Top 12 activitati in Phuket, pentru o vacanta de vis – Ce e de facut in Phuket, Thailanda

When you say Thailand, the first destination that any traveler would think of would be Phuket, the most famous and visited island in this wonderful country.

In this article, I will present you the most popular activities in Phuket, which you should not miss! From famous islands, gorgeous beaches, impressive temples and lively resorts, Phuket is the ideal destination for any tourist looking for a perfect summer holiday.

And if you want to find out how we spent two weeks in Thailand, visiting the most popular beaches, islands and tourist spots, I invite you to read this article: 14 Days in Thai Paradise - The Perfect Itinerary for Your First Visit to Thailand.

Content

About Phuket
How to get to Phuket
- How to get from the airport to the resort in Phuket
How to get around in Phuket

What to do in Phuket

About Phuket

Phuket is the largest island in Thailand, located in the southwest of the country, in the Andaman Sea.

With tropical landscapes, long beaches, animated resorts, unique activities and locals whose main economic activity is tourism, Phuket is today the main tourist center of Thailand!

And we can confirm this too. Everything seems very well set up and organized, to please the tourist and offer him the best experiences during his vacation.

You only need to know that the island is quite large and there are many wonderful places and activities that you can do here. The most popular resorts in Phuket are Patong, Karon-Kata and Kamala, and from each of them you can go on different day trips to the most beautiful islands in the Phuket area.

But, about what you can do in Phuket, I invite you to read further on.

How to get to Phuket

Phuket has its own airport, so whether you've chosen Phuket as your first stop in Thailand following an international flight, or you're flying domestically from another location in the country, the airport will most likely be your gateway in Phuket.

If you fly internationally, I recommend you check the flights from the scheduled airlines that fly to this corner of the world, such as Qatar or Turkish Airlines. Ticket prices differ, of course, depending on the period or how far in advance you start your search.

If you arrive in Phuket from another location in Thailand, look for domestic flights with Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways or Vietjet Air. The prices are affordable and start from 50 euros, with checked luggage included.

In addition to the plane, you also have other options to reach Phuket by domestic transport: ferry, taxi, train or bus. I recommend the 12go.asia website where you can check all the transfer options.

How to get from the airport to the resort in Phuket

The airport in Phuket is not located very close to the resorts on the island, so it can be a bit challenging to find transport to your accommodation.

But you shouldn't worry, there are plenty of options!

The cheapest way to get from the airport to the resort is by local bus, Phuket Smart Bus. It is not necessarily the most confortable and fastest option, but if you are not in a hurry, we recommend it, especially since it is very cheap, only 100 baht / person (approximately 2.6 euros). The bus runs daily, between 6am and 9pm, and passes through all the resorts on the island: Surin, Kamala, Patong, Karon, Kata or Rawai beach.
A more confortable option is by minivan or taxi, which you can book ahead of time, on the 12go.asia 12go.asia, or directly at the airport. As a reference, a taxi ordered at the airport costs 1000 THB (26 euros).
Or you can use the Bolt or Grab ride sharing applications. Here the price can be similar to a taxi.

How to get around in Phuket

In Phuket there is no you could get lost, as long as you have money and internet, because there are plenty of transport options, luckily!

Scooter, taxi, Bolt/Grab or Songthaew passenger vehicles - they are all present on the island and you can use them to reach the desired location.

And if you book day trips, you can rest easy regarding the transport. All trips include the transfer from the accommodation and back to the accommodation.

I recommend you also read this article, for more details on how to get around in Phuket and Thailand: How to Get Around in Thailand - More than 10 Transport Options.

What to do in Phuket

And now comes the most interesting part. What can you do in Phuket so that you have the most wonderful vacation?

You can discover a new beach or island every day, you can go to a market, you can admire the elephants or you can have fun at an aquapark - these are some of the things you can try on this island.

1. Discover the resorts in Phuket

Crowded resorts, long beaches and various recreational activities have made Phuket the most touristic and popular area of Thailand.

Phuket is a fairly large island, so the resorts are many and diverse, suitable for any type of traveler - you can find here both very animated places with an active nightlife, as well as quieter resorts, for those who want to avoid the hustle and bustle.

Here are some of the popular resorts in Phuket:

Patong Beach

Patong is by far the busiest resort in Phuket, the favorite destination for those looking for fun. Here you find the most active nightlife, Bangla Road being the center of night parties in Phuket.

