The only island province in Thailand, Phuket is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world.

Filled with mountains and tropical rain forest and surrounded by the beautiful Andaman Sea, Phuket has various kinds of activities you can enjoy.

This Phuket Guide will bring you to famous activities in and around Phuket islands. You can finish each activity in a day or less.

To ensure your best experience, we recommend you to make a booking with leading tour agents or on our website.

1.One Day Trip to Phi Phi Islands

Consists of 6 major islands formed by limestone mountains and surrounded by emerald green seawater, the so-called "heaven on earth", Phi Phi islands are renowned for their stunningly beautiful landscape.

Nature-rich sea makes it one of the most famous diving points of the Andaman Sea.

You will see the famous "Maya Bay" (the location of the famous film "The Beach")  locating in Pileh Lagoon.

Even though the bay has been closed to allow the local marine ecosystem to recover, you will be amazed by the dazzling environment of the bay.

Then you will visit the Phi Phi Don Island to play with monkeys on the white sand beach and snorkel in crystal clear water with plentiful coral reefs and colorful fishes. 

Another famous diving point is around Khai Nok islands, a small island mostly covered by a white sand beach.

The best way to go to Phi Phi Islands is by joining Phi Phi, Maya & Khai Island by speed boat one day trip which will take only around 1 hour of traveling from Koh Phuket and let you have plenty of time at the islands.

2.One Day Trip to Similan Islands

Another best-known island of Andaman Sea, largely because of the wonders that wait beneath the clear blue water that surrounds it. Similan Islands generally counted among the top 10 best dive areas in the world!

Despite the longer distance (around 2 hours by speed boat), the islands is an ideal place for tourists who want a good alternative to more crowded Phi Phi Islands. 

Besides the picturesque scene of the islands, you will explore various kinds of coral and fishes in the nature-rich, crystal clear sea water at many diving pints.

To make it a perfect trip, we highly recommended Similan Islands 1-Day Tour program that operated by SeaStar Andaman, one of the leading tour operator of Phuket.

3.Phang Nga Bay, One Day Trip

Famous for being "James Bond 007 - The Man With The Golden Gun" filming location, Koh Tapu (Nail Island) locating in Phang Nga Bay, and actually it's only a small part of this fantastic, nature-rich national park.

Phang Nga Bay National Park covers 400 square kilometers of towering limestone islands, mangrove forests, dense jungles, and beautiful beaches.

There are also many interesting places like Koh Panyee, the renowned floating fisherman village where you will have lunch and buy souvenirs from locals. Many tour operators will also bring you to explore Bat Cave and Hong Island by kayaking.

You will also have a chance to swim and relax on the beautiful beach of Lawa Island.

If this sounds interesting to you, we would like to recommend Phang Nga Bay & James Bond Island with Sea Canoe by Speed Boat program.

4.One Day Trip to Surin Islands

A truly unspoiled tropical paradise, Surin Islands is an archipelago of five islands in the Andaman Sea covering 135 square kilometers of which 76% is the sea.

The islands are a part of Mo Ko Surin National Park and it is one of the world-class diving destinations because of its rich in coral reef and sea life.

On a lucky day, you can meet Whale Shark around Richelieu Rock diving point.

Ko Surin Neua and Ko Surin Tai are the main islands and they are only 200 meters apart connected by shallow seawater which is also one of the famous diving points.

Popular activities besides diving are snorkeling, hiking, and fishing.  The islands are well preserved and the only small group of people living in Mogen Village. They are the sea gypsies and the only tribe allowed to live in the national park area.

In addition to snorkeling or diving, most tour operators will bring you to visit this Mogen Village.

You can spend a day trip to these paradise islands by joining Surin Island 1-Day Tour (SeaStar Speedboat) program.

5.Visit Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket

One of the real ethical elephant conservation center in Thailand, Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket is the place that you will have quality time with gentle giants in their natural habitat. The animals are taking care of by veterinary and well-trained staff.

The place has a 5-star rating on Tripadvisor.

