Phuket

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I. Amazing Beaches In Phuket

Karon Beach

Karon beach is one of the longest beaches in Phuket. It is located between Patong Beach and Kata Beach in an area reputed for its nightlife.

Having almost 3 km of sand, the beach is known by the majority of tourists. It is ideal for swimming in clear turquoise water, renting umbrellas and relaxing on white sand or even enjoying the local food from the restaurants around.

a. Best time to visit:

I recommend you to go there early in the morning, as it can get crowded during the day, or every evening for admiring the sunset.

b. The entrance is free

Nai Thon Beach

Nai Thon beach is a not so well-known beach in Thailand located on the west coast of Phuket.

You will reach the golden sand and blue water of the beach by descending a wooden staircase. These stairs are one of the most Instagrammable places in Phuket as the bridge leading to the beach is surrounded by lush vegetation, which is making the view of the sea even more spectacular. You will find the Nai Thon Beach Wooden Bridge in the southern part of the beach.

Note that this is a very quiet beach, therefore you will not find any source of entertainment such as watersport activities on the beach (and not even toilets). On the way to the beach, you can buy some fresh fruits or coconuts to drink.

a. When to visit:

It depends on you! There is not specific time to go to the beach, but I would say that it is better to go there in the morning in order to fully relax and savor what this beach has to offer before having to deal with the heat of the day.

b. The entrance is free

Freedom Beach

In my opinion, Freedom beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Phuket because of its crystal water and soft white sand, but not only!

What makes the beach so special is that you will have to descend 30 minutes through luxuriant vegetation in order to make it to the sea..

Extra tip

There are two ways to the beach:

via boat from Patong beach, from the top of the hill in exchange of a fee for descending on stairs, or
for free through a steep slope (challenging, but not impossible).

These are the reasons why the freedom beach will not be very crowded, but you have to note that there will not be a great variety of cafes or restaurants around, so make sure to have at least some water with you.

Extra tip

In order to access the beach for free, follow the indications given by google maps, drive to the top of the hill until you see a sign with the name of the beach where it is also mentioned: free entrance. This is how you know you are in the right place. If you will see a big parking and stairs leading to the beach, then it means you went too far, to the second entrance where you will be charged (approximatively 100 baht per person).

a. When to visit:

It depends on you! As most beaches in Phuket, there is almost nobody on this beach in the morning. In the same time, it will be easier to make it to and from the beach in the morning than in the middle of the day (when it is very hot).

b. The entrance is free

Surin Beach

Surin Beach was my favorite beach in Phuket because, even if it is a popular beach, you can choose a table under coconut trees at one of the terraces along the beach and have a drink or a snack, feel the soft sand and swim in a fantastic blue sea. There is also a popular Thai restaurant at the south end of the beach loved by tourists.

Extra tip: if you have your snorkeling gear, make sure you bring it here!

a. When to visit

Take into account that if you arrive too late (after 5 p.m.), the restaurants and shops surrounding the beach might be already closed).

b. The entrance is free

II. Free Vacation Activities In Phuket:

See Phuket Baba Museum:

A famous spot you will find in the city center is the History Museum, which you will not miss because it is a beautiful yellow building at the confluence of two main roads.

a. Best time to visit:

If you want to take some beautiful photos and avoid the crowds and the heat of the day, recommend you to go there early in the morning.

b. The entrance is free

Wander around the museum on the streets of the old town.

Take some time to walk around the streets of the historic center of Phuket (right next to the History Museum), gaze at the souvenir shops and admire the rainbow houses. In the city center, you will also find some beautiful coffee shops and restaurants. Check my Instagram highlights from Phuket if you want to see some of my favorites!

a. Best time to visit:

I recommend you visit these streets at noon, afternoon or even evening (before 7 PM as the shops might be closed by that time) when the streets are filled with people and when all the shops and cafes/restaurants are opened.

b. The entrance is free

One last tip: make sure to be in Phuket over the weekend and not miss the Sunday market! The streets are completely different during the nighttime: you will hear live music, walk around lot of street food you never thought of and find so many handcrafted products.

a. When to visit:

The Sunday Night market is typically starting every Sunday from 17:00.

b. The entrance is free

4-Sunset At Windmill Viewpoint

One of my best things to do in Phuket is the go for a sunset picnic at the windmill viewpoint. The vibe there is amazing, the locals are bringing blankets and snacks, listen to music, chat and laugh.

a. When to visit:For a better experience, it is better to go there at sunset, but not before, as there are no trees around and the sun might bother you until it starts to set.

b. The entrance is free

There is so much more that you can do in Phuket if you are willing to pay for a trip!

If you are looking for other options, I suggest you to use Klook!

Klook.com

III. Tours to take in Phuket

Tour To Phi Phi Islands

Probably the most famous tour chosen by tourists when traveling to Phuket, is the one to Phi Phi islands!

In consequence, you will inevitably have to deal with choosing the best travel agency for this trip.

I recommend you to choose Sea Angel Cruise, as they have an experienced crew and offer exceptional services. As almost everywhere in Thailand, they will also try to sell their physical products to you, but don’t bother buying them if you don’t feel like. For this trip, the price of the ticket is everything you need to buy (and maybe something else, but we will discuss that one later).

Where to get the ticket from? You can get it from Aries Tour, a travel agency in the historical center of Phuket (right next to the yellow Baba Museum), or purchase it online from Klook by clicking here!

What will the tour include?

Included in the price of the ticket you will be picked-up from your hotel, you will have an open buffet breakfast before departure, and the lunch will be served on Phi Phi Don, you will receive the snorkeling gear and a paddleboard (if you ask for it), you will be served water and cola onboard and fruits at the end of the trip.

What are the stops?

Depending on the order decided by the captain and the crewmembers, you will:

a. See the monkey beach: a beautiful beach, home for a lot of monkeys. You will not get off the boat and you may not see the monkeys at all, as they are not always there for the tourists. What I liked the most was that the crew members cared about our safety and asked us not to get close to the monkeys as they are in the end wild animals and they can be dangerous.

b. Jump in the sea for snorkeling, about 30-60 minutes or (if you pay extra, which I do not recommend) go scuba diving (for beginners).

c. Have your lunch on Phi Phi Don. There is a great variety of dishes to choose from!

d. See the Viking Cave only from outside as visiting on the inside is no longer possible no matter the traveling agency or tour you choose.

e. Go to Phi-Leh Lagoon where you can swim around the boat or, if you talk to the crew before departing, take the long tail boat for a short trip. This trip needs to be arranged before departure, as you will most probably not find a free long-tail boat at the Lagoon. Honestly, I didn’t want to pay extra for the long tail boat trip and I regret it after the tour since I realized that it was one of the most scenic places for taking the long tail boat for a decent price (and take gorgeous photos).

f. Explore Maya Bay where the movie “the beach” was filmed. Due to the initiatives of regenerating the coral reef at Maya Bay, you will not be allowed to swim there, but you can baby sharks in the water and relax on the beach or explore the island (which is very small).

g. Stop on Khai Nai Island, swim in crystal water, enjoy the sunset and the white sand. Here is where the crew will serve you fresh fruits.

If you want to see how these stops look like and what to expect before choosing this trip, access my Instagram and check my highlights on Phi Phi islands!