10 Best Things to Do
in Phuket

The full-day Phi Phi Island speedboat tour is the most popular sea trip on the Andaman coast. It departs from a pier in Phuket in the morning and heads over to Koh Phi Phi Leh to see Maya Bay, the beach made famous by the movie The Beach, then stops at Pileh Lagoon, where the water turns emerald green inside a ring of limestone cliffs. Boats pass Loh Samah Bay and Viking Cave, then it's time to snorkel among coral and schools of fish. Many itineraries also stop at Monkey Beach and Bamboo Island before heading back, with lunch and drinking water included throughout the day.

Across real reviews on multiple platforms, the consistent praise is that the crew looks after guests well, helping weaker swimmers closely, and the views exceed expectations. The thing to know is that Maya Bay gets extremely crowded — at times 15–20 boats arrive together, which limits how long you actually get on the beach. Booking an early-morning departure helps you beat the crowds.

Typical pricing runs about 1,300–1,800 baht per person, not including the 400-baht national park fee for adults, which must be paid in cash at the pier. Check before booking whether the price already includes this fee, and note that Maya Bay closes for ecological restoration every year from August 1 to September 30.

This trip takes you from Phuket out to Phang Nga Bay, and the real highlight isn't just Koh Tapu (James Bond Island), the rock made famous by the 007 movie — it's the canoeing through sea caves and hongs, limestone hollows that open into hidden lagoons at the center of islands. Local guides do the paddling, so you can just sit back and enjoy the ride. Many reviews say the cave-canoeing section is the most memorable part of the day, even more so than James Bond Island itself.

Tours typically come in two main forms: a large boat (slower, steadier, better for those prone to seasickness and older travelers) or a speedboat (faster, arrives earlier with fewer crowds in the morning, but bumpier). Most prices include hotel transfers, the national park fee, and a buffet lunch. Reviews describe the food as adequate, with vegetarian options, but not a fancy meal — expect something filling rather than special.

One thing to be upfront about: James Bond Island itself gets very crowded, especially by mid-morning. The area is small, so you'll only get a brief window for photos before it gets packed, and there are souvenir stalls everywhere. Also, the drive from Phuket to the pier takes nearly 1.5–2 hours each way, which eats up a good chunk of the day. If you're hoping for quiet, untouched nature, the island itself might disappoint — but the canoeing section and the Phang Nga Bay views more than make up for it.

The Similan Islands are a diving destination that many rank as having the clearest water on the Andaman coast. Underwater visibility during high season is typically around 20–30 meters, with coral, schools of fish, and sometimes sea turtles up close. Most day tours ride a speedboat from Thap Lamu Pier, taking about 1–1.5 hours to reach the islands, stopping to snorkel at 2–3 spots, having lunch on the island, then walking up to the viewpoint over the iconic sail-shaped boulder that's become the postcard image of this place.

Something to know honestly: the national park closes every year from May 16 to October 14 for ecological restoration, so it's simply not possible to visit during the rainy season — plan for mid-October through mid-May only. Also, tours depart very early, with many operators picking up from hotels as early as 6:00–7:30am, and the sea can get rough on some days, so those who get seasick easily should bring medication.

Real reviews are fairly mixed. Fans say the water is more beautiful than expected and the crew is fun, but many note that dive spots get crowded, with 5–7 boats anchored at once at some sites, and time at each spot is fairly limited due to a tight schedule. If you can live with the crowds and the fast boat rides, this place delivers seascapes that are well worth it.

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary in Pa Klok subdistrict, Thalang district, opened in 2017 as a home for elephants that previously worked hard in the riding and show industries. The concept here is clear: no riding, no bathing elephants, no shows — the elephants are left to live naturally. Visitors walk along an elevated canopy walkway, one of the longest of its kind in Thailand, watching the elephants forage, play in mud, and bathe on their own, with a guide explaining each elephant's story. There's also an elephant hospital on site that visitors can see.

Reviews from real visitors on Tripadvisor mostly praise it as the sanctuary that feels most "respectful of the animals" in Phuket. The staff are attentive and knowledgeable, making it a great fit for those who want to see happy elephants rather than getting close to or taking photos with them.

One thing worth knowing honestly: since April 1, 2026, the sanctuary has discontinued its elephant feeding activity entirely, to reduce disruption to natural behavior. The visit now focuses mainly on "observing from a distance." Anyone expecting to feed or touch the elephants up close may find the activities more limited than at other sanctuaries — but that's the tradeoff for higher animal-welfare standards. Prices are also somewhat higher than typical sanctuaries, and the location is in the north of the island, a fair distance from Patong Beach, so allow extra travel time.

A Thai cooking class in Phuket is a half-day activity for anyone who wants to go home actually knowing how to cook Thai food, not just eat it. Several popular classes — including one taught by Chef VJ, plus Tony's and Pum Thai Cooking School — score 4.9–5.0 on Tripadvisor. Most start with a walk through a local fresh market, introducing you to vegetables, curry pastes, and unusual ingredients you won't find in a supermarket back home. Many real reviews say the market walk is the highlight, since the instructor explains each ingredient and some classes even let you sample Thai sweets along the way.

Once in the kitchen, you'll cook 3–4 dishes yourself, chosen from a list of about 12–14 options, such as pad Thai, tom yum goong, green curry, and pad kra pao. Many classes cap groups at 10 people or fewer, so you get close attention from the instructor. Afterward, you sit down and eat what you made for lunch, and take the recipes home with you. Most prices run about ฿1,500–2,500 per person, including ingredients, water, tea, and coffee, and free hotel transfers are usually included in the Kata-Karon area — other zones may charge extra or require a minimum group size.

