Things to do in Phuket

Sites & Bites: Phuket Old Town, night markets and street food

Shake up your Sunday with an evening out in Phuket. Surrounded by the elegance of a centuries-old Sino-Portuguese mansion, you'll first stop for tea and coffee inside the famous Blue Elephant Restaurant. Then, there's a walking tour of Phuket Old Town to hit the bustling night market, try typical street food, or pick-up a souvenir.

Phuket full-day guided tour with fishery visit and seafood lunch

See the sights of Phuket on this activity-packed full-day guided tour. You'll set off bright and early towards Wat Chalong, the largest and oldest Buddhist temple in Phuket. Malee, our expert local guide, says “the complex of temples at Wat Chalong is a feast for the eyes with its intricate murals that tell the story of the life of Buddah, its pagodas with flashes of red, white and gold and the 60-meter-tall chedi as its centrepiece.”There's time to see one of Thailand's tastiest exports at a local cashew nut factory before your guide will take you into the heart of Phuket's Old Town, where you'll see the Sino-Portuguese architecture this place is known for, with rounded arches over the doorways and detailed woodcarvings with Chinese motifs.Afterwards, you'll hop onto a traditional longtail boat to sail to Intara Farm, an eco-tourism site, where you'll savour a seafood lunch before you get stuck into some activities. Here, it's all about marine life – you'll see how pearls are formed and hop onto the floating fishing raft to learn about the rare animals that can be caught here, like the painted spiny lobster, the archer fish and the black salmon. Next, you'll navigate the nearby mangrove forests in a kayak, and learn about how important these wetlands are for the ecosystem, before finishing the day with a baking session – you can try your hand at making kanom kho, a local dessert that's made with boiled rice dumplings stuffed with a sugar cube and rolled in shredded coconut.

Phuket fisheries tour with kayaking and a seafood lunch

You'll find the focus of this tour floating out in the Andaman Sea, between Phuket and Coconut Island. You'll spend half a day at Intara Farm, a fishery and seafood restaurant with a focus on marine conservation. After arriving at the large pontoon-like structure by long-tail boat, you'll begin your tour with a masterclass on the local marine life, getting an up-close look in the fishery rafts. Local guide, Arinya, says “you can expect to see all kinds of rare marine life in these rafts, including painted spiny lobsters, archer fish and oysters. Learning about the different types of pearls and how the gems are formed is such a unique experience at Intara.”The team at Intara Farm are keen conservationists and regularly breed native fish, like clownfish, to support local populations. While you're here, you'll help release them into the wild, where they thrive among the coral reefs below.Leaving the floating fishery, you'll hop into a kayak and paddle your way to the nearby mangroves. Meander through these tangled forests and learn about the important role they play in the region, not only supporting the ecosystem, but helping to protect the coastline and the local fishery community. Glide back to Intara and prepare to get sticky as you try your hand at making a Phuket favourite, kanom kho, a sweet rice dumpling dessert. Save room though, as you'll be feasting on a seafood set menu for lunch. It doesn't get fresher than this, and the restaurant here gets rave reviews for their full-on flavours, and straight-off-the-line seafood.

Full-day Phi Phi and Bamboo Islands catamaran tour from Phuket

You'll bound out of bed as dawn is breaking for this Thai island-hopping adventure. The draw of swimming in the shallows of the Bamboo and Phi Phi Islands is made even sweeter by the luxury catamaran you'll be sailing there on. Local guide, Somsak, always looks forward to this tour, ‘you're really seeing the best of island life, from the soft white beaches and cheeky jungle monkeys, to some of the clearest waters with top visibility for snorkelling.' Start with a light breakfast at the Royal Phuket Marina, then board the sleek and speedy catamaran that'll whisk you across the Andaman Sea to southern Thailand's best-loved islands. You'll start with the Phi Phi Island's big hitter – Maya Bay – made famous by its starring role in the Leo DiCaprio flick The Beach. Tourist numbers are limited here, but you'll walk the jungle trail down to the beach.Next, take a dip in Pileh Lagoon before sailing past Viking Cave for a look – it's a jagged opening in the cliffside that looks like a mouth about to swallow you whole. You'll stop at Monkey Bay, where you're likely to spot wild macaques in the jungle. Then, don a mask and snorkel to explore the colourful coral reefs nearby. Tuck into an international buffet lunch and take a wander around the island before finishing the tour with a stop at Bamboo Island. The white sandy beaches and clear blue waters here make it the perfect place to swim, snorkel or simply soak up the rays.

