Jamie's Phuket Blog

Things to Do in Phuket

As you may imagine, since Phuket is a tourist destination, there are plenty of things to do, places to visit and many activities in Phuket. Some Phuket attractions are very touristy such as Phuket Fantasea or a Ladyboy Cabaret while other places (the kinds we prefer) are a little off the beaten track. Sure, we go to some touristy places too, but I just want to say that Phuket is a big island and it's great to get out and explore. Many day trips will take you off Phuket island to other nearby places. This is what we have been doing over the last few years, really getting to know Phuket and the surrounding area, not just the obvious tourist hangouts - more of the "real" Phuket. I guess this whole blog is about "things to do", so please take some time to explore all of Jamie's Phuket Blog!

There are many more so called 'attractions' than can be mentioned here. I prefer the natural beauty of the Phuket area - beaches, views, quiet back streets, laid back seafood restaurants and so on rather than organised tourist fun, but the more I think about it, the more I realise how much Phuket has to offer... After many years here, we're still doing new things! There's a lot of stuff to do in and around Phuket!

Phuket Tour Booking

If you want to book a tour, hire a boat, play golf, go fishing, snorkeling, book airport transfers, visit Phi Phi or Phang Nga Bay or pretty much anything... a few years ago some friends of mine opened a company called Easy Day Thailand who can help you. The emphasis is on personal service. Please do contact them!

Contact Easy Day Thailand
Top 10 Tours from Phuket
About Easy Day Thailand

Scuba Diving in Phuket

Well, diving is why I came here in 1999, and I spent many years as manager of a dive shop called Sunrise Divers based in Karon Beach. There are a few diving related posts on this blog about the dive sites and diving options available. If you want to learn how to dive, take a liveaboard dive trip, a day trip or anything diving related, you can contact Sunrise Divers Phuket.

Diving with my Family at Racha Yai Island
About Sunrise Divers
Liveaboard Diving in Phuket
The Similan Islands

What to do in Phuket (and nearby areas!)

Weekend at Koh Yao Yai Island
Racha Yai (Raya) Island Tour
Phang Nga Bay (Doing it Our Way!)
Phang Nga Bay New 2015 Trip
Phang Nga Bay in the Rain
Khao Sok National Park
Siam Niramit Show
Phuket Fantasea Show
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Exploring the Krabi area
Koh Tachai Island
A Tour of South Phuket
Phuket White Water Rafting
Things to do with your Kids
Rainy Day Activities
Phuket Museums
Phuket Waterfalls
Phuket Bird Park
Phuket Botanic Garden
Speedboat charter / island hopping
Splash Jungle - Phuket Water Park
Trickeye Museum 3D Gallery
Koh Panyee (village on stilts)
James Bond Island
Mini Golf at Bang Tao Beach
Yoga Classes in Phuket
Where to see monkeys in Phuket!
Phuket Aquarium
Things to do in Phuket Town
Day Trip to Koh Yao Noi with Mopeds
Gibbon Rehabilitation Project
Kayaking in the Mangroves
Explore Phang Nga Province

Koh Tapu

(above) James Bond Island in Phang Nga Bay

Lunch stop at Khao Sok

(above) At Khao Sok National Park

More Activities and Places to Visit in Phuket ....

Elephant Trekking (should you?)
Phuket Thai Hua Museum
Phuket Seashell Museum
Phuket Tin Mining Museum
Phuket Zoo? (Don't)

White water rafting in Phang Nga

(above) White Water Rafting

Kids exploring the east coast of Koh Yao Noi island

(above) Exploring Koh Yao Noi Island

Dino Park Mini Golf
Phuket Weekend Market
Phuket Indy Market
Karon Temple Market
Phuket Wake Park
Explore Old Phuket Town
Day Trip to Phi Phi

Chalong Temple

(above) Chalong Temple

Sunset time on Thalang Road

(above) Old Phuket Town

Waterfalls in the Phuket area

Don't be expecting too much from the waterfalls in Phuket. I've read some guide books and online guides suggesting fantastic jungle cascades.. well, not as such. Nevertheless, there are several small waterfalls and they do serve to get you some fresh air, a bit of jungle time and some exercise.

Bang Pae Waterfall
Tonsai Waterfall
Kathu Waterfall
Ton Prai Waterfall
Lampi Waterfall
Sri Phang Nga National Park

Ton Prai Waterfall

(above) Ton Prai Waterfall

Getting fins on

(above) Getting Ready to Dive at Racha Yai Island

Go to watch the Football!

Phuket FC got promoted a couple of years ago to Division 1 of the Thai national league, home games are normally on the weekend during the season, great fun if you are a football fan, better than watching the boring English Premier League on TV! More information :

Watching Phuket FC (2012)
Watching the Footie - Phuket FC (2010)

There are so many sights to see and things to do in Phuket. It's not just beaches and organised tours. This is a big island. Get out and explore! I suggest at least one of the following:

• Get up some Hills and Viewpoints such as:

The Many Big Buddhas of Phuket
THE Big Buddha
Karon Viewpoint
Rang Hill
Cape Phromthep

Phuket Big Buddha

(above) The Big Buddha

Karon Viewpoint

(above) Karon Viewpoint, view of Kata Noi, Kata and Karon beaches

• Visit one of the many Temples in Phuket - among the most popular are:

Chalong Temple
Wat Phra Tong
Karon Temple

• Get a boat trip to a nearby Island - try these:

Koh Kaew Yai
Koh Yao Noi
Koh Rang Yai

• Go and Explore Phuket Town - I always find something of interest there...

Thalang Road in Old Phuket Town
Phuket Heritage Trails - Phuket Town tours.
Walking in Old Town (2011)
Phuket Photo Walk 2010
Phuket Town Photo Walk 2009

Kayaking in Phuket

(above) Kayaking in Phuket

Koh Rang Yai Island

(above) Koh Rang Yai Island

Take a hike ...

Phuket is not a hikers paradise. There's very little in the way of trails. I have done a couple of longer hikes recently using back roads and rubber plantation trails. You can also hike at the waterfalls a bit, or you can go to several places where many locals gather to exercise in the late afternoon. Or a nice walk in old Phuket Town - see links above.

Hike up to the Big Buddha
Hiking to the highest point in Phuket
Bang Wad Reservoir

Some easier places to stretch your legs...

Chalong Jetty
Suan Luang Park in Phuket Town
Sapan Hin Park in Phuket Town

Cape Phromthep

(above) Phromthep Cape

Sapan Hin, Saturday evening

(above) Sapan Hin Park in Phuket Town

Festivals in Phuket

If you happen to be here at the right time of year... Songkran is April 13th, Loy Kratong sometime in November (it's a lunar festival, so dates change), and the amazing Phuket vegetarian festival is sometime around September / October. Unmissable.

Phuket Festivals - Introduction
Phuket Vegetarian Festival Information
Songkran - the "water" festival
Loy Krathong

Happiness is a Vegetarian Festival Procession

(above) Phuket Vegetarian Festival (sometime between end of September and end of October, depending on the moon phase)

Songkran Kids

(above) Songkran Festival (April 13th every year)

Bookmark Jamie's Phuket Blog now if you're planning a trip to Phuket sometime in the future!

A few more things to consider doing in Phuket .... Here's a few suggestions for attractions in Phuket that are not on the Phuket blog. Some are rather touristy and I am not sure if I will ever do, some I just have not got round to yet!

Simon Cabaret Show - We never went to see the ladyboy show, but lots of people do and it's been running for 20+ years
Phuket Bungy Jump - We used to live near here and we know the owners well. I am too scared to jump!
John Gray Sea Canoe - a highly recommended tour operator
Flying Hanuman (Jungle Zipline) - Again, I would do it, but in this case I am too heavy - suggested max weight is about 100kg

Oh, and there's more opening all the time, I have not been to the upside down house or tried surfing or stand up paddle boarding or ....

Contact Easy Day Thailand for all these trips. See you in Phuket!!






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