Ask anyone who has been to Phuket, “what’s the first word that comes to your mind when you hear “Phuket”? Most of them would probably reply, it’s “excitement” in an excited tone! Most certainly that is the case for us. The island in southern Thailand offers the most gorgeous beaches, stunning islands, pulsating nightlife and plethora of fun activities to immerse in. And quite a few interesting things to explore that are not talked about as much. Here is our account of the tropical wonderland that Phuket is, and where we had one of our most exciting trips.
An exciting October in Phuket
On a lovely evening in October 2018, we flew in from Bangkok to the Phuket International Airport. After about an hour’s bus journey, we checked into a budget hotel not-far from the Patong beach. We were really happy to find Thailand a super affordable place. The hotel we stayed in costed us only Rs. 800 ($10) per night! The room was spacious and comfortable; and the hotel was neat and clean.
However, in Phuket it was never going to be about the room. So, we hardly took anytime to freshen up, and were quickly on our way to explore the town!
Our days in Phuket were long, and nights longer with so much to explore! While we would explore the city and engage in island hopping during the day, in the evenings and late nights, we would walk around the party destinations and engross in street food by the beach. Indeed exciting times!
Phuket : an exciting tropical paradise
With more than 30 beaches, pristine forests/ hills and an abundance of flora & fauna, Phuket is truly an exciting tropical paradise. On the south east coast of Phuket island is the beautiful medieval town of Phuket. And on the south west of the island is Phuket’s most exciting beach town- Patong. It was here in the 1970s, Phuket’s first beach bungalows had come up paving the way for large scale tourism. From a backpacker’s haven in the early days, it has now become one of the most sought after destinations in the world.
For more Thailand destinations, read: Chiang Mai, Death Railway (Kanchanaburi).
Best Beaches:
Phuket offers exciting trips for everyone as it has both happening party beaches and idyllic serene beaches to rejuvenate the battered bodies & souls. On one hand it’s a great weekend destination, and on the other, it’s perfect for a long slow stay in the hinterlands.
Choosing a favorite beach is a tricky affair, especially because everyone has their own reason/ preferences. However, here are some of the prominent ones: Freedom beach, Kata beach, Rawai beach, Surin beach, Banana beach, Laem Singh beach, Bang Tao beach, Karon beach, Mai Khao beach and Kamala beach. Patong beach is the closest to the area popular for night life.
(Read about some Indian beaches: Goa || Coastal Karnataka)
Island hopping
Undoubtedly why Phuket was one of our most exciting trips was going on an island hopping boat ride. There are two major circuits in the Andaman sea- the Phi Phi island tour and the James Bond island tour. We chose the Phi Phi islands. One can visit Phi Phi islands either from Krabi side or Phuket side. Somehow, Phuket enticed me more! Maybe the stunning images that I saw on Instagram that influenced my decision.
We booked the boat ride in the evening for the next morning. The destinations included in the day trip: Khai Nui island (snorkeling), Phi Phi Lay, Maya Bay, Loh Samah Bay, Phi Phi Don island (lunch), and evening at Khai Nok island. The price for the boat ride included 2 times snacks and lunch.
Here we go!
They picked us by a mini-bus from our hotel next morning around 7:30 AM, and took us to a pier (Laem Nga) near the Phuket old town (about 45 minutes drive). At the pier, it was quite an extraordinary scene with hundreds of tourists arriving to take their respective boat rides.
They welcomed us with some kind of traditional cool drink. Without much waiting, we were on our way to one of the hundreds of parked boats at the pier. Along with some 30 more tourists from across the globe, we boarded the boat for an exciting ride in the Andaman sea.
Our hostess was a super charged young woman with all the right knack for entertainment. Party music, jokes and some cool drinks greatly complemented the wonderful sights of the unique landscapes in the sea.
Maya Bay:
Owing to those visuals from Instagram, I was visualizing those hills/ mountains spread across the Maya Bay. It was then that the hostess announced our entering the Maya Bay area. In seconds, those hills sprung up here and there in front of us, and soon they were all around us. It looked like a magical place with huge expanses of water crisscrossing the uniquely shaped hills. Perhaps the only other Bay that can match the beauty of the Maya Bay is the Ha Long Bay (a UNESCO world heritage site) off the coast of Vietnam.
Snorkeling:
The boat anchored in the waters somewhere near the Khai Nui island off the coast of Phuket, and I knew that it was for snorkeling. It was my first experience of snorkeling. The water was cold (not too cold to swim though), but absolutely transparent for sighting underwater lives. I wish I had an underwater camera to capture those beautiful little sea creatures swimming or stuck to the rocks beneath the surface of water.
