Things to Do in Phuket: The Ultimate 2026 Guide to Thailand's Largest Island

No visit to Phuket is complete without a day trip to the Phi Phi Islands, a cluster of six islands roughly 45 kilometres southeast in the Andaman Sea. The journey itself — cutting through turquoise water past towering limestone karsts — is breathtaking before you even arrive.

The star of the archipelago is Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh, the crescent-shaped cove that was temporarily closed for ecological recovery and has since reopened with strict visitor limits. Arriving early via speedboat (before the large tour boats) gives you the best chance of experiencing the bay's crystalline waters without heavy crowds.

Beyond Maya Bay, the islands offer world-class snorkelling at Loh Samah Bay and Pileh Lagoon, where the water is so clear you can see fish from the boat deck. On Phi Phi Don, the only inhabited island, you can explore the viewpoint trail for a panoramic vista of two sweeping bays separated by a narrow isthmus.

Our Phi Phi Islands speedboat tours depart early from Phuket's eastern marinas, ensuring you beat the crowds and have more time in the water. A licensed guide explains the marine ecology and ensures ethical snorkelling practices — no touching coral, no feeding fish.

Phang Nga Bay is one of the most dramatic seascapes on Earth. Over 40 towering limestone karsts — some soaring over 300 metres — erupt vertically from emerald-green water, creating a landscape that feels prehistoric and surreal.

The most famous formation is Khao Phing Kan, better known as James Bond Island after its appearance in 'The Man with the Golden Gun.' The slender needle rock (Ko Tapu) rising from the shallows is one of Thailand's most photographed landmarks.

But the real magic of Phang Nga lies beyond the postcard shots. Guided canoe excursions take you through sea caves (hongs) — collapsed limestone chambers accessible only at certain tides — where you paddle beneath stalactites into hidden lagoons surrounded by vertical jungle walls. The silence inside these hongs, broken only by birdsong and the drip of water, is one of Phuket's most extraordinary sensory experiences.

Visit the floating Muslim fishing village of Koh Panyee, built entirely on stilts over the water, where families have lived for over 200 years. Learn about their unique way of life and sample fresh seafood cooked by the villagers themselves.

For the full Phang Nga Bay experience, we recommend a full-day tour that combines canoeing, James Bond Island, Koh Panyee, and swimming at a secluded beach.

Perched atop the Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata, the [Big Buddha](/thailand/phuket/big-buddha-phuket) is Phuket's most iconic landmark. The 45-metre-tall white Burmese marble statue is visible from almost anywhere on the island's southern half, but the experience of visiting in person is far more powerful than any distant view.

The ascent up the winding hillside road offers increasingly dramatic views of the island's southern beaches — Kata, Karon, and Chalong Bay — spread below like a living map. At the summit, the statue's sheer scale becomes apparent: it weighs over 135 tonnes and is covered in white Burmese marble that gleams in the tropical sun.

The site is an active place of worship. Visitors can tie coloured ribbons to the railing with a wish, listen to monks chanting, and explore the smaller golden Buddha images in the surrounding pavilions. The 360-degree panoramic view from the platform — encompassing the Andaman Sea, Phi Phi Islands on a clear day, and the lush interior of the island — is one of the best viewpoints in all of southern Thailand.

Practical tip: Visit early morning (before 9:00 AM) to avoid the heat and tour buses. Dress modestly — shoulders and knees must be covered (sarongs available at the entrance for free). Combine with a visit to Wat Chalong, just 10 minutes downhill.

While most visitors come to Phuket for beaches, the island's most culturally rich area has no sand at all. [Phuket Old Town](/thailand/phuket/phuket-old-town) is a beautifully preserved neighbourhood of colourful Sino-Portuguese shophouses, ornate Chinese shrines, and vibrant street art that tells the story of the island's tin-mining boom and the Chinese-Malay immigrants who built it.

The main streets — Thalang Road, Dibuk Road, Phang Nga Road, and Soi Romanee — are lined with pastel-coloured facades featuring European-style columns, Chinese carved wooden doors, and Thai Buddhist motifs. This architectural fusion, found nowhere else in Southeast Asia in such concentration, reflects Phuket's unique identity as a crossroads of Asian and European trade routes.

Explore the Thai Hua Museum to understand the tin-mining history that brought waves of Hokkien Chinese immigrants to the island. Discover hidden shrines like Jui Tui Shrine and Put Jaw Temple, where incense smoke and red lanterns create an atmosphere more reminiscent of Penang or Malacca than a Thai beach island.

The food scene in Old Town is legendary. Sample Hokkien mee (stir-fried noodles), moo hong (slow-braised pork belly in five-spice), and oh tao (oyster omelette) at family-run shophouse restaurants that have served the same recipes for generations. Every Sunday evening, Thalang Walking Street Market transforms the main road into a food and craft festival.

Thailand's relationship with elephants is complex, and Phuket has become a leader in the ethical elephant tourism movement. The island's best sanctuaries operate on a strict no-riding, no-performance policy, instead allowing visitors to observe, feed, and bathe with rescued elephants in a natural jungle environment.

At a reputable sanctuary, your experience begins with an educational briefing about each elephant's rescue story — many were previously used in logging or tourist entertainment. You then walk with the elephants through the jungle, feed them their favourite snacks (bananas, sugarcane, watermelon), and join them for a mud spa before watching them bathe in a natural pool.

At AsiaByLocals, we only partner with sanctuaries that meet international welfare standards: adequate land per elephant, veterinary care, mahouts trained in positive reinforcement, and transparent rescue histories. These experiences book out quickly during peak season (December–February), so advance reservation is essential.

Important: Avoid any facility that offers riding, uses chains, or stages elephant shows. These practices cause significant physical and psychological harm. If you see a facility advertising 'elephant trekking' or 'elephant painting,' it does not meet ethical standards.

Phuket's southernmost tip, Promthep Cape, is the island's most celebrated sunset viewpoint and one of the most photographed locations in Thailand. Every evening, hundreds of visitors gather along the railed clifftop terrace to watch the sun descend into the Andaman Sea, silhouetting the distant islands of Ko Man and the Racha Islands against a sky that shifts from gold to crimson.

For a less crowded alternative with equally stunning views, head to the Windmill Viewpoint (Ya Nui Viewpoint), just 2 kilometres north of Promthep Cape. From here, you can see Ya Nui Beach below, the wind turbines on the headland, and the same panoramic sunset without the tour bus crowds.

Other exceptional viewpoints worth visiting:

- Karon Viewpoint (Three Beaches Viewpoint): See Kata Noi, Kata, and Karon beaches in a single sweeping vista.

- Rang Hill (Khao Rang): Overlooking Phuket Town, this hilltop park is popular with locals at sunset and has excellent Thai restaurants at the summit.

- Radar Hill: The island's highest point (442m) in Sirinat National Park — accessible by scooter or car, offering views across the entire northern coast.