Phuket
3
Day Itinerary •
Thailand
Three days on Phuket and the Andaman Coast give you the finest island and coastal scenery in Thailand. The extraordinary limestone karst towers of Phang Nga Bay, the inaccessible beaches of Railay only reachable by longtail boat, the vibrant Old Phuket Town with its Sino-Portuguese heritage and the snorkelling reefs of the Similan Islands are all within reach of a single base. This route covers the essential Andaman Coast from Phuket's extraordinary Old Town and its finest beaches to the karst bay of Phang Nga with its James Bond Island, the sea gypsy villages of Koh Panyi and the extraordinary Railay peninsula accessible only by longtail through the limestone cliffs. Three days that reveal why the Andaman is the finest coast in Asia.
Best Time To Visit
November to April
Getting There
Fly into Phuket (HKT), direct from Bangkok 1.5 hours
Getting Around
Grab, longtail boat, hired scooter for beaches
Budget Per Day
Approx 50 to 150 USD per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, beaches and boat trips
DAY 1
PHUKET OLD TOWN
MORNING
PHUKET OLD TOWN, THE FINEST SINO-PORTUGUESE HERITAGE IN THAILAND
Old Phuket Town is the most extraordinary colonial heritage district in Thailand, its streets lined with 200-year-old Sino-Portuguese shophouses in extraordinary pastel colours. Thalang Road and Soi Rommanee are the finest streets. The extraordinary Baan Chinpracha mansion, the Jui Tui Shrine and the Put Jaw Chinese temple are all unmissable. Entry to most sites free. Drive/Travel: 30 min by Grab
MIDDAY
BIG BUDDHA AND WAT CHALONG, THE MOST SACRED TEMPLE IN PHUKET
The 45-metre white marble Big Buddha on the Nakkerd Hills is visible from across southern Phuket and commands extraordinary 360-degree views over the island, Chalong Bay and the Andaman Sea. The adjacent Wat Chalong is the most revered temple in Phuket, its extraordinary tower enclosing a bone fragment of the Buddha. Entry free. Drive/Travel: 40 min by Grab to beach
AFTERNOON
KATA BEACH AND THE PHUKET VIEWPOINT
Kata Beach is the finest beach on Phuket, a long curve of golden sand with clear water and the extraordinary Three Beaches Viewpoint above it, looking out over Kata, Kata Noi and Karon in one extraordinary panorama. The viewpoint is accessible by scooter or hired songthaew and is the finest sunset spot on the island. Beach entry free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
Soi Rommanee in Old Phuket Town is a single lane of extraordinary restored Sino-Portuguese shophouses housing the finest independent bars and art galleries on the island. The street comes alive at night with string lights and live music. The Sunday Walking Street market on Thalang Road from 4pm is the finest local market in Phuket and entirely free of the tourist tat found at Patong. Entry free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Kopitiam by Wilai, Old Town The finest breakfast in Phuket. Extraordinary Hokkien coffee and local dim sum in a heritage shophouse. | Lunch: Tu Kab Khao, Old Town Outstanding southern Thai food. The massaman curry and crab dishes are extraordinary. | Dinner: Kata Rocks sunset bar Outstanding seafood on the rocks above Kata beach. Book for the sunset table.
