Phuket conjures an image of Eden on earth. Laden with miles upon sandy miles of beaches and strewn with karst limestone formations that jut vertically out of turquoise waters, Phuket satisfies a traveler’s definition of tropical paradise: The 2000 film “The Beach” sealed the image of Phuket as an adventurer’s summer mecca.
But there is more to Phuket than “The Beach”. Because Phuket is an island (Thailand’s largest), the beaches get more than their fair share of limelight. Beyond sun, sand and surf however lies a jewel in the Andaman Sea that beckons not only with the mundane but also with the sublime.
Below are the top 10 things to do in Phuket if ogling lines of bikini bottoms start to bore you.
1) Canoe, cruise or sail Phang Nga Bay
Phang Nga Bay was made famous by the 1974 James Bond film “Man with the Golden Gun.” Ko Tapu, or more famously known as the James Bond Island, was the tropical hideout of Scaramanga, Bond’s nemesis in this film. More than its association with the 007 franchise however, the real appeal of Phang Nga Bay is its marvelous lagoons, cave systems (Suwannakuha Cave has a reclining Buddha), sheer limestone cliffs and dramatic rocky outcrops that dot its 400-square-kilometer real estate. Drop anchor at Koh Panyee, a village of sea gypsies on stilts. Don’t forget to party hard in Koh Phi Phi Leh (the actual site of The Beach) or sip cocktails while the sun sets.
2) Scuba dive and snorkel
Underwater sports are obviously a must-do in an island surrounded with teeming marine life. Some of the best dive sites are found on the western coast of the island, considered by many divers as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world. Patong Bay is friendly for beginners, while Phang Nga, Ko Phi Phi, Kata, Koh Dok Mai and the Similan Islands are for those who have built their confidence underwater. Advance divers may want to test their mettle at Racha Noi and Racha Yai where currents are stronger and depths greater. For their courage, divers are rewarded with frequent sights of manta rays and sea turtles. Ao Sane and Meridien beaches also offer loads of marine attractions while Naiharn is not only vastly wealthy underwater but also secluded. Hin Daeng is renowned for its steep wall filled to the brim with fantastic sea life and Hin Muang is unique for its violet corals.
3) Get a massage
In the same way that it is a moral imperative to eat pizza in Naples, Italy, so is getting Thai massage in Phuket. Nothing beats getting gently stretched and pummeled in a quiet beach with the sea breeze blowing and the palms rustling.
4) Temple-trek
Wat Chalong is one of Phuket’s highly revered Buddhist temples, with about 40 others scattered all over the island. Kathu Shrine is home to the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, while Big Buddha on Nakkerd Hill is a shrine that serves both a place of worship and a strategic viewpoint to Chalong Bay and Kata. Aside from Buddhist temples, Phuket also boasts of Taoist places of worship like Jui Tui Shrine and Rua Shrine. Take note of the ornate contrast between Buddha relics and dragon statues.
5) Stroll Bangla Road, preferably after-dark
Far from being the Las Vegas of Thailand, Soi Bangla is nonetheless as hedonistic as America’s Sin City. Undeniably the thumping heart of Phuket nightlife, Soi Bangla overflows with restaurants, disco houses, shops and adults-only Go Go bars! It would be safe to conclude that Bangla Road is enclave to LGBTs not just of Thailand but of the world. Rest rooms here are often marked girl, boy and “katoey” (ladyboys). More than just the venue of ostentatious parade of preferred sexual orientation, Bangla Road’s Go Go bars also feature extraordinary exhibitions of female talent ranging from just unbelievable to downright out of this world.
Check out where to stay when visiting Phuket.
6) View Phuket from up high
More than just a visual delight on ground level, Phuket is likewise a feast for the eyes from an elevated standpoint. Take a pick from one of these Phuket viewpoints: the Big Buddha on Nakkerd Hills, Karon, Laem Promthep, Naiharn/Yanui, Radar Hill, and Khao Kad View Tower at Cape Panwa.
7) Indulge in retail therapy and street food
Thai fresh markets are known to be tolerant of ‘grazers’ who can have their fill by flitting from stall to stall and sampling all that is offered for free. The weekend markets are equally colorful and crowded, and offer a glimpse of authentic Thai life. For souvenirs and items of interest, the Central Festival Shopping Mall is a great place to start, while the Indy Market is a night bazaar for everything cool and creative. A covered market along Thepkasatree Road is Phuket’s version of Costco and Tesco where everything unbelievably cheap can be bought (hence the name, SuperCheap).
8) Eat like a Thai
For a mature tourist destination, and an island at that, Phuket never runs short of beachfront restaurants and seafood centers that tickle the palate and leave a gaping hole in your wallet! For cheaper eats, find restaurants where Thais flock to. The menu is no less sumptuous, but the prices are definitely easier on the budget. For those with iron stomach, sample hard-core Thai menu in thatched-roof restaurants at the Southeast Coast, on the eastern side of the mangroves.
9) Follow the Sino-Portuguese trail at Old Phuket Town
Old Phuket is the colonial heart of the city, especially along Thalang Road. (Thalang was the old name of Phuket and was the main town when tin mining and rubber harvesting were the main industries from 16th until 19th century.) Here, in the middle of the town, you can see mansions that are being restored or are still to be restored, and are clearly Portuguese and Chinese in architecture. Muslim and Chinese shops also abound, a rare find when you just linger on the beaches.
10) Explore jungles
Although Phuket’s beaches get an unfair share of world fame, it does not mean Phuket the province has zero forest cover. On the contrary, Phuket is hilly and therefore canopied. Khao Phra Thaeo National Park is a 23-square-kilometer virgin rainforest that is home to rare flora and fauna as well as host to postcard-perfect waterfalls and just-blazed hiking trails.
Phuket’s Newest Attraction – Upside-Down House and Maze
For a fun and extra unique experience in Phuket you will have to check out the latest attraction, Baan Teelanka. “What a feeling, walking on the ceiling,” is exactly what you will be exclaiming as you wander around the upside down house with furniture hovering over your heads! Dance, walk, or crawl your way on the ceiling from room to room making memories and taking pictures to share with your friends and family.
The crazy upside down house isn’t all Baan Teelanka has to offer. As soon as you’re ready for some fresh air, just walk out back and get lost in the garden maze. A labyrinth that winds around for a half mile will entertain your mind as you try to figure your way out of the puzzling garden.
This is Thailand’s first and only upside house and garden maze, and it’s fun for all ages. Baan Teelanka is conveniently located on Bypass Road and open daily from 10 am- 6 pm. Entry fees are 150-200 baht for Baan Teelanka and 100-150 baht for A-Maze-in-Phuket.
