Things to Do in Phuket: The Ultimate List of Things to See and Do

Go Beach Hopping

While most people end up visiting Phuket’s main beaches, due to Phuket’s large size, there are heaps of other places that are worth visiting and exploring. Skip out on visiting the busy tourist beaches of Karon, Patong, and Kata instead, hire a motorbike (or a car) and drive around in search of some off-the-beaten-path beach.

From the stunning Banana Beach,Kata Noi, Nai Thon, and Surin, there are literally loads to choose from. Escape the drives of local vendors and sun loungers, instead, grab a beach sarong and a hat and plop yourself near a tree as you enjoy quiet beaches with the most vibrant waters imaginable.

If you want to hit two birds with one stone and do some snorkeling while exploring beautiful beaches, take a look at some of these island hopping tours around Phuket.

Recommended Island Hopping Tours: Island hopping is THE thing to do while in Phuket. With that in mind, listed below are our favorite tours that we recommend you do.

• Long Tail Boat to James Bond Island
• Boat Trip to Phi Phi, Maya Bay, Bamboo Island and more
• Phi Phi Early Bird Tour

Go Surfing in Phuket

Surf to your heart’s content in Surf House Phuket’s wave pool where you can ride waves continuously. Practice your surfing (or wipe out) skills and enjoy non-stop surf action and trendy music. They currently have two locations so you can enjoy riding some waves in either Kata or Patong Beach.

If you want to have a go at the real thing, check out these surfing lessons which are run in Kata Beach. Alternatively, you can also try your luck with the wave pool which is heaps of fun.

View Flow Rider Wave Pool

Go Scuba Diving in Phuket

As in most of the Thai Islands, diving and exploring the underwater world is a must! Surround yourself with loads of tropical fish and coral as you visit some of Thailand’s best dive spots. Visit sites like Hin Daeng and Hin Muang dive sites where you can see the fantastic marine life on a steep wall and vibrant violet corals.

Given that there are LOADS of dive schools, choose wisely and go with ones that are well recommended.

Resources: View the Best Liveaboard Diving in Thailand

Try Kiteboarding

The feeling of complete freedom as you glide across the ocean with nothing but your kite is a feeling that I can’t compare to anything else. If you’re a boardsports enthusiast and kiteboarding has always been on your list, I highly recommend looking in taking some classes.

Not only is it loads of fun but it is an adrenaline rush like no other! Phuket has everything from “trial” lessons to beginner and advanced courses that are worth looking at.

Gaze at The Karon Viewpoint

As Phuket is a mountainous (and large) island, as you can imagine, it is also full of many viewpoints. One of the most popular ones being the Karon View Point. When you gaze in one side, you can see the Andaman Sea while the other side boasts of unending views of three different bays on the other side.

As this is a rather popular spot for tourists, be ready to battle your way through a sea of selfie sticks. However, with that being said, the view really is worth it. Other notable viewpoints that are worth seeing and exploring are:

• Ya Nui Viewpoint
• Khao Rang Hill
• Radar Hill Viewpoint
• Kata Noi Viewpoint

Editor’s Note: To save time when traveling, you can see the ferry schedules and book ahead of time.We recommend using Bookaway or 12Go website to view bus, boat, and train schedules ahead of time.

Visit Wat Chalong

For a taste of some local Thai culture, head on over to Wat Chalong, a place that is very important to the Thai people. The highlight of the place is the Grand Pagoda which is said to have a small splinter from the bone of Buddha himself. The entire place is beautifully decorated with his life story. As this is a temple and place of worship, make sure you bring something to cover your knees and shoulders.

Go on a Rum Distillery Tour

Tour around the Chalong Bay Rum distillery as you see how they process their award-winning rum from Thai sugarcane. If you enjoy visiting wineries and distilleries, this is a pretty cool activity to do while in Phuket.

This 30-minute distillery tour takes you around their production and bottling plant and topping off the whole experience with a refreshing Chalong Bay Mojito, fresh off the press. Bottoms up!

Visit Phuket’s Attractions: The Big Buddha

While it’s easy to just sit under a beach umbrella and do absolutely nothing, we urge you to take the time to do something cultural while in Phuket. Following suit, what’s more cultural than visiting Phuket’s largest Buddha statue. Situated on the peak of Mt. Nagakerd in Karon, gaze at the breathtaking horizon around you as you enjoy a 360-degree view of the Southern Part of Phuket Island.

Editor’s Note: Take a look at out complete Thailand Travel Guide featuring the best things to do, what to eat, and where to stay.

Get Active and Go Biking in Koh Yao Noi Island

If you’re in Phuket for a while, going on day trips around the islands is something we highly recommend. First up is a biking tour around fields, rubber plantations, and lush forested areas in Koh Yao Noi Island. You can bike across the entire island, making it an ideal day trip. We recently took on this adventure and had a blast navigating our way through rice fields and beaches.

Snorkeling and Island Hopping

Island hopping is probably one of the best things to do while in Phuket. While still very touristy, it is still worth doing. Join the many boat tours being offered around the island and hop from one island to the next.

A few popular tours are: Around Phuket, Phi Phi Island, James Bond Island, Maya Bay, and Pileh Lagoon. Just imagine yourself surrounded by turquoise blue warm waters while on a boat with a beer in hand. Perfect!

