Welcome to Phuket, Thailand’s dazzling jewel in the Andaman Sea. Known for its stunning beaches, vibrant culture, and an array of adventures that cater to every traveler’s desires, Phuket is a destination that invites you to explore, relax, and create unforgettable memories. As you embark on this journey through our Phuket travel guide, you’ll discover a world of beauty and excitement waiting to be explored.
Phuket, the largest island in Thailand, is a captivating blend of natural splendor, rich history, and modern indulgence. Its pristine beaches, with their powder-soft sands and crystal-clear waters, draw sunseekers from around the globe. But there’s so much more to Phuket than just its coastline. From its vibrant market and colorful streets of Old Phuket Town to the lush jungles, and thrilling water sports, this island offers a diverse range of experiences.
So, whether you’re planning your first visit or a return trip to explore new horizons, let my guide be your compass to navigating the enchanting world of Phuket.
When I am researching activities and things to see in a new city, I wish I found more itineraries that ranked the list of activities they recommend. Everyone’s time is different in a new city and it’s important to be able to prioritize activities that are a MUST versus activities that are nice, but could possibly be skipped. I like to schedule my days and build an itinerary with one MUST item, one TRY TO DO item, and one SKIP item a day in case something happens or we are too tired, we can always hit the MUST item and SKIP the item that’s not as important.
★★★ MUST SEE
★★ TRY TO DO
★ SKIP (BUT WORTH IF YOU HAVE TIME)
★★★ Elephant Sanctuary
★★★ James Bond Island
Use these jumps to navigate to a specific day or just keep scrolling to read the full itinerary!
When: July 2023
Who: My husband and I for our honeymoon (2 adults)
Where we stayed: North Phuket near the airport
Day 1 Information ~
JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa ~ reserve hotel room ahead of time online
Arrive in Phuket: We arrived at the Phuket Domestic Airport around 2PM. We followed the signs to the taxi stand and took a taxi to our hotel, which was only 20 minutes away from the airport. We paid the taxi in cash and the price was already set at roughly 500 baht or ~$13.
Check into Hotel: We stayed at the JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa, which is north Phuket. This resort was definitely top notch; definitely 10/10! Through our AMEX credit card we had a $100 hotel collection credit that we used at this resort for food. The resort check in was easy and they provided us with drinks and a bracelet. Our room was spectacular with a huge bathroom, a balcony, and a separate lounge area. We explored the huge property after we put our luggage down and checked out the hotel activities schedule.
Relax/Pool: They had a number of pools to lounge in so we picked the one closest to our hotel room and went down there. It was so relaxing to lounge by the pool and take a swim.
Dinner: After swimming, we got changed for dinner. The sunset in Phuket are unreal as it’s on the west side of the country. We took tons of pictures with the sunset then went to dinner at a restaurant at the resort called Ginja Taste which was Thai cuisine. It was super food and we had to get Thai food in Thailand, of course.
Day 2 Information ~
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary ~ reserve through Viator ahead of time
Breakfast: We used some of our $100 credit to grab some croissants and coffee on the way to the van picking us up for the Elephant Sanctuary.
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary: We did a half day morning excursion with Viator called A Morning with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. This excursion provided an ethical way for us to spend time with some Thailand elephants and it was amazing! Everything about getting to the sanctuary was quick and easy; very well set up and thought out. We were placed into a small group with a guide and the guide took us through the sanctuary to visit the elephants. Our first stop was actually feeding an elephant a bowl of fruits and taking photos. Then it was off either to walk along the floor to different areas the elephants were or walk on the sky bridges that allow you to walk above the elephants. Some elephants were really kind and allowed us to pet them and get close to take photos. We walked around for about an hour then it was back to the home base where a very delicious Thai buffet lunch was waiting. This was some of the best Thai food we had no joke! After we were done, we did some shopping in the little souvenir shop and then we were on our way back to our hotel. This is a must do activity!
Muay Thai: We had seen on the schedule the day before they had a Muay Thai class at 3PM. So after we showered and rested from our morning excursion, we ventured over to the building where the class was held. I didn’t do the class, but Andrew did. It was super fun to watch him and learn more about Muay Thai. The class was about an hour long.
Relax by the pool: It had rained during Muay Thai so when it was time to relax by the pool, it was pretty wet, but that didn’t stop me from lounging in a chair by the pool relaxing. The towel boys gave me some fresh towels and helped me make sure everything was dry. I lounged while Andrew swam (after his class) until dinner.
Dinner: We were supposed to go to a buffet with a show tonight, but due to the rain, they canceled it. So we settled for dinner at the Ocean Club. We had a nice cabana and there was still a fire show. The food was decent; not the best, but the service was super slow so they gave us our drinks for free as the restaurant felt bad for making us wait.
Day 3 Information ~
James Bond Island tour ~ reserve through Viator ahead of time
Breakfast: We used some of our $100 credit to grab some croissants and coffee on the way to the van picking us up for the James Bond excursion.
James Bond Island tour: We did a full day excursion with Viator called Luxury Boat to James Bond Island with Lunch and Sunset dinner. This experience was definitely a long day, but amazing! We were picked up in a van bright and early and taken to the port where our boat was docked. It was a very nice boat, but limited luxury seating so as soon as we were able to, Andrew and I went upstairs and secured a day bed to relax on. The beginning part of the trip was a quick ride to an area where people could swim, slide, jump off the boat. Then it was about an hour over to the James Bond islands. During this time, we had the opportunity to eat an amazing buffet lunch. After getting there, we had the option of taking a kayak with a guide/paddler through one of the islands which was outstanding! After getting back on, we headed to the famous James Bond Island where we got 30 minutes to explore. We walked all over the island and got amazing photos. On the way back to the mainland (which was about a 2 hour trip), we had a sit down dinner. The dinner was not as delicious as the lunch, but we were definitely full afterwards. We disembarked on schedule and were taken back to our hotel in the same van. It was a great day and definitely worth to see the amazing James Bond island.
We flew out of Phuket International Airport around 11AM. There was no lounge at the Phuket Airport so we just hung out in the main area. One weird thing about Phuket Airport is there is NO water or drinks allowed on the airplane. Once we got through security, we filled up our water bottle and to get to our gate, we had to dump it out. A lot of people had purchased water bottles in the airport and they were not allowed to bring them to the gate or on the plane. We were not given an explanation as to why no water or drinks were allowed, but just a heads up!
Phuket, being a tropical island in Thailand, experiences a warm and humid climate throughout the year. The weather is characterized by distinct seasons, including a dry season and a wet season. Here’s an overview of the weather year round:
Choosing where to stay in Phuket depends on your preferences, interests, and the type of experience you’re seeking. Phuket offers a variety of areas, each with its own unique atmosphere and attractions. Here are some popular areas:
Phuket’s public transportation options are limited compared to some other destinations, and the island is primarily served by taxis, tuk-tuks, and private transportation. Here are some options:
