Every year Phuket is visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists from Russia. Although most of them come to the island on charter flights, there are also many tourists who organize their trip to Phuket on their own. In this article, we will talk about how to organize an independent trip and not depend on tour operators. The story will also be devoted to independent excursions around the island and to neighboring areas. You will learn not only how to arrange a holiday in Phuket on your own, but also understand how you can organize trips around the island and other entertainment yourself.
How to get to Phuket on your own
If you certainly decide to go to Phuket on your own, then you need to independently perform the following important steps:
1. Buy flights to Phuket on suitable dates
2. Book a hotel or several hotels for your dates
3. Buy insurance
4. Solve the issue with transport
In principle, there is nothing complicated in all this, but those people who first decided to organize a trip to Phuket on their own may face many questions. In any case, we will briefly analyze each stage. independent organization holidays in Thailand.
We buy tickets
The largest selection of air tickets to Phuket are residents of Moscow, who can get to the island as direct flight Aeroflot, and on flights with connections in Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Guangzhou and other cities. Of course, the direct flight option is preferred in most cases, but the Qatar Airways option is also worth considering due to the short connections and convenient arrival times in Phuket.
In any case, to find all flights, we recommend using the Aviasales search engine, which makes it possible to find all the cheapest flights on a selected route for certain dates. From the proposed options, it remains only to choose the most suitable one and buy tickets online. The purchase is made on the website of one of the most reliable agencies for the sale of air tickets. The Aviasales service can also be used to search for tickets from other cities in Russia, but if the system does not provide any options for your city, then you can try to search for tickets from some neighboring cities that you can quickly get to.
Booking a hotel
Currently, there are a lot of hotel booking systems, so you should not limit yourself to one Booking. The best way- using a hotel search engine that works in the same way as the Aviasales service, that is, it gives prices for hotels of many booking systems. This allows you to save time, as you do not have to search for hotels in all booking systems and compare prices. All information will be collected in one place, and you will only have to choose the appropriate option and make a booking.
If you want to rent a house, then you need to use some kind of accommodation booking service.
Buying insurance
The issue of insurance is very important, since medicine in Phuket is quite expensive. In addition, the presence of insurance allows you to feel more confident before traveling to Thailand.
Personally I am in Lately I always buy insurance from the Tripinsurance insurance company, because I consider the Mondial assistance (it is the assistance, not the insurance company that provides you with assistance abroad) one of the best in the world, and of the insurance companies I know, only Tripinsurance sells insurance with this assistance. Fortunately, I didn’t have to check the effect of insurance on myself, so I can’t give a review about the work of insurance and assistance, but the fact that Mondial is often praised by tourists speaks volumes. True, the cost of insurance in Thailand from Tripinsurance is quite high, but almost all insurance companies sell insurance to Thailand with a higher coefficient.
If you want to buy insurance from some other company, we recommend using the Cherehapa service. This service allows you to find insurance for the specified parameters, which is very convenient, since you do not need to waste time shoveling the websites of the insurance companies themselves. In addition, when buying on Cherehapa, some insurances are cheaper than when buying on the official website of the insurance company.
Book a transfer
When all the basic documents are ready, you can start booking a transfer from the hotel. Of course, you can just fly to Phuket, get out of the airport and take a taxi, but if you want to pre-book a car that will be waiting for you near the airport, then you can use the Kiwi taxi service. This is probably the most famous Russian tourists service for booking a taxi abroad, which works great in Thailand. You only need to choose the beach or city where you decide to stay and choose the right car. After that, all that remains is to enter data about you and your flight so that the driver knows when to come for you. The name and surname are needed for the sign that the driver will hold when he is waiting for you at the airport.
What to see in Phuket on your own: attractions
Arrange yourself self-guided tours in Phuket is not difficult, as you only need to determine the places you want to visit, find out where these places are and how to get to them. After that, you can plan a route around the island.
