Phuket Holidays

Wherever you stay in Phuket, you’re unlikely to be far from a beach. The beauty of this diverse destination is that there’s a spot for everyone. The party beach of Patong, the wide golden sands of Karon, the family-friendly shore of Kata where you can stay at the Centara Grand Phuket Beach Resort, or the exclusive resort beach at Bangtao home to the likes of the Angsana, the Dusit Thani and the SAii are among the most popular choices, but there are also plenty of hidden gems to seek out.

Just a 10-minute boat ride from Patong, Freedom Beach is watersport-free, quiet, and unspoiled. Nai Harn Beach at the island’s southern edge is a tucked-away mini-resort with a laidback feel and the softest sand, which contrasts beautifully with Ao Sane, its rocky but tranquil neighbour. For Insta-perfect castaway scenes and a teeming coral reef just 100 metres offshore, Paradise Beach lives up to every letter of its name.

Sipping cocktails, poolside massages, and wandering between restaurants on the shore might be all you do on your Phuket holidays, and that would be absolutely fine. If you do feel the urge to explore a little, perhaps visit Phuket Elephant Sanctuary or Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket, local institutions which pride themselves on the ethical treatment of Asia’s largest creatures.

Or maybe take a gentle hike from Karon to the Big Buddha on Nakkerd Hills for breathtaking views. History, food and architecture lovers will enjoy Old Phuket Town’s Chinese temples, Malay restaurants and Sino-Portuguese buildings. Or why not step off the beach and into the Andaman Sea? Take a catamaran or speedboat tour across the bay for snorkelling among tropical fish and castaway barbecues on uninhabited islands.

Phuket is Thailand’s largest island, connected to the mainland by the Sarasin Bridge. Projecting into the Andaman Sea at the beginning of the Malacca Strait, Phuket’s landmass helps protect the sheltered waters of Phang Nga Bay, where many of Thailand’s most beautiful holiday islands are found. This seaside resort, 500 miles from Bangkok, can be reached by road, but the best way to arrive is by air.

Flights from the Thai capital take just 90 minutes, while direct connections can also be enjoyed from Singapore, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and even the Middle East, China, or Australia. Free transfers from Elephant Hills in Khao Sok National Park make adding a unique jungle experience to your Thailand holidays at the beach easy.

Phuket weather is at its best from November to March when rainfall is rare, and temperatures hover in the high twenties. December, January, and February are perfect months to visit, with lower humidity and blue skies making it the ideal winter sun destination.

Those who love the heat will also enjoy Phuket outside this time, and temperatures regularly reach the mid-thirties during April and May. These months are better for beach basking than jungle trekking, and you’ll certainly be able to pack light. The rainy season begins on Thailand’s west coast in June or July and peaks in September and October before clearing up again for a new Phuket holiday season to begin.