Things to Do in Phuket

As you may imagine, being a tourist destination, there is plenty to do and see in Phuket. Some of the attractions are very touristy such as Phuket Fantasea or Simon 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. This is what we have been doing over the last few years, really getting to know Phuket, 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 Jamie's Phuket!

Tour Booking

If you want to book a tour, hire a boat, play golf, go fishing...anything... some friends of mine recently opened a company called Easy Day Thailand who can help you. The emphasis is on personal service - you can contact them here:

• Contact Easy Day Thailand (say Jamie sent you!)

Things to do - Places to see - Attractions in Phuket

There are many more so called attractions than can be mentioned here. I prefer the natural beauty of Phuket - small 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 11 years here, we're still doing new things!

• Splash Jungle Water Park
• Phuket Fantasea
• Phang Nga Bay (Doing it Our Way!)
• Powerboat charter/watersports/island hopping
• Koh Panyee (in Phang Nga Bay)
• James Bond Island
• Phuket Aquarium
• Day Trip to Koh Yao Noi with Mopeds!
• Phuket Butterfly Garden - Butterfly Garden Update 2010
• Gibbon Rehabilitation Project
• Kayaking in the Mangroves

 

• Elephant Trekking
• Phang Nga Bay Boat Trip (2007)
• Khao Sok National Park
• Thalang National Museum
• Phuket Thai Hua Museum
• Phuket Tin Mining Museum
• Phuket Philatelic Museum
• Phuket Zoo - Phuket Zoo Update
• Phuket Crocodile Farm

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• Dino Park Mini Golf
• Phuket Weekend Market
• Phuket Cable Ski
• Explore Old Phuket Town
• Phuket Gateway
• Day Trip to Phi Phi

 

• Boat Lagoon
• Golf in Phuket

Scuba Diving in Phuket

Well, diving is why I came here in 1999, and I am manager of a dive shop called Sunrise Divers, we're 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 me at Sunrise Divers.

• Sunrise Divers - see you there!
• Scuba Diving in Phuket
• Liveaboard Diving in Phuket
• The Similan Islands

Waterfalls in Phuket

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.

• Kathu Waterfall (and Cable Ski)
• Ton Sai Waterfall
• Bang Pae Waterfall
• A walk at Tonsai Waterfall
• Kathu Waterfall - new photos January 2011

 

Go to watch the Football!

Phuket FC got promoted last season 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 the Footie - Phuket FC

There is so much to see and 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 Big Buddha
• Kata Viewpoint
• Rang Hill
• Cape Phromthep

 

• 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

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

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

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Take a walk...

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
• Walk at Promthep Cape

Some easier places to stretch your legs...

• Chalong Jetty
• Bang Wad Dam and Reservoir
• Suan Luang 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 early October. Unmissable.

• Phuket Festivals - Introduction
• Phuket Vegetarian Festival
• Songkran - 2009 Photos in Patong
• Loy Krathong

 

Much more to come as time goes by... I need way more blogging time! I try to add to this blog at least weekly. Bookmark Jamie's Phuket now if you're planning a trip to Phuket sometime in the future!

Local radio - when in Phuket tune your wireless to 91.5 FM Phuket Radio!

A few more things.... Here's a few weblinks to attractions that are not on the Phuket blog. Some are rather touristy and I am not sure if I will ever visit, some I just have not got round to yet, some will certainly be blogged sometime!

Simon Cabaret Show
Phuket Bungy Jump - used to live near here and we know the owners well. I am too scared to jump!
John Gray Sea Canoe - look out, I plan to go on one of these trips sometime!

Ask Easy Day Thailand about booking any of the above or other trips (say Jamie sent you!)

Phuket Hotels

Before planning things to do in Phuket, you'll need a place to stay. There is plenty of hotel information on this blog, including many hotel reviews - see Recommended Phuket Hotels. I also made a Top 10 Phuket Hotels list based on web reviews. For hotel booking or just to check rates and availability, check Agoda for the best rates and easy to use online booking...

• Phuket Hotels at Agoda.com