The beach in Patong is long, with fine sand, but very crowded, especially in peak season. It is not a resort that I would recommend to the pretentious, or to those who want a quiet and relaxing vacation, but more to the young and full of energy party people, who don't mind the loud music and the crowds.

Karon Beach

Karon Beach is another big resort in Phuket, but much quieter and cleaner than Patong, generally preferred by those over 30 years old.

Although lively, it is less crowded than Patong, and the clubs and bars are not representative here. It is a perfect resort for families, or for those who want a more relaxing vacation.

What I liked here the most was the beach, long, wide, with fine sand, and most importantly, with a curtain of palm trees that surrounded the beach.

Kata Beach

In the immediate vicinity of Karon Beach is Kata Beach. Practically, the two are glued to each other, so you will barely feel that you are passing from one resort to another.

The beach is smaller than at Karon, but just as beautiful.

Together with Karon Beach, to which it is directly connected, they are two of the recommended options for those who want to stay in a lively area of Phuket, with many terraces, restaurants, shops and markets, but on the other side with a quieter atmosphere.

Other resorts in Phuket

Surin Beach, Kamala Beach, Bang Tao Beach and Rawai - these are other resorts in Phuket appreciated by tourists. Some smaller, others more exclusive, these can be perfect options for those who want to avoid the crowded resorts of Phuket.

2. Explore the beaches of Phuket

If you arein Phuket, I recommend you to go and discover other beaches on the island! Some are more extended and crowded, such as those in the resorts, while others are smaller and isolated, such as Freedom Beach. Below I give you a list of beaches you can put on your list, when you come to Phuket.

Freedom Beach

Freedom Beach is definitely one of the most beautiful beaches in Phuket. With white sand and turquoise blue sea, Freedom Beach is one of the isolated beaches on the island, which gives you the feeling of that paradise and tropical place.

The location is not the most accessible, it is south of Patong, but you can reach it either by boat on the sea or by going down a steep slope. And on the way down (and back, on the way up), you have two possibilities: either at the entrance where the taxi drivers usually drop you off, where you have to pay a 100 baht ticket to be able to go down the stairs to the beach (I don't know how legal or how cheap this ticket is), or at the main entrance, where you have to go down a rather steep slope. When going up this slope, there are cars that, for a fee of 100 baht, can bring you back to the top.

Karon Beach

Kata Beach

Kata Noi Beach

Patong Beach

Other beaches in Phuket

Kamala Beach
Bang Tao Beach
Surin Beach
Nai Harn Beach
Mai Khao Beach
Paradise Beach

3. Go on day trips to the famous islands around Phuket

My favorite activity in Phuket, and in Thailand in general, is to go on day trips.

There are so many beautiful places to visit and wonderful islands to discover, that you cannot miss these experiences. I would advise you to try at least 3 such trips in Phuket, because the places you are going to visit are absolutely amazing.

The day trips in Phuket are very well organized, the price of the trip includes the transfer from the accommodation, lunch, snacks and drinks throughout the trip.

Below I leave you 3 day trips that we did during our stay in Phuket, which I further recommend.

James Bond and Phang Nga Bay

One of the most diverse day trips is the one to the famous James Bond island.

I don't have much to say about the island, except that it was made famous by the James Bond movie, filmed on this island in 1974. Representative on this island is the interesting rock that seems to rise directly from the sea, a symbol that has become easily recognizable for Phuket, and Thailand in general.

Besides James Bond, we had a kayak ride in Phang Nga Bay, and the experience was absolutely wonderful, and I recommend it to anyone. We had lunch in a very interesting village on the water.

The price of such a day trip is 40 euros/person, if you book it online. If you negotiate in the resort with the sellers of such tours, it is possible to save a few more euros. But online you have the opportunity to read the reviews, and thus know in advance all the details of the trip.

This is the trip we booked to get to James Bond: James Bond and Phang Nga Bay Tour from Phuket.

Similan Islands

The favorite excursion of our entire stay in Thailand was by far the Similan islands. It was the longest and most expensive trip (60 euros/person), but it was so well organized and the islands were so beautiful, that I encourage everyone not to look at money when it comes to going on this day trip.

