Phuket, Thailand
Phuket
ภูเก็ต
Phuket Travel Itinerary & Guide
Phuket is definitely a hot travel spot! When traveling in Phuket you can enjoy the sun on the beaches, go to different islands to snorkel, stay in a luxury villa. Also, there are many bars and restaurants for you to discover at the night.
The following Phuket travel itinerary is suitable for a 5-day trip, with many travel tips and ideas for everyone . If you want to have more fun or relax, stay at least a week!
Detailed Phuket Travel Itinerary
Day 1
1. Arrival at the airport
After landing, buy a SIM card. ‘Happy card’ or ‘True Move’ can be a good choice, staff are here to set up for you. You can pick up your card at the airport after you purchase it online. Go to the hotel Palmyra Patong Resort by taxi, Grab or pre-booked private transfer.
2. Hotel / Resort Check-In
Tourists usually book hotels in Patong, followed by Karen, Kata, or Phuket Town. Among Patong, the most popular area is around Patong Beach. There are beaches, night markets, shopping malls, bar streets, countless restaurants and entertainment shows. In Karon and Kata, there are some beaches, which are relatively remote, with less dining and entertainment facilities, so Karon and Kata are suitable for people who prefer a quiet vacation. Here are some best resorts in Phuket next to different beaches:
Top-rated Patong Resorts:
- Budget: Palmyra Patong Resort, Agoda rating 8.1 Check price: Booking.com Agoda
- Mid-Priced: Burasari Phuket Resort & Spa, Agoda Rating 8.4 Check price: Booking.com Agoda
- Luxury Resort: Kalima Resort & Spa , Agoda rating 8.1 Check price: Booking.com Agoda
Best Karon Resort:
- Budget: Sugar Marina Resort Art , Agoda Rating 8.4 Check price: Booking.com Agoda
- Mid-Priced: Woraburi Phuket Resort & Spa, Agoda Rating 7.6 Check price: Booking.com Agoda
- Luxury: 5 stars Resort Movenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach, Agoda rating 8.5 Check price: Booking.com Agoda
Kata Resort Recommendation:
- Budget: Novotel Phuket Kata Avista Resort and Spa, Agoda Rating 8.5 Check price: Booking.com Agoda
- Mid-Priced: Kata Lucky Villa & Pool Access, Agoda Rating 8.2 Check price: Booking.com Agoda
- Luxury: 5 stars Resort Katathani Phuket Beach Resort, Agoda Rating 8.4 Check price: Booking.com Agoda
» search more hotels in Phuket
3. Patong Beach
After checking-in, if you want to drive and go around, you can simply rent a car or motorcycle from the hotel or the street. Car renting shops are all round. The most common way to travel in Phuket is taking Taxi, Grab or Tuk Tuk.
Take the time to go directly to Patong Beach, try parasailing/ jet-skiing/ banana boat riding and simply enjoy the sun.
4. Dinner
In the evening, stroll to Patong Night Market (Soi Luangwat) and Patong OTOP Shopping Paradise for a Thai seafood dinner!
After the dinner, you can walk around the night market or go to the largest shopping mall in Phuket – Jungcelon Sailing Mall.
Take the time to check out the Day Tour offer from the tour stalls on the street (also available online Klook to avoid any scam).
Bangla Road will be the last destination for tonight. The street is full of bars and nightclubs. The most famous one is, of course, Tiger Disco. It has an oversized tiger decoration – you can’t miss it. If you are interested, you can watch a bloody Muay Thai (Thai boxing) competition.
Restaurant recommendations:
- Thai / Seafood: Halfway Inn, No. 9 Restaurant, No. 9 2nd Restaurant, Restaurant Break Point
- Hainanese Chicken Rice: Briley Chicken Rice
»Today’s Accommodation: Palmyra Patong Resortbo
Day 2
There are many things to do in Phuket but lots of them are not in Patong. On this day, you can take a trip to the southern Phuket to visit some remote beaches and 2 observatory decks. It can be a half day or one day trip. Booking a private car charter or renting a car is the common here. You can also join a city tour if you want a travel guide to introduce and explain.
» Klook private car booking
» Phuket half-day tour
The route can be as follows:
1. Karon Beach or Kata Beach
In the morning, go to Karon Beach or Kata Beach for the tranquility. The waves on Karon beach are relatively strong so suitable for surfing but not swimming. Kata Beach is more suitable for swimming; if you love sun-bathing, Karon Beach has a long coastline. Lunch can be settled in a restaurant along the beach.
2. Karon View Point
Head south to the Karon View Point on the hill, which gives you a panoramic view of Patong, Karon and Kata Beach. Although the observatory deck is called Karon View Point, it is actually closer to Kata Beach.
3. Chalong Temple (Wat Chalong) & Big Buddha
Chalong Temple is the largest Buddhist temple in Phuket. On the top of the temple, there is a larger statue called Big Buddha made with Burmese white jade marble. Although the base is still under construction, it is already magnificent and the scenery from the mountain is very beautiful.
4. Windmill View Point
Continue to the south, and you can enjoy the view of Andaman Sea and the surrounding islands at Windmill View Point. Some said the scenery from Karon View Point is better view.
5. Promthep Cape / Baba Nest
If you go further to the south, you will reach the southernmost Promthep Cape where you can see the most beautiful sunset in Phuket. There is comfortable but expensive place to enjoy the sunset- Baba Nest. This bar is so popular that walk-in is 100% impossible. Better book the seats one month ago to be sure you can go inside this super 5-star rooftop bar, soak in its swimming pool, order a glass of cocktail to enjoy the romantic sunset.
6. Rawai Beach for Seafood
After sunset, go to the Rawai Beach where there are many seafood restaurants. Many local people also come here to dine. The seafood here is fresh and much cheaper than Patong. However, Rawai Beach is not suitable for sunbathing or swimming as it is more like beach for fishing industry with many boats around.
» Today’s Accommodation: Palmyra Patong Resort
Day 3
A perfect Phuket Travel has to include visting islands. It will be a great plan if you go on an island boat trip in the morning and then enjoy the night around Patong.
1. Phang Nga Bay Local Tour
The famous 007 James Bond Island is in Phang Nga Bay. It is the most popular boat tour in Phuket. Normally you have to join a local tour day tour to visit. During the tour, you may take a canoe to visit the stalactite caves.
The local tour also serves lunch but the quality is usually not very good.
Some island tours will arrange activities like swimming, off-road motorbiking, etc., depending on the itinerary. You can book an itinerary online (such as Klook), or make a reservation on the local tour stalls. Remember to ask for discount from the stalls.
» Book a Day Trip to Phuket Outer Islands
2. Special Show
Phuket has some shows like Simon Cabaret Show in Patong, and Aphrodite Cabaret show in Phuket town. The former is convenient and the latter is newer and more luxurious. All the performers are kathoeys (trans woman).
- Simon Cabaret, 80 mins, 3 times daily(18:00, 19:45, 21:30), 700THB for regular seats » Klook discount tickets
- Aphrodite Cabaret Showt, 80 mins, 3 times daily(18:00, 19:30 21:00), 700THB for regular seats » Klook discount tickets
3. Dinner
Back to Patong for dinner.
Restaurant recommendations:
- General Thai / Seafood: Halfway Inn, No. 9 Restaurant, No. 9 2nd Restaurant, Restaurant Break Point
- Hainanese Chicken Rice: Briley Chicken Rice
» Today’s accommodation: Palmyra Patong Resort
Day 4
1. Ratcha Island / Phi Phi Island
Today, you can choose to go to Ratcha Island or Phi Phi Island (PP Island), the former is closer to Phuket, and the latter is a bit more remote. Both locations have white sand beaches, bays for snorkeling, diving, walking at the sea bottom, kayaking, parasailing, etc.. You can join a local tour or go there by public ferry to stay for some nights.
2. FantaSea Show
A bit hit and miss.
3. Dinner
Back to Patong for dinner
Restaurant recommendations:
- General Thai / Seafood: Halfway Inn, No. 9 Restaurant, No. 9 2nd Restaurant, Restaurant Break Point
- Hainanese Chicken Rice: Briley Chicken Rice
» Today’s accommodation: Palmyra Patong Resort
Day 5
1. Hotel Check-out
On the last day of your Phuket travel, take the time to enjoy the resort’s facilities in the morning, then check-out and leave your luggage. You stay at the nearby beach to enjoy the sun before going to the airport.
» Recommended Resorts in Phuket
2. Phuket Town
If the plane is in the evening, you can consider visiting Phuket Town. It takes about 35 mins from Patong to Phuket Town by car.
The old town of Phuket is not large, so only 2 to 3 hours are needed to visit. The old city is said to be a ‘half Chinatown’ since it was the place where the Chinese and foreign miners stayed in the old days. Later on, almost all the foreign miners left and only the Chinese stayed so now the town looks like a Chinatown. The remaining buildings are mostly in the Chinese style, some in European style.
There are 3 streets to visit-Thalang Road, Dibuk Road and Soi Rommanee.
Thalang Road has the style of early Chinese immigrants; Kopitiam by Wilai (元春堂) and China Inn Café are famous for Chinese dim sum.
Dibuk Road has some Chinese-style old houses that have transformed into coffee shops.
Soi Rommanee is a colorful, film-making street. On the Sunday evening, there will be Lardyai Market at Thalang Road and Soi Rommanee at night. For shopping, you can go to the second largest mall in Phuket – Central Festival Phuket.
Restaurant recommendations:
- Song Pee Nong 2 (economical Thai cuisine)
- Suay Restaurant (New style Thai cuisine)
- Baan Noy Restaurant (Thai cuisine)
- PoChaNa (Hong Kong style dim sum)