As the purpose of the place is to conserve the elephant, you won't allow to ride them and you won't see them doing any abnormal activities such as playing football or painting. Instead, you will learn about them and also you will have a chance to approach them with bathing, mudding, and feeding activities. 

The place is ideal for a family trip.

Come to create lifelong memories with these fantastic creatures at Elephant Sanctuary Phuket 

6.Racha and Coral Island, Day Trip

Locating in the south, Racha Islands and Coral Island are among the beautiful islands you can arrive within 15-20 minutes from Phuket. Both of them are famous for scuba diving and snorkeling even in the low season.

The Racha Islands consist of 2 islands, Racha Yai and Racha Noi and they are surrounded by emerald crystal clear water and paved by white sand beaches.  Tourists can stay in resorts and bungalows on Racha Yai while the Racha Noi is uninhabited.

Coral Island or Koh Hey is a small island and it not only famous for diving and snorkeling but also other water activities like sea walking, parasailing, banana boat riding, etc.

Coral Island Resort is the only accommodation on the island. 

Due to the short traveling time, you can visit both Racha Islands and Coral Island in a day by this Racha and Coral Islands by Speed boat trip.

7.Visit Rok Islands

Nicknamed "The Queen of Andaman" for its stunningly beautiful landscape, its "crystal clear to the bottom" seawater which also rich in the marine ecosystem including various kinds of fishes and vibrant coral gardens. The islands also have a widespread tropical forest. Rok Islands consists of 2 uninhabited islands "Koh Rok Nok" and "Koh Rok Nai" which are a hundred meters apart. 

Koh Rok Nok

Besides the diving points, Koh Rok Nok is famous for its long stretch fine grain white sand beaches and Pha Samed Daeng viewpoint. There is a Koh Rok Ranger Station which provides public toilets, a camping ground, and basic cooking equipment. Tourists can contact the station for an overnight stay in tents at a camping ground or in a bungalow. 

Electricity in the island generated by solar power and the system will shut down at 10:30 pm and recover again in the morning.

Koh Rok Nai

Koh Rok Nai, is well known for its crescent-shaped bay,  a special area called Sarn Chao Bay (Shrine Bay) which is a location of an ancient shrine. Fishermen believe that the shrine will protect their ship when they are in the sea. The island also has a waterfall which only active in raining season. However, the main attraction of this island is diving and snorkeling points where you can see various kinds of sea life including the famous giant clams.

Rok Islands is a part of "Mu Koh Lanta Marine National Park" and located in Trang Province. However, you can visit the islands from Phuket by joining this 1 Day Trip Rok Islands tour.

8.Visit Bamboo Island

A part of Phi Phi Archipelago, Bamboo Island (Koh Phai) is a perfect getaway from more crowded Phi Phi Don or Maya Bay. This tiny island is covered by trees and bamboos and surrounded by a strip of white sand beach. 

While having fewer tourists, this peaceful island has a great snorkeling area. The crystal clear seawater is rich in reefs and beautiful fishes. 

Tourists can stay overnight in a tent at Tourist Service Center. The camping ground has public toilets but you need to bring food and drink there by yourself.

Normally tour operator includes Bamboo island as a part of the Phi Phi Islands trip.

From Phuket, you can join Phi Phi Island - Maya Bay - Bamboo Island (Seastar Speed Boat) trip to visit this lovely island.

9.Watch Simon Cabaret Show

Perhaps the most famous show in Phuket, Simon Cabaret has been attracting visitors from all over the world since 1991.

Like all cabaret shows in Thailand, Simon Cabaret performers are transgenders (ladyboys) who are real professional dancers. You will be amazed by the magnificent theater with hi-tech state-of-the-art light & sound system and the performers who dress in stunningly beautiful costumes.

Come to see these wonderful people sing and dance, this show is suitable for family.

To ensure that you will have a good seat, you can make a booking in advance here.

10.Watch Siam Niramit

If you are looking to learn about Thai history, mythology, and culture, Siam Niramit Phuket is the "Must See Show of Thailand". This is one of the largest stage production in the world equipped with stage-stage-of-the-art light and sound technology.

