What to visit in Phuket: a note for tourists. What to visit first in Phuket? Phuket must visit places
We placed a lot of emphasis on excursions. If for one reason or another they are not suitable for you, then let's find other entertainment on the island.
It doesn’t matter who you are, a young and active couple in search of adventure, or a family with a small child. There is something for everyone in Phuket.
So, you're in Phuket, what to do? Our offers. Let's start, perhaps, with the simplest ones and move on to active recreation.
- Visit the island's observation decks. In fact, there are a lot of beautiful places on the island. The most common of them: Karon view point (observation point between Kata and Naiharn beaches), Promthep cape (windmill observation point), Khaorang view point (observation point in Phuket town), Panwa view poit (observation point at Cape Panwa), overview on the road between the beaches of Kamala and Kalim.. etc.
- Visit the orchid garden.
- Visit the botanical garden
- Visit the shell museum
- Visit the island's many Buddhist and Chinese temples
I really like to visit local temples for aesthetic pleasure.
- Visit the sea gypsy village (in the south of the island) and have dinner in the village. According to the principle: first you buy seafood at a local market and across the street in a cafe they prepare it for you. I highly recommend trying large barbecued shrimp, lobster with cheese and squid rings fried in batter with garlic.
- Take part in a photo shoot. Why not? Wedding, romantic, hot, children's... local photographers will fulfill your every whim.
Agree, everyone dreams of bringing beautiful photographs back from vacation as souvenirs. To keep you warm on winter evenings
- Visit a detox or spa center. I know a detox center in the south of the island, and there are plenty of spa centers all over the island.
- Visit hot springs off the island (The Hot Spring Beach Hotel and several springs in Krabi province).
- Dine on a yacht or catamaran (this can only be arranged individually)
- Watch the sunset on the beach. Launch the flashlight. Romance))
Photos from the annual lantern festival in Thailand
- Delicious food. Why isn't it fun for you? After all, you came to relax and enjoy all the local delights. In Phuket you can find restaurants and cafes serving cuisine from different nations of the world: Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Indian, Turkish, Russian, German, French and even Georgian. Restaurants, cafes, buffets and fast food cafes - for every taste.
Baba nest restaurant in Phuket
- Go to the cinema (in English or Thai). Bring warm clothes: Thai cinemas get very cold.
- Play billiards (unfortunately, you can only play pool on the island)
- Play bowling
- Go shopping. There are several large shopping centers in Phuket that may be of interest to you: Jung Ceylon, King Power (duty free), Central Festival and the large Tesco Lotus. As well as many night markets, bazaars and small shops.
King Power is a new duty free shopping center in Phuket. You can purchase goods there only if you have a ticket to another country in hand.
- Do some tourist shopping. We decided to highlight this in a separate article. Do you want to buy souvenirs? Exotic skin? Latex or ? Then you can go to specialized tourist shops, enjoy a local performance (for example, a snake show at a snake farm, a crocodile show at a crocodile farm, etc.) and buy everything you need.
- Attend a master class. Many talented people come to the island, and they hold educational master classes and meetings every month. Make a bracelet from natural stones with your own hands, learn how to make natural soap, and so on. Peculiar. Not for everyone
- Attend a cooking class and learn how to cook some Thai dish
- Take a walk along Bangla street (analogous to Walking street in Pattaya). There are numerous bars, nightclubs, live music bars and even
Bangla Street is crowded between November and March, the high season.
- Visit a disco on the ship or spend time in one of the many beach clubs on the island
- Learn to play beach volleyball. Some beaches on the island are equipped with sports grounds
- Ride horses (I know one place in the south of the island and one in the north). I don’t know if it will be possible to surprise you with horse riding..))
- Ride elephants (you can buy a ticket at an agency, or you can come and buy it right on the spot. There is one of these companies on the mountain where the Big Buddha is located).
- Go on a motorcycle tour around Phuket and beyond to the provinces of Phang Nga and Krabi. There are even several agencies in Phuket offering such services. Your vehicle can be simple scooters or serious motorcycles.
We already wrote about extreme sports programs in a previous article, but I would like to add a little more to the list.
- Go rafting - take a boat down the river
- Learn yachting (there are schools for children and adults in Phuket).
- Ride an ATV through the jungle (you can buy a ticket at an agency, or you can come and buy it right on the spot. There is one of these companies on the mountain where the Big Buddha is located).
- Take a ride inside a zorb. Zorbing is an extreme attraction, a sport that involves lowering a person in a transparent ball from a mountain.
- Take up Muay Thai or at least try one. If you don’t want to participate, you can just watch the show at one of the stadiums in Phuket
- Visit the center of extreme active recreation Flying Hanuman and the new place World of Hanuman or its equivalent Jungle extreme adventures
- Try bungee
- Ride jet skis
- Go water skiing
- Ride a wake. Wakeboarding is an extreme sport that combines elements of water skiing slalom, acrobatics and jumping. There are several wake parks in Phuket
- To try surfing on real waves or for beginners, the surf house on Kata Beach is suitable. Attraction bar with artificial waves
- Try parasailing - an active form of recreation in which a person is attached to a boat using a long cable
- Try flyboarding - a new type of extreme sport, which involves flying on a special board driven by the jet force of the water flow, pumped by a jet ski connected to it
- Try shooting with real weapons. Possibly at the shooting range or as it is called here Shooting range
- Take a helicopter tour
Breathtaking?
Perhaps this list can be continued for a long time. We hope that we have given you ideas and inspired you to new adventures.
Old town - Phuket old town
Visit Phuket town - the old town and be inspired by architectural buildings
Karon is one of the cleanest beaches in Phuket, and it also has an excellent reputation: it’s not for nothing that in 2008 it was ranked among the top ten in the world. As they say, it’s not a beach, but a song, and literally: the white sand creaking sonorously underfoot gave this place the unofficial epithet “singing.” It is not as crowded here as on the neighboring (five kilometers away) Patong beach, and it is quite intimate - this effect is created thanks to the sand embankment, which hides the road passing by from view. But don’t think that Karon is a wild, untrodden place for misanthropes. There is entertainment for every taste, full of shops and other tourist bustle. Therefore, everyone can choose what is closer to them: the noise of nightclubs or unity with nature. In the first case, you should go to the northern part of the beach, Petit Karon, located in the bay at the Le Meridien hotel, with discos and restaurants. Otherwise, head south to Big Karon. Fishing, diving (the water here is incredibly clean), numerous spas or just meditation by the water - what is not quiet happiness? But surfers on Karon, both southern and northern, have nothing to do: ebbs and flows here all the time.
One of the advantages of Surin beach is the lack of fuss and regularity. The Buddhist temple located next door also reminds us of the futility of all things. Surin is not noisy, it is not a very public place, and there are plenty of clubs and restaurants. Surfing, snorkeling (in the high season - from October to April), perfectly clear water and unexpected pine trees, reminiscent of your homeland, in the shade of which you can hide from the sun - Surin gives a variety of impressions. It is also called the beach of millionaires: world celebrities regularly stay in some local hotels, appreciating Surin Beach for its very non-publicity. By the way, the Thais themselves come here to relax, which also says a lot.
On Mount Nakaked, at an altitude of more than 400 meters, lies the temple complex of the Big Buddha. It consists of two levels. On the first floor there is a shopping area (souvenir shops) and a small museum. The temple is still under construction, and construction is being carried out with public money. If you want to help, buy souvenirs: proceeds from their sales go directly into the general fund. In addition to trading and visiting the museum, which tells about the stages of great work (the temple has been under construction for more than 10 years), on the first level you can receive a monastic blessing. The monks, sitting in the depths of the building on a raised platform, will perform a ritual by hanging a modest but good-luck weave on your hand. It is important to know that women are not allowed to touch monks - and, accordingly, vice versa. Thanks to the dexterity of the monks' hands, the weave will end up on your hand without touching.
The Big Buddha statue itself is located on the second level. The 45-meter tall Buddha, made of white marble, is captured at the moment of enlightenment. From there you can also enjoy an incredible view of the surrounding area.
