Patong · Phi Phi Day Trips · Phang Nga Bay · Old Town · Big Buddha

Your Phuket
Travel Guide.

Andaman Coast, Thailand — Patong nightlife to hidden coves, Phang Nga Bay kayaking to Phi Phi island hopping. Everything you need to plan Phuket, written from experience for real travellers.

Part of the IN Travel Network · 321 premium destination guides worldwide

Independent & self-funded · Ferries, tours & activities · Honest recommendations · No fluff

Share this Pin Share Send
Explore Phuket

Plan Your Route

Scroll to explore more
Most booked

Bangkok → Phuket

Flight 1.5 hrs · Bus 12 hrs · Train + bus 16 hrs
Bangkok
1.5 hrs
Phuket

Cheapest flights from 1,100 THB one-way via AirAsia or VietJet from Don Mueang. 54 flights daily. VIP bus from Southern Terminal takes 12 hours (600-1,000 THB). No direct train — take sleeper to Surat Thani then bus.

From ฿1,100 / person Book
See all routes explained
Scenic route

Phuket ↔ Phi Phi

Ferry 2 hrs · Speedboat 1 hr
Rassada Pier
2 hrs
Phi Phi

Ferries depart Rassada Pier from 08:30 daily. Ferry 450 THB one-way, speedboat 700 THB. Operators: Andaman Wave Master, Tigerline, Ao Nang Princess. Book a day ahead in peak season (Dec-Feb).

↺ Round trip available
From ฿450 / person Book
Plan this crossing

Phuket ↔ Krabi

Ferry via Phi Phi · Minivan 3 hrs
Phuket
1.5 hrs
Krabi

Ferry from Rassada Pier stops at Phi Phi en route to Ao Nang (1h15-1h30). Or take a minivan direct — 3 hours by road, 300-500 THB. Minivans depart from Phuket Town bus terminal.

↺ Round trip available
From ฿300 / person Book
See route options
Airport transfer

Phuket Airport → Beaches

Taxi, Smart Bus, Grab, or minivan
HKT Airport
45 min
Hotel

Airport taxi to Patong ~800-1,000 THB (45 min). Smart Bus runs down the west coast for 50-170 THB but slower. Grab works at Phuket Airport — usually 500-700 THB to Patong. Pre-book for peace of mind.

From ฿170 / person Book
Airport transfer guide
Must-do

Phang Nga Bay & James Bond Island

Full-day kayaking, caves & limestone karsts

Towering limestone pillars, sea cave canoeing at Panak Island, James Bond Island photo stop, and lunch at Koh Panyi floating village. Departs Ao Po Grand Marina. Book early — the best tours cap group sizes.

From ฿1,800 / person Find Tours ↗
See what's worth it
Best for snorkelling

Phi Phi Islands Day Trip

Speedboat · Maya Bay, snorkelling, lunch

Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Monkey Beach, Viking Cave, and snorkelling at Bamboo Island. Speedboat from Rassada Pier, 45 min each way. Sunrise tours dodge the worst crowds — Maya Bay has a daily visitor cap.

From ฿1,500 / person Find Tours ↗
Plan your island day

Old Town, Big Buddha & Cooking Class

Half-day cultural & food tours

Sino-Portuguese architecture, street art, local cafes in Phuket Old Town. 45-metre marble Big Buddha with 360-degree views from Nakkerd Hill. Thai cooking classes with market tours — learn pad thai, green curry, and mango sticky rice.

From ฿800 / person Find Tours ↗
See the full day out
Families favourite

Ethical Elephant Sanctuary

Half-day · no-riding, feed & bathe elephants

Elephant Jungle Sanctuary near Chalong — no riding, no hooks. Feed, walk with, and bathe adult and baby elephants. Hotel pickup included. Book at least 2 days ahead in high season.

From ฿2,500 / person Find Tours ↗
Is it worth it?
Best of the Andaman

The Andaman Triangle

5-7 days · Phuket, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta · all ferries
Phuket
Phi Phi
Koh Lanta
Krabi

The classic Andaman route. Start in Phuket for beaches and nightlife, ferry to Phi Phi for Maya Bay and diving, hop to Koh Lanta for slow island life, then fly out of Krabi. All ferries bookable in one go.

