Phuket
Thailand's largest island, and the easiest place to combine a beach holiday with boat trips to Phang Nga Bay and Phi Phi. Phuket is busy — but it is also big enough to escape the crowds if you know which coast to stay on.
Phuket is Thailand's largest island, 860km south of Bangkok, with 40km of west-coast beaches and an airport. Base yourself on the west coast for beaches, in Phuket Town for food and architecture. Four to five nights covers the island and a boat trip.
Which beach, which coast
The west coast faces the sunsets and the waves: Kata and Kata Noi for families, Surin and Bang Tao for space, Nai Harn for the south. The east coast is mangroves and marinas — better for sailing than swimming.
Boats, not sunbeds
Phuket's real value is as a base. Phang Nga Bay is 40 minutes by boat, Phi Phi two hours, the Similans a morning's drive north. We schedule boat days around the wind rather than the brochure.
Where to stay in Phuket
Phuket is 50km long and the beach you choose decides everything: how far you drive, how loud it is at night and how much you pay. The west coast has the beaches and the sunsets; the east coast has the boats and no swimming.
- Kata & Kata Noi$$–$$$
Best for: Families, swimmers, moderate budgets
The most swimmable west-coast beaches, a reef at Kata Noi's headland, no jet skis.
- Kamala & Surin$$$–$$$$
Best for: Couples who want quiet with restaurants
Calmer than Patong, better restaurants than the far north, 20 minutes to Patong if you want it.
- Bang Tao & Mai Khao$$$$
Best for: Resort stays, families with small children
Long empty beaches and big resorts; you will eat at the hotel unless you drive.
- Phuket Town$–$$
Best for: Food, architecture, one or two nights
Sino-Portuguese shophouses, the best cheap food on the island, 40 minutes from the beaches.
- Patong$$–$$$
Best for: Nightlife and convenience
Everything is here, including the noise; the beach is the busiest on the island.
Price bands are for a double room per night in high season: $ under THB 1,800 · $$ 1,800–4,500 · $$$ 4,500–10,000 · $$$$ above 10,000. We book hotels in every band and inspect them in person.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Staying in Patong and judging the whole island by it
- Booking a boat trip that leaves at 9am and arrives at every site with 40 other boats
- Underestimating distances — Phuket is 50km long and taxis are expensive
Is it worth it?
Worth four or five nights if you want a beach base with infrastructure. The island itself is more developed than people expect, but the beaches in the north and the old town are genuinely good. It is the easiest place in Thailand to combine a beach with day trips to Phang Nga and Phi Phi.
Things to see in Phuket
Bay & islands
Phang Nga Bay & James Bond Island
Forty limestone islands rising out of green water, with hidden lagoons (hongs), mangrove channels and the famous…
Islands
Phi Phi Islands & Maya Bay
Six islands of limestone and turquoise water, two hours by boat from Phuket, with Maya Bay at the centre.…
Landmark
Phuket Big Buddha
A 45-metre white marble Buddha on Nakkerd Hill, visible from most of southern Phuket.…
Neighbourhood
Phuket Old Town
Sino-Portuguese shophouses, cafés, galleries and the Sunday Lard Yai market on Thalang Road.…
Beach
Kata Noi Beach
A 700-metre cove south of Kata, sheltered by headlands, with the best swimming on Phuket's west coast.…
Temple
Wat Chalong
Phuket's most important temple, with a 60-metre chedi said to contain a fragment of the Buddha's bone.…
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Experiences here
Planning Phuket day by day
Common questions
Kata Noi or Nai Harn for quiet, Kata for families, Kamala for a middle ground, Patong for nightlife. Bang Tao and Mai Khao in the north are the calmest.
Four to five nights. Two for the beach, one for a boat trip, one for Phuket Town and the Big Buddha.
November to April. The monsoon runs May to October, when many boat trips are cancelled and the west-coast beaches have red flags.
More than the rest of Thailand, especially taxis and beachfront hotels. Food and massages are still cheap away from the beach road.
Last updated: October 2026 · JoyoTour editorial team
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