Self-guided tours have one big advantage over group tours - your activities will not be limited by the excursion program. In other words, you can spend as much time as you need in the place you are interested in, and you can go to places where you could not go during a group tour.
As for the prices for self-guided tours, when using rented vehicles (especially bikes), they are usually lower than the cost group tours. But still, you need to carefully look and compare in order to understand which option is more profitable for you. Tours should not be avoided just because you want to organize everything yourself, as sometimes a tour can be more attractive in some respects of the options, for example, if you do not plan to rent a car or bike.
Now it's time to talk about what you can see on your own in Phuket.
What to visit in Phuket on your own
Interesting places in Phuket that you can visit on your own are located in different parts of the island, so it would be right to make several one-day routes, during which you can visit sights located close to each other.
For example, you can make the so-called southern route during which you can visit places such as observation deck near Kata Noi beach (this site offers a beautiful view of the beaches of Karon, Kata Yai and Kata Noi), Promthep Cape and its observation deck, Big Buddha Temple, Wat Chalong Temple, Phuket Aquarium, observation deck at Cape Panwa. There are other places in this part of Phuket such as fish market and a children's park in the Rawai area.
It would be logical to make the second route around the city of Phuket and its environs. Phuket Town has a wide variety of attractions, as well as several major shopping centers. In addition, from here you can quickly get to the zoo or go to other places located near the capital of the island. You can also go to the attraction "Flight of the Gibbon".
The third route can pass through the northern part of Phuket. There are several temples, several beautiful beaches, national park Sirinat, as well as a place on Mai Khao Beach, where you can watch planes coming in to land.
Where to go from Phuket on your own
If you want to explore not only the island of Phuket, but also neighboring areas or even countries, you can independently go to the islands near Phuket, to the mainland of Thailand, and even to neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Singapore. We will talk about a trip to the islands a little later, but for now we will talk about where you can go in mainland Thailand.
The three most interesting areas located near the island of Phuket are Krabi Province, Khao Lak National Park and Khao Sok National Park with the famous Cheow Lan Lake. All these places can be reached independently, but not on a scooter. The province of Krabi can be reached both by bus (runs several times a day from the Phuket Town bus station) and by ferry (also runs several times a day). You can get to Khao Lak on your own by bus. Every day there are several buses from Phuket Town to Takua Pa town and these buses pass through Khao Lak. Before national park Khao Sok can be reached by intercity bus Phuket - Bangkok, but you still have a long walk to go. Therefore, it is better to go to Khao Sok by a rented car, or buy an excursion (there are 1- and 2-day excursions with an overnight stay on Lake Cheow Lan).
How to get from Phuket to the islands on your own
There are many islands near Phuket that are of interest to tourists. The most popular of them are Phi Phi and Similan. Can I drive to these islands on my own? Yes, but independent trip to Similans is possible only at high cost, since there are no ferries to these islands, and a trip on a rented boat will be very expensive. So, the Similan Islands are definitely worth going to just for a tour.
As for the trip to the Phi Phi Islands, you can get yourself to the main island of Phi Phi Don by ferry, which runs several times a day. The cost of the trip will be small - 600-800 baht one way per person. However, if you want to go from the main island to Phi Phi Lay (the famous Mai Bay is located here) or Bamboo Island, then you will have to pay someone from the locals a few thousand baht. So, if you just want to see the Phi Phi Islands with your own eyes, then it would be logical to buy an excursion, the cost of which starts from 1300 baht per person. If you plan to pay attention to the study of Phi Phi Don Island (for example, during a one-day excursion there is no climb to the observation deck, which offers a beautiful view of the narrow isthmus of Phi Phi Island) or you want to spend a few days on this island, you can actually use the ferry.
Some other islands near Phuket, such as Koh Lanta, Koh Kradan and Koh Lipe, can also be reached by ferry, but you will have to make stops at other islands. There are also water transport, which runs between Phuket and the islands of Yao Yai, Yao Noi and Cocos Island. And sometimes for guests of some hotels on these islands a free transfer is provided.
