Once you visit Phuket, you will never want it to end! You might also feel that you’ve left a fragment of your heart at the beautiful island.
Phuket is the largest island in Thailand and the best place to visit if you are looking for golden sandy beaches, a vibrant nightlife, a cultural and gastronomical experience like never before.
Getting There
The Journey can begin from your nearest International Airport to Suvarnabhumi International Airport (Bangkok), followed by a connecting flight to Phuket International Airport. You might be able to find direct flights to Phuket as well depending on the city you live in.
Staying in Phuket
Your trip can be as luxurious as you’d want or budget-friendly – the options are endless. You can either choose to experience living by the beach or if you feel like you need a culture rush, stay in Old Town Phuket. Some of the popular beaches to stay are:
We ended up staying in one of the hotels on Patong Beach, which is the heart of Phuket and the epicenter of all activities. When in Patong, make sure to take a walk through the vibrant Bangla Road. It is filled with lively bars, a bustling nightlife and lip smacking street food. Soak in everything that Patong has to offer.
Food in Phuket
Phuket is a food lover’s paradise! You will be spoilt for choices. It could get difficult if you’re a vegetarian but there are options to get by. If you are a non-vegetarian, your options are endless.
Some of the highlights for us were:
Pad Kra Pow – This is a sweet, savory and spicy dish made with stir fried holy basil and your choice of meat, with a side of white rice. This is a must try when you’re in Thailand.
Pad Thai – Thailand’s national dish! Sweet & savory, this will make your palette dance. Made with flat rice noodles, which is then stir fried with eggs, fish sauce, dried shrimp and your choice of meat.
Good ol’ Fried Rice – Probably the best fried rice we’ve had in a while. Every restaurant in Phuket serves this and you should definitely give this a try.
Seafood – Thailand has some of the best and freshest seafood in the world. If you are looking for a slice of the ocean, do not hold yourself back on gorging on Lobsters and crabs and all things seafood.
Fruits were a highlight for us! You can find fruit carts lined up on the streets. Feel free to pick up some fresh fruits and snack on them while you are strolling through the streets of Phuket.
5-Days Itinerary for Phuket
Day 1
Arrival
Once you land in Phuket, take a taxi from the Airport to your Hotel. You can book a prepaid taxi from the counter at the Airport. Check-in to your hotel and depending on the time of the day, relax on the beach, watch the beautiful sunset over the Andaman Sea.
Day 2
Visit Wat Chalong Temple
A grand pagoda, containing wall paintings, depicting the life of Buddha, and Poh Than Jao Wat, one of the most important buddhist statues, are the key attractions here.
The 45 meters high, impressive white Burmese marble statue of Buddha offers breathtaking views of the Island. The Big Buddha Statue can be seen from any part of southern Phuket. Experience sunset from Big Buddha.
Return to your hotel and have the rest of the evening to yourself. Relax on the beach and the watch waves, or sip on some cocktails while getting a foot massage. When it’s nighttime, walk through the vibrant Bangla Road and experience nightlife like you’ve never before. Soak-in the craziness!
Day 3
Island Hopping – Maya Bay
Your tour operator will pick you up from your Hotel and take you to one of the piers, depending on the type of boat you’ve booked (luxury speedboat vs long tailed boat). You embark on a journey to your first stop, Maya Bay. Experience the white sandy beach with crystal clear blue water. The operator then takes you on a boat ride to a few caves on the Island. We were not allowed to disembark the boat due to regulations but you get ample time to dive into the ocean and swim. You will be able to go snorkeling as well!
Phi Phi Islands
For lunch, you will head to Phi Phi Islands. I would recommend carrying your own food instead of having lunch at Phi Phi. The quality was not at all good. The island was good but crowded. We did not stay overnight at the Island but I’ve heard from the locals that the island comes to life at night since the tourists leave by sunset and all of a sudden, it’s not crowded anymore.
This day-tour will end before sunset. Sunsets should be exclusively experienced from the beaches!
Day 4
Beach hopping and Phuket Old Town
Take a taxi to explore the other beaches in Phuket, such as Karon and Kamala. The vibe is different in every beach. Grab some food and drinks and just laze around.
In the evening, take a taxi to Phuket Old town. If it’s a Sunday, you are lucky since the streets of Old Town are lined with lights and street food and decorations. It will feel like a carnival. Fill yourself with some amazing shrimp cakes, barbecued pork and chicken, noodles and beer.
Day 5
Departure
Bid adieu to the beaches, depart with lots of pictures and memories. Maybe a promise to visit again!
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