Select a Destination

Select a Hotel (optional)

Phuket Attractions

Although Phuket is known as a sun and surf destination, the island also abounds in other attractions such as forests, architecture and colourful local culture and events.

Forests and Parks

Khao Phra Thaeo National Park

This is Phuket's last significant stand of virgin rain forest. Spend a morning or evening taking a leisurely walk up along the waterfall, or, if you want to spend the day walking in the quiet majesty of a tropical forest, there's an eight-kilometre hike which wends right through the park. Guides are available, and there is a small museum and information centre located near the bottom of the falls. Much of the forest's wildlife tends to stay out of sight, but hunker down and stay still for a while and you'll soon hear the telltale sounds of all sorts of animal activity.If you're lucky, you may even be treated to the sight of one or more of the forest's unusual creatures.

Elephant Trekking

The guides at Siam Safari Nature Tours (Tel: 280 116) or Adventure Safaris (Tel: 341 988) will introduce you to the island's environment, culture and lifestyle. Tours are tailored to cater for small groups or individuals, offering forest walking, Land Rover touring, river canoeing or rafting and elephant trekking with visits to rubber plantations, schools and temples.

Gibbon Rehabilitation Center

Thailand's wild gibbon population suffers tremendously from the poaching of baby gibbons for illegal sale as pets, the killing of fiercely protective mother gibbons, and the abandonment or killing of matured aggressive pets. The project in Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, near Bang Phae Waterfall, saves pet gibbons that have been abandoned or are at risk of being put down, and trains them how to survive in the wild.

  More Info . . .

Butterfly Garden and Aquarium

This large open-air enclosure, landscaped with waterfalls, houses thousands of vivid butterflies amid lush greenery. Explanations of the fascinating life cycle of butterflies and tours of butterfly breeding rooms are included in the display. The tropical aquarium is among the finest anywhere, the tanks "landscaped" with live coral gardens. Follow the signs from the intersection of Patong Road and the airport bypass road. Open Daily 9.00am-5.30pm.

71/6 Moo 5 Soi Paneang, Phuket. Tel: 210 859

Marine Biological Research Centre

The aquarium here features saltwater and freshwater fish. Local experts also hatch and breed young sea turtles, an endangered species, for release into the sea. This is Thailand's major marine biological research station, undertaking work on tropical reef ecosystems, commercial fisheries, and other related projetcs. Take a scenic drive out to the centre which is located on Sakdidet Road, Makham Bay, Cape Panwa. Turn right at the first traffic light in Phuket Town from Chao Fah Road. Tel: 391 126. Open 10.00am-4.00pm daily. This is one of Phuket's best value attractions as the entry price is only 20 baht.

Historical and Cultural Sites

Old Chinatown

The inner heart of Phuket Town is for the most part a "Chinatown". Walking is the only way to appreciate fully outstanding examples of the local Chinese heritage Look for the fine latticework, colourful ceramic tiles and other traditional design elements in the rowhouse facades along Krabi-Thalang Road and Dibuk. Sino-Portuguese mansions can also be found throughout the town. One fine example stands diagonally opposite the Merlin Hotel on the Mae Luan-Yaowaraj intersection. Also look for the mansions in the Lord Mayor's compound on Thepkatsatree Road (not open to the public).

Night Markets

The island has two major night markets you can explore. In Patong, the night market mainly includes products such as handicrafts, silk scarves, luggage and wooden toys. The market is easily found, extending all the way down the Beach Road and into small secondary soi (lanes). For something really different, try the night market in Phuket Town. Surrounding the new Robinson's Department Store, this colourful maarket offers a wealth of Muslim, Thai and Chinese cooked meals and sweets. Simply point at what you want to take away or eat right there -- most vendors have tables and chairs and are perfectly happy to share the business with other vendors. What they don't have, they'll get for you from another vendor. Enjoy. (For daytime colour, try the fresh market in Phuket Town or the fishermen's market on Rawai Beach).

Thai Temples

Wat Chalong, one of the biggest temples on the islands, is an important part of Phuket history. In Thalang, Phuket's first capital, Wat Phra Thong (Golden Buddha Temple) and Wat Phranangsang (Built-by-a-Royal-Lady Temple) are worth a visit. Wat Phra Thong has a large Buddha image protruding from its chest up from the temple floor. According to legend, those who try to dig it up will die. An English guidebook is available. Wat Phranangsang is Phuket's second oldest temple and figures in Phuket's early history as the rallying point for the island's two heroines in the war against the Burmese. It's also called the "Temple of the White Blood" -- find out why from amulet seller, Khun Santi.