Can I get to Coral Island and Racha Island on my own? As far as I know, there is a shuttle service for hotel guests on these islands, and if you just want to visit Coral island and the island of Racha and spend a few hours here, it will be more profitable to purchase an excursion. Moreover, there is an excursion that includes a visit to both islands at once.
Self fishing in Phuket
Can I organize my own fishing in Phuket? Certainly! On an island with a large number of fishing villages, there will always be someone who wants to take you on a fishing trip. And sometimes fishermen do not require a lot of money. However, it is much easier to organize your own fishing from the shore, since you will not need to negotiate with someone about a trip to the open sea. You just need to buy everything you need for fishing, learn about the most fishy places on the island and get to them on your own.
Finally, we will give you a couple of tips from experienced travelers to help you organize your trip to amazing island in the south of Thailand.
1. When booking flights with a connection, you need to look not only at the price, but also at the duration of the connection. It may happen that you spend quite a lot of money during the connection (for example, on food at the airport, which is quite expensive), and as a result, more cheap flight with a long connection will cost you more than a flight with a short connection.
2. Independent travel in Phuket gives you a lot of freedom in terms of choosing hotels. Remember that you are not required to stay in the same hotel.
3. It is not necessary that a stay in a cheaper hotel will cost you less than a stay in a more expensive hotel. There are hotels in Phuket that are located away from restaurants and cafes, so you may have to spend more money on food.
4. When buying insurance, it is important to pay great attention to what kind of assistance this or that insurance company works with. It is worth determining for yourself those options that must be in your insurance, and only after that start searching for suitable insurance.
5. Even experienced travelers who have traveled half the planet on their own do not refuse excursions if they meet their requirements. Do not try to visit all the places on your own, as it is often a better option to buy a guided tour.
After relaxing on the beaches of Phuket () and visiting interesting places on the island (), you can get ready for the road.
On the road along the road leading from the island (through the Sarasin Bridge) to the continent - after all, Phuket is an island.
You need to rent a car to travel.
If you could get by with a scooter to travel from beach to beach in Phuket, then for a trip outside of Phuket you need a more reliable and comfortable means of transportation.
- details how to do it.
Save on your own, and the health of loved ones is the last thing.
Pilai beach
Silver sand, silence good hotels and villas are not for everyone
Natai beach
Khao Lak
Resort north of Phuket Khao Lak located 70 km from Phuket Airport.
It takes about 40 minutes by car.
The road is easy - all the time straight.
Holidays in Khao Lak, by the way, are cheaper than in Phuket.
Housing, food, shops, laundry services are somewhere around 30-40 percent cheaper than on the tourist beaches of Phuket.
There are several beaches on Khao Lak and all of them are marked on the map above.
I tried to write in detail about this place.
And although I was on Khao Lak in the rainy season, I liked it here.
Somehow at home here, cozy and quiet.
In general, if you are tired of some Patong in Phuket - in Khao Lak you will rest from the crowds and noise.
Khao Sok National Park and Cheow Lan Lake
This place is not so far from Khao Lak.
Therefore, you can combine a trip from Phuket by visiting these two places.
Cheow Lan Lake- This is a reservoir.
After the construction of a dam on the river Klong Saeng the space between the castra (limestone) rocks was flooded along with several villages.
including the village Ban Chiew Lan(chimneys of houses can be seen above the surface of the lake).
The village of Khao Sok is used as a base for visiting this reservoir.
The bulk of housing is located in the tourist village of Khao Sok.
The lake is 60 km from here.
Those who want to live on the lake can stay in floating huts on Cheow Lan - they are called here rafthouses.
There are few amenities in the houses: a mattress on the floor, a mosquito net and a kayak for rent.
But there are also worthy options for floating housing on Cheow Lan Lake, for example 500 Rai Floating Resort- houses on the water are civil, with a shower, with air conditioning.