One thing to watch for, per reviews, is that pickup times and meeting points can sometimes run off schedule, causing a late start or finish. Some classes have also moved from beachfront locations into town, so if you're expecting sea views, check the location first. Overall, if you pick a well-reviewed provider and book a session that includes the market walk, it's a worthwhile and fun activity for families and couples alike.

Phuket FantaSea is a large cultural park at Kamala Beach that has been open since 1998. Its main draw is the Fantasy of a Kingdom show, which blends Thai legend with elaborate stage sets, lighting, flying effects, and a large cast. Many reviews say the sets and lighting genuinely deliver, making it a good fit for families or anyone wanting an evening activity after a full day at the beach. The park also has a market zone, shops, and games to walk around before the show. Most packages sold bundle in a dinner buffet with dozens of dishes — reviews on the food are fairly split, some calling it worth the price, others finding it merely average.

Something worth stating plainly: the show uses real animals, including elephants, tigers, and others, and pre-show activities include elephant rides and photos with tiger cubs. A good number of visitors have raised clear concerns about animal welfare — enough that Tripadvisor doesn't allow bookings for this activity on its platform because it doesn't meet the company's own animal welfare standards. Some reviews describe elephants being worked continuously and tigers kept in bare concrete enclosures. If this matters to you, weigh it carefully before booking, or choose an activity that doesn't involve animals instead.

Another limitation is that photography and video are not allowed inside the show hall, and the venue is far from the Patong area, so allow extra travel time or choose a package with transfers included.

Koh Hae, known to foreign visitors as Coral Island, sits just a 15–20 minute speedboat ride from a pier south of Phuket. Its selling point is how easy it is to reach and how well-suited it is to beginner snorkelers. The water near the beach is fairly shallow and clear, with schools of fish easy to spot, and staff on many tours help weak swimmers stay afloat and take photos for them. Parents traveling with kids find it much more reassuring than farther-out islands with rougher waves.

The honest picture from reviews is that this island gets crowded and busy, especially by mid-morning when tour boats arrive together. The stretch of beach usable for swimming isn't large, and there's a steady rotation of banana boats, parasailing, and jet skis running through the area. Many visitors find the atmosphere fairly commercialized, with constant upselling of water activities, and some tours charge for water/soft drinks advertised as free. Some coral in the area has already died off, leaving mainly the fish to see.

In short, if you want a quiet, untouched island, Koh Hae might not be it — but for a fun half-day close to shore where kids can swim and try snorkeling without much hassle, it's convenient and good value, arguably the easiest of the islands around Phuket to get to.

This half-day tour combines three of Phuket's key cultural sites into a single route. It starts at the Big Buddha, a 45-meter statue atop Nakkerd Hill offering island-wide views over Chalong Bay, Kata, and Karon, then continues to Wat Chalong, the temple most revered by Phuket locals, and finishes in the Old Town district along Thalang and Dibuk roads, still lined with pastel-colored Sino-Portuguese buildings and street art. Most tours include hotel transfers from town and popular beaches, with a guide narrating the history of each stop along the way.

From real reviews, visitors praise friendly, knowledgeable guides, making this a good fit for anyone with limited time in Phuket who still wants to see the main icons in a single half-day without driving or finding parking themselves. One thing to know is that time at each stop is fairly limited, so photos and sightseeing move at a brisk pace, and some itineraries stop at shops selling items like pearls or cashew nuts along the way, which many say eats into time better spent in the Old Town.

Another thing to prepare for is temple dress code — both the Big Buddha and Wat Chalong require covered shoulders and knees, so bring a shawl or wear long sleeves and long pants/skirt. Overall, it's a worthwhile tour for anyone who wants to hit the main landmarks without the hassle of planning it themselves.

Andamanda Phuket is a modern water park spanning over 58 rai in Kathu, near Cherngtalay, themed around the Andaman Sea. It features multiple ride zones, with over 30 slides, a lazy river said to be the longest in Thailand at roughly 550 meters, and a large wave pool that generates waves several meters high. Its strengths are that it feels new and clean, has plenty of seating areas, and includes a shallow water zone for young children, making it popular with families and groups of friends.

From real reviews, ratings are quite good (around 4.3 on Google from several thousand reviewers). Most people enjoy the variety of rides and the tropical atmosphere, but a common complaint is that it gets crowded on weekends, with waits of 40–60 minutes for popular rides, and the full ticket price is considered steep by some, leading to mixed reviews on overall value. Many visitors recommend coming on a weekday and arriving early to make the most of it.

On pricing, Thai visitors often get discounted promotions through online channels, while the full adult price runs around 1,800 baht — booking online in advance is cheaper than buying at the counter. Outside food and drinks aren't allowed in, and bags are genuinely checked at the entrance. Food inside runs about 250–350 baht per dish, so budget for that as well.

Simon Cabaret has been running since 1991 and has become one of the go-to nighttime activities visitors stop by when in Phuket. The theater is in Patong, so it's easy to reach, and the draw is the elaborate costumes, stage lighting, and performances by transgender performers lip-syncing hit songs from multiple countries — Thai, Chinese, Korean, and international — mixed with light comedy. It's a good fit for families and groups of friends looking for something to do after dinner.

The show runs about 75 minutes, with several evening time slots to choose from — a length that feels right, not drawn out. Real reviews on Tripadvisor (averaging 3.6 from over 3,200 reviews) mostly praise it as good value, with beautiful costumes and an impressive stage, an entertaining watch for both kids and adults. That said, many are upfront that it's a tourist-oriented show, more about visual entertainment than depth of content, and the lip-syncing is occasionally a bit off.

The most common complaint is about what happens after the show — performers line up for photos, but expect to tip around 100 baht per person, and the invitation to take photos can feel a bit pushy at times. If you'd rather not, you can simply walk past, no need to feel obligated. If you go in expecting a fun, easygoing show, it makes for an enjoyable evening in Phuket.