Phuket, Thailand - best day trips
- Tania Andreea
- Apr 30
- 6 min read
Updated: May 2
TOP MOST INTERESTING EXCURSIONS ON PHUKET AND FROM PHUKET
Phuket is one of the most beautiful and lively islands in Thailand. Some of the most popular activities you can enjoy here are definitely the excursions to other nearby islands and beyond. It is a fairly complex island, where tourist activities are varied and can suit almost any type of traveler.
In this article you will find information about the most popular excursions, both by boat and on the island, as well as about the most interesting activities. I have written separate articles, which you can find links to below, about:
The most interesting excursions and activities you can do in Phuket are to:
PHI PHI ISLANDS
If I had to mention one trip from Phuket that you shouldn't miss, it would be the one to the Phi Phi Islands. Most tours have stops on various islets as well as snorkeling stops. Generally, stops in Maya Bay and Phi Phi Don are always included in the itinerary.
On the trip we booked, to which I leave link here, we had two stops for snorkeling, a few to admire the scenery, without getting off the boat, in Phi Leh Lagoon, Monkey Island and Monkey Cave and stops with limited time on islands such as Maya Bay, Phi Phi Don and Bamboo Island.
Maya Bay was closed for tourists for 2 years in order to protect the ecosystem. It is currently open to visitors, but swimming is prohibited. This beach became famous thanks to the movie “The Beach” with Leonardo Dicaprio. It is absolutely gorgeous, with fine sand and crystal clear water, surrounded by rocks.
Phi Phi Don is the largest and only inhabited island in the Phi Phi archipelago. We only stopped here for lunch (which was included in the tour price) but we still had some time left for a short walk to get the feel of the place. It was enough time to make us want to come back and book at least one night. All the locations we visited were extremely crowded. If you want to avoid the crowds, you can opt for a tour that starts very early in the morning, details here.
If you are considering booking accommodation in Phi Phi Don, I leave a link for a complex that caught my attention.
BAMBOO RAFTING
One of the most unique ways to explore the island's wilderness is certainly on a guided tour, which takes place on floating boards made of pieces of bamboo. Such tours take place on calm rivers or canals that cross areas with dense vegetation, where there are increased chances of enjoying a multitude of animals and birds in their natural environment.
Also, to cover a whole day with activities, many organizers combine the water ride with visiting tourist locations, adventure parks, or elephant parks. I leave a link in the image below to such a one-day tour.
ELEPHANT SANCTUARY
If you would like to see elephants but don't think you'll see them in their natural environment in the wild anytime soon, then you might consider visiting one of the sanctuaries in Phuket. Keep in mind, however, that many of them are not ethical. Some would say that there are no ethical sanctuaries in Phuket. To make sure you choose the right location, it's good to know that tourist interaction with elephants should be minimal, if not non-existent, and it's best to admire them from a distance.
I leave a link in the image below to such a tour, which can last a few hours.
YONA FLOATING BEACH CLUB
A unique location, that I don't know if it exists anywhere else in the world, but that looks very much like a luxury boat is Yona Floating Beach Club. As its name suggests, it is a kind of floating club, located on a platform, with an infinity pool, restaurant, bar and party atmosphere. The prices on this "island" are a bit higher, compared to the average prices in Phuket, but if you book online, you can choose packages that have food and drinks included. Details and reservations here.
JAMES BOND ISLAND
James Bond Island, or rather the piece of rock that seems to be turned upside down, is the image that comes to mind when I think of Thailand. I have seen it in photos since I was little, being one of the most promoted locations in this country. I found out quite recently that it became famous with the release of the 1974 James Bond film, that had several sequences filmed there.
As with the Phi Phi Islands tour, we purchased the James Bond Island tour online. The tour included three stops to visit. The first stop was at Monkey Cave Temple (Suwan Khuha Cave), which is a temple built in a cave. On the rocks where the cave is formed, many monkeys live, which you can admire playing unhindered among tourists. The next stop was at Panyee, the village built on the water. This village was built 200 years ago by ethnic Malays. Currently, the population is approximately 1600 people, all from only 3 families. The last stop was at James Bond Island. Before reaching the island, we had a kayak tour through the caves.
I leave a link to the trip to James Bond Island which we reserved.
ATV RIDING IN THE JUNGLE
ATV riding through the jungle of Thailand is a unique experience, full of adventure and spectacular scenery. Tours usually include stops at beautiful locations where you can admire jungle-covered mountains and deep valleys. You don't have to be an expert in ATV riding. Tours are available for beginners and advanced riders, with clear instructions and experienced guides to help you along the way.
Details and reservations here.
MAITHON ISLAND
Maithon Island, locally known as Koh Mai Thon, is a hidden gem off the coast of Phuket. Tourists can enjoy dolphin watching and spectacular sunset views. The location is also famous for its crystal clear waters, white sandy beaches and vibrant marine life, making it a perfect place for snorkeling and relaxation. It is a private island, but boat tours can be booked, starting from Phuket. Details and bookings here.
CORAL ISLAND
Coral Island is a gorgeous island, famous for its fine sandy beaches and colorful coral reefs. It is an ideal place for snorkeling, diving and water sports. Its clear waters and tropical landscapes attract tourists in search of relaxation and adventure. With beachside restaurants and a peaceful atmosphere, Coral Island offers the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Tours to this island usually include a stop on Racha Island. Details and reservations here.
SIMILAN ISLANDS
The Similan Islands are those paradisiacal places that you should not miss if you arrive in Phuket. Although the road to the islands is a very long one, approximately 3-4 hours/way (minibus + boat), and the time left to enjoy the location is quite short, we do not regret having had the opportunity to see such places.
The tour we chose included two snorkeling stops and two stops on two of the islands of the Similan archipelago. The price of the tour included transfers from the hotel to the port, food and drinks.
Both beaches we visited were absolutely gorgeous, with white, fine sand and absolutely gorgeous turquoise water, perfect for swimming around. Unfortunately, or fortunately (depending on your perspective), on these islands, unlike Phi Phi, there is no option to book accommodation. Also, if you are lucky, you can see turtles in the crystal clear waters surrounding the islands.
Details and reservations here.
CONCLUSIONS
Although the beaches we enjoyed on our vacation were certainly absolutely gorgeous, the ones that really won me over were the ones on the nearby islands. The boat trips were definitely the highlight of our trip.
Although time was limited and no vacation seems long enough, we were able to enjoy the most interesting activities and I can only recommend, if you have the opportunity, to visit Phuket both for the local beauty and for that of the nearby islands, which you can easily visit on organized excursions.
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