If it’s snorkeling you’re after, don’t miss out on a trip to the Similan Islands. Known as one of the most pristine dive and snorkel locations, this trip is a must for water enthusiasts. Check out this Similan Island Day Trip from Phuket.

If you’re looking for reliable companies who give great boat tours, you can book a variety of tours through GoVoyagin and all at a discounted price!

Explore Phuket Old Town

Two or three decades ago, Phuket’s beaches were uninhabited. Phuket Town became very important due to the rubber industry and mining boom, thus making it a rich historical center.

Take a walk down memory lane as you explore the roads and lanes of their forgotten past. We recommend going on this Phuket Old Town Food Tour for a real cultural experience.

1…2…Bungy!

If you’re into the adrenaline-fueled adventures, this one is perfect for you. Take the leap of faith and jump out into nothingness in Phuket’s famous jungle bungee jump site. With New Zealand and Australian owners, their safety standards are up to par with other jump sites worldwide. Feel your heart pound, and your gut twist and turn until you’re ready to throw yourself down 50m down a tranquil lagoon. Trust me, it’s EPIC!

P.S. Scared to do it alone? They also have tandem jumps!

Sponsor a Dog

Anyone that has been to Asia knows that animal rights are basically close to none. One of the best organizations we’ve seen is Soi Dog, a group in Phuket committed to sheltering stray dogs and cats.

The coolest part, if you’re traveling back home, you can even be a flight volunteer to help bring some of these dogs to loving homes overseas. Definitely worth checking them out while on the island.

Go Kayaking in Phang Nga Bay

Home to 40 small islands, lagoons, and caves, a day trip kayaking around Phang Nga Bay is a must while in Phuket. The bay is protected from natural elements due to its location which makes it the perfect location to kayak around and explore.

Its waters are also protected by the Ao Phang Nga National Park. If you want to do a full tour, this normally involves a visit to ‘James Bond Island’, Ko Panyee (Sea Gypsy Village), and a bit of snorkeling.

Support the Gibbon Project

In Thailand, more and more Gibbons are being killed each year due to urbanization and illegal hunters. The Gibbon rehabilitation project was established to help care for Gibbons which are being relocated back to the wild.

The entire project is dedicated to helping transition them to their natural environment so don’t expect to see loads of cages and confined spaces! They are always on the lookout for volunteers so definitely check them out if you have time.

Explore a National Park

If you’re feeling the need to get some jungle time, head on over to Khao Phra Thaeo, one of Phuket’s largest untouched areas. Spend a morning here walking through their nature trail or hiking to Tonsai waterfalls.

If you want to take it a little bit further, there is also an 8km trek from Bang Pae Waterfalls to Tonsai. As it is a National Park, they charge foreigners 400 THB as an entrance fee to help with the conservation fees of the place.

Go People Watching in “Sin City” Patong

Despite getting a bad rep, Patong is still a place to visit (at least once) while you’re in Phuket. Loosely labeled as the Sin City of Thailand, this place is full of bright lights, ping pong shows, ladyboys, and anything else you can imagine. So if you’re up for a night of debauchery and people watching, Patong is the place to go.

Watch the Sunset from Promthep Cape

Known for its stellar sunsets, Promthep Cape near Rawai Beach is a popular spot for sunset worshippers. Come here with your motorbike and marvel at the sun setting in the horizon as you watch the sky turn into various shades of pink, orange, and purple. Nearby, there is also a lighthouse and a Buddhist shrine which you can visit.

Go Crazy Over Phuket’s Markets

As Phuket is the main tourist hotspot, naturally, there are loads of markets to see and visit. Walk around, find some local souvenirs, eat some local street food, or simply just enjoy “window shopping”. Here are a few of our favorite markets in Phuket and where you can find them!

• Phuket Walking Street
• Chillva Market Phuket
• Malin Plaza Patong

Go Chasing Waterfalls in Phuket

While the waterfalls in Phuket cannot compare to let’s say the waterfalls in Chaing Mai, they are still worth seeing and venturing out to nature for.

Here is a list of several small waterfalls which are worth trekking into the jungle for: Bang Pae Waterfall, Lampi Waterfall, Sri Phang Nga National Park, Tonsai Waterfall, Kathu Waterfall, and Ton Prai Waterfall. Some of them have pools large enough for you to take a dip in.

While I can go on and on about all the other things you can see and do while in Phuket, my advice? Just head there yourself and start exploring!

Whether you’re there to bask in a beach, explore hidden caves and coves, go island hopping, or join the many adrenaline-fuelled activities, Phuket has a little bit of something for everyone.

Safety in Phuket

Although Phuket is touristy, it is generally pretty safe! The biggest thing when it comes to traveling around the Thai islands is wearing a helmet when driving a motorcycle. You will be surprised at how many people do this!

Getting insurance that will cover you for any types of accidents is a MUST and is something we don’t even recommend leaving home without.

 Where to Stay in Phuket

As you can imagine, Phuket is pretty HUGE! For tips on where to stay in Phuket, check out the full article which has recommendations from Budget, Mid Range, to downright swanky and luxurious places!

One of the best things about Thailand is there is no shortage of gorgeous places to stay. If you feel like splashing out, check out these gorgeous places in Inspiring Villas Phuket.