We did not recommend visiting one of the hotels in Phuket, since it would be too banal. But Cassia is the most fashionable and original hotel project of the year! All professionals of the tourism market and lovers of the main Thai resort, without exception, were waiting for its start. A fresh, unique format, which is ideal for our tourists in the current difficult economic conditions, is a unique mix of quality and affordability. The first designer studio hotel Cassia is an atypical story for Thailand, a country of contrasts, where the luxury and scope of luxury giants coexist with very budget options. Here - quality, comfort, orientation towards the liveliest, fashionable and advanced audience for quite reasonable money.
How is this possible? Firstly, the studio hotel, which opened recently, in October 2015, is a project of Banyan Tree, the most reputable Asian brand in the world of hotel business. This is already a kind of quality mark. Secondly, this is a truly unique format, which has no analogues not only in Phuket, but throughout Thailand. Fashionable, spacious apartments are completely designed for the generation of mobile Internet, Facebook and Instagram. Stylish designer lofts with their own kitchen, a Grab & Go cafe, and a bar with DJ parties will cost the most comfortable amount - and, perhaps, this is the best option in terms of price and quality ratio.
Cassia Phuket has over two hundred apartments and lofts. Each one has one or two bedrooms and a kitchen, which means that both a large family and a noisy group of friends will be comfortable here. All apartments have ocean, lagoon or park views. There is free internet everywhere, you can order room service directly to your room, and breakfast is served free of charge in a special lunch box.
In addition, guests can use the infrastructure of the nearby hotels Banyan Tree Phuket and Angsana Laguna Phuket, because the main advantage of Cassia Phuket is that it is located on the territory of one of the most prestigious resort complexes on the island - Laguna Phuket. And from here it’s a stone’s throw to Bang Tao beach, which makes this unique project the best choice for location.
Also known as Laguna Beach, this beach stretches for eight kilometers along the northwestern coast of Phuket. Here is the huge Laguna hotel complex, which includes seven luxurious five-star hotels located right on the shore. It’s easy to guess that the prices on the beach are quite serious, and the atmosphere is imbued with well-being and elitism. There is even an 18-hole golf course. Imagine the picture: a wonderful beach, clear water - and relaxed people with golf clubs against this background. However, tourists do not live in luxury alone: in Bang Tao you can also find quite budget locations - cafes where the prices will pleasantly surprise you.
White sand, sandy bottom, allowing swimming even at high tide... Kamala, located inside a palm bay, is another of Phuket's secluded places. The beach opened quite recently, but is already popular among those who are not looking for active entertainment in Phuket, but just want to enjoy peace and quiet. Entertainment in Kamala is really difficult, but vacationers don’t complain - they didn’t come here for diving. However, snorkeling enthusiasts will really like the wonderful coral reef. Yes, and remember that you need to go to the northern part of the beach: in the southern part there are many boats and almost no tourists.
The most popular show in Phuket takes place in Kamala. You can’t call it anything other than grandiose. Over the course of an hour and a half, several hundred actors and almost half a dozen elephants will tell viewers the love story of Prince Kamala and his battle for love. The show taking place at the Palace of the Elephants is a fairy tale come to life: running elephants, special effects, bright costumes, acrobats. “Fantasy” has been on display for 17 years and constantly attracts full houses, despite the serious prices (1,500 baht - the cost of a ticket for the show alone). Phuket Fantasea is only part of a huge entertainment complex, an amusement park, which is rightly called the Thai Disneyland.
The most famous Buddhist temple of all thirty that are located in Phuket, Wat Chalong was built in the mid-19th century and is still in operation. As usual here, it is not one building, but a whole complex. You will not be able to get into the main temple: it is closed to outsiders. But even in the small temple there is something to see - for example, statues of Buddha in different poses, each of which corresponds to the day of the week. There is also a pavilion on the territory of the complex, which contains statues of the three most revered local monks. In front of the complex there is a life-size statue of an elephant. It is believed that if you rub an elephant's belly, you will become happy and lucky. Wat Chalong also hosts annual fairs: at this time, the temple turns into a busy market, chock full of tourists.
Cape Promthep, also known as Promtem, was once called Laem Jao, "Cape of God." Promthep means about the same thing - “God Brahma”. The place is truly divine. Imagine an altar filled with colorful elephant figurines. Imagine a functioning lighthouse and the best viewpoint on the island. Full 360 degree perspective, all of Phuket at your fingertips.
Here you can watch the most beautiful sunset on the island. If you want to be away from the tourist flow, don’t be lazy - go from the observation deck to the peninsula. There is almost no one there as the climb is quite steep. But you will have the opportunity to sit on a rock with your legs hanging down.
Phuket is a holiday destination where most tourists go on ready-made tour packages, but on the island itself it is possible to move around it independently and few people know about it, continuing to buy ready-made excursion packages from guides as usual. Of course, you can’t get to places like the James Bond Islands on your own, but there are many other opportunities to see in Phuket on your own that the typical tourist doesn’t know about, and today I’m going to share them with you. This will be a mini guide to Phuket, the TOP 20 places on the island that you can quite easily and simply visit during your vacation without guides and travel agencies.
It doesn’t necessarily strive to cover as many interesting places as possible, especially since everyone’s needs are different, so I divided the information into blocks, so it will be much more convenient for you to make a choice and go on an adventure!
3 ways to navigate the island independently
We came to Phuket not as ordinary tourists, but on our own, or as we say, as savages, and decided that we would also explore the island without the help of guides. All we needed for this was to remove our fears and prejudices about motorbikes, that we could be put in prison for driving without a license, and so on. Because a tourist has three ways to navigate around the island in Thailand on his own quickly and without stress:
1. Rent a bike for a few days. I described all the subtleties of this method
3. The most expensive is to rent a tuk-tuk, taxi, motorcycle taxi. Everything is clear here, in order to find a taxi driver you just need to go out onto the street in Thailand, there are a great many of them, and the choice is really great, for every taste and budget. This option is suitable for you if you want a personal driver to accompany you on your trip and are not going to save money.
TOP 20 interesting places to see in Phuket on your own
1. Beaches
The beaches of Phuket are its heritage, for which thousands of tourists from all over the world come here every day, and it would be an unfortunate omission to spend your entire vacation staying on just one of them. Some tourists are afraid of going on a trip to a neighboring beach, and many are sure that all the beaches on the island are the same.
I hasten to dispel your doubts and fears, in Phuket, each beach is unique in its own way, they all have their own characteristics, such as the color of the water, the transparency of the sea, the landscape, the zest - for example, on Karon, the sand under your feet creaks like snow in the cold, and on May beach Khao (Mai Khao) planes fly directly above the heads of vacationers. All you need to explore the neighboring beaches is to master at least one of the methods of transportation that I listed above. Phuket, despite the fact that it is an island, is still rather large in size, so you definitely won’t be able to explore it on foot.
Conventionally, all beaches on the island of Phuket can be divided into two groups:
1. Free. This includes all the beaches of Phuket, which are popular among tour operators. This is loved by Russians, its neighbors, Kata, Kata Noi, Kamala, Surin, Bang Tao, Yanuy, Tri Trang, Mai Kao, Naithon, Banana Beach.
2. Paid. Laem Sing (entrance 100 baht), (entrance 200 baht), Paradise (entrance 200 baht). What makes these beaches pay is their well-groomed territory, snow-white sand, and beautiful natural landscape. If we compare the same paid Freedom with free Patong, then the latter loses in the beauty and color of the sea.
There are also beaches that are indicated on the tourist map of Phuket, but are not bathing. Due to low tides, dirty sea, poor bottom and lack of normal entry into the water. This includes the beach - Rawai, Laem Ka, Panwa, Nayang, Chalong.
2. Snorkeling
Contrary to the prevailing prejudices that there is nothing to see underwater in Thailand, you can go snorkeling on the beaches of Phuket, and for this you don’t have to go to the paradise islands, you just need to know the beaches with a rich underwater world, then you definitely won’t be disappointed.
The most suitable beach for snorkeling is free and cozy. It is not for nothing that a school of divers has opened on its territory and people who are interested in diving settle here. For snorkeling enthusiasts, there is the opportunity to rent a kayak or boat. Also in Phuket there are beaches that are not inferior in the beauty of the underwater world - these are Banana Beach, Yanui, Nai Harn.
3. Lookouts
You will lose a lot and your acquaintance with the island of Phuket will not be complete if, while here, you do not visit at least two observation platforms. In Thailand they are called view - point from English. A “viewpoint” is a vantage point, and these spots offer stunning panoramic bird’s-eye views of the area.