Phi Phi Don Island:
As per plan the boat stopped at the Phi Phi Don islands for lunch and a longish break. Such an amazing island! An absolute treat to the eyes. A particular view is still fresh in my memory- two hills at some distance positioned in such a way that they looked like forming a gate to pass through to the paradise! (picture above)
The island consisted of clean beaches, verdant hills and some beautiful resorts. However, the thing I loved the most was its fascinating boats with long tails (picture below). In fact, they were the first eye-catching things for me in the pictures of Phi Phi island on Instagram.
The lunch was just okay. After stuffing our bellies, we went on a little walk around the island- its small market place, and into the woods a bit. Honestly, we didn’t want to leave the island. But we were on a guided trip, and soon our time was up!
Khai Nok Island:
On the way back, they stopped over at another small island called Khai Nok island. The water there looked even more transparent and torquoise. The sunset was absolutely charming. I have not seen a more beautiful beach-sunset than this. There didn’t seem to be any habitats or resorts there except for the temporary food stalls for the tourists. We enjoyed about an hour on the island, and then boarded the waiting boat again.
Phuket's exciting night life
Phuket trips are famous for their exciting, pulsating nightlife. The Bangla Walking Street or the Patong Walking Street near Patong beach comes to life especially late in the night. After 9 PM, all roads seemed to lead to the Bangla Street only. It was quite extraordinary to watch the night time adult-entertainment industry up close.
The whole street was lined up with tens of night clubs, pubs and bars with scantily clad pretty girls dancing on high pedestals. Men and women, young and old alike walked the street enjoying the music, and of course the sight! The bars and clubs were all full. The predominantly pink and red neon lights made the place looked fascinating.
Phuket beyond the beaches and exciting nightlife
Phuket trips are indeed far beyond the gorgeous beaches and exciting nightlife. There are quite a number of interesting things to do and places to explore around the main Phuket island.
Old Phuket town is lovely with centuries old Sino-Portuguese buildings lining the streets of Thalang, Phang Nga and Dibuk. The Patong beach town is touristy. Patong main beach and Freedom beach are major hang out places. The local market is interesting to explore.
Spas and massage parlors:
Quite expectedly, there were a large number of spas and massage parlours- some cheap ones, and some expensive. But they all seemed to be doing good business. In fact, Phuket trips are always considered exciting for these spa centers.
We tried aromatic body massage at one place which was not too expensive and not too cheap. The experience was just okay; we have experienced better quality for less in India. Really didn’t understand the hype around spas in Thailand!
Cultural hotspots:
The Big Buddha statue is a must-visit place. Besides, we were especially amused seeing the statues of Buddha and Ganesha in the street- corners and in front of houses. We noticed that Kick boxing was a big draw among the locals. Maybe if we knew this in advance, we could have planned to watch a match there.
Travel tips for an exciting Phuket trip
When to visit:
Being a tropical country, weather in Thailand remains hot and humid from April to October. So, the best time for exciting trips to Phuket is November to March (light winters). We visited in October, and it was still quite hot then. It was not at all pleasant in the afternoon, though the evenings were nice.
How to reach:
- Phuket has an international airport, connected with major cities of the world. Otherwise, one may take a flight to Bangkok, which has tens of flights to Phuket everyday.
- Or, take an overnight bus from Bangkok. Takes 12- 14 hrs (850 kms).
Where to stay:
If it’s a weekend trip, or just for a few days, it’s good to stay in Patong or Phuket old town. But for longer stays, one would prefer other quieter places/ beaches like Kata or Karon.
As I said earlier, Phuket (and Thailand in general) is a budget friendly place. One would find super cheap hotels and guesthouses on Airbnb, Booking.com, Hostel.com, Makemytrip.com, etc. However, just for the sake of convenience, let me list down a few nice budget hotels.
Near Bangla Road: Patong Mansion hotel | Amici Miei hotel | The Natural Resort | Black Pearl Patong Beach | Patong Princess hotel | Red Planet Patong | Baipho Lifestyle | Nirvana Inn.
Other places: Manohra Cozy Resort | Sabaidee Residence | Ban Nueng | Kata on Sea | Z Nite hostel |
How to move around:
Tuktuks are the best way to move around the towns; they are cheap and available just everywhere. There are passenger bikes as well who would drop you for even cheaper. For places outside the towns, rental cars (songthaew) are good. Mini buses operate between main towns as well, especially to/from the airport.
Where to eat:
Food is a major reason why Phuket trips (and Thailand in general) are exciting for travellers. Thai food is loved all over the world. So, definitely tourists have a great time gorging on the delicious food for cheap. Popular dishes include Thai steamed dumplings, Tom yum goong (shrimp soup), Pad Thai (Fried noodles), Som tam (a papaya salad), Thai green/ red curries (my favorite), Thai pancakes, Ice cream sandwiches and Rolled ice creams.
Honestly however, we found it difficult to adjust to the authentic Thai flavour, though we love Thai food in India (because they make it as per our tastebuds).
