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The Top Ten Things to Do in Phuket

Image by Diego Delso sourced from wikimedia commons

Phuket Island, in Thailand’s southern region, has long been one of the top tourist destinations in the country.

This is largely due to the island’s white, sandy beaches and the pristine blue waters typical of Thailand’s southern areas. Phuket City is the capital of the province, and Thalang Road in the Old Town is lined with many of the bright, 19th-century Chinese shophouses and Sino-Portuguese buildings characteristic of much of the island’s architecture.

It may be true that most people equate the idea of Phuket with lying on a beach in the daytime and sampling the nightlife of an evening. Which is all fine, if that’s your thing – but there is actually much more in the way of activities on offer in and around this tropical blue haven of an island, which fulls between various budgets.

So, for the those wishing to be a little more energetic than simply lounging on a beach, we have compiled a list of the top ten things to do in Phuket that might allow the visitor to take in different aspects of the island and add a bit more adventure to their holiday.

1. Hire an ATV

Image by Siloam village sourced from wikimedia commons

ATVs, or quad bikes as they are also known, are powerful, 4-wheel, off-road bikes that provide a great way to get around an island.

You can trek over exciting tracks while immersing yourself in the beautiful and exclusive nature of the island, and an ATV is a perfect way to feel the thrill of the upward and downward slopes and experience the curves and humps of the sometimes less-than-smooth island terrain.

While you can hire out the bikes yourself if you feel confident enough to do so, there are also a variety of tours that are available with specially-designed tracks or courses. And at least if you have a guide you are more likely to find your way back if you veer off-course.

A few basic instructions on how to control the bikes will be necessary for most willing participants, and then it is off through dirt roads in the jungle and over hilltops. For first-timers, most of the local ATV tour operators have a special beginner’s field.

Either way, an ATV island experience is a great option, and one of the top things to do in Phuket.

https://www.atvphuket.com/

2. Go white water rafting

Image by costaricapro sourced from wikimedia commons

Those with an appetite for a bit more adventure might consider a tour that combines an ATV ride with a bit of white-water rafting through the jungle. Another great option for thrill-seekers in Phuket, there are tours available that do just this and are usually suitable for all levels of experience.

It’s probably not the best idea to go off white-water rafting by yourself unless you are a veteran of such activities. However, tours with a local operator ensure that participants receive comprehensive safety briefings beforehand, and the route is usually planned out. For those with little rafting or ATV experience, some of the tours only take very small groups in order to ensure closer attention to participants.

The trails feature lots of rugged terrains and natural beauty, and offer all the thrills of an outdoor, tropical jungle day out! Some of the courses will include stops off at other points of interest like the cave temple Wat Suwan Kuha.

White water rafting in the tropics is another top activity choice for energetic holidaymakers in Phuket. For more information check out:

https://www.viator.com/tours/Phuket/Whitewater-Rafting-5-KM-Tour-with-ATV-2-hour-Real-Adventure-Tour

3. Go Jungle Trekking

If quad bikes or rafts are not your thing then perhaps a trek through the Thai jungle on foot is more appealing. Trips can be organised with guides who will take you off through the wilderness on a reasonably challenging hike.

Image by shankar sourced from wikimedia commons

This will provide plenty in the line of scenery, and many of these walks include a hike up to the Phuket Big Buddha at Wat Chalong, Phuket’s largest Buddhist temple. This is a great way to take in popular sites and get away from crowds the in town center.

You can head off to the jungle on 50 or 95-minute treks, with these treks typically being around the 2 km to 4 km mark. You may find out about the tropical plant and wildlife, or possibly get glimpses of monkeys in and around the trees.

There are also some amazing beach views to be enjoyed along these treks, which are usually upward to begin with, and if a temple visit is included on the route you may be able to receive blessings from the monks.

https://www.sealandcamp.com/

4. Go on an Eco-adventure trip

Maybe you would rather opt for another outdoor escape from Phuket’s tourist hot spots by exploring more off-the-beaten-track avenues in the form of jungle mangroves and beaches on an eco-adventure trip and combining several of the other previous activities.

Maybe no quad bikes but this is usually a full-day affair that includes kayaking through mangrove channels, jungle trekking (through Khao Phra Taeo National Park), and visiting less-populated white, sandy beaches for a swim.

You can encounter waterfalls, forests, mangroves, and swim in four varieties of water in one day on some of these trips, such as the ‘Four Waters Eco-Adventure Trip (link below). There is a kayaking jaunt before trekking through a rain forest and bathing in a waterfall, then a swim in the sea followed by the relaxing setting of hot springs and ice-cold pools at a beachside spa.

Image by Lofor sourced from wikimedia commons

This kind of day trip will likely encompass a visit to a rubber plantation and pineapple farm to take a look at environmental practices involved, before heading off to the National Park, which apparently plays host to Phuket’s last virgin rainforest.

https://www.viator.com/tours/Phuket/4-Waters-Eco-Adventure-Trip

5. Visit the Elephant Sanctuary

If you’ve ever been to Thailand and witnessed some of the dubiously-looking, seemingly unethical displays involving elephants, then you will be pleasantly surprised by the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary.

This is an elephant sanctuary in Phuket where the animals roam and bathe freely, in 30 acres of the tropical jungle just next to the Khao Phra Thaeo National Park.
All the elephants here have been rescued at some point, and benefit from the freedom and professional care. Anyone who visits the sanctuary is supporting a much more pleasantly sustainable and compassionate approach to the often less-than-ethical ‘elephant tourism’ encountered more often than not in Thailand.