From ฿2,500 / all ferries Book
Map your island trail
Quiet escape

Koh Yao Islands — The Quiet Alternative

30-min speedboat · rice paddies, zero crowds
Phuket
30 min
Koh Yao

Just 25km from Phuket in Phang Nga Bay but a different world. Rice paddies, rubber plantations, mangroves, buffalos on quiet roads. The antidote to Patong. Koh Yao Noi for boutique stays, Koh Yao Yai for total solitude.

From ฿350 / person Book
Escape the crowds
Start here

Phuket First-Timers

Visa, money, safety, Muay Thai, areas explained

Everything you need before you land. 60-day visa rules, ATM traps, Wise card setup, which area to base yourself, scams to dodge, and where to train Muay Thai if that's your thing.

Free guide Read Guide

Beaches: Patong to Hidden Coves

Every beach ranked by vibe, crowds & what to expect

From Patong's buzz to Banana Beach's solitude. Every west coast beach compared — which one suits families, couples, solo travellers, and people who just want quiet.

Free guide Read Guide

Budget, Tips, Scams & Culture

Daily costs, tuk-tuk traps, jet-ski scams, cultural guide

Three budget tiers with real 2026 prices. Tuk-tuk vs Grab costs, jet-ski damage scam prevention, cultural dos and don'ts, tipping norms. The practical stuff other guides skip.

Free guide Read Guide

100% Independent Travel Guide Network

321 destination guides 12Go trusted booking partner Independent written from experience

Transport bookings are handled by 12Go — Asia's largest transport platform. Over 2 million tickets sold across 10,000+ routes. Secure checkout, instant confirmation, and full refunds if your sailing is weather-cancelled. Tours and activities from additional partners coming soon.

Search available dates and book instantly

Secure checkout via 12Go — our ticketing partner since 2023

Explore More Islands

Your Next Island

In Phi Phi

Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Shark Point diving. 2-hour ferry from Rassada Pier.

Explore In Phi Phi

In Krabi

Railay Beach, Ao Nang, limestone karsts. Gateway to the Andaman islands. 1.5-hour ferry.

Explore In Krabi

In Koh Lipe

The Maldives of Thailand. Crystal water, Walking Street, world-class snorkelling.

Explore In Koh Lipe

In Krabi

Railay Beach, Ao Nang, limestone karsts. Gateway to the Andaman islands.

Explore In Krabi
Your Phuket Briefing

Every Route. Every Detail. No Guesswork.

Getting There
Transport Guide

How to Get to Phuket: Flights, Ferries & Airport Transfers

Every route into Phuket — flights from Bangkok, ferries to Phi Phi and Koh Lanta, airport transfers to beaches.

Explore this guide
First-Timers
Essential Guide

Phuket First-Timers: Visa, Money, Safety & Muay Thai

Everything before you land. 60-day visa rules, ATM traps, which area to stay, scams to dodge, Muay Thai gyms.

Explore this guide
Itineraries
Day Plans

Phuket Itineraries: 3, 5, 7 & 10 Day Plans

Solo, couple, family — day-by-day plans with realistic timing, budget breakdowns, and what to skip.

Explore this guide
Beaches
Beach Guide

Phuket Beaches: Patong to Hidden Coves

Every beach ranked by vibe, crowds, swimming quality, and which traveller type it actually suits.

Explore this guide
Activities
Activities & Day Trips

Phang Nga Bay, Phi Phi, Diving & Things to Do

Day trips, diving, Old Town, cooking classes, elephant sanctuaries, quiet escapes. Everything worth your time.

Explore this guide
Budget
Practical Guide

Budget, Tips, Scams & Cultural Guide

Daily costs at three tiers, ATM traps, jet-ski scams, tuk-tuk pricing, cultural dos and don'ts.