However, it’s not a great place for vegetarians; they would hardly find anything to their liking. I (vegetarian those days) had to really struggle to have any food without some non-vegetarian element in them! Most of the times, I had to depend on breads/ buns and fruits bought from the omnipresent 7-11 stores. Surprisingly though, once we found a south Indian restaurant at the heart of Patong’s Bangla walking street!
Some other helpful tips:
- Be respectful of the Buddha. Dress appropriately at the temples.
- Royal family is revered; don’t indulge in public criticism.
- Patong is infamous for sex trafficking, drugs and prostitution. It’s good to be careful and keep away from these activities.
- As it’s a tropical zone, mosquitos are a problem, though malaria/ dengue are not common. However, it’s always good to have your mosquito repellant creams and/or liquids.
- Be careful of contaminating the Zika virus.
- On the beaches, especially in the monsoon, be careful of the rip currents and undertows. Look for red/ yellow flag signs on the beaches.
- Avoid animal tourism by choosing not to go for elephant rides or other such things; these involve animal cruelty.
Before I wind up...
I had heard and seen a lot about Phuket that prompted me to plan for a trip. And it lived up to the expectations, and more. Island hopping, beach life, nightlife, interesting places, and cultural experiences; it had everything. Phuket indeed was one of our most exciting trips ever!
Though it’s famous for being a party destination, if one chooses the right activities and places of accommodation, it can be a blissful sojourn. Though we engaged in touristy things on our first trip, if we choose a second time, we would love to stay in a peaceful resort in an island enjoying its natural beauty.
Thai food and culture is versatile and interesting. Though we did explore a lot of cultural hotspots in Thailand, we couldn’t do as much in Phuket. We also couldn’t explore the old town properly. Thus, it’s definitely worth a second, slow travel.
Have you been to Phuket? Do share your experience with us.
Rupali
Reading your blogs encourage me to pack my bags and make a move.
stampedmoments
That’s so good to know!
But just let us know….you never know, we might be ready to pack our bags too! hahaha…
Thank you so much!
Jayvanti
Beautiful places very nice pics
stampedmoments
Thank you! 🙂
Sandip
Wonderful✨😍
stampedmoments
Thank you! 🙂
Soumen Chatterjee
Truely said With more than 30 beaches, pristine forests/ hills and an abundance of flora & fauna, Phuket is truly a tropical paradise. A variety of beaches can be seen Freedom beach, Kata beach, Rawai beach, Surin beach, Banana beach, Laem Singh beach, Bang Tao beach, Karon beach, Mai Khao beach and Kamala beach. Patong beach is the closest to the area popular for night life. The The major attraction what I read about Phukhet is going on an island hopping boat ride. There are two major circuits in the Andaman sea- the Phi Phi island tour and the James Bond island tour. We chose the Phi Phi islands. One can visit Phi Phi islands either from Krabi side or Phuket side.
Thee beauty of the Maya Bay is stunning. A lot to know about Snorkeling.Phi Phi Don Island is an amazing one I guess.The island consisted of clean beaches, verdant hills and some beautiful resorts. At Khai knok Island the water there looked even more transparent and torquoise. The sunset was absolutely charming.The night life at Phukhet is also amazing. Beyond island and night life there are many other things to see. I truely loved the read and blog.
stampedmoments
It’s always a pleasure hearing from you.
Thanks for your encouraging words, always.
Falguni Trivedi
Wonderful… Your blogs are very informative.. love to read it
stampedmoments
Glad that you read, and find them useful.
Thanks a lot for your encouraging words.
RANJIT KUMAR SINGH
Beautifull places and very nice Pictures
stampedmoments
Yes Ranjit! Such a lovely place!
Thanks for the feedback 🙂
Dr Milind Sable
Sir & Madam, Thanks in advance for this great information as we have to start journey for Phuket in next year. This can be much helpful for the people like us.
stampedmoments
So glad to know that you find the article useful!
It’s an amazing place; you will surely enjoy.
Let us know if you need more information.
Dharmendra Patra
Lovely sites with the natural beauty of Thailand. Really amazing for the wonderful tour you had spent.
Thanks for sharing.
stampedmoments
Such a pleasure having the first feedback from you!
Thanks a lot, Dharmendra. Keep connected 🙂
Sara Hevia
Fascinating trip
I loved yor photos and info
I only want to see all that you visit and take that tour to Phi Phi
Thanks for the tips
stampedmoments
Yes, Sara, that boat trip to Phi Phi island is worth visiting at least once in a lifetime.
Thank you so much for reading, and sharing a feedback.
Nancy Lessnick
Looks Amazing! Hope to go soon. Thank you for the information!
stampedmoments
Heyyy! Nancy! Thanks again for showing up.
Means a lot.