Big Buddha
This is not just an observation deck, a huge snow-white 45-meter marble statue of Buddha on a mountain near Karon Beach. She is clearly visible from almost all the southern beaches of the island; she seems to be watching her surroundings from above, protecting her from evil spirits, as the locals say. Getting to the foot of the statue is not difficult; there is a walking trail and an asphalt road for independent travelers. But we do not recommend conquering the hill on your own, as you will simply run out of steam in such heat and will have no time for sightseeing. Therefore, it is best to take a rented bike, or a songthaew with the inscription “Big Budda”.
Cape Promthep
Perhaps the most beautiful place on the island is its southernmost point, which is called. And I definitely recommend visiting it! Firstly, this is where you can watch the sunset in all its splendor. Secondly, this is the landscape of the area, the cape is a long narrow strip of the mainland, extending several meters into the sea.
Admission is free, parking is free
GPS coordinates - 7.759683, 98.304183
Karon Viewpoint
Another free observation deck in Phuket, which offers stunning views of three large beaches - Karon, Kata and Kata Noi, as well as the surrounding area. It is quite impressive, consisting of several levels that are connected by steps. The site is fully equipped for visitors, there is a large stone gazebo, parking, shade from trees. You can get to Karon Viewpoint by bike, on foot from the nearest Kata Noi beach, and take a songthaew to Kata beach. If you like trekking, then the road on its own will captivate you more, as it passes through the jungle, along the way you will meet banana trees and, if you are lucky, you will see)
GPS coordinates - 7.797398, 98.302231
Wind Mill Viewpoint
Another name for this viewpoint is Windmills; they can be immediately seen if you look at the left side of Nai Harn Beach. This place is also popular among lovers of paragliding; these are oblong parachutes that use rising air currents, or in simple words, tailwinds, to fly. On a paraglider in Phuket, you can fly for hours under the clouds, while a picture of the endless Andaman Sea and tropical beaches will open before your eyes. Prices for renting a paraglider in Phuket start from 1,000 baht.
The observation deck at the Windmills is an excellent place not only for unforgettable flights, but also for ordinary people on vacation. Compared to Cape Promthep, which is always crowded with tourists, there are practically no people here, and the panoramic view is just as stunning. In addition, from here you can see the two nearest beaches from a bird's eye view - Yanui and Nai Harn.
Admission is free, parking is free
GPS coordinates - 7.770263, 98.306368
Black Rock Lookout
Translated, this place means Black Rock; this name is not accidental, since at the very top of the observation deck there are huge black boulders. How they ended up here is unknown, but the fact that the view from here is unforgettable is a fact, and given the lack of publicity of this place, there is no price for it. Even during rush hours, when all the view points in Phuket are crowded with people, here you can watch the sun set into the water in splendid isolation.
The Black Rock observation deck is located next to Karon View Point near Nui Beach, and you can climb to the 300-meter point through the jungle; there is no normal road to it, only a path broken from the wheels of ATVs. But fatigue disappears as if by hand when you see the view that appears before your eyes - the endless expanses of the Andaman Sea and the miniature islands of Nai Harn beach.
GPS coordinates - 7.783098, 98.297505
4. Temples
As in any locality in Thailand, Phuket is full of religious institutions, and these are not only Temples, but also Mosques, since the population of a country that preaches Buddhism is 5% Muslim. For us, to be honest, this was an amazing discovery, since we came from an Islamic republic and are adherents of Islam. Islam is also the dominant religion in many provinces of Thailand, if you come to Krabi, you will also be surprised what all the women there wear.
Reclining Buddha
Temple of the Reclining Buddha, Wat Lipon or Wat Srisoonthorn are all names of the same place, and if you have not been to or seen the reclining Buddha statue, you can look at a similar one in Phuket. What's so special about this statue? Firstly, here the Buddha is depicted not in the usual meditating lotus position, but lying down on his right side.
The tradition of making Buddha in exactly this guise in Thailand was not born without reason. The fact is that an ancient legend says that when a fierce Demon decided to descend from heaven to meet the great Buddha, he deliberately lay down on the grass. And the unfortunate Demon had to bend down to look into the eyes of the sage. The Thais not only decorate the sculpture with gold and stones, but also paint his feet. They are the main decoration of the statue of the Reclining Buddha. The temple is not located in the resort area and can be reached by public transport Songthaew, following the Phuket - Sarasin route or by bike.
GPS coordinates - 7.989605, 98.355365
Wat Chalong Temple
This is the largest Temple in Phuket, consisting of 29 Buddhist temples. It is notable for the fact that on its territory there is a Three-story Chedi 60 meters high, inside of which rests a fragment of the humerus of the Buddha! The ashes are contained within a glass ball and are available for viewing by visitors. To do this you need to go up to the top floor of the building. If you have never been to a Temple in Thailand before, be sure to take a look inside Chedi Phra Mahathat. The interior decoration of the chedi is amazing; inside the walls are painted with scenes from the life of Buddha, the staircase railings are carved in the form of huge snakes, also painted by hand.
By the way, there is a functioning crematorium in the Temple, and the frequent guests here are funeral processions that come here to conduct the appropriate ceremonies and customs. If you think that the crematorium is some kind of terrifying building with a huge chimney, then not at all. It is made in traditional Buddhist style and looks very festive. Its walls are painted snow-white, and the roof is decorated with bright tiles with dragon figures. This building looks more like a small palace, and inside the crematorium there is a farewell hall.
Admission is free, closed clothing is required.
GPS coordinates - 7.847397, 98.336671
Temple in Patong
This Wat Suwan Khiri Wong Temple is convenient to visit for those staying in Patong, because you can walk here on your own from anywhere on the beach. Inside the temple you can find gilded statues of Buddha, many different figures in the form of dragons and lions. Monks live in the Temple on Patong; their leisurely procession can be observed in the morning hours, when they walk along the resort streets to collect offerings in a shoulder bag in the form of a metal cast iron. These donations do not necessarily have to be in monetary form; they put food into the pot for treating the monks, drinks and other food permitted for consumption in the Temple. Also in the Temple in Patong, such an interesting ritual is carried out as the expulsion of evil spirits, when firecrackers are lit and the space is filled with smoke and explosions)
Admission is free, closed clothing is required.
GPS coordinates - 7.902556, 98.310525
Temple of Karon
Another small regional Temple is especially convenient for visiting tourists located in the northern part of Karon Beach. A pleasant bonus to visiting a religious place is the weekend market operating on its territory, so you can go to the Temple of Karon to combine business with pleasure. And the Temple is truly pleasing to the eye; not long ago, renovation work was carried out on it, and now it amazes visitors with the brightness of its colors. In general, I have the strong impression that the Thais build their Temples to dazzle and surprise!
The entrance to the Temple on Karon is crowned with a huge golden gate, so it is impossible to miss it while walking by, especially since around the Temple you will immediately notice the market bustle. Shopping arcades are open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 17 to 23 hours.
Admission is free, closed clothing is required.
GPS coordinates - 7.847984, 98.297392
Mosque in Patong (Add Mansion Patong)
It will be interesting for adherents of the Muslim religion to visit and see how this religious trend is developed in Thailand. To find the Mosque you need to go to the right side of the beach. Compared to the colorful Buddhist Temples, it looks a little faded and gray, made in a traditional oriental style.
GPS coordinates - 7.904119, 98.303298
Mosque in Bangtao (Mukarom Mosque)
Another establishment for Muslims, only on Bang Tao beach. It was built due to the large population of Islamic devotees in the area, namely the Malays, who visit it daily. Compared to the Patong Mosque, Mukarom Mosque looks more festive and solemn, it is completely white, the tops of the turrets are crowned with green minarets with crescents. It is somewhat reminiscent of the Mosque in Dubai, a tiny mini version of it.
Admission is free; closed clothing and a hat are required for women.
GPS coordinates - 7.979863, 98.294830
5. Show
Most of the shows in Thailand are performed by people of the third gender or by transvestites. Uninformed people on the streets may mistake them for girls, and for good reason. Men in Thailand have become so adept at transforming themselves into women that you won’t immediately understand who is standing in front of you. You don’t have to go far to see a live tranny; they can sit at the next table in a cafe and sell sushi at the night market. Visitors, and even the locals themselves, are loyal to them, because a large influx of vacationers comes to the country for sex tourism. And for those who turn their nose up at debauchery, the Thais have made a Show with the participation of trannies, which you can watch without blushing.