The day trip booked by us was this: Similan Islands Speedboat Snorkeling Tour from Phuket. And the conditions were excellent: modern catamaran, snorkeling kit, tasty and refreshing lunch throughout the day. The only less positive thing about this trip was the long time spent on the road from the resort to the departure point of the speed boat, of almost 3 hours/way. But the landscapes and the experience were totally worth it!

And the Similan islands are from a completely different story! Such a paradisiacal landscape, turquoise sea and fine sand that we hadn't seen for a long time.

Phi Phi Islands

We all know that the most Instagrammable place in Thailand is in the Phi Phi islands, with Maya Bay, the famous beach where Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the movie "The Beach". Maya Bay is located on the Phi Phi islands and is the place that every tourist puts on their Thailand bucket list.

Whether you leave from Phuket, from Krabi or perhaps directly from the island of Phi Phi Don,popular. the trip to the Phi Phi Islands is one of the most popular trips in Thailand.

From Phuket you have countless trips to the Phi Phi islands that you can choose from, either directly from the sellers in the resort, or online, such as this tour: Phi Phi, Maya Area, Khai & Bamboo Island Day Trip from Phuket.

When you choose a day trip to Phi Phi, pay attention to which stops it includes and how much time you spend at each stop. I recommend you to go here by speed boat, because you spend less time on the road and have more time on the islands. Also, the tour should definitely include the island of Bamboo, because it is absolutely wonderful. Just know that on Maya Bay it is forbidden to enter the water, so here, no tour will stop for more than an hour, enough time for taking some pictures.

4. Visit the city of Phuket

If you want to change the scenery and take a break from sunbathing on the beach, at the sea, then maybe a short visit to Phuket, the small town with Portuguese influences, would be a good idea.

You can get here by Bolt/Grab, Taxi or Songthaew, or more conveniently, you can book a tour to visit downtown Phuket, Chalong Temple and the Big Buddha statue: Phuket: Old Town, Chalong Temple, and Great Buddha Van Tour.

5. Visit the Big Buddha statue

An impressive place in Phuket is the Big Buddha statuehill., located high up on a hill.

The monument is 45 meters high and was built quite recently, in 2004. The statue is remarkable, and the view from the top is delightful.

You can reach the base of the statue simply with a Bolt or Grab, or you can choose the more difficult option, namely through a hike starting from Kata Beach. If you choose the second option, take plenty of water with you, because the effort and heat can be unbearable. And pay attention to the insects on the trail, we were a bit scared by the tarantulas we encountered here.

Entrance to the Big Buddha Statue is free.

6. Do a shopping session at one of the markets

Street food and markets are famous in Thailand. In Phuket you will also find places where you can indulge yourself and buy the most interesting and cute things. There are many stalls and shops with colorful clothes, perfect to be worn in such a tropical destination as Thailand.

Some of the markets you can find in Phuket are:

Phuket Weekend Market - is open on Saturdays and Sundays, between 4-11 p.m
Chillva Market – is closed on Sundays
Kata Night Market
Chalong Night Market

7. Enjoy Phuket's active nightlife

If you are a party person, if you like clubs and having fun, or maybe you just want to feel the atmosphere of an active nightlife place, drink a beer or a cocktail and feel good in the company of other people, in Phuket you will find spmething for you. More precisely, the place where you need to arrive is in Patong, on Bangla Road.

Bangla Road is the main street of Patong, an extremely active and lively street, with many bars and clubs, with tattoo parlors, cannabis shops and scantily clad ladies who invite you to accompany them.

And the atmosphere is special, something you don't meet every day. So, if you are in "party" mode, Phuket does not disappoint!

8. Have fun at an aquapark

O activitate inedita in Phuket o ofera aquapark-urile, preferate atat de copii, cat si de adultii aventurieri.

Aquapark-urile din Phuket sunt:

9. Admire elephants at an elephant sanctuary

A beautiful experience and a nice activity is to visit the elephants in an elephant sanctuary.

In Thailand, and in Phuket, for that matter, there are several elephant sanctuaries that shelter and care for old or sick elephants, unable to survive on their own in the wild.

Visitors have the opportunity to pet the beautiful animals, feed them, take pictures of them, and in some sanctuaries they are allowed to bathe with them.

However, avoid the elephant parks where the animals are still ridden!