While the 80 minutes show start at 8:30 pm we highly recommend you to arrive at the place by 7:20 pm to enjoy the pre-show entertainment (7:20 pm - 8:05 pm) and the optional buffet dinner (5:30 pm - 8:30 pm).

The show consists of 3 acts. Act1 is about the history of Thailand, Act2 is about mythology and life after death and Act3 is about Thai festivals.

Those acts are performed by 100 professional actors and actresses in more than 500 luxurious costumes on the stage-of-the-art gigantic stage.

As this is a famous show we recommend you to make a booking in advance here.

11.Taste Street Food, Buy Souvenir at Night Markets

Night Market is the perfect place to taste local street food and shopping. There are lots of Night Markets in Phuket town and here we would like to recommend the 3 most famous night markets

Sunday Night Market (Lard Yai, Phuket Old Town)

Considered by many as "The Best Walking Street in Phuket", the Sunday Night Market takes place every Sunday from 4 pm until 10 pm along the historical Thalang Road in downtown Phuket. Alongside the street are old but colorful Sino-Portuguese-style townhouses.

This relatively short-distance walking street is jam-packed with shops, food stalls, and cafes. Besides shopping and eating you can enjoy shows from street performers.

An easy way to come to this place is by using a taxi service, local bus, or self-driving. The average distance from famous beaches is around 15-30 km

Chillva Night Market

Famous among locals, Chillva Night Market is a weekday night market open from Wednesday - Saturday, 5 pm until 11 pm. The place formed by a cluster of cleverly recycled containers and consists of many shops where you can buy local food, clothes, shoes, and other stuff. 

There are also has small bars and restaurants build from containers.

You can enjoy basic local food like seafood, grilled meatball, and sausage, fried chicken, fruits or you can challenge yourself with various kinds of fried insects.

In the center of the market is an open auditorium where you can enjoy live music or you can go to the Chillva Retro area located at the backside of the market where is less crowded and you can order some drink or light food and snack and sit any table around the area.

The market is within 20 km of famous beaches and you can go there using a taxi service or self-driving.

Indy Night Market

Popular among local teenagers and young adults, the Indy Night Market has its unique characters and a lot of energy.

Located beside Limelight Avenue Phuket, Dibuk Road the small but lively market opens from Wednesday to Friday, 4 pm to 10:30 pm. 

Here you can find many unique handmade products like flip-flops, bracelets, bags, and more at very affordable prices. Also, you can find artists who can draw your caricature or portrait in minutes. In conclusion, the market is ideal for buying a unique souvenirs.

Other things you should not miss are food and drinks. Here you can find every style of food from local ones like the famous papaya salad, various kinds of BBQ, some Chinese and Japanese food. For beverages, you should try sugarcane juice, orange juice, or traditional coffee and tea. Alcoholic beverages also can be found.

The market is within 20 km of famous beaches and you can go there using a taxi service or self-driving.

12.Visit Phuket Old Town

Today, Phuket is a famous tourist destination and tourism is the major industry of the province. However, in nineteenth century, the most important business of the province is tin mining. There were thousands of Chinese laborer came to the island to work with European mine owners and created cultural harmony of Thai-Chinese-European.

That is why you can see lots of Sino Portuguese buildings in the Phuket Old Town along with Chinese Shrines and Buddhism Temples. 

Tourists can take a half-day walking tour around the relatively small town to explore lively and colorful shophouses offering food, drinks, and souvenirs. 

Famous streets of Phuket Old Town

• Thalang Road: Sunday Night Market, China Inn
• Dibuk Road: Tiem Chu (colorful shop houses), Lock Tien Food Court, Raya House
• Soi Romaness: Beautiful shop houses, former red-light district
• Phang Nga Road: Shrine of the Serene Light, Memory at On On Hotel, tailors, art galleries
• Ranong Road:  Phuket City Market, Thai Airways Heritage House, Jui Tui Shrine
• Krabi Road: Thai Hua Museum 

 Phuket Old Town is only 10 km - 20 km from famous beaches and it's highly recommended for tourists who love to learn the history and culture of this wonderful province.