Aphrodite Cabaret Show
Tickets for the Aphrodite Show will be sold to you on any corner, especially it is advertised on the street of debauchery Bangla Road, where you can buy a ticket directly from the hands of a transvestite) You can also take a walk to Phuket town yourself, but I would not recommend this, because why are they there? they cost more. The performance lasts exactly one hour and during this time you will see how the most beautiful ladyboys in Thailand will perform popular hits to the soundtrack. Moreover, they do this very efficiently; the singing is accompanied by dance performances. A grand Show will unfold before you, where you will forget that all the participants in this action are men! Transformed into women, they look very realistic; after the concert, filming is allowed, for which you will have to pay extra.
Ticket price - 500 baht (surcharge for VIP - 100 baht), transfer - 100 baht, photo shooting with artists on the street - 30 baht.
GPS coordinates - 7.903414, 98.367429
Simon Cabaret Show (Simon Star Show)
Another memorable Show in Phuket, made in the same spirit, echoes the previous one in many aspects, there are similar songs, the only difference is that other girls and boys work there. Costumes, scenery, performance - all this will surprise you, even if you have already been to a similar Show, and if not, then you will leave the hall full of impressions! The Simon show is positioned as a Cabaret, but nothing inviting or indecent happens on stage.
Ticket price - 600 baht (surcharge for VIP - 100 baht), transfer - 100 baht, photo shooting on the street with participants - 30 baht.
GPS coordinates - 7.879973, 98.29319
Show Fantasia (Phuket FantaSea)
Compared to the previous two similar shows, this is positioned as an Elephant Show because the performance involves animals in addition to humans. Tourists are brought to the show long before the start to see the amusement park adjacent to the Elephant Palace. The total area of the complex is 50 hectares, with children's attractions, toy stores and souvenir shops.
The show's script is to show the viewer elements of Thai culture and life, while on a huge stage you can see live buffaloes, goats, chickens and of course 44 elephants! A beautiful Thai fairy tale unfolds on stage with the participation of the main characters, a prince and a girl from an ordinary family, and you can also see such characters as Gods and Demons.
Ticket price - 1900 baht (surcharge for VIP - 300 baht), transfer - 300 baht, photo shooting on the street with artists - 800 baht, buffet - 1100, drinks - 90 baht, combo restaurant + Show - 2200 baht.
GPS coordinates - 7.95643, 98.286799.
Siam Niramit Show
The Siam Niramit show begins long before the performance itself. On the territory where the Show is held there are stylized buildings of a Thai village with the participation of real animals, buffalos, goats and others. In the houses you can meet villagers in disguise, they will come out and offer you to taste national Thai cuisine. If you have not been to the Thai Floating Market before, here you will have the opportunity to see it in miniature. Don't miss the opportunity to take free photos on the street; photography is prohibited in the hall.
For an hour and a half, a performance unfolds on stage that tells the audience the history of Thailand, introduces the culture and traditions of the country, shows how the Thais lived in ancient times, how they got their food. The second part is dedicated to the afterlife, showing heaven and hell in the Thai view. The third part is more fun, it is dedicated to the traditions of Thailand, showing national holidays, as well as many others.
Ticket price - 1500 baht (additional charge for VIP - 400 baht), combo restaurant + Show - 1850 baht, transfer - 300 baht, photography on the street with Show participants - free.
GPS coordinates - 7.931109, 98.376946
6. Thai boxing (Muay Thai)
Muay Thai advertising can be called viral, it pours out from the loud speakers of open trucks driving along the popular beaches of Phuket. On the roof of such a pickup truck there is an arena with boxers. Of course, you won’t see real Thai boxing there; to join the atmosphere, you need to come to the sports arena. What can you see in Muay Thai besides wrestling? Thais are sensitive to spirits, so even before a fight they perform an appropriate ritual, which from the outside looks like a dance. Two wrestlers perform dance moves in front of each other to ritual music, so they protect the ring from evil spirits and attract good luck. Also loud, hypnotic traditional music accompanies the start of the competition, this includes live drumming, tapping on brass cups and playing a wind instrument. Thai boxing is not an ordinary fight, it is a manifestation of traditions and spirituality.
The location of the fights is Patong Beach, Bangla Boxing Stadium. Fight schedule from 21:00 - Wednesday, Friday, Saturday. Duration: 2 hours.
Ticket price - 1600 - 2400 baht.
GPS coordinates - 7.89726200, 98.30458400
7. Entertainment
Every year Phuket becomes more and more comfortable for a family holiday with children. Which is good news, because some tourists are full of prejudices that Thailand is a place only for adult recreation, a mecca of debauchery and sex tourism.
If you want to show your child the real jungle, elephants and monkeys in their natural habitat, then you have a direct route to Thailand to the tropical islands, the most comfortable of which today is the island of Phuket.
Zoo
Phuket Zoo in Phuket is a place for family holidays, in addition to the animals on its territory, you can watch all kinds of shows with elephants, crocodiles and monkeys, which are already included in the ticket price.
The zoo's opening hours are from 8.30 to 18.00. You can come to Phuket Zoo on your own or buy an excursion that includes a transfer. I told you about the road to the zoo in Phuket on your own
Opening hours from 8:30 to 18:00,
Monkey show - 9:00, 12:00, 14:30, 16:45
Show with crocodiles - at 9:45, 12:45, 15:15, 17:30
Elephant show – 10:30, 13:30, 16:00
Ticket price - 500 baht, child under 4 years old - free ticket
GPS coordinates - 7.935313, 98.356133
Cat Cafe
An unusual cafe in Phuket offers its guests such a service as a meal in the company of purebred cats. This unusual marketing trick has brought fame to more than one cafe in Japan and Korea; now similar cat cafes are opening everywhere, and the resort town of Phuket is no exception. The cat breeds in the cafe are predominantly Persian, but there are also Siamese cats and British cats.
Where is it located - Cat Cafe is located in Phuket Town.
Opening hours: 12 to 21:30. Monday - day off
GPS coordinates - 7.885499, 98.390894
Dolphinarium (Nemo Dolphins Bay)
Next to the Phuket Zoo there is a dolphinarium building. Two fur seals and five dolphins perform at the dolphinarium. The traditional program includes jumping through hoops, tossing balls, riding dolphins, and drawing pictures by dolphins.
Ticket prices vary and depend on the rows:
- Seats in rows 1-2: adults 1200 baht, children 700 baht.
- Seats in rows 3-5: adults 900 baht, children 600 baht.
- Seats in the 6th-7th row: adults 600 baht, children 400 baht.
- Swimming with dolphins: 6,000 baht per person.
- Diving with dolphins: 6,500 baht per person.
Nemo Dolphins Bay opening hours are from 10:00 to 19:00. You can take photos and videos for free.
GPS coordinates - 7.842818, 98.356664
Aquarium (Phuket Aquarium)
The Phuket Aquarium is located on Cape Panwa and is one of the best places on the island for a family holiday with children. The aquarium is home to more than 150 species of fish and marine life brought here from the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. For them, the aquarium recreates their usual habitat, namely coral reefs, mangroves, sand and rocks. The main feature of the oceanarium is a 10-meter tunnel, through which you can observe huge stingrays, sharks and turtles swimming on their heads. The most colorful resident of the aquarium is a huge grouper fish, more than 20 years old.
It is better to plan a visit to the Oceanarium in the first half of the day, then there will be fewer people, and you will have half an hour of time to walk through the one-story building from beginning to end. At the entrance there is a cafe, a souvenir shop and a pool with giant turtles.
Phuket Aquarium opening hours are from 08.30-16.00, fish feeding begins at 11.00 and it is better not to miss this event.
Admission for an adult is 180 baht, for a child over 5 years old – 100 baht.
GPS coordinates - 7.804040, 98.407706
Phuket Bird Park
The Bird Park in Phuket is not just a place where more than 1,000 species of birds from all over Southeast Asia live, but also a Botanical Garden, where instead of asphalt paths there will be neat paths among palm trees, and you can immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the tropical jungle. This feeling will be especially tangible in huge enclosures, where birds scurry back and forth in an atmosphere of free flight. These are not just cages, these are entire spaces where you can wander, hand-feed exotic birds and feel like Robinson. Also included in the ticket price is a show program in which, in addition to birds, otters participate. In half an hour of the show you can see parrots riding bicycles and otters dancing to the music)
Admission for adults - 500 baht, for children - 300 baht.
