The island of Phuket is one of the biggest in all of Thailand, in addition to being one
of the most popular.
The popularity of the large island comes for good reason, as its beautiful beaches and
bustling city make Phuket one of the best locations for tourists to get a taste of Taiwanese
culture.
From exploring the city of Phuket to visiting one of the island’s exotic markets, join
ViewCation as we take a look at the best things to do in Phuket, Thailand.
Visit the City of Phuket Phuket is not only the name of the island
but also the name of the island’s major city.
The city of Phuket is always bustling and filled with plenty of opportunities for tourists
to get a taste of Thailand’s unique culture.
The city is located on the island’s southeastern coast and occupies a bay.
Visitors to the city of Phuket will find all of the usual things, from places to stay to
places to eat, and even places to get a Taiwanese massage!
The architecture of the city will not only be unique to tourists but is also unique compared
to other architecture in Thailand.
The buildings in the city of Phuket have some decidedly Chinese and Portuguese inspirations
thanks to the influence of immigrants.
The most unique area in the entire city has got to be its Old Town area, which is filled
with shops and finely preserved historical buildings.
Families visiting the city of Phuket may enjoy visiting the Phuket Trickeye Museum, which
is an interactive art gallery where visitors can take pictures that make it seem as if
they are part of the art on display.
There’s certainly plenty to do within the confines of the city, but those who truly
want to experience what Phuket has to offer will also want to check out the rest of the
beautiful and expansive island.
Go on a Boat Tour of the Island One of the best ways to get a taste of all
the various seascapes and beaches that the island of Phuket has to offer is to take a
tour of the island on a boat.
There are numerous organized tours that tourists can take while visiting Phuket, including
some that will take up nearly the entire day!
An experienced guide will lead the tour, and they’ll be able to pass along plenty of
knowledge to passengers.
Most tours will also include food and refreshments.
Go Snorkeling in Phuket’s Beautiful Blue Waters
There are numerous things that make Thailand, and the island of Phuket in particular, one
of the best places in the world for people to build up some experience snorkeling.
Diving certification courses tend to be a good deal cheaper in Thailand than they are
in other parts of the world, which means that learning to dive and snorkel can be a bit
more affordable in the country than in other beach locations.
Besides the fact that learning to dive and snorkel in Thailand can be more affordable
than in other locations, there’s also the fact of the matter that the waters in the
area are gorgeous and there’s plenty of unique sea life to view.
In addition to the seemingly infinite and immensely colorful corals that divers will
find themselves in the midst of, they’ll also get a chance to see such creatures as
seahorses, sea turtles, and manta rays.
The water is always clear and warm.
Visit One of the Island’s Beautiful Beaches Even if you aren’t going to be going for
a dive, there are numerous reasons to go and visit one of Phuket’s gorgeous beaches.
The island is filled with beaches, and the most popular of Phuket’s many beaches is
inarguably Patong Beach.
While Patong Beach is certainly an interesting tourist location, it’s always incredibly
crowded and offers little opportunity for visitors to relax.
Still, its plentiful shops and an array of activities will keep tourists entertained.
Tourists that are looking to go to a slightly more secluded beach can try Kata Beach, although
the beach will still have plenty of visitors on an average day.
The beach has beautiful white sand and is surrounded by dense hillsides on each side.
Those looking for an even quieter beach can head south of Kata Beach to Kata Noi Beach.
Visit the Great Buddha of Phuket The Great Buddha of Phuket, which is also
known simply as Phuket Big Buddha, is a giant Buddha statue crafted out of white jade marble
that sits atop a high summit.
The summit itself grants visitors to the statue unprecedented views of Phuket island, though
the giant Buddha statue looming over you will slightly distract from them.
The statue is 45 meters high and was built upon the summit in 2004.
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Pay a Visit to the Village of Rawai Those who want to get a taste of some of the
more authentic bits of culture that the island of Phuket has to offer its tourists may want
to head over the village of Rawai, which is located on Phuket’s east coast.
