Travel guide · Thailand
Phuket Travel Guide 2026: when to go, which island trip to book and what it really costs
Karst islands in Phang Nga Bay, Andaman Sea Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0
Phuket is Thailand's largest island, a base for the limestone seascape of Phang Nga Bay, the Phi Phi Islands and, in season, the Similans. Three decisions shape a trip more than any hotel choice: coming in the dry months rather than the monsoon, matching your island day trip to the park calendars (Maya Bay closes every August and September, the Similans from mid-May to mid-October), and choosing a base on the right coast. This guide gives the official fees, seasons and rules checked in October 2026, a clear verdict on which trips are worth the money, and live prices from 1,440 bookable tours.
Phuket at a glance
Phuket is the largest island in Thailand, and the province adds 32 smaller islands off its coast, about 547 km² in all. The Sarasin Bridge ties it to Phang Nga province on the mainland, and Phuket Town, the provincial capital in the south-east of the island, lies 862 km south of Bangkok.
The official population was 432,464 in 2025, but registration misses a great many residents: a local MP put the real number nearer 2 million in October 2025. Add about 17.5 million airport passengers a year and you understand why the west-coast beaches feel busy in high season.
| What it is | Thailand's largest island, plus 32 smaller islands; Andaman Sea |
|---|---|
| Capital | Phuket Town, 862 km south of Bangkok; airport about 36 km to its north-west |
| Dry season | December to March (24–74 mm of rain a month) |
| Wettest months | September (361 mm) and October (320 mm) |
| Island closures | Maya Bay 1 Aug–30 Sep; Similan Islands 16 May–14 Oct |
| Park fees (foreign adult) | Phang Nga Bay 300 baht, Similans 500 baht, Phi Phi 400 baht (reported; see below) |
| Emergency numbers | Tourist Police 1155, ambulance 1669, police 191 |
Phuket in pictures
Tap a photo to enlarge it. Photos: Vyacheslav Argenberg, Ryomaandres, Subhrajyoti07, edwin.11, Lakshmi Sawitri — Wikimedia Commons.
Phi Phi or James Bond Island: which day trip should you book?
Phi Phi for beaches and snorkelling; Phang Nga Bay for limestone scenery and canoeing
These are the two big day trips from Phuket, and the catalogue reflects it: 187 Phi Phi trips and 165 Phang Nga Bay trips, at similar typical prices ($80 against $77). They are very different days, though, and the right choice depends on the month and on whether you want to swim.
Phi Phi belongs to the Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, about 388 km² in Krabi Province; Phi Phi Don is the only inhabited island. The highlight is Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh, made famous by the 2000 film The Beach. After coral damage the bay was closed in 2018 and reopened in 2022 under strict rules: no boats in the bay, no swimming, limited numbers and a one-hour visit. Boats land at Loh Samah on the back of the island and visitors walk through.
Every year from 1 August to 30 September, Maya Bay, Loh Samah and Lo Ko Bay close for rehabilitation and because monsoon seas make the Loh Samah pier unsafe. The rest of the park stays open, so tours still run, but nobody lands at Maya Bay in those months. Anyone arriving on Phi Phi Don pays a 20 baht island fee at Ton Sai Pier.
Phang Nga Bay is about 400 km² of sea between Phuket and the mainland, studded with limestone cliffs and caves, and much of it has been a national park since 1981. Khao Phing Kan was the villain's base in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974); the 20 m needle of Ko Tapu beside it is the photo everyone takes. Nearly every tour stops there, and it gets very crowded, so the canoeing among the cliffs is what makes the day.
| Phi Phi and Maya Bay | Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island | |
|---|---|---|
| Scenery | Beaches, clear water, cliffs | Limestone karsts, caves, mangroves |
| Swimming | Snorkelling stops on most tours; no swimming at Maya Bay | Canoeing among cliffs and caves |
| Closures | Maya Bay, Loh Samah, Lo Ko closed 1 Aug–30 Sep | None reported |
| Park fee, foreign adult | 400 baht widely reported (one source lists 200); check if included | 300 baht (child 150) |
| Crowds | Maya Bay numbers capped, one-hour visits | James Bond Island very crowded |
| Typical tour price | $80 | $77 |
Verdict: If you only do one, choose by month. From October to July, book Phi Phi if you want beaches and snorkelling, and accept that Maya Bay is a look-don't-swim stop. In August and September, when Maya Bay is shut, book Phang Nga Bay with sea canoeing instead. Avoid trips that skip the canoe: the crowded James Bond Island stop alone is not worth a full day.