Half day elephant encounter from Phuket

This tour is your backstage pass to the world of elephants in Thailand. The adventure kicks off at the elephant sanctuary with a refreshing welcome drink, setting the tone for the day ahead. After a short video on the history of domestic elephants, you'll learn about the camp's values and how it was founded. Plus, you'll catch a live feed from the Elephant Hospital – an emotional reminder of the care and commitment that goes into their well-being.Next, it's time to get hands-on. You'll roll up your sleeves, prepare nutritious food, and feed the elephants. Watch them as they enjoy their meals and observe their natural behaviours, including their playful mud baths – a vital part of their routine.The day wraps up with some creative fun. You'll try your hand at making eco-friendly mulberry paper from elephant dung – yes, it's as cool as it sounds – and take home a one-of-a-kind souvenir. Then, enjoy a live Thai cooking demo where chefs walk you through traditional dishes, before tucking into a buffet surrounded by lush nature and the peaceful presence of the elephants.

Phuket Airport Departure Service with Coral Executive Lounge

End your holiday in style with this Phuket International Airport departure service. Breeze through the airport with a personalised meet and greet service, a porter for your bags and assistance through immigration. Then, kick back and relax in the Coral Executive Lounge with quality food and drinks as well as free Wi-Fi and newspapers. A perfect end to your stay in Thailand.

Phang Nga Bay by Catamaran

Dust off your dancing shoes on this full-day catamaran cruise around Phang Nga Bay. You'll kickstart your day of sightseeing with a welcome drink, before heading to Naka Island – enjoy some ‘splashtastic' fun with the waterslide, paddleboards, and other activities. Next up, you'll explore the caves around Hong Island, visit James Bond Island before the real fun starts. As night draws in, the party begins with dinner, live DJ and dancing as you sail back to shore.

Half Day Phuket Highlights DSTH

Tick off the best of Phuket on this heritage-rich tour of the island. Start on a high at Nakkerd Hill, where you'll enjoy panoramic views across the south from the Big Buddha. Next, it's on to the revered Wat Chalong temple and a cashew factory. Then, in Phuket town, you'll head to the old town, where you can pick up souvenirs and gifts on Thalang Road.

Phang Nga & Ko Khai Island Hopping by Speedboat

Caves, mangrove forests and a floating village – this Phang Nga Bay island-hopping excursion has all the ingredients for a perfect day out. You'll be whisked from island to island – four in total – by speedboat, get to snorkel in glittering waters and grab lunch as you glide through Ko Panyi.The first of our four islands is Ko Panak. After an exhilarating speedboat ride, you'll explore the beautiful cave and lagoon there – keep an eye out for the ice cream-shaped stalactite. Next up is Ko Hong. This is a great place to get close to nature and enjoy the views of limestone cliffs and turquoise waters.Your adventure day continues with a trip to James Bond Island – Ko Tapu to the locals – and lunch on the floating village of Ko Panyi, passing lush mangrove forests on the way over. Last but by no means least, is Ko Khai. Relax on the white sands before venturing into the water to snorkel around the vibrant coral reefs.

Phi Phi, Pileh Lagoon and Bamboo Island by Speedboat

A potpourri of paradise islands will set your senses ablaze on this tour. Zoom across the Andaman Sea by speedboat and stop by some of Thailand's top spots. You'll visit the famous Phi Phi Islands archipelago, explore the aptly named Viking Cave, and snorkel in the emerald waters of Pileh Lagoon. It's all topped with a trip to Bamboo Island and a buffet lunch.

Speedboat tour of the Phi Phi Islands

A trip to the famous Phi Phi Islands is almost compulsory in Thailand, and an early start gives you the chance to discover their beauty without crowds of tourists. A speedboat ride takes you to the best beaches where you can swim, snorkel and relax. And with Monkey beach, Viking Cave and Pileh Lagoon on the itinerary it's sure to be a great day.

Evening Simon Cabaret show Patong with transfer

You may want to dress to impress this evening – the performers at the Phuket Simon Cabaret take glamour to another level. This spectacular show is housed in a lavish theatre in the heart of Patong, Phuket's nightlife capital, and it's been going strong since the early Nineties. Once the theatre lights are dimmed, you'll be treated to colourful sets and high-energy dance numbers. The highlight, though, is the costumes – think feathered headdresses and sequins. The show will run for around 75 minutes and, afterwards, you can have your picture taken with its stars.