You need to book beforehand your visit to the elephants, from the resort, from the accommodation, or online:

10. Rent a scooter

The most authentic way to discover the island of Phuket is by renting a scooter. Thus you have the freedom and flexibility necessary to explore all the places on the island at your own pace.

At the same time, driving a scooter is not recommended for everyone. There are certain risks that scooter drivers take, the traffic is chaotic, there are many other tourists who also rent scooters and are inexperienced, and the traffic is carried out in the British style, on the left side.

In practice, you do not need an international permit, if the police catch you without a permit you will have to pay a fine of 1000 THB. On the other hand, in case of an accident, you will not be insured in any way if you do not have an international permit, neither medical nor material.

11. Try water sports

Snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing or kayaking are some of the activities you can practice in Phuket. Whether you are passionate about these water sports, or maybe just curious to try such an activity for the first time, Phuket is the right place where you can experience all these water sports.

12. Enjoy the sunsets on the beach

And now I have reached my favorite part, namely the sunsets in Phuket! These are absolutely spectacular, whichever beach you are on (that is, of course, if the respective beach faces west).

Below I will leave you some pictures of the sunsets we caught in Phuket, to convince you of their beauty.

Where to stay in Phuket

In Phuket you can find a lot of places to stay, cheaper or more luxurious, depending on the budget and necessities. But more important than the hotel itself, is the location or resort where you will decide to stay.

There are several resorts in Phuket, so the atmosphere outside the hotel will differ from resort to resort.

Accommodation in Patong

If you want to stay in a more lively resort and you are the type of traveler who likes to have fun and party all night long, then you could stay in Patong. Otherwise, I would not recommend this resort as a place to spend your holiday, as it is not one of the cleanest and most organized places in Thailand.

Some well-rated places to stay in Patong (rated above 9 on Booking.com):

Le Tanjong House – 20 euro/night
Nicky’s Handlebar – 60 euro/night
Baan Petcharat – 110 euro/night

If you still want a resort with restaurants and shops, but quieter than Patong, suitable for those with families or who want a more relaxing vacation, then I recommend one of the following resorts: Kata, Karon, Kata Noi or Kamala Beach.

Accommodation in Kata Beach

Well-rated accommodation places (notes over 9 on Booking.com) in Kata Beach or Kata Noi Beach:

Wynn House – 20 euro/night
Nonnee – 40 euro/night
OK Phuket – 45 euro/night
Kata Hillside Hotel – 75 euro/night
Sawasdee Village – 120 euro/night

Accommodation in Karon Beach

Well-rated accommodation places (notes over 9 on Booking.com) in Karon Beach:

San Antonio Beach Guesthouse & Restaurant – 30 euro/night
Phuket Racha Kata Homestay – 50 euro/night
Sugar Ohana Poshtel – 70 euro/night

Accommodation in Kamala Beach

Well-rated accommodation places (notes over 9 on Booking.com) in Kamala Beach:

The Mareeya Place – 80 euro/night
Villa Tantawan Resort – Private Pool Villas - villa with 1 bedroom and private pool - 280 euros/night

We chose to stay in Kata Beach at OK Phuket, where we paid 45 euros/night.

In addition to Booking.com, consider the reservation site Agoda when looking for accommodation. You can find here certain accommodations that may not appear on Booking, or you can find them at better prices.

What to eat in Phuket

Phuket has many places to eat, where you can find both local and international food, such as European, American or Indian food.

However, if you have arrived here, enjoy the Thai cuisine, by trying different chicken, fish or seafood dishes, with vegetables, rice or noodles.

The Thais have a very healthy cuisine, with lots of vegetables and fruits, so I would advise you to give up the classic burger and try the local dishes, at least during your stay here.

It would be difficult to give you a list of restaurants where you can eat well, because we ate well everywhere we went. And the prices are more than decent. I only recommend that you open Google Maps first and choose restaurants with a score above 4-4.5, and I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.

However, I would like to mention a small restaurant, not very attractive in terms of appearance and design, but with extraordinary food and impeccable service. It's called Kalika Restaurant , it's on the border between Karon and Kata Beach in Phuket, and the lunch in the picture, with two main courses, a large beer, a coconut smoothie, an aperitif from the house and a plate of fruit and sticky rice all from the house, it cost us 12 euros.

We hope that this article will be useful to you and that you will have a wonderful holiday in Phuket! We are waiting for your impressions and opinions below, in the comments!