Opening hours: daily from 9:00 to 17:00. Shows 10.30., 13.30., 15.30.
GPS coordinates - 7.862852, 98.344969
Tiger Kingdom (Phuket Tiger Kingdom)
Many people come to Thailand with one thought - to visit a zoo with tigers, to have the opportunity to be alone in a cage with a toothy predator. Such zoos are not found everywhere, and one of them is located in Phuket. This place is called the Tiger Kingdom, and for good reason! After all, the local inhabitants are tigers, almost tamed by humans to the point of becoming pets)
The establishment has only one case of attack on a tourist in its history, but it all happened due to improper behavior on the part of the visitor, when the tourist himself provoked an animal bite. You will be instructed in advance about the recommended behavior, namely, you need to enter from behind for photos and hugs, and other important moments of communication with tigers. Upon entering, you sign a document stating that all responsibility in the event of an accident falls on your shoulders. Visitors are also given the opportunity to choose which animal to go into the cage. The tigers here are divided into categories - baby tigers (smallest), teenage tigers (small tiger) and adult animals.
Entrance for adults - from 800 baht, depending on the size of the tiger. Photos with animals using your own camera are free, photographer services are 500 baht.
Opening hours: daily from 9:00 to 18:00
GPS coordinates - 7.907121, 98.329851
Elephant farms
What are elephant farms in Phuket and why are they remarkable for visiting? Firstly, this is an opportunity to plunge into the atmosphere of the island, to feel like an Indian Raja, who travels on an elephant through the jungle. Secondly, this is an opportunity to see with your own eyes the elephant camp, where not only large elephants live, but also baby elephants. Watch how elephants are washed, feed the animals by hand and take unusual photos.
There are elephant farms in Phuket on almost all large farms, you just have to choose the one closest to you. Prices for elephant rides depend on time and start from 600 baht for 20 minutes, children pay half as much, under 4 years old are free. Your photos are free, from the elephant driver - 100 baht. Feeding elephants, buying bananas - 100 baht. Bathing a baby elephant in a pond - 300 baht.
- Kok Chang Elephant Camp (Kata Noi Beach)
- Siam Safari (Chalong District. On the way to the Big Buddha)
- Safari Elephant Club (Patong Beach)
- Sea View Elephant Camp (Nai Harn Beach)
- Camp Chang Kalim (Kalim Beach)
Admission is free, parking is available
Farm opening hours are from 08.30 to 17.30.
Upside Down House
An unusual house in Phuket is a whole complex of attractions - the inverted house itself, a labyrinth and a quest. If you have never been to such establishments before, you will definitely like it here! This is an opportunity to take unusual upside-down photographs with a tuk-tuk, all the paraphernalia and interior of a Thai house. In the garden you can get lost in the evergreen labyrinth, the area of which is 1000 sq.m. The quest is a closed room, from which you are provided with exit only if you complete tasks involving logic and intelligence.
Admission for adults upside down house - from 290 baht, 170 baht for children, children under 4 years old free. Labyrinth - 150 adults/100 children.
Opening hours daily from 10.00 to 18.00.
GPS coordinates - 7.938735, 98.379629
8. Street of debauchery (Bangla Road)
For those who came to Phuket not just to spend time on the beach, but to see the Thai Red Light District with their own eyes, you just need to come to Patong Beach, Bangla Road, where real trannies roam the pavement, establishments with half-naked Asian women dancing on tables open their doors and houses with glass windows through which you can see an unusual performance. This street is also a collection of striptease bars, nightclubs, cabarets, and transvestite shows. Here you will definitely find entertainment to your liking, and it will not necessarily be with an emphasis on debauchery; Bangla Road is a place for cheap shopping, budget cafes and Russian restaurants. I told you what else you can do on a party street
GPS coordinates: 7.893687, 98.29679
Sex Show (Ping pong show)
Well, if you want to see real Thai exoticism, you will have to pay extra. Enterprising Thai barkers run along Bangla Road selling tourists tickets to the show, where most of the numbers are, this is something I’m ashamed to talk about out loud. Moreover, entry to the Ping pong show is free, but you must buy at least one drink from the bar menu. Prices for juices and alcoholic drinks start from 300 baht.
Entrance - from 300 baht per drink from the bar menu
Opening hours: from 18.00 to 04.00
GPS coordinates - 7.893687, 98.29679
9. Waterfalls
Phuket waterfalls are a fickle phenomenon and you need to be prepared for the fact that any waterfall in Thailand tends to dry up, so in order not to be disappointed upon arrival, you should know the favorable time to visit. From December to May, all waterfalls turn into streams, or even dry up completely. It’s not difficult to find a waterfall in Phuket on your own; you need to follow the signs that say “Waterfall,” which means waterfall.
Bang Pae Waterfall
This is the largest freshwater waterfall in Phuket, falling from a ten-meter height, and at the bottom it forms a plunge pool with ice-cold water, in which Thai children love to splash. Also on the territory of the Bang Pae Nature Reserve There are cages with gibbons - these are fluffy monkeys with a contrasting muzzle.
Opening hours: 9.00 to 18.00
GPS coordinates - 8.039284, 98.391300
Ton Sai Waterfall
It is not as huge and impressive as Bang Pae Waterfall, but it is located in the immediate vicinity of it, so it is convenient for visiting together. It's best not to travel alone from Bang Pae Falls to Ton Sai, since the three-kilometer road through impenetrable jungle, is unlikely to be a good solution for a walk. It is best to do this with a guide, who can be hired here in the National Park, and along the way you will be accompanied by the singing of tropical birds and you will be able to see with your own eyes the great racket-tailed drongo and the red-backed sea eagle.
Entrance 200 baht for adults, 100 baht for children for entry to Khao Phra Thaeo National Park. Parking fee 30 baht.
Opening hours: 9.00 to 18.00
GPS coordinates - 8.02787, 98.363256
10. Fishing on the lake
For avid fishermen who go on vacation with the idea of catching exotic fish on vacation, and in their suitcase instead of a mask and fins they carry a spinning rod and gear, Phuket has suitable entertainment - these are freshwater lakes in which they catch their own food locals are not averse to sharing these places with tourists. How is fishing on a tropical island different from fishing in your homeland? Firstly, you have the opportunity to catch fish weighing up to 300 kilograms and take an impressive photo. Secondly, no one will let you go home with the catch, since such lakes in Phuket are considered protected areas, and all the fish caught are released back to their habitat. The reward for the fisherman will be the excitement of the hunt and vivid memories. Who can you catch in the lake in Phuket? These are Amazonian long-tail catfish, arapaima, Siamese carp, Mekong catfish.
The most popular place for fishing tourists is the Phuket Fishing Park on the territory of the freshwater Lake Sawai in Phuket. Entrance for fisherman - 2440 adults, 1540 children, visitor 1140 baht. The ticket price includes transfer, lunch, gear, drinks.
GPS coordinates - 8.042798, 98.310257
11. Parks
In the early morning or when the midday heat subsides, it is best to go for a walk in the parks of Phuket; this is an opportunity to get acquainted with the flora of Thailand and see rare tropical plants and flowers with your own eyes.
Orchid Park Phuket
Lovers of these beautiful flowers and children will be interested in seeing a real orchid farm in Phuket, because it grows more than 20,000 different species and hybrids of orchids from all over the world. By the way, an orchid will be a good gift for your mother or girlfriend; you definitely won’t find such a rare specimen on the shelves in your homeland. Officially, flowers are prohibited from being exported from the Kingdom, but if you issue a certificate, then you will not have problems with customs.
Entrance 400 baht adult, 200 baht child
Opening hours: daily from 09.00 to 17.30
GPS coordinates - 7.818274, 98.334439
Botanical Garden in Phuket (Phuket Botanic Garden)
Do you want to see how mangoes and mangosteens are grown or the life of Thai peasants, breathe coolness in the shade of trees and sit by the pond where flocks of golden carp are splashing? Then you have a direct route to the Botanical Garden in Phuket. The park leaves only a pleasant impression, it is very well-groomed, decorated in the form of twenty thematic gardens - Japanese, Chinese, English gardens, etc., there is a cactus butterfly garden. Lovers of flora and fauna will find an unforgettable aesthetic pleasure here!