DAY 2
PHANG NGA BAY
MORNING
PHANG NGA BAY, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY SEASCAPE IN THAILAND
Phang Nga Bay is 400 square kilometres of limestone karst towers rising vertically from emerald water, one of the most extraordinary seascapes in the world. James Bond Island, used in The Man with the Golden Gun, is the most iconic rock formation. Koh Panyi, a sea gypsy village built entirely on stilts above the water, is extraordinary. Full day tour from Phuket approx 1,200 baht. Drive/Travel: 30 min by longtail
MIDDAY
KOH PANYI SEA GYPSY VILLAGE AND THE FLOATING FOOTBALL PITCH
The Moken sea gypsy village of Koh Panyi houses 1,700 people in an extraordinary community built entirely on stilts above the water with no land at all. The village has a mosque, a school and an extraordinary floating football pitch that tilts with the tides. The seafood restaurants above the water are the finest in Phang Nga Bay. Drive/Travel: 45 min by longtail
AFTERNOON
THE MANGROVE KAYAK TRAIL THROUGH THE LIMESTONE CAVES
The mangrove kayak trails through the limestone karst caves of Phang Nga Bay are the finest kayaking in Thailand. The extraordinary hongs, sea caves accessible only at certain tides through passages that require lying flat in the kayak, open into hidden lagoons completely enclosed by vertical karst walls. Guided sea kayak tours approx 1,500 baht.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Suwan Kuha Cave Temple at Phang Nga is one of the most extraordinary hidden temples in Thailand, a vast limestone cavern containing a 15-metre reclining Buddha and dozens of smaller Buddha images accumulated over centuries. The cave is 10 minutes from the Phang Nga town centre and almost entirely unknown to tourists doing the bay tour. Entry approx 20 baht.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Pier cafe, Tha Don pier Simple Thai breakfast before the morning boat departure at 8am. | Lunch: Koh Panyi floating restaurant Fresh crab, mantis prawn and barracuda grilled over charcoal above the Andaman. | Dinner: Old Town restaurant, Phuket Return to Old Town for extraordinary southern Thai curry and cold Singha.
DAY 3
RAILAY PENINSULA
MORNING
RAILAY BEACH, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL INACCESSIBLE BEACH IN THAILAND
Railay is accessible only by longtail boat through the limestone cliffs from Ao Nang or Krabi town, which has kept it remarkably pristine despite its fame. Railay West beach is the finest on the Andaman coast, its extraordinary white sand backed by vertical karst cliffs dropping directly into turquoise water. Longtail from Ao Nang approx 100 baht each way. Drive/Travel: 20 min walk through jungle
MIDDAY
PHRA NANG CAVE BEACH AND THE PRINCESS CAVE SHRINE
Phra Nang is the most beautiful beach in Krabi province, a small cove beneath extraordinary overhanging limestone cliffs accessible only on foot from Railay. The Princess Cave shrine at the cliff base is an extraordinary local religious site filled with votive offerings. The snorkelling off Phra Nang in clear water is the finest accessible from Railay. Entry free. Drive/Travel: 30 min climb
AFTERNOON
THE RAILAY VIEWPOINT AND ROCK CLIMBING ON THE KARST
The Railay Viewpoint is reached by a steep 20-minute jungle scramble from East Railay and gives an extraordinary panorama over both beaches, the karst towers and the Andaman Sea. Railay is also one of the finest rock climbing destinations in Asia, with routes for all levels on the extraordinary overhanging limestone. Guided climbing from approx 800 baht per half day.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The lagoon at Railay, accessible by a rope climb through a hidden canyon behind East Railay beach, is one of the most extraordinary hidden places on the Andaman coast. A near-vertical scramble through a karst crack opens into an extraordinary enclosed tidal lagoon surrounded by 100-metre vertical cliffs with no beach access at all. Allow 45 minutes each way and go at low tide.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Ao Nang pier stalls Buy fresh roti and coffee at the pier before catching the 8am longtail to Railay. | Lunch: Railay Beach Restaurant Fresh grilled fish and coconut curry on the beach. Order the morning catch. | Dinner: Krabi Town night market Return to Krabi for the finest street food on the Andaman coast. Outstanding pad see ew.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Phuket Old Town, Nights 1 to 2 Stay in a heritage shophouse guesthouse. Rommanee Boutique or The Memory. Approx 50 to 120 USD. Railay or Ao Nang, Night 3 Rayavadee Resort on Railay is extraordinary. Approx 150 to 400 USD. Budget: Railay Bay Resort 40 to 80 USD. Budget Option Lub d Phuket or On On Hotel, Old Town. Approx 15 to 40 USD per night.
Top Tips
1. Phuket Old Town Sunday Walking Street from 4pm is the finest market on the island. Entirely free.
2. Phang Nga Bay: book a longtail-only private tour for 1,500 baht rather than the large tourist boats.
3. Railay longtail from Ao Nang: negotiate 100 baht per person. Never pay more than 150 baht.
4. Phra Nang beach is only accessible on foot from Railay. Worth every step. Go at low tide.
5. Big Buddha is free but requires modest dress. The sunset views over Chalong Bay are extraordinary.
6. Patong Beach is best avoided. Kata and Karon are far superior and far less chaotic.
Total Budget
45 to 230 USD/day