It should be noted that Cheow Lan Lake is very popular with Thais, so you need to book a rafthouse well in advance.
I decided to write a lot about those places that I haven’t visited for a long time, since I’m going to Thailand beyond the sea and the beach.
The quality of both in Phuket suits me completely.
What can not be said about the places listed below.
Similan Islands and Surin Island
The Similan Islands are located in the sea opposite Khao Lak.
Surin Island is slightly to the north and closer to the continent.
I was in the Similan Islands at the beginning of 2000 and even then this place was a pilgrimage for organized tourist groups.
Currently, as people who have recently been there write on the forum, the islands and the sea around are teeming with groups of Chinese tourists.
For those who do not like crowds, I do not recommend going there.
Can buy sightseeing tour from Phuket to Similan Islands ()
Those who are trying to get to the Similans not with a tour, but on their own, write about ways to get to the islands.
In short - from Khao Lak 20 km pier Tab Lamu Pier. From it go to the Similans passenger boats.
Housing on the Similans presented campgrounds ()
Phi Phi Islands
Famous and popular place.
The Phi Phi Islands became famous thanks to the film with the participation of DiCaprio "The Beach".
The film was partly filmed in the most famous bay of a desert island. Phi Phi Le, after expelling all tourists and boaters from it.
To complete the picture, the film crew needed to remove part of the dune, covered with ugly vegetation. For this, filmmakers were kicked out of the island and fined.
I can’t say anything about this place - I was last here in 2003.
But a tour to the Phi Phi Islands is popular with tourists.
You can buy on every corner in Phuket.
inhabited island Phi Phi Don presented on booking.
For those who want to live in small island, which is visited daily by thousands of tourists from Phuket and Krabi.
Phang Nga National Park
For those who like to walk through the jungle to Thai waterfalls and take a boat ride among the hummock-shaped islands that Phang Nga Bay is full of.
If you go from Phuket, then after the Sarasin Bridge, the park immediately begins - you just have to turn right, to the east.
Pastime here is mainly designed for those who rent a kayak or like to join rafting.
Krabi: Ao Nang, Railay, Tup Kaek
This place is east of Phang Nga Park.
It takes 2-3 hours from Phuket by car.
Krabi province is famous for its beaches Reilly(lovers of rock climbing stop there) and the place Ao Nang where most of the tourist accommodation is concentrated.
More remote part of Krabi - Tup Kaek.
This is a beach, I even have a review about it:.
Ao Nang is used as a base for trips to the islands where you can swim.
You can swim in Ao Nang itself, but the sea is shallow and therefore dirty.
The islands of Chicken, Buddha, Bond - again, all this is in the descriptions of tourists who write reviews about Thailand on the forum.
Hot springs in Krabi: There are many places around Krabi town where you can take a hot bath and drink a cup of coffee.
Joking aside, there are people in the tropics who want to get into hot water. For example sources Natta Vari(Nattha Waree Hot Springs), Krabi Hot Springs or Hot Springs Waterfall with a cascade of natural baths with mineral water.
The cost of the entrance ticket is 80 baht.
Koh Lanta
An island of hippies that is trying to bite off part of the tourist flow to Phuket and Koh Samui.
For what?
It used to be quite legal to smoke weed here.
Mostly European bums and drug addicts stayed here.
Then they began to develop business, attracting another public - richer.
The thing is going.
Villas appeared on Lanta - I stayed in one of them and.
I did not like the sea and beaches on Koh Lanta.
But there are lovers of this place - they say that it is cheap here. And by the way, for many, this is the main indicator.
Well, my review on the forum about Koh Lanta is called:.
5 /5 (28 )Due to the fact that the island has one that accepts international flights (which means direct flights from the Russian Federation for us), Phuket is considered one of the most popular resorts Thailand. But geographical feature, a large number of dissimilar beaches and developed tourist infrastructure are not the only advantages of the island. Phuket is so huge that it has been given the status of a separate province, which is why its name does not use the Thai word Koh (island). And for independent tourist there is always something to see in Phuket on those days when he gets tired of sealing and the monotony of vacation days.
You can buy a tour, either from your hotel guide(but it is always more expensive) if you are on a package tour, or choose on your own in one of the street travel agencies.
Constantly asked to advise proven local agency which I have used myself. I advise: . Large selection of excursions, including in Russian. It is convenient that you can write to them via messenger, and place an order directly on the site.
Big Buddha
Temple Big Buddha on Mount Nakaked above Chalong is notable for a huge statue of a seated Buddha, located at an altitude of more than 300 meters above sea level. The construction of the temple with an almost 50-meter statue began in 2008 with donations from the local community, and is still ongoing. An excellent panoramic view of the beauty of the island opens from the observation deck near the statue, although I would not call this viewpoint the best in Phuket, and the popularity of the place has significantly affected its attendance - the people are dark.
Botanical garden in Phuket
Quite a pleasant place where you are given the opportunity to get to know the mass of tropical plants of Thailand in the open air, in the format of a tropical garden. The place is spacious, with kilometers of footpaths, nooks and cul-de-sacs - you will walk up to your heart's content. Great for spending the hot time of the day, and if you really want to, you can rent a bungalow at the hotel, which is located right inside the garden, near a small artificial pond. Besides Botanical Garden you can also see a roughly similar attraction - the Butterfly Garden.
Chalong temple
Wat Chalong Monastery is located in the south of Phuket and is one of the most famous Buddhist monasteries of the island. The first written mention of Wat Chalong dates back to 1837. Most tall building Monastery - Chedi Phra Mahathat, keeps a particle of the ashes of the Buddha, a gift to the King of Thailand on his 72nd birthday from the government of Sri Lanka. The architecture of the monastery amazes with its purely oriental quirkiness of forms and brightness of colors. Every 15 minutes, the monks set off firecrackers to ward off evil spirits. The tower of the monastery offers a great view of Chalong. All together creates an amazing and unique atmosphere of this place. Separately, I advise you to visit the deserted and atmospheric. It is located on a mountain, from where a beautiful view opens.
Viewpoint Karon
A noisy and crowded place, very popular among tourists, which is included in most sightseeing tours of Phuket. Large parking lot, equipped pavilion for visitors, some traders and photographers with birds, in general - the usual tourist place with unusual beautiful scenery. The observation deck overlooks the beaches of Kata, Kata Noi and Karon. It is worth coming here just to see this beauty with your own eyes. In addition to the lookout, I recommend to go to, it is very close there. During the day, it may not be necessary, but before sunset - at sunset, there will be a very pleasant view for drinks and food.
Viewpoint on Rang Hill
A pleasant place on top of Mount Rang, not with a panoramic view, but 180 degrees will be quite enough for positive emotions. The place is much more attractive than Munky Hill, and it also has its own local jungle monkeys that you will come across on your way up. The view opens up to the valley with Phuket Town, it looks especially attractive at night, under artificial lighting. Admission is free and available 24 hours a day. In addition to the observation deck, I recommend going to the neighboring "attraction" -.
Observation deck at Khao Khad tower
Khao Khad View Tower is a three-story tower that was built solely for one purpose - to get a complete panoramic view. Really 360 degrees. The tower stands on a high gentle hill, has a large parking lot at the base. There are also shops where you can buy sweets or simple snacks, with which it is pleasant to hang down on the bench of the third tier, looking at the azure horizons. The place is not the most popular, but very worthy and is considered one of the best viewpoints in Phuket.
