural Theme Park. See the Palace of the Elephants.
  • Siam Niramit Show
  • Wat Chalong Temple
Palace of the Elephants, Visit Phuket

Palace of the Elephants, © Can Stock / balaikin

Phuket – Day Trips by Boat

Day Trips by boat from Phuket are extremely popular. Head to Dolphin pier, where you can book a speed boat or a long-tail boat. The long-tails are wooden boats with cloth tied at the bow. The motor sits exposed high up at the back, with a long propeller shaft out the back that acts as a rudder.

You can take day trips by boat north into Phang Nga Bay, east to Krabi or southeast into the Andaman Sea around Phi Phi Islands. You can also take a ferry from Phuket to Phi Phi Islands. Many boats start at Dolphin Pier just south of Phuket Town. Try Phuket to Phi Phi Islands by Speedboat.

Tonsai Bay, Phi Phi Don Island

Phi Phi Don Island, © Can Stock / smithore

Hints for Day Trips by Boat

Every day trip by boat excursion provides time for swimming, snorkeling, beach visits and cruising past the unique limestone formations along the water. Try to start your day trip as early as possible. The beaches and islands are swamped with tourists by 10 am, so arriving at your destination at dawn is worth the early start time. Consider booking a boat to yourself and ask your guide to take you somewhere they recommend that’s away from the crowds. Save money by booking with friends or fellow tourists.

Wat Chalong Temple, Visit Phuket

Wat Chalong Temple, © Can Stock / ersler

Visit Phuket – Hotels

  • Hotel Clover Patong Phuket
  • Mövenpick Resort Bangtao Beach Phuket
  • The Village Coconut Island Beach Resort

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James Bond Island

Take a long day trip from Phuket Town to James Bond Island. . The island is far north into Phang Nga Bay. The name James Bond Island came about because it was the site of an early James Bond movie. Try to arrive at the island at sunrise before the tourist rush begins. Try a Phang Nga Bay Day Trip from Phuket by Speedboat.

Long-tail Boat, Visit Phuket

Long-tail Boat, © Can Stock / balaikin

Railay Beach

Railay Beach is often rated as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, which is Railay Beach West. You can get to Railey Beach on a day trip by boat from Phuket. The beach is on the shores of the area called Krabi. You can cross the small village to Railay Beach East, where rock climbers enjoy the limestone cliffs. Around the next cove from Railey Beach, you can also visit Phra Nang Cave Beach, but some people will find the small statues in the cave offensive. On the way to Railey Beach, try to book a boat tour that also stops at Poda Island. The pillar of limestone just off the beach is a classic photo that’s become symbolic of Phuket.

Long-tail Boat, Maya Bay, Phi Phi Le Island, Krabi

Long-tail Boat, Maya Bay, © Can Stock / happyalex

Phi Phi Don Island

The Phi Phi Islands are usually considered part of the Krabi area, but this string of islands extends well south into the Andaman Sea. Phi Phi Don Island is a very popular destination reached on a day trip by boat or on a ferry from Phuket Town. Tours often stop here for an hour, which is not enough time to hike up to Phi Phi Don Viewpoint. It takes about 20 minutes to hike to the Phi Phi Don Viewpoint for its fabulous view over the island.

You might be very disappointed by the number of boats and tourists that dominate the beach. Tours to Phi Phi Don also usually visit Monkey Beach. They might also stop at Loh Lana Bay or a neighboring small island like Bamboo Island.

Maya Bay Closed after Overcrowding

Maya Bay Overcrowding before 2022, © Lillian Suwanrumpha

Phi Phi Le Island

Phi Phi Le Island is an extremely popular destination just south of Phi Phi Don Island. The big draw here is Maya Bay, which is the place where the movie “The Beach” was filmed. Maya Bay became so popular that it was overrun with tourists. The Thai government closed the Maya Bay Beach indefinitely in 2018, because of the environmental damage from garbage and refuse left behind by tourists.

In 2022 Maya Bay was reopened under strict new rules. No boats can enter they bay, so tourists must walk to the beach after being dropped off on the other side of the island at Loh Samah Bay. You also cannot swim in Maya Bay anymore. Maya Bay is extremely popular again, but at least once you get there, everyone gets a beautiful view of the bay.

On Phi Phi Le Island you can also cruise past Viking Cave and swim in Pileh Lagoon.

Maya Bay, Phi Phi Le Island

Maya Bay, © Can Stock / balaikin

Get to Phuket

Phuket International Airport (HKT) is the way tourists get to Phuket. The airport is at the north end of Phuket Island, so it takes about 40 minutes to drive south to the Phuket Town area. Taxi or songthaew shared vans are the main method of reaching hotels from the airport or traveling about the island. Once you’ve settled in at your hotel, you will need to use taxis, shared vans or rent a scooter to get around Phuket.

Limestone Formations, Visit Phuket

Limestone Formations, © Can Stock / jovannig

Phuket Weather

Expect the Phuket weather temperatures to be basically the same regardless of the time of year. The main factor to consider in Phuket weather is the monsoon season. During the monsoon season from May to October, average highs remain the same at 90 F (33 C) and average lows are unchanged too at 76 F (25 C). Rainfall is highest in the month of September, when precipitation can exceed 14 inches (360 mm) for the month.

The dry season extends from December to March. Expect average highs of 90 F (32 C) and average lows are 76 F (25 C). December is a very popular time for tourists to arrive. February has the lowest rainfall, making it an excellent time to visit Phuket.

Visit Phuket – Background

Phuket refers to both a town in southwestern Thailand and the island the city is located on. Phuket Island extends off the peninsula between Thailand and Malaysia and is joined to mainland Thailand by a bridge. Beaches and resorts blanket the west coast of the island. Just over half a million people live in Phuket Town on the east side of Phuket Island, which is where most of the local people live. In the past the area was a major trading center, but today the beautiful blue seas, sandy beaches and unique limestone formations have made tourism the main industry. The tsunami from the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake reached Phuket and thousands of people on the beaches lost their lives.

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