Explore this guide

Keep exploring ↓

Getting There First-Timers Itineraries Activities Beaches Budget & Tips
Smart Results

Tell Us About Your Trip

We'll sort every route, tour, and activity to match your travel style — families see family-friendly options first, solo travellers get the best-value picks, couples get romantic recommendations. Five seconds, smarter results.

people
Search Tickets
FAQ

Quick Answers

A free, independent travel guide for Phuket and the Andaman Coast. We cover getting here, beaches, activities, island hopping, and budget planning — all written from experience, not scraped from other sites. We partner with 12Go for transport bookings, Viator and GetYourGuide for tours, and earn a commission when you book through our links. You pay the same price either way. Part of the IN Travel Network — 321 destination guides across Southeast Asia.
Most people fly. Phuket International Airport (HKT) has 54+ daily flights from Bangkok (1.5 hours, from 1,100 THB on AirAsia or VietJet). From other Andaman islands: ferries run from Phi Phi (2 hours, 450 THB) and Koh Lanta (3 hours via Phi Phi). VIP buses from Bangkok take about 12 hours (600-1,000 THB). There's no direct train — the nearest station is Surat Thani, with a connecting bus. All routes are bookable through our 12Go search tool above.
November to April is high season — dry weather, calm seas, all ferry routes running. December to February is peak (book accommodation ahead). Phuket stays open year-round unlike smaller islands — even in monsoon season (May-October) you'll get sunshine between rain bursts, and prices drop 30-50%. The Phi Phi and Koh Lipe ferry routes reduce in low season. Diving visibility is best November to March.
Depends on what you want. Patong for nightlife, shopping, and being in the middle of everything (noisy, crowded). Kata for families — gentle waves, good restaurants, walkable. Karon for a long quiet beach with space. Nai Harn for a local feel and incredible sunsets (south tip). Kamala or Surin for upmarket boutique vibes without the Patong chaos. Rawai if you want a residential base near restaurants and the pier for day trips. Our beaches guide breaks down every option.
Most nationalities get 60 days visa-free (changed from 30 in 2024). UK, EU, US, Australian, and Canadian passport holders qualify. You'll need proof of onward travel within 60 days. Since May 2025, all visitors must complete a Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before arrival — do it within 3 days of your flight. Extensions of 30 days are available at Phuket Immigration (1,900 THB).
Phuket is the Andaman's main gateway for island hopping. Ferries from Rassada Pier run to Phi Phi (2 hours), Koh Lanta (3 hours via Phi Phi), Koh Lipe (seasonal), and Krabi/Ao Nang (1.5 hours). The classic Andaman triangle is Phuket to Phi Phi to Koh Lanta to Krabi — about 5-7 days. For a quick escape, the Koh Yao islands are just 30 minutes by speedboat. All routes are bookable above, and each destination has its own guide in our network.
Generally very safe for tourists. The main risks are road accidents (motorbike rental without experience is the #1 cause of tourist injuries), jet-ski damage scams in Patong, and drink spiking at some Bangla Road bars. Use Grab instead of negotiating with tuk-tuks. Avoid renting a scooter unless you're experienced — Phuket's hills and traffic are unforgiving. Tourist police hotline: 1155. Ambulance: 1669. Our first-timers guide covers every scam we know about.
Completely. We earn a small commission when you book through our partner links (12Go, Viator, GetYourGuide, Amazon, Wise, SafetyWing). You pay the same price as going directly to those platforms — our commission comes from the provider, not from you. No sponsored listings, no paid rankings. If we recommend something, it's because we think it's worth your time.
In Phuket is part of the IN Travel Network — 321 destination guides across Southeast Asia and beyond. We're an independent, self-funded editorial team, not a tourism board or booking agency. Our guides are written from experience by people who've lived and travelled across the region. No operator pays to appear in our content. If you run a local business in Phuket and want to reach our audience, there's a separate partnership page — but editorial stays independent.

100% Free — No Card Required

The Thailand First-Timer Guide

Everything we learned the hard way so you don't have to. Real advice from people who live here — not recycled blog content. Drop your email and it lands in your inbox in under a minute.

✓ Visa & entry rules (updated 2026) ✓ ATM traps & money tips ✓ SIM cards that actually work ✓ Insurance mistakes to avoid ✓ Transport routes decoded ✓ The packing list nobody gives you

12-page PDF · instant download · works offline · written by people who live here

Sent instantly. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Ready to explore Phuket?

Book flights, find tours, explore beaches, or just figure out where to start. We're here to make it easier.

Find Your Route

Tell the world!

0

My Phuket Trip

Heart your favourite ferries, tours, beaches, and guides — we'll build your personal trip plan as you browse.

Thank you! We'll be in touch shortly.
Your Phuket Travel Guide. Beaches, tours & more Explore