Observation deck at Cape Promthep
One of the most popular and easily accessible viewpoints in Phuket. In addition to the fact that Promthep Cape itself is an interesting natural attraction with an excellent view, there are also a couple of historical and religious attractions: Brahma's sanctuary with a whole herd of elephants of various sizes and a military lighthouse with free admission, where you can climb for a wider view. The place is crowded, beautiful and deserves at least one visit. In addition to Promthep Cape, you can also visit a similar attraction -.
Bang Pae Waterfall
The largest waterfall in Phuket is Bang Pae. It is located in the northern part of Phuket, on the territory of the Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, in the Thalang area. The water in it does not flow down the wall and does not break into thresholds, but classically falls into a stone bowl from a 15-meter height. You can and should swim in the bowl if the number of people in the reservoir allows. Bang Pae in Phuket is the most picturesque waterfall on the island, perfect for walking and relaxing. On the way to the waterfall, you can look into the gibbon nursery, although I would not go there a second time - a dull sight.
Thai boxing
Muay Thai is part of the culture and the national sport in Thailand. Unlike regular boxing, almost any punches are allowed in Thai - this is a much tougher type of martial arts than the rest. At the beginning of the last century, the windings on the hands of boxers were sprinkled with crushed glass and iron, often the fights ended in death. There are many places in Phuket where you can watch real fights. The cost of tickets is quite high, but for those who are interested in such spectacles, it will be very interesting to visit at least one of the Muay Thai arenas. This is not only a fight, but also a kind of art, with complex accompanying rituals.
Flight of Hanuman
Hanuman is the monkey god in case you didn't know. And “Flight of Hanuman” is an exciting attraction on a zip-line, where everyone can feel like a monkey and fly over the jungle, clinging to ropes stretched between trees with a special cable, getting their dose of adrenaline. The longest flight is about 400 meters, the height above the ground is up to 40 meters. The adventure is quite safe, but such an experience will be remembered for a long time and will give a lot of impressions.
snake farm
The snake show is a popular attraction in Thailand. Including in Phuket, where there are several snake farms. The most famous of them is located near the Chalong ring. The snake show lasts 45 minutes. In addition, you can see the serpentarium and take pictures with a python. The farm has a shop selling snake skin products (belts, wallets, wallets), as well as medicines from snake venom.
Safari Kok Chang
Elephant safaris have been around for quite some time and are held in the jungle between Rawai and Kata beaches. Lasts from 20 minutes to an hour. During the safari you can see beautiful beaches Phuket - from Kata Noi to Karon. Elephants can also be fed.
A slightly tired zoo, which, however, copes with its main task - to entertain children in Phuket. Adults will hardly like the zoo, the place is very simple, without pathos. Animals are shown both in enclosures and in the format of prepared shows with tricks and even some kind of semantic plots. The visit will take several hours, you won’t want to come here a second time, but with all that said, Phuket Zoo is many times cooler than Phuket Zoo. True, the price tag at the zoo is insane.
What to see around Phuket
Phi Phi Islands
Phi Phi is a group of six islands located in the Andaman Sea, 48 km from Phuket. The most famous island is Phi Phi Ley and Maya Bay, it was there that the film "The Beach" with Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed in 1999. This is the most popular attraction and one of the symbols of Thailand. Beaches around the islands good weather look simply fantastically beautiful: snow-white sand, emerald sea with clear water and sheer cliffs. From Phuket to Phi Phi you can come with one day tour. Especially the tour is suitable for lovers of beaches and natural attractions.
Khao Sok National Park and Cheow Lan Lake
Khao Sok National Park is one of the largest and most famous national parks Thailand, located 160 km from Phuket, on a narrow continental isthmus that separates the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. One of the most beautiful places park - mountain lake Cheow Lan (Cheow Lan). Other sights of Khao Sok also make a strong impression: sheer karst cliffs, a tropical forest, with a huge number of different types of plants, mountain rivers and waterfalls. The territory of the Khao Sok National Park is well equipped, there are roads, guesthouses, cafes and marked trails for walking. In my opinion, this is the most interesting and unusual place in the south of Thailand.