The village is home to a tribe that goes by the name of the “Moken”, though most in
the area simply refer to them as “sea gypsies”.
These are people with ancestral ties to Thailand that take great pride in their culture, and
they aren’t afraid to let tourists get a glimpse of their unique lifestyles!
The Moken are mostly fishermen, and you may even find one that’s willing to take you
out on a boat tour.
If you’re visiting the village, one of the best things to do is purchase the catch of
the day at one of its seafood markets and take it to a local restaurant to have one
of the village’s authentic Taiwanese chefs prepare it for you.
Visit One of Phuket’s Stunning Temples There are numerous temples on the island of
Phuket that are open to tourists, with two of the most notable being Wat Chalong and
Wat Phra Thong.
Wat Chalong is the largest and most popular of the many temples found within the island
of Phuket.
The temple is dedicated to two highly respected monks, and you can see their likenesses recreated
with life-size wax models while visiting.
While Wat Chalong is the largest and most popular of the nearly 30 temples that can
be found on the island of Phuket, Wat Phra Thong gives it a run for its money.
Wat Phra Thong is a temple with some unique lore, as legend has it that the broken Buddha
statue which functions as the temple’s centerpiece was long since buried before appearing to
a man in his dreams and being dug up.
While it was being dug up, the statue cracked in two, and it remains broken to this day!
Many of Thailand’s natives still come to these temples to worship, though visitors
can come to get a taste of the culture whether they believe the legends or not.
Visit Monkey Hill Monkey Hill is the highest hill located within
the city of Phuket, and it’s got lots of monkeys on it!
There are said to be 400 macaques living on the hill.
There’s more to look at than just the monkeys when you’re visiting Monkey Hill, as there’s
also a shrine at the bottom of the hill that Taiwanese people are known to ask for lucky
lottery numbers at.
Visit the Gibbon Rehabilitation Center If visiting Monkey Hill sounds like something
that would be up your alley, you’d certainly also want to visit the Gibbon Rehabilitation
Center!
Gibbons are intelligent apes that have sadly become the victims of poachers, and the Gibbon
Rehabilitation Center is a sanctuary that works to rescue and rehabilitate gibbons in
need.
Besides the gibbons that are being rehabilitated for release back into the wild, there are
also some gibbons that live at the center all the time.
Visitors will get a chance to interact with these gibbons, offering tourists a wildlife
opportunity that can’t be beaten!
Take a Walk Around Sirinat National Park Those looking to get a taste of some of the
most beautiful landscapes that Phuket has to offer may want to take a walk around Sirinat
National Park.
The National Park was previously known as Nai Yang National Park and sits on the northwest
coast of the island.
Much of the National Park’s boundaries are made up of beaches, with these beaches often
being a great deal more secluded than the other beaches already mentioned in this video.
Visitors to these beaches may get a rare chance to see a leatherback turtle come ashore and
lay eggs, which happens predominantly from November to February.
Visitors should note that it’s frowned upon to disturb these eggs, and guards patrol the
beaches to ensure that no one does so.
Experience Taiwanese Cuisine at an Exotic Market
There are numerous exotic markets strewn all over the island of Phuket, with some of them
being outdoor street markets and some of them being contained indoors.
Some of the most popular markets to be found within Phuket include the Banzaan Fresh Market
and the Phuket Weekend Night Market.
The Banzaan Fresh Market is an indoor market where visitors can find plenty of food and
even some souvenirs.
Meanwhile, the Phuket Weekend Night Market, which is only open at night and during the
weekends, is one of the best places in all of Phuket to try street food.
With its bustling city and beautiful beaches, it’s no surprise that the large island of
Phuket remains one of the most popular in all of Thailand for tourists to visit.
Now it’s time to hear from you: did you know that there are nearly 30 temples located
within the island of Phuket, and that there’s a hill in the city of Phuket that is home
to around 400 monkeys?
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