Thailand’s largest island and most renowned vacation destination, Phuket first attracted the limelight because of its glorious natural assets; crystal-clear waters, soft sands, and beautiful beaches as well as a lush green interior and cultural heritage as a trading post.
Adding to the spectacular landscape and coastline, Phuket is the perfect place for day trips on the water and has grown into a special vacation hotspot with plenty of activities, attractions, and adventures to discover, explore, and experience.
Otherwise, if you would like to simply relax and enjoy a quiet island holiday, that is possible too! There are many exclusive luxury resorts and hotels on offer as well as private luxury Phuket villa rentals located in some of the most stunning and secluded areas on the island.
Watch the below Phuket travel video to start imagining your next island holiday or continue to read the 5 reasons on why to visit Phuket.
Phuket has many appealing features and if you are looking for a tropical island holiday with a little something extra then here are 5 Reasons to Visit Phuket:
1. The Beaches
Nothing sparkles quite like a west-coast beach in Phuket. The white sands are soft under foot, the Andaman Sea shimmers and the sunsets are simply amazing. Whilst some beaches are high-energy with watersports on and under the sea, others are tranquil castaway shores where you can feel the warmth of the sun on your skin as connect with a deep sense of wellbeing.
The eastern coastline promises gorgeous sunrises and some private bays that have a secluded feel. West, Srinath National Park adds to Phuket’s natural allure too and is home to a number of pretty, protected bays.
Jet skis, banana boats, bars and restaurants; Patong has a busy, upbeat beach vibe with lots of bars and restaurants. Nearby Kata Beach and Karon Beach still offer places to eat and drink but are less frenetic.
If your beach scene involves a lounger in white sands and an undisturbed view across the Big Blue with a pristine coastline then Phuket’s North West is the beach beauty haven. Millionaire Mile is an upscale, laid-back stretch with luxury villas and incredible beaches including Surin Beach, Kamala Beach, Naithon Beach, and Bangtao Beach.
2. The Yachting Lifestyle
Phuket is the center of yachting life in Thailand and a major yachting destination in Southeast Asia and beyond. Phuket is a superyacht capital and also offers a wide range of yacht charters from bareboard to fully crewed. Part of the yachtie culture is enjoying al fresco dining on board or in a fabulous restaurant by the sea. Phuket, with its gourmet eateries and laid-back beachside bistros, is perfect if you love to be on, in or at least near to the water.
The sheltered coastline to the east, the wind across the Andaman, and the weather conditions in Phuket make it a perfect yachting location. Yachting is at the heart of Phuket culture with many big yachting events throughout the year which, in 2017, include the 14th Phuket Raceweek in July and the famed 31st Phuket King’s Cup Regatta in December along with the Thailand Yacht Show and the 17th Asia Superyacht Rendezvous in the same month. The next Phuket International Boat Show will be in January 2018 with The 21st Bay Regatta the following month.
3. The Nearby Islands
Island tours and island hopping are enjoyable ways to spend time when vacationing in Phuket. The Andaman Sea and Phang Nga Bay are dotted with tropical islands promising picturesque white-sand beaches that stud the velvety blue waters like sparkling diamonds. The experience is breathtaking and picture-perfect wonderful with each island offering a different character and its own unique beauty.
Nearby Phi Phi Island was once an extremely lost-in-paradise island and whilst it still retains its charming essence it is far from being secluded these days. The walkways round the island and hubbub create a fun island atmosphere.
The nine Similan Islands are perhaps best renowned for being a diver’s treasure trove and are some of the top scuba diving hotpots in the world.
Closer to Phuket, you can take a quick longtail boat ride or speedboat to swim and snorkel at Coral Island is just a few kilometers away or visit the two Racha Islands or the nostalgic vibe of the Koh Yao Islands. Just a 20-minute speedboat ride away are the clear waters of Khai Island, whilst closer still, just a couple of minutes away is Koh Bon, a rocky outcrop off the south of the island with a sandy strip.
Further out, toward Phang Nga Bay, on the way to Krabi, the limestone karsts can be spied jutting out of the sea majestically in all their natural glory.
4. Island Activities
Yachting; jet skiing; kite surfing; scuba diving; snorkeling; and deep-sea fishing; island life in Phuket is action-packed with outdoor activities. To balance, the island is home to many high-end spas for a more relaxed vacation lifestyle and taking a dip in a vacation villa infinity pool is about as active as some holidaymakers like to be.
Aside from beach activities, there are temples to visit such as the renowned Wat Phra Thong with its Buddha statue half buried in the ground with a fascinating legend to guard against anyone trying to dig up this unusual icon. The white Big Buddha sits on a hill overlooking the whole of the coastline over Chalong Bay and at 45 meters the statue is impressive and can be visited up close too. Phuket Old Town is full of small boutiques and cafes in Sino-Portuguese shophouses, while Monkey Hill takes you up in the hills to the land of macaques.
From the cultural theme show that is Phuket Fantasea to a visit to Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, Phuket is far more than a tropical island in the sun.
5. Night Life
Patong is the real party area of Phuket whilst Kata and many other vacation spots close to the shore boast some great bars and restaurants. Phuket is a fine-dining hub and has many award-winning restaurants and gourmet eateries. A favorite pastime when the sun goes down is a trip to Phuket Old Town’s Walking Street market which is packed with food stalls and souvenirs on Sundays as well as the renowned Phuket Weekend Market which opens both Saturday and Sunday creating a buzzing and exciting atmosphere.