Admission 500 baht adult, 300 baht child
Opening hours: daily from 09.00 to 16.30. Wednesday - closed
GPS coordinates - 7.848024, 98.346335
12. Sports, active recreation
You can enjoy water sports in Phuket without leaving the beach; at all popular holiday destinations, barkers will approach you inviting you to ride a banana, hydro scooter, parachute or paraglider.
Cable car Flying Hanuman
Do you want the adrenaline in your blood to go through the roof or just relieve stress by screaming to your heart's content, flying over the tropical jungle, like Tarzan or Indiana Jones on the vines? Then you're on your way to an attraction named after a great ape-like deity who moved by jumping like a bird's flight. For 2.5 - 3 hours, you, just like an ancient deity, will move between the trees only with the help of ropes and ladders hanging above the ground at a bird's eye view.
Ticket price for adults and children is 1800 baht. Photos on your camera are free, photographer service is 300 baht, photos on a flash drive are 1500 baht.
Opening hours: 08:00-17:00
GPS coordinates - 7.925014, 98.323068
13. Night markets
Night markets in Phuket are the fastest way to immerse yourself in the island's gastronomic atmosphere and sample local cuisine at budget prices. These markets have long been a meeting place and while away evenings for tourists and locals. If you come on vacation on a “breakfast only” package, you have a direct route to the Night Market. Based on the name itself, it is clear that these markets unfold after sunset. The scale of such markets amazes even the most experienced tourist; these are endless rows of seafood, meat, side dishes, sushi, famous punk cakes, and so on. There are tables next to the counters where you can comfortably place an order or just grab some goodies and have dinner right there. They sell not only food - rice, kebabs, chicken, sweets, shakes and fruits - but also clothes, souvenirs, and cosmetics.
In Phuket, each beach has its own night market, which bears the same name. Also, in addition to these markets, there is the famous fish market in Rawai, “Naka market” in Patong, and the Lard Yai Sunday market in Phuket Town.
14. Restaurants, cafes with sea views
Have you come to Phuket with your significant other, or do you just want to have a romantic evening, take a break from the hustle and bustle, enjoy not only delicious food, but also be in the most beautiful place on Earth? Then you should definitely visit the Phuket restaurants located in the most beautiful places on the island!
Heaven Restaurant
The name of the restaurant speaks for itself and translates as “heaven,” and indeed Heaven seems to float above the earth. Its location is chosen extremely well, this place is next to the Phuket landmark Karon viewpoint, which offers the same stunning panoramic view as from the main observation point on the island, views of the beaches of Kata Noi, Kata and Karon. The restaurant's menu includes Thai, Japanese and European cuisine. There is also a spacious dance floor on site, and on weekends Thai DJs come here to play sets and spend the sunset listening to lounge-style music with visitors.
Free admission
The cost of dishes from the menu is from 250-350 baht, the average bill for dinner is from 1000 baht.
Opening hours: from 9:00 to 04:00
GPS coordinates: 7.799144, 98.300050
On the Rock Restaurant
Restaurant visitors come here to spend the evening on the open veranda right on the seashore and enjoy a seafood dinner. Here you can try king prawns and lobster dishes, prepared with a French and Caribbean accent, as well as local Thai cuisine. If you are relaxing on Karon Beach, then this is the closest popular restaurant on the entire coast.
The cost of dishes from the menu is from 250-350 baht, the average bill for dinner is from 800 baht.
Location: On the territory of the Marina Phuket Resort hotel complex, GPS coordinates: 7.8291919, 98.293689
Baan Chom View Restaurant
The restaurant's outdoor terrace offers panoramic views of the mountain on which it is located. The restaurant's menu includes seafood dishes, seafood delicacies, Thai and European cuisines. At sunset, it offers stunning views as you watch the huge sun disk set into the Andaman Sea.
The cost of dishes from the menu is from 160 baht, the average bill for dinner is from 500 baht.
Opening hours: from 12:00 to 04.00
Location: behind Kata Noi Beach, GPS Coordinates: 7.8092607, 98.3022776
15. Historical places
For those who like to spend their holidays not only in idle entertainment, but also to study the historical component of the holiday destination, Phuket has a great opportunity to take a walk to attractions that show the island from a completely different side.
Sarasin Bridge
Until 1967, local residents did without a bridge, since there was a narrow cape where the sea used to be, but many years have passed since then and water has flooded this area of land, so the government built a beautiful snow-white bridge, which by our time has become overgrown with legends and traditions. Previously, all tourists coming to Phuket from the mainland entered the island via the Sarasin Bridge, but today it has been made a pedestrian attraction. And not in vain, because from the Sarasin Bridge there are stunning views of the cape, here you can watch sunsets, and you can take beautiful photos from the figured turrets. At night, the bridge is illuminated with lanterns, and there is a market where you can buy fresh fruit and Thai cuisine for pennies.
The construction of the bridge is the starting point for the island to become a popular tourist destination. Now it’s hard to imagine, but Phuket was previously called Jang Ceylon, and all that was known about it was as a place for mining, and the islanders were not engaged in entertaining tourists, but in fishing, mining for pearls and seashells. Another reason to take a ride across the Sarasin Bridge is to see the settlements of sea gypsies, who build their homes right on the water, on large wooden stilts.
Free admission
GPS coordinates: 8.201954, 98.298239
Monument to Soldiers Liberators
There are also sad pages in the history of Phuket - the invasion of the resort town by Burmese troops. Then, back in 1785, two women, sisters Chan and Muk, instead of fleeing from the enemy army, began to gather an army to repel the invaders. They led the Thai army and won several victories in battle, thanks not to strength, but to female ingenuity and wisdom. At the end of the war, the King of Thailand personally awarded the courageous sisters high titles.
To this day, Thais honor the memory of Grandmothers Chan and Muk, as they affectionately call them) Visiting Thais also treat the monument with special respect and are sure to be the first to visit this place on the day of their arrival in Phuket. Since the locals are very religious, they ask at the foot of the statues for help in business, students believe that the Grandmothers give them good luck before difficult exams. For tourists, next to the memorial there is a souvenir shop where you can buy miniature copies of heroic women who forever wrote themselves into the history of the island of Jang Ceylon.
GPS coordinates: 7.981005, 98.363814
Thalang National Museum
Not far from the monument to the heroic grandmothers, there is the National Museum, where you can get acquainted with the history of the formation of Phuket, the life of the locals, their culture, way of life and customs. If you only know about the island as a popular tourist destination, then you will find it interesting and surprising to see a different side of Phuket. Namely, learn about such peoples as sea gypsies, Muslims, Chinese, who, along with the locals, are also residents of Phuket. You will get acquainted with the history of the battle with the Burmese that happened on the island in the 18th century, see how tin was mined and how the locals lived many centuries ago, when there were no tourists and visitors.
Also on the territory of the complex there is a memory of the tsunami that happened in Phuket in 2004. Under the canopy in the open air you can see what the elements have transformed the things of the modern world into - mangled cars, broken boats, fragments of things.
Ticket price: 100 baht for adults, 50 baht for children
Opening hours: from 09:00 to 16:00. Closed: Monday, Tuesday.
Location: Thalang district, GPS coordinates: 7.98097; 98.36658
16. Places for making wishes
Thais firmly believe in spirits, which can be seen from the number of miniature houses on the beaches and near local homes. They make offerings to such places every day, leaving food and drinks. The locals also have customs that tourists and vacationers liked so much that they successfully adopted them. This is making wishes in holy places. If you have a cherished, hidden desire that needs to be fulfilled with the help of the intervention of outside forces, then you definitely need to go to such places. Believe my experience, everything I wished for in Phuket came true a long time ago without my help)
1. These are these metal leaves on which you can write your sincere wishes to yourself, loved ones, and family. The leaves flutter in the wind, touch the bells and create an interesting melody. They are located on the mountain where Big Buddha sits.
The entrance is free. There is free parking
GPS coordinates - 7.828117, 98.313901
2. Cast iron pots lined up in a row. In order to perform the ritual, you need to take a handful of coins and go through one by one placing a coin in each of the cast iron pots. By doing this you are, as it were, giving food to the monks, which is also rewarded by the fulfillment of desires. There are such pots in the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, on Big Buddha Mountain.
