What to see in Phuket on your own - my list
Due to the fact that the island has your own airport, which accepts international flights (which for us means direct flights from the Russian Federation), Phuket is considered one of the most popular resorts in Thailand. But the geographical feature, a large number of dissimilar beaches and a developed tourist infrastructure are not the only advantages of the island. Phuket is so huge that it has been given the status of a separate province, which is why the Thai word Ko (island) is not used in its name. And for an independent tourist there is always something to see in Phuket on those days when he gets tired of the sealing and monotony of vacation days..
The content of the article
- one Russian-language excursions
- 2 What to see in Phuket
- 2.1 FantaSea Show
- 2.2 Phi Phi Islands
- 2.3 Khao Sok
- 2.4 Phuket Botanical Garden
- 2.5 Big Buddha Temple
- 2.6 Wat Chalong
- 2.7 Karon Viewpoint
- 2.8 Rang Hill Observation Deck
- 2.9 Observation deck at Khao Khad tower
- 2.10 Observation deck at Cape Promtep
- 2.11 Bang Pae waterfall
- 2.12 Thai boxing
- 2.13 Hanuman's flight
- 2.14 Snake farm
- 2.15 Safari Kok Chang
- 2.16 Phuket Zoo
- 2.17 James Bond Island
- 3 Phuket Attractions Map
Russian-language excursions
You can buy an excursion either from your hotel guide (but it is always more expensive), if you are on a tour, or choose on your own in one of the street travel agencies.
Constantly asked for advice from a trusted local agency that I used myself. I advise: Alpha Travel. A wide range of excursions, including in Russian. It is convenient that you can write to them through the messenger and place an order directly on the website.
Prices for excursions in Phuket>
+66622100091 (Whatsapp, Viber, Line, Telegram)
If you are not friends with left-hand traffic and driving a bike, then it is better to take a guided tour. For an entrance ticket and a taxi, you will still pay more in total than for a tour.
Of course, some interesting places can be reached by public transport, but entrance tickets with a guided tour will be cheaper than a ticket at the box office. Local agencies use discounts when purchasing tickets for the tour.
What to see in Phuket
FantaSea Show
Fantasea is one of the most popular and large-scale (park area - 57 hectares) show in Phuket. Combines elements of theater and circus. The target audience of the attractions is families with children, who will have a lot of space there. Acrobats, clowns, illusionists and gymnasts perform on the stage. The show involves not only people, but also animals: elephants, buffaloes, tigers and even goats. The performance based on an ancient legend lasts an hour and a half, photography during the show is prohibited. In addition to the show, a buffet restaurant with 4,000 seats - the largest in Southeast Asia - is of interest. In addition to the FantaSi show, you can also visit a similar attraction - the Siam Niramit show, which combines elements of a theater, circus, museum and restaurant.
Detailed description of the attraction - Show Fantasy and amusement park.
Phi Phi Islands
Phi Phi is a group of six islands located in the Andaman Sea, 48 km from Phuket. The most famous island is Phi Phi Lei and Maya Bay, where the film was filmed in 1999 «Beach» with Leonardo DiCaprio. It is the most popular tourist attraction and one of the symbols of Thailand. The beaches around the islands look fantastically beautiful in good weather: white sand, emerald sea with clear water and sheer cliffs. From Phuket to Phi Phi, you can come with a one-day tour. The excursion is especially suitable for lovers of beaches and natural attractions.
Excursion to Phi Phi, what is the best way to go
How to get to Phi Phi
Khao Sok
Khao Sok National Park is one of the largest and most famous national parks in Thailand, located 160 km from Phuket, on a narrow mainland isthmus that separates the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. One of the most beautiful places in the park is Cheow Lan mountain lake. Other sights of Khao Sok also make a strong impression: sheer karst cliffs, a tropical forest with a huge number of different types of plants, mountain rivers and waterfalls. The territory of Khao Sok National Park is well developed, there are roads, guesthouses, cafes and marked trails for walking. In my opinion, this is the most interesting and unusual place in the south of Thailand..
