Phuket

Phuket is Thailand’s largest island and one of the country’s most famous beach destinations. Long synonymous with beaches and parties, it now offers a much broader palette: temples, markets, jungles, wild coves, water sports, and Sino-Portuguese culture.

Beaches for Every Taste

Phuket offers an impressive variety of beaches:

  • Patong: lively, noisy, nightlife — historic tourist hub.
  • Kata & Karon: more family-friendly and balanced.
  • Nai Harn, Ya Nui, Laem Singh: small quiet or hidden beaches.
  • Bang Tao, Surin, Mai Khao: long upscale beaches, less crowded.

You’ll also find many water sports: snorkeling, surfing, paddleboarding, jet skiing…

Old Phuket Town: Heritage and Culture

Away from the beaches, Phuket Town’s historic center surprises with its Sino-Portuguese architecture, restored colonial houses, vintage cafés, and craft shops.

Must-see:

  • Thalang Road, pedestrian and colorful.
  • Chinese temples and street shrines.
  • The Sunday night market (Walking Street).

Temples and Viewpoints

  • Wat Chalong, the island’s most important temple.
  • Big Buddha, the giant white statue on the heights.
  • Promthep Cape, panoramic sunset viewpoint.

Phuket is also a gateway to southern islands: Phi Phi, James Bond Island, Similan, etc.

Tourism in Transition

Long associated with mass tourism, Phuket is evolving:

  • Many eco-friendly, design, or family accommodations.
  • Initiatives for beach cleanup and reef protection.
  • Alternative neighborhoods emerging around wellness, yoga, slow travel.

Conclusion

Phuket is much more than a crowded beach: a vast, contrasted island with many faces. It can be festive, relaxing, cultural, or wild — each traveler finds their own path.

Wat Chalong

Wat Chalong, officially called Wat Chaiyathararam, is the most revered Buddhist temple on Phuket island. Built in the early 19th century, it is dedicated to two respected monks, Luang Pho Chaem and Luang Pho Chuang, famous for their healing talents and calming role during the 1876 Chinese miners’ rebellion. The richly decorated complex includes several majestic buildings, a large pagoda housing a Buddha relic, and many prayer spaces where devotees burn incense and make offerings. A major spiritual and historical site, Wat Chalong attracts thousands of Thai and foreign visitors annually.

Big Buddha

Dominating Nakkerd Hill between Chalong and Kata, the Big Buddha is one of Phuket’s most iconic monuments. This colossal 45-meter tall statue, made of reinforced concrete and covered with Burmese white marble, depicts the Buddha seated in meditation posture. Inaugurated in 2008, the site is still under completion but welcomes many visitors daily who come to admire the panoramic island views, meditate, or make offerings. The calm of the place contrasts with the coast’s bustle, making it a major spiritual site.

Wat Kaew Manee Si Mahathat

Located in Phang Nga province, Wat Kaew Manee Si Mahathat is a modern temple famous for its monumental statue of Luang Pu Thuat, one of southern Thailand’s most revered monks. Considered a thaumaturge and spiritual master, Luang Pu Thuat is represented here seated in an impressive meditative posture. This peaceful place, surrounded by mountains and tropical vegetation, is an important pilgrimage and meditation site.

Wat Suwan Khuha

Located near Phang Nga, Wat Suwan Khuha is an impressive cave temple set in a large limestone cave. It is best known for its large golden Reclining Buddha, over fifteen meters long, attracting many devotees and visitors. The site, deeply rooted in local spirituality, also houses other Buddha statues and altars scattered throughout different cavities.

Outside, the temple is known for its colony of macaques freely roaming the surroundings. Playful, sometimes invasive, these monkeys are an integral part of the experience. Their presence, combined with the cave’s sacred atmosphere, gives Wat Suwan Khuha a unique ambiance between reverence and wild vitality.

Phang Nga

Phang Nga, in southern Thailand, is famous for its spectacular bay dotted with limestone karsts and sea caves. But even before embarking to the famous islands, the coast reveals a tranquil atmosphere, with peaceful beaches, mangrove forests, and fishing villages. This is where excursions to the bay depart from small jetties where typical long-tail boats dock.