Image by Elizabeth Chamberlain sourced from wikimedia commons

Visitors to the sanctuary can spend the morning with the elephants in a scenic jungle comprising an array of wide-open fields, ponds, and hillsides in which the elephants roam.

The visit begins at the Tree Top Lounge with a short presentation and video preparation for the elephant encounter. Then you can see the elephants being fed with copious amounts of bananas, pineapples, and cucumbers, and the guides give information on the background of each individual elephant.

The elephants then wander off into the jungle, where they are followed and observed from a safe distance. The idea of maintaining a reasonable distance while watching the elephants is that they are more likely to express their natural behavior, walking, bathing, playing, and socializing. The 3-hour program culminates in a delicious Thai vegetarian meal.

For more information check out:
http://www.phuketelephantsanctuary.org/en/

6. Scuba diving

Image by 29cm sourced from wikimedia commons

There are some amazing views to be had in Phuket for sure – and some of them are below water. If you would like to witness Thailand’s beautiful underwater scenarios, many local dive operators organize special diving tours in water that is only 5-7 meters deep, so no license is required.

It is possible to experience amazing views under the water all around the coastline Phuket, even in the shallower regions. You can take in the beautiful coral reef scenarios along with many varieties of tropical fish while scuba diving and snorkeling in the pristine, clear blue, tropical warm water.

There are many local dive shops and operators who will collect you from your hotel if required and take you directly to the speedboat. Siam Bay, which is just 30 minutes away from the mainland, is a popular choice for shallow diving. Snorkel and scuba for your heart’s content in the clear blue water amongst the beautiful surrounding scenery, for another top activity in Phuket.

7. Take a bike tour

Another fun and energetic way to take in and explore the Phuket countryside is by taking a mountain bike tour. Mountain bikes are a great way to get around the island anyway, but unless you are familiar with the island or consider yourself an intrepid explorer, a tour might again be a good option for this activity.

You can ride both on and off-road, on trails that will take you through rubber and pineapple tree plantations. The trail is likely to include a mixture of quiet roads and dirt trails through the plantations.

Image by Stckansol sourced from wikimedia commons

Some tours include attractions such as a stop off at a jungle waterfall and maybe a visit to the Rehabilitation Centre for local gibbons, where you can find out how gibbons are looked after and then released back into the wild.

Helmets and the relevant safety instructions, along with Thai snacks and water are provided on most local tours and transportation from your hotel in the Phuket area if required.

https://www.viator.com/tours/Phuket/Phuket-Countryside-half-day-bike-tour

8. Hire a catamaran

With Phuket ranking as one of Thailand’s most beautiful island destinations, many of the dedicated local sailing and diving enthusiasts might consider that the only way to be able to appreciate the views fully is from the water.

Image by phuket@photographer.net sourced from wikimedia commons

This activity might be a little more on the pricey side than some of the other options, but undoubtedly an experience of a lifetime is to cruise through the waves on a catamaran, taking in the views from on-deck.

Many local sailing tours and trips are available along with boats for hire. If you fancy cocktails and lunch on-board, with a little swimming and sunbathing to boot, this might be the thing.

It might also be a great way to watch the sun setting on the horizon. A catamaran is without a doubt an amazing way to experience Phuket’s stunning coastal scenery from the water, and a top activity option for any holiday.

Again many of the local sailing packages will include pickup and drop-off at your Phuket hotel if required.

CHECK OUT: https://sailing-phuket.com/

9. Visit Blue Tree Lagoon

Blue Tree is Phuket’s first-ever eco-friendly lagoon, and apparently this place has just 2% of the energy expenditure of standard swimming pools.

The lagoon is a stunning and versatile expanse of blue, at a total of 17,000sqm in size. This is a great place to escape to for the day, especially with the family. Blue Tree Lagoon is in many ways the ultimate relaxation destination, in a gorgeous setting, providing the opportunity to swim in the crystal blue waters, or simply idle away the time from a lagoon-side sun lounger.

You may opt to sway the day away in a hammock at the water’s edge, or maybe relax in a private tropical cabana. But if that’s not energetic enough there are many exhilarating water features to indulge in such as the Super Fly, which features four different sized sliders.

Another feature of the lagoon is a zipline, which provides more breath-taking views. Or there is even the chance to jump off one of the two cliff diving points, which will allow a plunge into 6 or 8 meters of crystal clear blue water. Definitely one of the top things to do during a stay in Phuket!

Address: Blue Tree Phuket, 4/2 Srisoonthorn Rd, Cherngtalay, Choeng Thale, Phuket 83110
https://bluetree.fun/

10. Bungy Jump

If trekking and white-water rafting seem a little tame to you, then crank up the adrenalin and take a panoramic, 50-meter jump from high above a beautiful, green-blue jungle lagoon.

Image by Eron Main sourced from wikimedia commons

As with the majority of Bungy jumps in Thailand, like this New Zealand operated and managed site, safety standards are international. In fact, Phuket Bungy is the only fully licensed Bungy jump in Phuket and has been operating for almost 30 years now.

If you book the bungy in advance you will be picked up and taken to the pond-side site for a full briefing beforehand. Then it’s time to ascend the tower via a lift to the platform from which your leap of faith occurs. After that, it’s a straight free-fall vertically downwards with no going back! Participants all get a certificate after the jump welcoming them to the 50-meter club!

http://www.phuketbungy.com/