Travel blogs, features and photos from Phuket, Thailand
Thailand’s largest island has loads to offer visitors: pristine beaches, excellent food, friendly locals, stunning landscapes and even some history! Start here with my basic Phuket travel tips, or jump down below to read my latest Phuket travel blogs.
The weather on Phuket is pretty consistent throughout the year in terms of temperatures: it’s always hot! But, the biggest difference in the seasons is whether it will rain or not. May to October sees the highest rainfall on the island, where mornings are typically clear, but in the afternoon it can rain very heavily for hours. Probably the best time to visit for the most reliable weather is January and February, but this is also high season, so things get busy and good deals can be harder to find.
Take a sea kayaking tour to Phang Nga Bay – Going on a mildly adventurous day of sea-kayaking (and a bit of sea-swimming) convinced me Phuket is pretty great, especially to be based while exploring the sights along the island, in particular if you only have a few days to enjoy the sunnier parts of Thailand. And if you do one thing on Phuket, it has to be a day trip out to Phang Nga Bay!
Hike up to the Big Buddha – On the peak of a mountain in the south central part of the island, this massive statue of the Buddha covered in Burmese marble is an impressive sight! It’s also a great place to come up for sunset and excellent views of the island and the Andaman Sea beyond.
Go to the beach, duh! – Phuket is an island after all! There are dozens of beaches all over the island, all with different qualities. The biggest and most famous is Patong beach on the west of the island, but this is often very crowded, so check out Karon, Kata and Kata Noi beaches in the south, or Kamala, Surin and Bang Tao beaches to the north of Patong for something much less developed and cheaper.
A tour can be an excellent way to see a bit more of Phuket beyond the town you’re staying and the beaches! Take a look at this selection of recommended Phuket tours.
Thailand is often ranked as one of the most gay-friendly countries in Asia, and Phuket is not exception. There’s a lively and vibrant gay scene on the island, and these are a few of the best places you should know about visiting gay Phuket.
Aquarius Sauna – Like pretty much anywhere in Thailand, saunas and spas are ubiquitous, but this one stands out as the island’s best gay sauna. It’s also hotel, and the sauna facilities are included for guests to use, but are available for a fee to non-guests too. There’s a dry sauna, a large steam room, several dark rooms, a full gym and a sun deck with great views of the island.
ZAG Club – Super camp, fun and energetic, this may be the epicenter of gay life on Phuket. It’s a great place for a night out, and gets busiest after 11pm and stays open late, but come earlier if you want to catch the entertainment – which you should!
Boat Bar – Perhaps the friendliest bar (gay or not) in Patong, the entertainment here is also top notch and cocktails are on point. The dance floor regularly features international DJs and the outdoor bar is a fun place to hang out.
More gay travel resources here.
Phuket has plenty of cool and quirky hotels, as well as all the big chains you’d expect. I’ve found that using Booking.com, Agoda.com or Hotels Combined can be really useful for finding last-minute deals.
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Photos from my day trip to Phang Nga Bay with John Gray Sea Canoes and OUT Adventures. A day of sea-kayaking & great Thai food in Phuket!