The entrance is free. There is free parking
GPS coordinates - 7.828117, 98.313901
3. Rub the gong. Another tradition that gives you the fulfillment of your cherished desires and well-being. Thais believe that if you hit a huge metal gong and make a sound, you can find out what your next year will be like. They determine a good future by the sound of the gong; it should be drawn-out and melodic. You can also extract sound from a gong by running your hands through the center and rubbing it. There is a huge gong near the Big Buddha statue in Phuket.
The entrance is free. There is free parking
GPS coordinates - 7.828117, 98.313901
17. Monkey Hill
As you understand from the name, this observation deck is not quite ordinary, because you will enjoy a beautiful view of Chalong Pier, Phuket Town, the Kata area and the Golden Buddha statue not alone, but in the company of wild monkeys, who are full-fledged residents of the mountain. You can only get to the mountain on your own by climbing a steep asphalt road almost four kilometers long. For the monkeys, you can bring their favorite treats: bananas, mangoes, nuts or corn. When feeding animals, do not forget that there is a risk of contracting rabies. And if you come to Thailand without insurance, treatment at a local hospital can cost a pretty penny.
The entrance is free. There is free parking.
GPS coordinates - 7.898325, 98.395228
18. Sea Gypsy Village
The Thais themselves call these people Chao-le, which literally means inhabitants of the sea. And indeed, sea gypsies literally build their homes on the water. Because of this unusual feature, they have become interesting for tourists, who can see with their own eyes how people live in our time, unencumbered by the worries of the modern world and the benefits of civilization, such as a telephone or decent clothing, and content with the gifts of the sea and nature.
There are two Roma villages in Phuket, both of which are accessible for self-guided exploration. One is located right on the island on Rawai beach, where there is also a famous fish market run by these same people of the seas. Keep in mind that the village of sea gypsies is a separate state with its own language, religion, culture, holidays and customs. They do not turn to hospitals for help, but believe in the power of the shaman who communicates with spirits. The second settlement is located on the island of Sirae, which is connected to Phuket by a narrow isthmus with a road. There is a public bus from the center of Phuket with the route (Saphan Hin - Sirey Island).
Free admission
GPS coordinates - 7.874907, 98.422511
19. Cockfighting
If you want to look into the soul of a Thai and find out what type of entertainment he has the most passion for, you will see an unusual picture there - cockfighting. Such fights began to be organized in Thailand for the amusement of the public since the last century; the Thais embraced this type of activity with a bang, and even became excited by placing bets and ending the performances with a mass fight among people. By the way, in such fights it is not domestic birds that enter the ring, but fighting roosters, which are raised on special food; they have been given training since childhood that gives them endurance, a fighting spirit and strong legs.
If you want to immerse yourself in the local flavor, then you definitely need to see cockfights and feel the atmosphere that reigns not only in the arena, but also in the spectators. You most likely will not find an official announcement about this event, since the Thai authorities are against gambling and even conduct regular raids to detain the organizers, so only locals know about cockfighting. Typically, the venue for the event is a yard fenced with a palisade.
20. Shopping malls
As in any other country, shopping in Thailand has its own narrow focus, and what exactly you can bring from the land of smiles to please your friends and family, I told you in more detail. Now we will look at where you can go shopping in Phuket.
Jungceylon Shopping Center
The location of this shopping mall is perhaps the most successful in all of Phuket, because Jungceylon is located on Patong Beach, in its very heart. In the vastness of the shopping center there are more than two hundred stores that offer customers clothes, cashmere carpets, cosmetics and perfumes, shoes, computer games, mobile phones and accessories and the most modern electronic gadgets. You can also find BigC inside - this is a supermarket that has everything from Thai cuisine to household electrical appliances. Also in the shopping center, performances by musical groups or dancers, as well as fountain shows, have become a pleasant tradition for all visitors.
Opening hours are from 11:00 to 22:00. Fountain shows daily at 13:00, 15:00, 19:00 and 21:00. The entrance is free.
GPS coordinates - 7.892131, 98.298876
Premium Outlet Phuket
It is not necessary to go to Milan and Europe for brands; in Thailand there are also products from famous brands such as Lacoste, Pierre Cardin, Van Heusen, Levi's, Lee, Nautica, Adidas and Nike, and even at attractive prices, where discounts can reach up to 70 %. The shopping mall belongs to the largest representative in the fashion industry in Thailand, which has won the trust of customers over decades of work in this business.
Opening hours: 10:00 to 21:00
GPS coordinates - 7.945675, 98.385147
Central Festival
This is the largest shopping center in Phuket, where you can buy locally produced fabrics, watches and jewelry, electronics and modern gadgets, and try Thai, Japanese and European cuisine at reasonable prices. Most of the shops presented here will seem familiar to you, especially if you came to Phuket from Russia. By public transport you can get to all songthaews coming from Patong, Kata and Karon beaches, from the rest only through Phuket Town.
Opening hours: 10:30 to 22:00
GPS coordinates - 7.891753, 98.367485
What to see in Phuket excursions
Now you know what to see in Phuket on your own, but those excursions that I recommend buying through travel agencies, since they are located far beyond the island and it will be problematic for an inexperienced traveler to get there on their own.
When we travel, we buy tickets for excursions via the Internet, because this is a sure way to save a percentage of the cost and avoid unnecessary running around and queues. We like the search engine from Sputnik8, you can book a place in it and be sure of a return, it also has reviews from tourists, based on which we always choose the best guide for ourselves.
In terms of the variety of natural and man-made attractions, Phuket can adequately compete with any of the resorts in Thailand. There are many interesting things on the island. A two-week vacation is not enough to cover everything. We bring to your attention a selection of 10 places that you must visit in Phuket to be sure that you were able to see the best. It is recommended to start exploring the island by visiting the following five attractions. It’s not difficult to get into them, so you can do it yourself, without the help of travel agencies.
Big Buddha statue
The 45-meter statue of a seated Buddha is a kind of calling card of Phuket and its most recognizable landmark. The marble statue is installed on a hill and is therefore clearly visible from the vicinity of Kata and Karon beaches.
From the terrace at the foot of the statue there is a magnificent view of the island. The panorama looks especially picturesque at sunset, when, accompanied by the soft ringing of bells hanging on the trees, you can watch the setting sun in a peaceful atmosphere. It is not necessary to climb to the top of the hill on foot, because there is a road leading to the top.
Tiger Kingdom
This is a nursery where tigers of different ages live in several enclosures. If usually in such establishments it is strictly forbidden to approach predators, then in the Tiger Kingdom the opposite is true: visitors can pet an adult animal, scratch the belly of a teenage tiger, or play with kids in a separate enclosure. Tigers behave calmly and peacefully, which, according to the staff, is achieved exclusively through training, without the use of drugs.
Siam Niramit Show
The show is a theatrical excursion into the history of Thailand. The production in three acts takes place on a huge stage with colorful decorations. The plot of the costume show is dedicated to key events in the history of the country, as well as religious beliefs of the Thais and their national holidays. The show introduces the viewer to the richness of Thai culture. For the same purpose, a small ethnographic village was built in front of the concert hall, where the traditional life of Thai peasants is clearly shown. The show lasts an hour and a half, and a walk around the village also takes a lot of time, so there is a restaurant on the territory of the entertainment complex where guests are served dinner before the start of the show.
Night market
This is one of the most colorful places you can visit in Phuket. The night market (aka Naka Market, Sunday Market) opens on weekends. A lot of people gather, both tourists and Thais. This is not surprising: the range of goods on the market is very large, and the prices are low. True, for foreigners they are inflated several times, but with skillful bargaining, shopping will turn out to be very successful. However, tourists come here not only for bargain shopping, but also for the opportunity to plunge into the everyday life of the island, get to know the locals better and try their favorite delicacies. The market has dozens of stalls with street food and all sorts of exotic treats, so you can taste dozens of dishes and snacks in an evening.
Phuket Town
The old town is not the most visited place on the island by tourists, although it is here that the historical appearance of Phuket, its true face, is still preserved. Walking along the streets of Krabi, Phang Nga, Thalang, Dibuk, you can see what the island was like before the influx of tourists. The ancient buildings of Phuket Town are built in a colonial style, which is very rare in Thailand: the facades of the buildings are visually divided into three parts with semicircular arches, the windows are decorated with wooden shutters, and the second floor hangs over the first, forming a covered gallery.
