1. Island Hopping
If you're in a group, it’s recommended to charter a boat—you can go wherever you want, even to areas without tourists. You can snorkel freely, fish, and more. Last time, our group of about 12 people split the charter fee to less than 300 RMB per person per day. Lunch was included, and we caught a bunch of big, plump fish—the meat was super fresh.
For smaller groups, consider a island-hopping tour. Phang Nga Bay isn’t that interesting, but I recommend visiting the Big and Small Phi Phi Islands, Bamboo Island, and King’s Island. There are many combinations available, and you can usually visit 2–4 islands in one day. The water is crystal clear, perfect for snorkeling, and lunch is generally included. Chinese-language services for these tours are now quite good—you can book them in advance on Taobao or major travel websites.
2. Go to the Beach
Here’s a comparison of several beaches in Phuket:
Patong Beach: The most crowded and lively, but the water quality is just average compared to other beaches. Still, it’s much clearer than beaches in China.
Karon Beach: Fewer people and better water. You can take a tuk-tuk from Patong Beach—we paid 350 THB for 7 people, and the price is negotiable. The more people, the better the deal.
Rawai Beach: The water is also just okay, but nearby is the famous Rawai Seafood Market. Because of this, the beach still gets quite a few visitors.
Kata Beach: The water quality is between that of Kata and Patong, and it’s not too crowded.
There are all kinds of water activities to choose from at the beach. Parasailing costs around 200 RMB for a 10-minute experience. There are also jet skis and other options. When booking activities, try bargaining with vendors—but don’t expect huge discounts.
3. Jungle Bungee Flying
This is my favorite activity. I booked with “Flying Hanuman,” which offers 16-platform and 28-platform courses. I chose the 28-platform one for less than 450 RMB per person. The whole experience lasts about 3 hours, including hotel pickup. When placing the order, just provide your hotel name and choose your preferred time slot—usually there are 3–4 time slots per day. I picked the 10 AM slot, and they picked me up at the hotel around 9 AM.
Before flying, the instructor gives a detailed safety briefing in English, which is mostly understandable. The key is not to touch your safety gear—just trust the instructor when they say, “We can do everything for you.” The 16-platform course takes about an hour and a half and costs around 300 RMB. But once you’ve done it once, you’ll realize that just over an hour is definitely not enough. The 28-platform course is way more thrilling—you swing through the jungle like a monkey, and it’s suuuuper fun~
Each group is assigned 2–3 safety instructors, all locals, and they’re quite playful. They might stop you halfway and then fly past, kicking you to the end—hahaha~ Beautiful ladies tend to get teased like this~~
4. Massage (Thai Massage)
Of course, I mean massage~ There are massage shops everywhere on Patong Beach, lined up one after another. I went to the well-known Let’s Relax, and it lived up to the hype. The environment is nice, the techniques are solid, and the masseuses have strong hands... but it’s super relaxing.
If you plan to come at night, make a reservation in advance. You usually don’t need one during the day, especially around noon. A 2-hour Thai massage costs 800 THB, which is about 200 THB more than regular street massage shops, but the environment and service justify the price.Oh, and they also offer spa treatments, facial cleansing, and skin repair—all reasonably priced.
5. Explore Phuket Town
Many people come to Phuket just for the beaches, but Phuket Town is also worth a visit. The town center is a bit away from Patong Beach. We booked a private car for a day trip and visited a few places. We only spent a short time in Phuket Town’s old streets and wished we had more time. Though it’s not as trendy as Chiang Mai, it feels more natural and authentic. The local shops selling daily goods, fabric stores, and grocery stores all lack that overly commercialized tourist vibe.
If you enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of old streets, consider spending a full day in Phuket Town. No need to wake up too early, take a tuk-tuk here, have lunch, and stroll leisurely in the afternoon. After a day like this, you’ll realize that slowing down is the true way to enjoy a holiday.
6. Watch Muay Thai
Near Patong Beach, there are venues where you can watch Muay Thai fights. Some gyms drive around during the day to attract customers. You can also book tickets online in advance—travel websites often handle ticket sales, including VIP seats that are super close to the ring (and you might get splashed with blood= =).
7. Temple Visit
If you want to visit a temple, check out Wat Chalong. It’s a standard stop for most tour groups, and you can ask your driver to take you there if you book a private day tour. As for whether it’s “spiritual” or not... well, as the saying goes, sincerity brings blessings~
8. Bar-Hopping or Watching a Show
Around Patong Beach, there’s a bustling bar street that comes alive at night. There’s pole dancing and more, and most of the patrons are foreigners with blond hair and blue eyes—they all look like they’re having a blast. If you like that kind of atmosphere, Phuket’s nightclubs won’t disappoint.For shows... it depends on how bold you want to go. Ladyboy shows are pretty tame—just singing and dancing, nothing risqué. As for other more explicit stuff, you’ll have to ask around locally.
Tips:
- Best travel season: Recommended from November to February. Heat-resistant travelers can ignore this.
- Currency exchange: In China, only Bank of China makes it relatively convenient. Consider getting a Huaxia Bank card—it waives the first overseas ATM withdrawal fee daily, but local banks charge a per-transaction fee regardless of the card, so withdraw as much as you can at once. Exchange rates are based on real-time rates. UnionPay is more cost-effective than VISA, which has currency conversion fees that UnionPay doesn’t. Local exchange counters are everywhere, and their rates are actually pretty decent—basically on par with those at Bank of China in China.
- Bring sunscreen. Mosquito repellent can be bought locally—there are small pharmacies everywhere.
- Thailand requires a power adapter; otherwise, you can only use two-pin plugs—three-pin sockets won’t work.
- Highly recommend eating lots of DQ ice cream in Phuket—it’s so cheap it’s almost laughable. Ice cream that costs over 30 RMB back home is less than 10 RMB there!!
- You can prepare some small change for tips. Not giving them won’t cause any issues, but it’s good to follow local customs.
- Free SIM cards are available at Phuket Airport, though they come without credit. You can top up at 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, etc. 7-day unlimited data costs 200 THB, and both regular and nano SIMs are available.
- When doing ziplining through the jungle, it’s best to wear clothes or pants with zippered pockets so you can carry small valuables like your phone. Backpacks can be stored in lockers. Don’t wear sandals—they might slip off during the ride. Also, avoid wearing shorts that are too short, or the safety harness might hurt your thighs.
Hope this helps with your trip~