Detailed description of the attraction - Khao Sok and Cheo Lan - excursion, how to get, prices.
Phuket Botanical Garden
Quite a pleasant place where you are given the opportunity to get up close and personal with the mass of tropical plants in Thailand in the open air, in the format of a tropical garden. The place is spacious, with kilometers of pedestrian paths, corners and dead ends - you can walk to your heart's content. It is great for while away the hot time of the day, and if you really want to, you can rent a bungalow at the hotel, which is located right inside the garden, near a small artificial pond. In addition to the Botanical Garden, you can also see a roughly similar attraction - the Butterfly Garden.
Detailed description of the attraction - Botanical Garden.
Big Buddha Temple
The Big Buddha Temple on Mount Nakaked above Chalong is notable for a huge statue of a seated Buddha, located at an altitude of more than 300 meters above sea level. The construction of the temple with an almost 50-meter statue began in 2008 with donations from the local community, and continues to this day. An excellent panoramic view of the beauty of the island opens from the observation deck near the statue, although I would not call this viewpoint the best in Phuket, well, the popularity of the place significantly affected its attendance - the people are dark.
In addition to the statue of the seated Big Buddha, you can also see a similar attraction - Temple of the Reclining Buddha in Phuket - Wat Sri Sunthon.
Wat Chalong
Wat Chalong Monastery is located in the south of Phuket and is one of the most famous Buddhist monasteries on the island. The first written mention of Wat Chalong dates back to 1837. The tallest structure of the monastery - Chedi Phra Mahathat, keeps a particle of the ashes of Buddha, a gift to the king of Thailand on his 72nd birthday from the government of Sri Lanka. The architecture of the monastery amazes with its purely oriental quirkiness of forms and brightness of colors. Every 15 minutes, the monks set off firecrackers to drive away evil spirits. An excellent view of Chalong opens from the tower of the monastery. All together create an amazing and unique atmosphere of this place. Separately, I also advise you to visit the deserted and atmospheric Temple of Wat Sirey. It is located on a mountain, from where a beautiful view opens.
Detailed description of the attraction - Wat Chalong in Phuket.
Karon Viewpoint
A noisy and crowded place, very popular with tourists, which is included in most sightseeing tours in Phuket. A large parking lot, an equipped pavilion for visitors, some traders and photographers with birds, in general - an ordinary tourist place with unusually beautiful landscapes. The observation deck overlooks the beaches of Kata, Kata Noi and Karon. It is worth coming here just to see this beauty with your own eyes. In addition to the observation deck, I recommend to go to Heaven restaurant, he is very close there. In the afternoon, it may not be necessary, but before sunset - at sunset, there will be a very pleasant view with drinks and food.
Detailed description of the attraction - Karon Kata Observation Deck.
Rang Hill Observation Deck
A pleasant place on the top of Rang Mountain, not with a panoramic view, but 180 degrees will be quite enough for positive emotions. The place is much more attractive than Monkey Hill, and it also has its own local monkeys in the jungle, which you will come across on the way up. The view opens onto the valley with Phuket Town, it looks especially attractive at night, under artificial lighting. The visit is free and available 24 hours a day. In addition to the observation deck, I recommend going to the neighboring «sight» - View cafe Tunk Ka.
Detailed description of the attraction - Rank Hill Observation Deck.
Observation deck at Khao Khad tower
Khao Khad View Tower is a three-story tower that was built solely for one purpose - to get a full panoramic view. Realistically 360 degrees. The tower stands on a high, gentle hill and has a large parking lot at the base. There are also shops where you can buy sweets or simple snacks, with which it is pleasant to sink down later on the bench of the third tier, looking at the azure horizons. The place is tourist, but very worthy and is considered one of the best viewpoints of Phuket island..
