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What Are The Unique Things To Do In Thailand, Phuket? The Ultimate Guide
BY Sibashree Feb 2, 2026
Phuket, the biggest island in Thailand, is now taking a step forward toward sustainable tourism. With luxury resorts and adventure activities, we have forgotten that it is the delicate ecological balance that sustains the island. Furthermore, overtourism has been a concern. Also, many tourists do not understand the ethical part of it. For example, many tourists are unaware of the bond of the islanders with the elephants. These animals are considered sacred, and they are meant for respectful observation. Elephant riding was never meant to be an entertainment activity on a mass scale. Mission “Build Back Better” has been a powerful effort to preserve elephants and other iconic animals on the island. Furthermore, the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project works to avoid the local extinction of these animals. With these initiatives, there are now more reasons to explore the wildlife, rainforests, and beaches of Phuket. In addition, Silk Sky Air has now started a helicopter service over the Phi Phi Islands, Phang Nga Bay, Maya Bay, Phuket Town, and other iconic places to see in Phuket. With a low environmental impact, this helicopter service aims for the future of luxury and sustainable tourism. Hi, in today’s blog, I will share my experience in Phuket and the unique things to do in Phuket for first-time travelers. I will start with some basic information about Phuket, and then, I will move to the things to do and where to stay. Phuket At A Glance: Important Information On The Island Time Zone GMT +7hrs National Language English Other Popular Languages Russian and Chinese Currency Thai Baht (Carry small cash as shops may not accept cards) How To Move Around In Phuket? Scooters are good in Phuket. However, those do not work for me! I found this wonderful app called Grab to book taxis and move around the island. I even took local buses to explore Phuket's tourist attractions. These buses are fun. For How Long You Must Stay In Phuket? You need to stay at least 7 days in Phuket. I spent 10 days in Phuket during my last trip. For Phuket, you will need some time to rejuvenate, and so you need a buffer of 1-2 days to relax and just soak in the vibe. What Are The Unique Things To Do In Phuket? With an area of 547 km², Phuket allows you explore beautiful beaches and wildlife along with rich cultural experiences. Also, unlike most tourists, we did not want to stick to a particular beach. We used our 10 days of stay here to visit each side of the island. 1. Things To Do In North Phuket Beautiful waterfalls, jungle trails, and wildlife were the main attractions in North Phuket. Here are the things we did. • A Visit To The Khao Phra Thaeo National Park Khao Phra Thaeo is the last evergreen rainforest of Phuket. With an area of 20km2, it has many beautiful nature trails. We took the trail to the Bang Pae Waterfall, the most famous in Phuket. We took a dip and relaxed a bit there. Then, we continued our walk and found the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. It is the home to disabled elephants, which have been exploited and abused for years in the name of entertainment and due to working years in the logging industry. You cannot touch the elephants. You have to see and feed them from a distance. Now, this was the most rewarding experience for me in the entire Phuket trip. 2. Things To Do In Central Phuket The Phuket Old Town is the epicenter of the tourist attractions in Central Phuket. We dedicated an entire day to exploring the Old Town. The Old Town has a distinct visual character, with Sino-Portuguese architecture lining both streets. Meanwhile, you must also visit places such as the Soi Romanee or the Phuket Thaihua Museum to learn about the history of Phuket. However, Central Phuket is beyond the Old Town, and these are the other places you must explore. • Visiting Wat Chalong Wat Chalong is going to take around 1.5 to 2 hours of your time. Here, the temples are dedicated to the monks who led the local people in a Chinese rebellion in 1876. They also cured the injured soldiers with their deep knowledge of medicinal herbs. You have to wear modest clothes while visiting these temples and remove your shoes before entering the temples. • Day Trips To Nearby Islands Phuket and its nearby islands allow you to live your Hollywood moments. From the island’s east coast, we headed to Phang Nga Bay. Phang Nga Bay is famous for being the location of the James Bond movie. Also, the Phi Phi Islands are the place where The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, was shot. • Blue Elephant Moments Blue Elephant stands as the quintessential dining hotspot in Central Phuket. The Pina Colada and food were great. However, the setup in a colonial mansion was the bigger draw for me. Also, Central Phuket is the place where you will have the ultimate street food experience in Phuket. My favorite was the Thai Banana Rotis, and I had them every day during my stay in Phuket. 3. Things To Do In South And West Phuket South and West Phuket are the areas where you will have the ultimate beach fun and relaxation. It has some noted spas. However, for me, the biggest attraction was the Big Buddha Statue. • Big Buddha You have to take a steep climb up the Nakkerd or Snake Hill to reach this Big Buddha Statue. The only objection I had was the situation of the elephant feeding and riding stations. • The Beautiful Beaches Kata, Karon, and Freedom Beaches are the three most famous beaches in the Central and Western Phuket. However, these are touristy. So, in search of some quiet moments, we headed to the Naiyang Beach and Banana Beach. • Spas And Relaxation You are at fault if you are in Thailand and do not have a Thai massage session. A local friend recommended the Infinite Luxury Spa at Kata Rocks. However, I chose a quaint thatched space. Where To Stay In Phuket? We chose the Como Point Yamu and Six Senses Yao Noi as our accommodations during our stay in Phuket. We stayed for five nights in Como Point Yamu for 5 days, and it was a perfect gateway to the animal sanctuaries and national parks in the north of the Island. On the other hand, the Six Senses Yao Noi was our home for the last five days. Its location in the Phang Nga Bay helps in the complete exploration of the island. Read Also: 5 Must-Visit Places In Thailand: Should I Go To Phuket Or Krabi? Visiting Thailand On Business: 5 Things to Prepare In Advance Bali vs Thailand: Which Place is Better?