The best time to explore Old Phuket is Sunday evening. At this time, a fair is held on Thalang Street, where they sell unusual souvenirs, handicrafts and, of course, a variety of street food.
Phuket. What to visit in neighboring provinces?
The five places listed below are not located in Phuket, but getting to them from the island is not difficult: the corresponding excursions are sold at any of the travel agencies. Tours usually take the whole day, but the time spent is fully justified: the nature of the nearby islands and provinces is amazing.
Similan Islands
The archipelago of nine islands boasts beaches that are far superior in beauty to the best in Phuket. The water off the coast of Similan looks like a picture, heavily embellished in Photoshop, it is so transparent and blue. It looks especially impressive from the height of the observation deck on Koh Miang island. On the same island you can find unusual Nicobar pigeons, monitor lizards and flying foxes.
The underwater world in the waters of the islands matches the coast: motley and surprisingly colorful. Among the coral reefs, large turtles and many species of fish live here. These places are very popular among divers.
Phi Phi Islands
Visiting Phuket and not going to the Phi Phi Islands is unforgivable. The islands are incredibly beautiful: snow-white beaches are washed by the emerald waters of the Andaman Sea, and around the sandy strip there are steep cliffs covered with lush greenery. Gray rocks with orange veins and dense jungle perfectly complement the seascapes. You can admire this combination for hours. Usually only a few hours are allotted for this, and then the boat departs back to Phuket. But a one-day excursion is not enough to enjoy the beauty of Phi Phi. It’s better to prolong the pleasure and spend the night on the islands; fortunately, the choice of accommodation on the archipelago is quite large.
James Bond Island
The appearance of this bizarrely shaped island is probably familiar to almost every Internet user: photographs depicting it have been replicated throughout the Internet. Indeed, the rocky island looks so unusual that one’s hand is tempted to photograph this miracle of nature. Its official name is Ko Tapu, “nail,” but tourists renamed it in honor of the famous movie character: the island flashed in the scene of the duel between agent 007 and the villain Scaramanga in one of the Bond series.
An excursion to the island is usually accompanied by a visit to the village of sea gypsies. This is a very interesting settlement: fishermen have been living for centuries in huts on stilts, installed near the rocky shore of a small island. During a short stop in the village, you can buy souvenirs and see how the life of its inhabitants works.
Cheow Lan Lake
People come here to be alone with untouched nature. Cheo Lan is located in a national park and is reliably isolated from the noise of civilization. There are no souvenir shops, annoying sellers, annoying masseuses and other things. Tourists here are taken on a boat ride, from which they continuously photograph the beauty around them: the reservoir lies surrounded by rocky mountains covered with dense vegetation, and its shore is indented with small coves and rocky ledges.
To get the most out of your trip to the lake, it is recommended to spend the night in one of the floating hotels - a series of wooden huts on bamboo rafts. The conditions there are, of course, spartan, but on the doorstep of your home there is one of the most beautiful lakes in Thailand.
Emerald Lake and Tiger Temple in Krabi Province
Lake Sa Morakot was named emerald because of the color of the water. It actually has this hue: flowing through soil saturated with minerals, the water is colored by them and acquires an unusual color. You can swim in the lake, which is very important after hiking to it from the entrance to the park: the path goes through the jungle, where it is always wet.
An equally visited attraction in Krabi province is the Tiger Temple, built on the top of the highest mountain in the region. The temple is famous for the cave where Buddha is now worshiped, but once, according to legend, it was inhabited by tigers, whose paw prints are preserved in the form of petrified dents. On the territory of the complex you can also see a hundred-meter stupa. Well, the main thing that is worth visiting the temple for is the observation deck overlooking the mountain slopes and thickets of tropical vegetation. Climbing the 1,237-step staircase cannot be called easy, but it’s worth the patience—the picture of the mountain landscapes will take your breath away.
From the comic Tin-Tin in Thailand.
If you are going to Phuket for the first time and haven’t quite decided on what plans to do there yet. Then this is for you.
By the way, even if this is not your first time in Phuket. The question of what to do there may still be relevant.
All people have different opinions and different interests, some like history and temples, some prefer active recreation, while others, on the contrary, just love relaxation in the sun. Of course you can't please everyone. But that’s what’s good about this island; almost everyone can find something to their liking.
Well, are you ready to decide how you will spend your time in Phuket?
By the way, when my friends come to visit me. I recommend the same to them.
1.Visit small islands. It could be any island, of which there are a lot here. , or Racha Island. It could be a one-day, two- or even three-day trip, it doesn’t matter. But when coming to Phuket, you must visit any small island.
2. First time in Phuket? First time in Thailand? The most party-loving, most outspoken and drunkest street on the entire Island. Even if you don’t like all this, and I, for example, don’t like such things, then this place is still worth visiting. Phuket's Eternal Carnival. Every day and all year round – the people are dancing merrily and the trancers too!
3. Try local, spicy and not very spicy cuisine. Be sure to try Thai cuisine; you won’t find such a combination of flavors anywhere else. Take yourself on a little gastronomic tour, forgetting about your figure for a while, and experience new taste sensations. Having tried everything without fear, even the most scary-looking things. The main thing here is to choose the right food. The right restaurant will save both your budget and your health. Phuket has very good seafood and I can recommend one good place, it is located on the beach, where you can choose seafood for every taste, and then they will cook it in front of you. There is another good place
And of course, you need to try all the exotic ones, Thai fruits. You still have to forget about the diet.
And don't skimp by choosing cheap places to eat, otherwise you'll end up spending more on toilet paper.
4. Ride Asian elephants through the real jungle and take yourself on a mini safari. Elephant riding is honestly something that people usually do once in a lifetime. They understand that there is nothing interesting in this and never repeat it again. But it’s good for one time, and the kids like it, so we’re putting it on the list. (there is a little about elephants here).
5. Visiting Thai temples and observation platforms. There are two places in Phuket that you must visit. This is Wat Chaolong - the largest and most famous temple on the island. And a big Buddha statue.
– Wat Chaalong, at a minimum, needs to be visited at least in order to understand what Thai temples are all about.
– The second place is a statue of a large Buddha. First of all, it is the largest sitting Buddha statue on the island. Secondly, it is located on a hill and is an excellent observation deck. Therefore, feel free to add it to your list of places to visit.
6. Evening show with elephants. There are currently two such elephant shows on the island. This is a show Siam Nimiramit and show. Here I will not write which is better - all felt-tip pens have different tastes and colors. Especially when it comes to such vivid performances.
If you haven’t seen either one, choose either one. I liked the food included in the show program everywhere.
All the beaches on the island are very different.
7. Number seven is the simplest entertainment - go to another beach. But simpler doesn't mean it's less exciting. All beaches in Phuket are different. And the feeling of relaxing on different beaches is different. You should not spend all your time on the same beach, at your place of registration. Get up early, have breakfast and go with your whole group to another beach. Usually a taxi to the nearby beach costs about 300 baht. . (there is information about different beaches here).
8. Shopping. I won’t say much about this activity. You know how exciting it is.
What interesting things can you buy here?
I can highlight the following products: Cheap textiles, precious stones, leather goods from exotic animals, souvenirs made from local wood, sea pearls and jewelry made from sea materials. Various spas, such as oils, creams, aroma, etc. Some people are also pleased with Thai traditional medicine. Religious items such as Buddha or Ganesha statues.
And of course electronics, where to buy electronics in Phuket you can read here.
9. Rent a motorbike and ride it around the island. This is an extremely dangerous activity and I would not recommend doing it. Although I admit, I ride a motorbike myself.
Anyone who wants to will go anyway, so those who decide not to stay for long will join the free community of bikers in Phuket. And feel the spirit of the roads yourself. The first thing I recommend is to always wear a helmet, the second thing is to read this material - written by .
10. Last in the ranking. But sometimes the most frequent and important activity is Thai Massage. Shrouded in mystery and legend and with healing properties, Thai massage, priced from 250 to 1000 baht for an hour or two of work, will make your holiday in Thailand...
If you liked the article, you can leave a comment below. Believe me, you are not the only one reading this article and your opinion will be interesting and useful. Have a nice holiday.
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