Detailed description of the attraction - Kao Khad Views Tower.
Observation deck at Cape Promtep
One of the most popular and easily accessible viewpoints on Phuket Island. In addition to the fact that Promthep Cape itself is an interesting natural attraction with an excellent view, there are also a couple of historical and religious attractions: the Brama sanctuary with a whole herd of elephants of various sizes and a military lighthouse with free admission, where you can climb for a wider view. The place is crowded, beautiful and deserves at least one visit. In addition to Cape Promthep, you can also visit a similar attraction - Lookout at the windmill.
Detailed description of the attraction - Observation deck at Cape Promtep.
Bang Pae waterfall
The largest waterfall in Phuket is Bang Pae. It is located in the northern part of Phuket, in the Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, in the Thalang area. The water in it does not flow down the wall and does not break into rapids, but classically falls into a stone bowl from a 15-meter height. Swimming in a bowl is possible and necessary if the number of people in the reservoir allows. Bang Pae in Phuket is the most picturesque waterfall of the island, perfect for walking and relaxation. On the way to the waterfall, you can look into the gibbon nursery, although I would not go there a second time - a sad sight.
Detailed description of the attraction - Bang Pae waterfall.
Thai boxing
Muay Thai is part of the culture and national sport in Thailand. Unlike regular boxing, in Thai almost any kind of punches are allowed - this is a much tougher kind of martial arts than the rest. At the beginning of the last century, the windings on the hands of boxers were sprinkled with crushed glass and iron, often fights ended in death. There are many places in Phuket where you can watch real fights. The cost of tickets is quite high, but for those who are interested in such spectacles, it will be very interesting to visit at least one of the Muay Thai arenas. This is not only a fight, but also a kind of art, with complex accompanying rituals.
Hanuman's flight
Hanuman is the god of monkeys, in case you didn't know. BUT «Hanuman's flight» Is an exciting zip-line ride where everyone can feel like a monkey and fly over the jungle, clinging to the ropes stretched between the trees with a special rope, getting their own shot of adrenaline. The longest flight is about 400 meters, the height above the ground is up to 40 meters. The adventure is quite safe, but this experience will be remembered for a long time and will give a lot of impressions.
Snake farm
The snake show is a popular attraction in Thailand. Including in Phuket, where there are several snake farms. The most famous of them is located near the Chalong ring. The snake show lasts 45 minutes. In addition, you can see the serpentarium and take a picture with a python. There is a shop at the farm that sells snake skin products (belts, wallets, wallets), as well as snake venom medicines.
Safari Kok Chang
Elephant safari has been around for quite some time and is conducted in the jungle between Rawai and Kata beaches. Lasts from 20 minutes to an hour. During the safari, you can see the most beautiful beaches of Phuket - from Kata Noi to Karon. Elephants can also be fed.
Phuket Zoo
A slightly tired zoo, which, however, copes with its main task - to entertain children in Phuket. Adults are unlikely to like the zoo, the place is very simple, without pathos. Animals are shown both in enclosures and in the format of prepared shows with tricks and even some semantic plots. The visit will take several hours, the second time you will not want to come here, but with all that has been said - Phuket Zoo is several times cooler than Phuket Oceanarium.
Detailed description of the attraction - Zoo - prices, photos and show schedule.
James Bond Island
Phang Nga Bay National Park is a bizarre pillar-shaped island and cliff with grottoes and caves in which stalactites hang from the ceiling, tropical vegetation and azure green water create unique landscapes, as if from a fantasy world. One of the most famous islands in the national park is called «James Bond Island», since it was there that one of the films in the series about the world famous spy was filmed. Most of the islands in the park are uninhabited; many have caves and tunnels leading to hidden lagoons. The best way to explore the park is by boat or kayak, and the most economical way to get there is by excursion.
Detailed description of the attraction - Excursion to James Bond Island.
Phuket Attractions Map
Phuket landmarks
Phuket Attractions: