Wat Chalong

This beautiful temple is the biggest and considered the most important Buddhist temple in Phuket. There are several buildings in the annex that welcome visitors from around the world to pay their respects. The chedi of the Grand Pagoda is three floors up and contains a splinter of bone from Lord Buddha. Locals come to pay their respects to several revered monks who founded the temple, among them Luang Pho Cham and Luang Pho Phuang who led citizens to fight against the Chinese rebellion in 1876 and with their knowledge of herbal medicine they helped the injured. The temple is open from 7am to 5pm daily.

Big Buddha Phuket

Sitting on the peak of Mount Nagakerd, in Karon, the Phuket Big Buddha (Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Akenakiri or Ming Mongkol Buddha) is 25 metres high. The reinforced concrete structure is adorned with beautiful white Burmese marble weighing a total of 135 tonnes. The site of the Big Buddha offers some amazing 360-degree views of south Phuket stretching from east coast to west coast. The temple is open daily from 7am to 7pm and is free to enter. Volunteers assist tourists with sarongs if they are not dressed appropriately to enter.

Promthep Cape

This is a beautiful viewpoint that overlooks the most southern tip of Phuket. It is a very popular place for Thais to visit to experience a spectacular sunset, and can often get quite crowded with everyone waiting for the sun to go down. The elevated position offers great views of the cape and small islands. There is a small lighthouse museum upon the hilltop that is interesting to look around, and an expanding collection of elephant statues around a shrine that is irresistible to look at. Alongside the parking area are many souvenir shops attempting to cash in on the vast numbers of visitors arriving on tour buses each day.

Sea Gypsy Village

Rawai is home to a village of Sea Gypsies also known as Chao Lay or Moken people. They are one of the smallest ethnic minorities is Asia that have traditionally lived a nomadic lifestyle along the Andaman coast making a living from the sea. Sea Gypsies have their own language, customs and festivals and are extraordinary swimmers. In Rawai on the left side of the beachfront the sea gypsy village is quite a tourist attraction. Their daily catch is displayed in tanks outside makeshift restaurants alongside the road and the fish or seafood is cooked fresh the way you like it, for a very reasonable price.

Rawai Beach

Rawai Beach is at the very south of Phuket, a place for locals to relax on the promenade, swing in a hammock and watch the traditional long tail boats bob in the water. The beach itself is not a swimming beach, but it is a great place to stop for stroll and lunch on the seafront. Rawai beach is also where you can hire a speedboat or long tail boat to take you on an adventure to nearby islands.

Nai Harn Beach

This gorgeous white sand beach is one of the most attractive in Phuket. Flanked by high cliffs at both sides, the protected bay has calmer water than many west coast beaches and a family friendly atmosphere where no noisy water sports are permitted. The beach setting is very natural and tranquil, with a large lake and Buddhist temple at the rear preventing the area from being over developed. There is plenty of choice for lunch with a row of restaurants set behind the beachfront area under the shade of mature fir trees.

Kata Beach

Over the hill from Chalong is the popular holiday destination Kata Beach. The lovely curved white sand beach faces the tiny Crab Island and is a great spot for sunset. Kata centre is a very busy place packed with restaurants and hotels for tourists. The beach is beautiful but not the most tranquil on the island, so if you enjoy a lively beach vibe this is the place for you.

Phuket Old Town

Discover historical Phuket at Old Phuket Town, a series of streets that formed the wealthy beginnings of the city over 100 years ago. Thalang Road, Phang Nga Road, Krabi Road, Dibuk Road and Yaowarat Road have undergone renovation over the past few years restoring the traditional Sino-Portuguese buildings that are now trendy boutiques, cafes, hostels, bars and more. Within the Old Town there are mansions, museums and delicious local restaurants to sample the local delicacies. Walking maps and tours are available and are highly recommended to learn more about the history and culture of Phuketians.