James Bond Island
Phang Nga Bay National Park is islands and rocks of a bizarre shape in the form of pillars, with grottoes and caves in which stalactites hang from the ceiling, tropical vegetation and greenish-azure water create unique landscapes, as if from a fantasy world. One of the most famous islands The national park is called "James Bond Island", since one of the films about the world-famous spy was filmed there. Most of the islands in the park are uninhabited; many have caves and tunnels leading to hidden lagoons. The best way to see the park is by boat or kayak, and the cheapest way to get there is by sightseeing.
national park and paradise With the best beaches western coast of Thailand. Due to its isolation on the islands, and the seasonal closure for nature restoration, the Similans are and remain heaven on earth. The stunning color of the sea, snow-white beaches, tropical islands and the transitions between them on boats - all this leaves unforgettable emotions and aesthetic pleasure. This is the best thing that can happen to you in Thailand, if you, of course, came here for the beauty of nature.
Similan Islands
Things to do in Phuket? All the main attractions of Phuket, map, description and photo. Some of the places you can see in Phuket on your own, and some are better to take a tour. Business in Phuket works a little differently than ours. And often the tour turns out to be more profitable than going on your own and buying a ticket at the box office. What can you see in Phuket?
Where to buy excursions in Phuket
Excursions in Phuket can be bought in several places:
- In street agencies - cheap, but the quality of excursions may not be very good, most likely the language will be English;
- The tour operator is expensive, but all the guides will be Russian;
- Online - cheaper than a tour operator, Russian guides (for example,.
Province and Phang Nga Bay
Phang Nga Province is a province in the northeast of Phuket Island. It can be distinguished by picturesque nature, blue bays and green rocks jutting out of the water. According to tourists, this is one of the best attractions in Phuket. There are also islands inhabited by rare animals. To see the province of Phang Nga from Phuket on your own, you can take boat trip at any travel agency on the street.
The most famous tourist island in Phang Nga Bay is James Bond Island, or Koh Ta-pu in Thai. And the area around James Bond Island is fantastic, like in the Avatar movie. Now in the peak season there are a lot of tourists here.
The province of Phang Nga includes about 100 islands, most of which are bizarre in shape. James Bond Island became famous after the release of the James Bond movie in 1974. There are many nature reserves around Phuket, and the island is also protected. Boats are forbidden to come close due to its precarious position – big size at the top and small at the bottom. You can view James Bond Island from a boat or from a small beach on Koh Ping Ghan.
Near James Bond Island, you can kayak through the coves and grottoes. If you take a tour to this island, then it is often combined with a visit to the island of Koh Panye (Koh Panyee) - a neighboring fishing village on stilts. The only negative is that in addition to you, a couple of hundred more tourists will be brought here. But when the tourists leave, Koh Panye closes its restaurants and shops and turns into a quiet fishing village.
To see the bay and Phang Nga province from Phuket on your own, you can rent a boat from the pier for 2000 baht for 3-4 hours. The boat can accommodate up to ten people.
The nature here is really fantastic. The location of the bay itself is also interesting. Phang Nga Bay is protected from the northeast and southwest monsoons. Its waters remain calm all year round.
Old Phuket Town
If you decide what to see in Phuket on your own then head to Phuket Town. You can get there on blue buses, all flights go through Phuket Town. Prices in the city are lower than in beach resorts. Therefore, tourists like to come here to go shopping and visit the markets.
In Phuket Town, you can find buildings in the Sino-Portuguese style. The city center is decorated in light colors with different shops. Tourists and newlyweds come here to take pictures. The very heart of Phuket Town is Soi Rommanee Street, where there are many shops, cafes and macaroons.
Interesting bars, guesthouses and cafes are open in the ancient buildings of Phuket Town. Here you can enjoy a calm evening and atmosphere. Be sure to take your camera with you.
Thai families have been living in these colorful buildings for generations. Most of them have Chinese roots, so here you can see houses with red lanterns and dragons. Most establishments in Phuket Town open after 18:00. On Sundays, the famous works on Thalang Road. Soi Romani hosts live jazz performances during the high season from November to April.
If interested Attraction Phuket in Thailand and real Thai life, then come to Phuket Town.
Bangla Road, Patong Beach
The Buddha cost 30 million baht to make and is 45 meters high. There is a smaller statue next to it, made of brass, and there is also a temple. The road to the Big Buddha passes through the "real" Thailand and the view from above is impressive, especially if you take a map with sights and find them on it, looking from above.
Opening hours: 08:00 – 19:30. Most interesting time on the observation deck near the statue of the Big Buddha during sunset, at about 18:30. How to get there: on the way to Chao Fa Road East near Chalong. There are red and white signs along the way. After turning onto Soi Yodsane, follow the signs for the next 6 km uphill.
Wat Chalong and temples in Phuket
What to see in Phuket? Of course, his famous temples. (or Wat Chalong in Thai) is located in the heart of Chalong and is considered the most important temple in Phuket. Hundreds of tourists flock to this temple every day. Wat Chalong is one of the main attractions on the whole island of Phuket. As in others popular places, there are crowds of tourists. brought here from sightseeing tour around the island. A lot of Chinese. Therefore, I recommend coming here in the morning or late in the evening. Most tourist groups arrive between 10 am and 2 pm.
Around the temple there are several souvenir shops, you can buy soft drinks and fresh fruits.
How to get there: Wat Chalong is located about halfway between Chalong and Phuket Town on the West Road. There are many signs along the way showing the way in English and Thai.
Simon Cabaret Show Patong Beach
What else to do in Phuket? Simon Cabaret is probably the biggest transvestite cabaret show in Phuket. This show is known for the most beautiful shemales. Judge for yourself - these are men. Can you tell them apart from women? The show itself is colorful, the costumes of the artists are chosen just fine. Simon Cabaret is one of the most outrageous spectacles in Phuket. True, the artists sing through a phonogram, and on stage they simply open their mouths beautifully. In total, more than 100 artists participate in the show.
And this is not all that you can see in Phuket.
Every evening shows are held at 18.00, 19.30 and 21.30.
Spend a day (or two) on Phi Phi Leh Island
Another one next to Phuket island attraction— Phi Phi Lay. This desert island, which is located 1.5 km from the southern tip of the island of Phi Phi Don. This is a very picturesque place white sandy beaches and sheer cliffs, the tops of which are covered with green vegetation. Most tourists get to Phi Phi Ley during organized tour from Phi Phi Island. You can also rent a boat for an independent trip.
Phuket FantaSea Show
Fantasy is a professional show featuring acrobats, gymnasts and animals. If you don’t know what to do in Phuket, come to the most spectacular theater on the island, Fantasy Show. It opens its doors at 17.00 every day, and on Thursdays at 20.30. Location: Kamala beach.
Lookouts in Phuket
If you are interested in visiting the sights in Phuket on your own, then go to the observation deck and make interesting photos. The highest observation deck in Phuket is Radar Hill. But there are also many smaller venues around the island. One of them is on the way to the Big Buddha.
Thai Boxing (Muay Thai). Patong Beach - Chalong
Considering Phuket what to see and reading reviews of Thai boxing, we can say that it is rapidly gaining popularity. This dangerous contact sport is based on respect and tradition. In Phuket, you can visit Thai boxing competitions with well-trained martial artists. The most famous stadium is located right in the center of Patong.
Phuket attractions on the map
If you want to visit the sights in Phuket on your own, interesting places are marked on the map. To get directions, you need to click on the icon in the upper right corner of the map. The map will open in the Google Maps application (you must install the application in advance) and will automatically plot a route to interesting places from your location.
So these were sights of Thailand in Phuket, reviews of tourists. If you are interested in Phuket, I also recommend reading other articles:
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