The origin of the word Phuket is derived from the Malay word “Bukit” meaning hills. As the saying goes travellers from Malaysia came across this beautiful land through the sea route and they were spellbound by the miles of Hills guarding the landscape. It’s the largest island of Thailand and surely ticks all the boxes for a family destination. There are practically so many things to do and experience that you can come here time and again. In this blog, I will try and highlight some of the most popular ones which I hope will help you plan your family weekend.
Thailand is a very safe country for tourist unless otherwise, someone tries something outlandish. Even during a night out, it’s quite safe if isolated alleys are avoided and we stick to the crowd. Phuket is a perfect cocktail of outstanding beaches for a day out and a happening nightclub for a night out. In the recent past, direct flights have started operating from India, tempting me to make it my regular weekend destination. Do you want to join me on one of these excursions?
Where to stay?
This is probably the most intriguing question in a travellers mind because every online deal looks the best. I think the best way to answer is to first plan the itinerary and then choose the location in close proximity to the tours. Notwithstanding, let me highlight a few popular beaches to stay in and around it. These might not feature in the Top 5 in your online search but I am sure they are the most happening place in Phuket!
- Patong Beach- This is the most popular and populated beach in Phuket. The beach is brimming with sports activities throughout the day and as dusk falls it metamorphose into a land of music, food and party. The most famous lanes are Phuket Walking street and Bangla Road, which should be visited just to feel the pulse and energy oozing all around. Naturally, most of the real estate development has happened in and around this area. At any point in time, Patong would be always my first choice.
- Karon Beach: In terms of spending a day with friends and family I will always choose Karon over Patong. It’s more than 3 Kms in length and thus you will always be able to find your favourite spot even in the peak holiday season. Driving or walking on this beach road is an awesome experience as you see the blue waters dancing in white sands and happy people all around. This is the perfect beach for hanging out with friends and families. You have multiple eateries and options to play a bit of beach volley or indulge in sports with complete strangers
- Kata Beach ( HAT KATA- Thai): If you like to surf this is your beach. This is a beautiful beach with palm trees, soft white sand and beautiful blue waters in front. Perfect for the sun-seekers to have a field day
- Kamala Beach- Not frequented by too many holiday travellers thus allowing a lot more privacy. The long white sand beach and the green rainforest will surely refresh you. There are a lot of Luxury villas and resort available here. If you like to spend your holiday reading a book on the beach and taking the occasional swim across the fishing village, look no further.
Weekend Getaway Planner- 3 Nights 2 Days
Day 1
On landing at Phuket International airport and completing the immigration formalities pick up a local SIM. If you have a Locked version of an iPhone it’s better to pick up an International SIM in your home country. I have realised that it’s futile to do research on which service provider to pick as all are equally good, due to stiff competition. All I do is to enquire about the fastest Internet speed provider and go by the advice of the shopkeeper. Thankfully, so far I have never repented to this tactic.
The next thing you should do is get a Shuttle instead of a Taxi. The shuttle bus counters are easy to locate. This way you do save a few bucks. However, if you are a family with children travelling together, then a taxi might work out more economical.
Most direct flights from India reach early morning and thus an early check-in becomes a prerequisite. Thus, please speak to your hotel and if required pay extra if required. A sound sleep is definitely required to have a great day in a beach town. Notwithstanding, I am suggesting a relatively slow day on Day 1
Phuket is one of those unique islands where it is possible to miss a few places even after staying over a month. Nature has woven so much mystery all around this landscape. I am always tempted to unravel a few of these mysteries for myself. And the best way to achieve this is by hiring a 2 wheeler and go about exploring the island. . You would always find a paradise at the turn of the roads across the mountains.
In the daytime have a good sleep to overcome the fatigue of night travelling. Around lunchtime, walk out of your hotel to try out a cuisine of your choice. If you stay in any of the beaches which I mentioned above you will find options aplenty. In the evening head to Phuket Town and lovely and unique place providing a sense of real Phuket and its people.
Phuket Town:
Phuket town can be overwhelming as it is an amalgamation of people and their way of life. Each of the alleys has a story of its own and can throw spectacular surprises out of nowhere. Am I sounding mysterious?
A lot of tourists get allured by the beaches and do not spend enough time in Phuket Town. But I would surely recommend at least half a day here just to get the buzz in your bloodstream. This is one of the towns which has the best of old and new world charm. There are a number of shrines, amazingly preserved shophouses, new age quaint coffee shop and also public and private museum. It’s a riot of magic and colour which will be beyond our imaginations and the thrill of discovering hidden wonders will urge the heart to explore more.
The best time is to hit the streets on feet close to sunset and enjoy as the night falls and takes you way past midnight. I am a non vegeterian and love trying out local delicacies and I do reminise some of the best food I had here. But there are lot of cafe house for conservative foodie. I have sat on a few making new friends or read a book with the strong aroma of coffee in the air. I wish I could have stayed back in this paradise, meeting globetrotters and learning from them about their land and a new desire to travel there someday.
After Dinner you can head back to the beach where you are residing and welcome the next day early after a sound sleep.
Points to Note for Bike Rental:
- Do not hand over your original Passport at any cost. Let them take a photocopy
- The per-day rental is around 150-200 Baht. The prices reduce if a take it for a week and beyond. You need to also make a deposit which changes depending on the duration of the rental
- Check the vehicle properly and document the damages if any. Check the paperwork, especially the Insurance.
- Ask the fuel you will need to put in
- You need an International Drivers License and cops do check it quite regularly. Fine of 400 Baht if you fail to produce it.
- No drink and driving please else you will surely be in trouble. Please remember you are on holiday and not in your own town
- You are not supposed to drive in your swimwear. Though the cops don’t fine but better to follow the law of the land
Day 2:
Welcome the day early and after breakfast drive to the most famous monument of Phuket
Big Buddha ( Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Akenakir):
- Phra Phutta – Buddha
- Ming Mongkol- Gloriously honourable
- Ake- Top
- Nakir- Hill of Naka
- Opening Hours: 6 AM to 7 PM
- Entry Fee: Free.
- If you want to contribute to the building of the temple you can buy a marble slab and leave your message or donate in the donation box placed in front of the small statue.
No visit to the island of Phuket is complete without paying homage to the Great Buddha. The statue is atop the Nakkerd Hill facing the eastern side and thus welcomes the Sun over Ao Chalong Bay. The total height of this monumental structure is 45 meters where the Buddha is in a sitting position with half-closed eyes as he is welcoming the Sun. The entire statute is made of concrete and layered with Burmese white marble.
It’s a religious place so please dress appropriately by covering your shoulders. If you have worn an off-shoulder dress please ask for a sarong from the volunteers distributing it at the foothills of the statue
While the entire tour can be completed in less than 30 minutes I would recommend spending at least a couple of hours to soak into the peace and tranquillity of the surrounding and the spectacular 360 Degree view of the island of Phuket. On one side is the blue sea in all its splendour and on the other the green mountains providing the right contrast to the blue all around. It’s mesmerising and probably make one realise that the real joy in being close to nature supersedes all material gains we aspire for in our daily lives. Do you agree?
Now I am going to reveal a secret. About 750 metres from the entrance on the main road a small board can be found hidden behind the bushes. If you find it you will thank me forever. Please take a left from the board till you come across a viewpoint of Karon. I sincerely hope you find it and share your thoughts about what you discovered?
When I come here I also pay a visit to Mountain Breeze Bar & Restaurant about 3 Kms from the Big Buddha. It takes about 20 mins for my ride and is my favourite den for a wonderful lunch. I hope you will like it too and with a satisfied stomach by your side, you can drive to Wat Chaitararam about 20 mins from the restaurant
Wat Chalong ( Wat Chaitararam) :
- Opening Hours: 8 AM to 5 PM
- Entry charges: Free
There are 29 Buddhist temples comprising of the Wat Chalong temple area. I heard about these temples primarily because of the presence of a bone fragment of the Buddha inside one of the Pagodas. However, when I arrived here I learnt there are 2 temples that have equal significance dedicated to Luang Pho Chaem and Luang Pho Chuang who were instrumental in protecting the locals during the Chinese invasions.
As you enter the temple complex you will surely hear sounds of firecrackers bursting. This is well-controlled, as devotees are allowed to burst inside a small enclosure. This is done by devotees to let others know that their wish has come true. You would definitely hear it a few times during your visit
Please remember to wear clothes which cover your shoulder. The temple complex has a neat and clean toilet for devotees and tourists. On the backside, you can also find some small shops selling souvenirs and foods. Try out any fruit shake from the local stores and you won’t regret, especially because the Phuket sun can dehydrate you pretty fast
The next stoppage should be the Kata View point, now called the Karon View point. It would take between 20-30 minutes to reach here.
Karon/Kata View point: Kho Shaam Haad
- Opening Hours:24 hrs
- Entry Fee: Free
Earlier it was called Kata Viewpoint and the local guides continue to use the same name. This is an unavoidable location in the itinerary of any tourist. An ideal location for clicking stunning pictures and selfies to flaunt on the social media page. Half an hour is good enough to get your favourite poses across all the angles you can think of. But I would recommend hanging around for the sun to set and see the transformation of the blue and green changing to Orange. I will never miss it for anything in this World
If you are like me who still rely on the eyes to capture a moment and live with it then this beautiful landscape will etch on your memory for a long time. You will be able to see the three beaches of Kata, Karon and Patong in front of you. The magic of the green across the hills, the turquoise water of the sea and the blue skies will spell magic that might bring in a few tears to your eyes. I am really grateful that nature has bestowed us with such opulence and I am privileged to experience it
After an eventful day, it would not be a bad idea to visit the Kata beach ( 20 mins drive) and play in the sea till the light completely fades on the horizon. You will drive across the picturesque landscape with the sun setting in the silhouette. It’s pure magic
Next, head back to Patong and enjoy a good spa to rejuvenate for the night. After the spa take a good warm shower and you are ready to hit the Patong nightlife in Bangla Road
Bangla Road:
As the night falls and your heart wants to enjoy a night out, there is no better place for adult entertainment than Bangla Road in Phuket. There are innumerable pubs to hang out on with almost every alternate place have live music. Choose the one which catches your attention and enjoy while you finish a couple of drinks. After that head to “Roy” to dance the night away
If you are heading to the Ping pong show or any of the kinky stuff, stay on the main road. Please avoid getting into alleys for your own benefits. The more crowded a place the better it is. Use your common sense and judgement and listen to your heart. While it can be one of the lifetime experience, there are crooks waiting to make some quick buck from innocent travellers and make you repent for the rest of your life.
Party hard, eat well and be ready for another memorable day awaiting you.
Day 3:
- Phang Nga Bay- James Bond Island Day tour
- Cost: 1500 Baht onwards, all inclusive including transportation, lunch and entry tickets
There are multiple tours available to James Bond Island, which you can book online. Try out TripAdvisor or Agoda or similar reputed portals which will allow you to read on the reviews. Take a full-day tour which will comprise of bus transportation from your hotel in Phuket to Ao Poor Pier, which would be about a 45 minutes to 1-hour drive.
Phang Nga Bay is a National Park and I would request tourist to keep that in mind. Tourism is a boom to the economy and is essential to fund the protection of the eco-diversity. But, we all know the grave dangers we humans pose to the flora and fauna by being careless and reckless
Thailand is known for its hot sun and it would not give you any respite unless the cloud agrees to play some hide and seek. So please carry a sufficient amount of sunscreen and use it liberally. Please carry your own water bottle and fill it across multiple stops so that you do not have to use plastic bottles. Please keep yourself hydrated at all times. Consumption of alcohol is prohibited inside the National park and smoking too except for designated places. It is advisable to carry your swimming costume or wear something above your swimwear as there would be water splashing onto you in the boat depending on the tides
The Summary of the itinerary will be as follows:
- Pick up and Transportation to Ao Poorr Pier in a Bus
- Transportation to Phrang Nga Bay and Kayaking in High Sea with a guide
- Continue in Longtail boat to Kohen’s Talu island and Snorkelling there
- Continue to James Bond Island in Longtail boat
- Continue to Koh Panyi floating restaurant and have Lunch in Midsea
- Transportation to the Pier in Longtail boat
- Transportation to Wat Suhan Kuha ( Cave Temple) and Waterfall by bus
- Drop at your hotel or place of origin
The James Bond Island will be about 25 Kilometres from the Pier. In standalone, the James Bond island might look quite hyped. That’s a fact which I also agree with, but the overall trip is a great family entertainer.
Kayaking in the open sea will be a unique experience as you get up close and personal with the numerous Limestone mountain present in the sea. With a little bit of imagination, it would not be difficult to spot the figure of your choice formed by years of sea current on the Stalactite. If you want a bit of adventure do tip your guide who can surely take you to a cave where you will be welcome by sheer silence and not even the sound of the waves reach here.
To walk across the James Bond island will take you not more than 30 minutes. It would be good idea to trek it so that you can capture your best moments in the island
After the trek you would surely want to catch up on some food. The Longtail boat will take you to Koh Panyi which is called the Muslim village, where Lunch would be served. It’s a small village on the water. I have read about the presence of such huts in Vietnam and the Amazon basin but seen it for the first time here. The Lunch would be a treat for Non-vegetarians and vegan will have pretty limited choice. However, there are lot of shops to buy cookies and ice creams if the need arise
As you get back on land you will be taken to Wat Cuhan cave famous for the resting Buddha. The interior of the cave is quite humid and thus it is advisable to carry a bottle of water. If time permits take some time off to sit in one corner of the cave to experience the tranquility which comes with it. If you want you can buy some food for the monkeys and feed them, but please do so only at the designated place. Be cautious though and remember they are wild animals and thus maintain distance
The last stop would be Raman Waterfall that is more of a resting place to catch up on some snacks before heading back to your hotels. It is better to understand that it looks like a stream than a waterfall.
You can spend the rest of the day in leisure maybe hit the pool and catch up on some fresh beverages. You can check out and head to the airport depending on the schedule of the flight. But in case you have the night then do some shopping and catch a good meal before you bid Audie to this magical Land. Do not forget to return your 2 wheeler!
Recommending the restaurants I love in Patong
- Nicky’s Handlebar. Address: 41 Rat u Thit 200 pee rd Patong, Kathu District, Phuket 83150, Thailand
- Kitchen Bistro: Opposite the Entrance of Phuket Walking street, Bangla Road
- I would also recommend if you can visit the Promthepe cape which would be quite an experience too
If you want me to help you with more information and detailed planning of your tour to Phuket and Krabi feel free to reach me on journey@metrotter.com
Jee Gan Mai
