Phuket Travel Guide and True Local Blog
What to Do in Phuket is the most frequently asked question on Phuket 101 and fortunately, there is no lack of good answers. Phuket is blessed with many activities and attractions. Some are on the island itself and the most impressive are near enough to visit one or more in a single day. After 25 years here, it is actually quite easy to answer and we listed all the places we love most in this ‘Phuket Attractions’ section… have fun! (see also our Phuket 101 Facebook page)
What to Do at Phuket Big Buddha? [toc] The Phuket Big Buddha is a 45-metre-tall white marble statue visible from anywhere in the southern part of Phuket. This impressive landmark is probably at the top of everyone's 'Must-Do in Phuket', and it is indeed a jaw-dropping site and the panoramic views from up there are breathtaking. Koh Samui always had a very popular Giant Buddha, and it seems that Phuket
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What to do on Merlin Beach? [toc] Merlin Beach, Tri Trang Beach, Paradise Beach, Freedom Beach, which is which? Every time we post a photo of any of these beaches, it starts endless discussions, so it seems to still confusing. Names similarities added to the fact that some of these beaches were hard to reach until recently didn't help. These four beaches are located around a peninsula just south of
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What is Chalong Temple? [toc] Wat Chalong, officially Wat Chai Thararam, is the largest, most revered and most visited Buddhist temple in Phuket. It was built at the beginning of the 19th century, 1837 according to some sources. Chalong Temple is one of the Must-See places in Phuket, together with the nearby Big Buddha of Phuket as they are relatively close to each other. Wat Chalong Video [embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8IhVz17cgk[/embedyt] The central
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Are there museums in Phuket? [toc] Phuket museums are not very impressive, but in recent years they made an effort to keep a record and share the tin mining rich history and the Chinese roots of this island. Several new museums opened here and there, mostly in Phuket Town, each with its value and character. After an intensive renovation, the Old Phuket Town itself is a sort of walk-in museum
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Baan Ar Jor Heritage Hotel in Phuket [toc] Baan Ar Jor is a hotel, a restaurant and a museum with a long history that started in 1936. This house has always been one of the most mysterious old mansions of Phuket, standing lonely near Mai Khao Beach in the north of Phuket. Unlike other mansions mostly found in town, Baan Ar Jor is isolated away from any village and very
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When is Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2020? October 17 to 25, 2020 Note: This is a typical coverage from past years. In 2020, processions will still happen, but a lot of gatherings will be limited because of COVID-19 [toc] The Phuket Vegetarian Festival (or Nine Emperor Gods Festival) happens once a year, during the ninth lunar month, and is one of the most auspicious events on Phuket island. For this unique
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What to do in Phuket in 2 Days? [toc] You can visit Phuket in 2 days without rushing it because the island is relatively small. Of course, 3 days would allow a lot more, but this overview should enable you to stop at the prominent landmarks and small beaches. We will skip the touristic beaches, you know where they are, and you can decide to include them if you want
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A restaurant with a view near Big Buddha [toc] Nak-Kerd Seaview Cafe (previously called Star Mountain Sunset Restaurant) is a small restaurant with a superb panoramic view of Karon Beach. The place is simple, partly made of thatched roofs and bamboo tables, which adds a lot of charm to a simple lunch or dinner after your visit to the Big Buddha of Phuket. Nak-Kerd is actually the name of the
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What to do in Phuket? What are the best things to do in Phuket? The popularity of this fantastic island comes from the incredibly vast range of activities and tours, from fabulous beaches and natural wonders to glittering temples and human-made attractions. Phang Nga Bay is an absolute must-do, with jaw-dropping limestone cliffs and flooded caves. Phi Phi islands are everyone's second favourite even though it can be a little
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What to Do on Paradise Beach? [toc] UPDATE July 2020: Paradise Beach has been temporarily closed. Paradise Beach Phuket is just 4 kilometres from Patong Beach and consists of two small sandy bays with blue water, soft sand and coconut trees. You will find plenty of beach chairs, bars, restaurants, shops and massive parties on some nights. Yes, Paradise Beach is small, remote and not easy to find if you
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Are Phuket waterfalls worth visiting? [toc] The waterfalls of Phuket are not impressive, especially during high season when the lack of rain reduces the stream to a trickle, and only three waterfalls are significant. But like anywhere in the world, even a small stream of water never fails to attract kids, families and couples during the weekend. You should also know that the two most significant waterfalls in Phuket are
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Phuket Old Town Walking Guide [toc] Our Old Phuket Town and Old Street Walking Guide will save you time and effort! The historical part of Phuket is not huge but is rich and exciting enough to explore in half a day. In this page, we break it down by streets and describe the main points of interest and significant landmarks. It's easy and fun to explore, even on a rainy
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What to Do in Ao Sane? [toc] Ao Sane Beach (which is pronounced Ao Sain) is the proof that Phuket still has some little beaches hidden from view where you can pretend nothing has changed in the past twenty years. Of course, there is no such thing as a 'secret beach' anymore, but you have to make a little effort to get there. These might be small tiny sandy coves,
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A house museum in Phuket Town [toc] Chinpracha House (Baan Chinpracha) is one of the most beautiful mansions in Phuket spread all around Phuket Town. Some of these superb Sino-Portuguese style houses are abandoned, and in bad condition, some have been renovated, but Chinpracha House is somehow unique, and in its original condition. It can be visited for 150 baht and has a certain old-fashioned charm and atmosphere that may
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Phang Nga Bay [toc] Phang Nga Bay is one of the most amazing places we had the chance to explore. We've been there countless times, by boat, car, on a bike, luxury yacht, longtail, kayak and even on a Chinese Junk. Each visit is a new experience. Sunny, cloudy or rainy: Phang Nga wears a different dress for each occasion. The bay is about 20 km north of Phuket Island,
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What are the best tours in Phuket? What are the Best Tours in Phuket? There is a lot to explore in and around Phuket, and many places are easy to reach. Some other great places need a boat or a minibus ride and a bit of planning. We list here 10 of the most popular, day trips tours you should consider. Of course, we know there are a lot more,
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What to Do in Phuket Town [toc] Phuket Town is a surprising treasure trove of things to do and to experience if you decide to spend a day away from the beach. The old streets add to the many reasons why Phuket is so unique. Think about it! Yes, there are many islands in the world with beautiful beaches, but not many of them combine amazing beaches, amazing landscapes and
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A beautiful hidden Buddhist temple in Phuket [toc] Wat Kathu, or Kathu temple, is a not very well known landmark from tourists, but local photographers know very well how beautiful it is. This Buddhist temple is on the way to Phuket Town and not far from Patong, but because it stands away from the main road, most people don't even consider visiting it. Wat Kathu is not very big but
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Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket Town [toc] Jui Tui Shrine (Kew Ong) is one of the oldest and most important in Phuket Island. It plays a significant role during the famous Phuket Vegetarian Festival usually held in October and November each year. The festival dates use the Lunar Calendar and the festival exact dates change every year so if you plan to travel to Phuket to see this event, check
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What to Do in Patong Beach? [toc] There are a lot of things to do in Patong Beach beyond the much talked about nightlife and the ever going party. Patong is full of activities for families, couples, singles and friends, and even a few attractions most people don’t know yet. We will not go into details about nightlife but mostly focus on the real activities, the things you can mostly
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