Park fees: most sources say day-tour prices often include the Phi Phi fee, but not always. Ask before you pay whether national park fees are in the price.
When is the best time to visit Phuket?
December to March is the best time; September and October are the wettest
Phuket is hot all year, with daily highs between 31 and 34 °C in the Thai Meteorological Department's 1981–2010 normals, so rain, not temperature, decides the season. January and February average only 24–30 mm of rain; September averages 361 mm and October 320 mm, out of about 2,220 mm a year.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33 °C | 25 °C | 30 mm | Excellent; dry, Similans open |
| February | 34 °C | 25 °C | 24 mm | Excellent; driest month |
| March | 34 °C | 25 °C | 74 mm | Very good; hottest stretch begins |
| April | 34 °C | 26 °C | 143 mm | Good; showers increase |
| May | 33 °C | 26 °C | 260 mm | Monsoon starts; Similans close after the 15th |
| June | 32 °C | 26 °C | 213 mm | Wet; red flags on west-coast beaches |
| July | 32 °C | 25 °C | 258 mm | Wet; rough seas |
| August | 32 °C | 25 °C | 287 mm | Wet; Maya Bay closed |
| September | 32 °C | 25 °C | 361 mm | Wettest; Maya Bay closed |
| October | 32 °C | 25 °C | 320 mm | Wet; Maya Bay reopens 1 Oct, Similans 15 Oct |
| November | 32 °C | 25 °C | 177 mm | Improving; good shoulder month |
| December | 32 °C | 24 °C | 72 mm | Very good; dry season begins |
The wet months are the southwest monsoon. The TMD has said its rains on this coast usually stop around the end of October. The monsoon also brings dangerous surf: in June 2025 three tourists drowned within two days at Karon, Kata and Bang Tao, and red flags in four languages go up along the beaches. UK advice adds that jellyfish with potentially fatal stings are active near shore from May to October.
Island trips follow the same calendar. Diving and snorkelling around Phi Phi are best from about November or December to May, the Similans open on 15 October and close on 15 May (earlier in bad-weather years), and Maya Bay is closed in August and September.
Verdict: Come between December and March for dry weather and every island open. November and April are good shoulder months. Book May to October only if price matters more than beaches: you can still canoe Phang Nga Bay and explore Old Town, but expect rain, rough boat rides and red-flag swimming bans.
How do you get from Phuket airport to the beaches?
Take the 100-baht Smart Bus to the west coast, or the Airport Bus to Phuket Town
Phuket International Airport sits in the north of the island, about 36 km from Phuket Town, and handled about 17.5 million passengers in 2025 through separate international and domestic terminals. The cheapest way out is by bus. The Phuket Smart Bus runs from the airport down the west coast via Patong, Karon and Kata to Rawai for a flat 100 baht; its airport stop is outside the domestic terminal at exit 3. The orange Airport Bus runs to Phuket Town for 100 THB.
| Option | Price | Best for | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Bus (airport–Rawai) | 100 baht flat; Day Pass available | Patong, Karon, Kata, Rawai | Fixed timetable; check times before you fly |
| Airport Bus to Phuket Town | 100 THB | Old Town stays | Ends at Bus Terminal 1 |
| Taxi or ride-hail to Patong | Roughly 600–1,000 baht (sources vary) | Late arrivals, families with luggage | Use the official counter; terminal touts are unlicensed |
| Pink and blue songthaews | Cheap local fares | Old Town (pink); Old Town to beaches (blue) | Mostly around Phuket Town |
| Dragon Line shuttle | Free | Getting around Phuket Town | City loop only |
| Rented scooter | Varies | Experienced riders with the right licence | Needs a 1968-convention IDP; helmet law; insurance may not cover you |
| Ferry to Phi Phi | From Rassada Pier | Staying on Phi Phi | About 2 hours by ferry, 1 hour by speedboat |
Inside the arrivals hall, people offering a ride at a 'good price' are unlicensed drivers; the official taxi counter works on fixed zone prices. Quotes from the airport to Patong range from about 600 to 1,000 baht depending on the source and time of day, so check the board at the counter or the fare in your app before you go.
Scooters are everywhere, but UK advice is blunt: you need a 1968-convention international driving permit plus your home licence, helmets are compulsory, rental bikes in tourist areas are often unregistered, and riding without a valid licence can void your travel insurance. Never leave your passport as a deposit.
Verdict: Arriving in daylight with a backpack or a carry-on, take the Smart Bus or the Airport Bus for 100 baht. With children, heavy luggage or a late flight, pay for an official taxi. Skip the scooter unless you already ride one at home and carry the right permit.
Where should you stay in Phuket?
Kata or Karon for most first visits; Patong only if you want nightlife
Most visitors stay on the west coast, where the beaches are, and the Smart Bus links the main ones to the airport. Patong is the island's main resort and nightlife centre: a 2,850 m beach and Bangla Road, a walking street of beer and go-go bars. Kata, about 1.5 km of sand roughly 17 km from Phuket Town, splits into Kata Yai and Kata Noi and is popular with surfers in the monsoon season.
| Area | Who it suits | Getting around | Downside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kata and Karon | First-timers, families, beach days | Smart Bus to the airport and Patong | Red-flag seas May–October |
| Patong | Nightlife, shopping, the most restaurants | Smart Bus | Bangla Road noise and crowds |
| Phuket Old Town | Food, architecture, rainy-season stays | Airport Bus; free Dragon Line; blue songthaews to beaches | No beach |
| Rawai and Nai Harn | Quieter stays near the southern viewpoints | End of the Smart Bus line | Further from the airport |
Phuket Old Town is the alternative to the beaches: Sino-Portuguese shophouses paid for by tin mining money, many now turned into guesthouses and cafes, and the Sunday evening market on Thalang Road. In the wet months it is a sensible base, because a rainy day costs you less when you were not planning to swim.
Verdict: First visit, beach holiday: Kata or Karon. Nightlife: Patong. Food and a town feel, or a rainy-season trip: Old Town. Pick Rawai or Nai Harn only if you will hire a driver or use tours for most days.
What are the best things to do in Phuket?
Canoe the sea caves of Phang Nga Bay Must do· All year; Maya Bay alternative in Aug–Sep
The bay's limestone cliffs, caves and collapsed cave systems are the island's best scenery, and seeing them from a canoe beats seeing them from a deck. The park fee for foreign adults is 300 baht. Evening canoe trips are a separate, pricier category at $135 against $77 for a standard day.
165 Top-rated Phang Nga Bay tours tours on Excurgo · from $20, typical $77 per person · rated 4.9 across 13,390 reviews
Spend a day on Phi Phi and Maya Bay Must do· October–July (Maya Bay closed Aug–Sep)
Ferries take about two hours from Rassada Pier and speedboats about one, so a day tour combining Maya Bay with snorkelling stops is the usual way to see it. Remember the Maya Bay rules: no swimming, limited numbers and one hour on the beach. Phi Phi Don also carries the memory of the 2004 tsunami, in which more than 1,000 people died there.
187 Top-rated Phi Phi day trips tours on Excurgo · from $22, typical $80 per person · rated 4.7 across 14,090 reviews
Walk Phuket Old Town and its Sunday market Must do· Any day; market Sundays 16:00–22:00
The best shophouses line Thalang, Dibuk and Krabi Roads and Soi Rommanee, with the bright tiles, columns and stucco of Peranakan taste. On Sunday evenings Thalang Road closes to traffic for the Walking Street market, mostly food cooked on the spot plus clothes and crafts; it does not run on other nights.
For context, the Phuket Thai Hua Museum on Krabi Road fills a 1934 building that was the island's first Chinese-language school. Foreign adults pay 200 THB; it opens 09:00–17:00, but listings disagree on whether it closes on Wednesdays or Mondays, so check before going.
Eat your way through a UNESCO City of Gastronomy Must do· Evenings are best
Phuket has been a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy since 2015, and UNESCO credits family recipes handed down through generations and an Old Town Festival that draws over 400,000 people. A guided food tour in Old Town ($77) or a cooking class ($74) is the most useful half day you can book on the island.
14 Top-rated food tours tours on Excurgo · from $52, typical $77 per person · rated 5.0 across 2,772 reviews
48 Top-rated cooking classes tours on Excurgo · from $28, typical $74 per person · rated 5.0 across 5,351 reviews
Visit the Similan Islands while they are open Must do· 15 October–15 May only
The Similans are a national park open only from 15 October to 15 May, with visiting hours of 08:00–16:00, no overnight stays and a daily visitor cap of 3,325 (it was 3,850). Boats leave from Thap Lamu Pier, about 105 km and 2–2.5 hours by road from Phuket, so expect a very early pick-up. Foreign adults pay 500 baht.
17 Similan day trips tours on Excurgo · from $79, typical $114 per person · rated 4.2 across 259 reviews
See the Big Buddha, open again since March 2026 Worth it· Morning or late afternoon
The 45 m white-marble Buddha on Nakkerd Hill between Kata and Chalong was closed after a landslide on the hill killed 13 people on 23 August 2024. It reopened on 3 March 2026 under the temple Wat Kittisangharam (Wat Kata). Entry is free; cover shoulders and knees. Reported hours range from 09:00–18:00 to 06:00–19:30, and access has changed several times, so check the same day.
Stop at Wat Chalong Worth it· Combine with the Big Buddha
Wat Chalong, officially Wat Chaiyathararam, honours two monks, Luang Pho Chaem and Luang Pho Chuang, who led local people during an 1876 uprising and treated the wounded with herbal medicine. Like the Big Buddha, whose access road starts in Chalong, it is in the Chalong area, so the two make an easy half day.
Watch the sunset from Promthep Cape or Karon Viewpoint Worth it· Late afternoon, dry season
Promthep Cape, at the southern end of the island between Nai Harn and Rawai, is the classic sunset spot; on a clear day you can see Ko Phi Phi and the Racha islands from the lighthouse terrace. Karon Viewpoint, 'the hill of the three beaches', looks over Kata Noi, Kata and Karon, and Windmill Viewpoint near Nai Harn is a short drive from the cape.
Choose an observation-only elephant sanctuary Worth it· Half-day, morning or afternoon
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, founded in 2016 on 30 acres bordering Khao Phra Thaeo, calls itself the island's first ethical elephant sanctuary and runs observation-only visits with no bathing or feeding. On its own site the half-day programme starts at THB 3,000 and the 1.5-hour canopy walkway tour at THB 1,900.
36 Phuket Elephant Sanctuary visits tours on Excurgo · from $15, typical $83 per person · rated 4.9 across 4,235 reviews
Walk the last rainforest at Khao Phra Thaeo Worth it· Mornings
Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Sanctuary, about 23 km² in Thalang, protects Phuket's last evergreen rainforest, with the Ton Sai and Bang Pae waterfalls. Foreign adults pay 200 baht. Near Bang Pae, the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project, an NGO releasing formerly captive white-handed gibbons, offers free tours and asks for donations.
Learn to dive or snorkel off Racha Yai Worth it· November–May for the best conditions
Our catalogue lists 53 dive trips and courses, typically $160. Around Phi Phi, diving and snorkelling are best from about November or December to May. Check your travel insurance before you book: some policies set requirements for dive instructors.
53 Top-rated dive trips and courses tours on Excurgo · from $46, typical $160 per person · rated 4.9 across 1,248 reviews
Worth skipping
- Phang Nga trips without canoeing. The James Bond Island stop is very crowded; the canoe is what makes the day worth the money.
- Maya Bay in August or September. Landings are closed, so a trip sold on Maya Bay in those months is a look from the boat.
- Similan trips from mid-May to mid-October. The park is closed; anything sold as 'Similan' then is going somewhere else.
- Bangla Road as a sight. It is a strip of bars; worth it only if you came for nightlife.
- Elephant experiences that include bathing or feeding, if you want a hands-off visit: choose an observation-only sanctuary instead.
What are the best day trips from Phuket?
Almost every trip from Phuket is a boat trip, and each depends on a park calendar. The table sums up season, park fee and typical tour price; fees are for foreign adults and may or may not be included in your tour.
| Trip | Season | Park fee | Getting there | Typical tour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island | All year | 300 baht | Boat from Phuket | $77 |
| Phi Phi and Maya Bay | Maya Bay closed 1 Aug–30 Sep | 400 baht reported (one source: 200) | Ferry about 2 h, speedboat about 1 h | $80 |
| Similan Islands | 15 Oct–15 May | 500 baht | Thap Lamu Pier, 105 km (2–2.5 h by road) | $114 |
| Coral and Racha islands | Dry season (Dec–Mar) best | — | Speedboat or catamaran | $68 |
| Khai Islands | Dry season (Dec–Mar) best | — | Speedboat | $58 |
| Khao Sok and Cheow Lan Lake | All year | 200 baht park, 300 baht lake | About 160 km by road | $146 |
Khao Sok is the one trip that is about jungle rather than sea. The national park, established in 1980, covers 739 km² of Surat Thani province, including the 165 km² Cheow Lan Lake behind the Ratchaprapha Dam, where long-tail boats are the only transport. At about 160 km each way it is a long day; an overnight in a raft house makes more sense.
Photographers can add Samet Nangshe Viewpoint in Phang Nga, which looks over the bay's limestone islets and is best at sunrise; it is just under 80 km and about two hours' drive from Patong.
Verdict: Two boat days are enough for most visitors: Phang Nga Bay plus either Phi Phi (October to July) or the Similans (15 October to 15 May). Add Khao Sok only with an overnight stay.
How many days do you need in Phuket?
Plan at least one day per boat trip and keep a spare day: in the wet months rough seas can disrupt boat days.
3 days
Day 1: Old Town, Wat Chalong and the Big Buddha, sunset at Promthep Cape. Day 2: Phang Nga Bay with canoeing. Day 3: Phi Phi (or a beach day in August and September).
Tours ≈ $77 + $80
5 days
Add a food tour or cooking class, a half-day elephant sanctuary visit, and the Similans in season or a Racha snorkelling trip.
Add ≈ $74 + $83 + $114
7 days
Add Khao Sok with a night on Cheow Lan Lake, a morning at Khao Phra Thaeo and a beginner dive.
Add ≈ $146 + $160
How much do tours in Phuket cost?
These are live prices from our catalogue of 1,440 Phuket tours: the lowest, the typical (median) and the top of the normal range for each kind of activity. National park fees are official and set in baht; tour prices change daily.
| Activity | Tours | From | Typical | Top end |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phi Phi Islands day trips | 187 | $22 | $80 | $142 |
| James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay tours | 165 | $20 | $77 | $126 |
| Evening sea-canoe tours | 29 | $102 | $135 | $329 |
| Coral and Racha island trips | 64 | $32 | $68 | $126 |
| Khai Islands trips | 42 | $30 | $58 | $102 |
| Similan Islands day trips | 17 | $79 | $114 | $162 |
| Elephant sanctuaries | 36 | $15 | $83 | $175 |
| Scuba diving trips and courses | 53 | $46 | $160 | $477 |
| Thai cooking classes | 48 | $28 | $74 | $120 |
| Food tours | 14 | $52 | $77 | $120 |
| Island and city sightseeing tours | 106 | $8 | $79 | $182 |
| Zipline and ATV adventures | 129 | $18 | $65 | $120 |
| Muay Thai fights | 15 | $52 | $62 | $66 |
| Shows | 38 | $17 | $31 | $77 |
| Khao Sok and Cheow Lan Lake trips | 8 | $71 | $146 | $242 |
| Official fee | Foreign adult | Child |
|---|---|---|
| Ao Phang Nga National Park | 300 baht | 150 baht (3–14) |
| Mu Ko Similan National Park | 500 baht | 250 baht (3–14) |
| Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park | 400 baht widely reported; 200 baht on one listing | 200 or 100 baht |
| Phi Phi Don island fee | 20 baht | — |
| Khao Phra Thaeo Wildlife Sanctuary | 200 baht | 100 baht |
| Khao Sok (park / Cheow Lan Lake) | 200 / 300 baht | 100 / 150 baht |
| Phuket Elephant Sanctuary half day | From THB 3,000 | — |
| Big Buddha | Free (donations) | Free |
87% of Phuket tours in our catalogue offer free cancellation, which matters in the monsoon months when boat days can be called off at short notice.
What should you know about entry, rules, safety and money in Phuket?
30 days visa-free from 15 September 2026, and a TDAC before you land
From 15 September 2026, visa-exempt entry to Thailand allows up to 30 days, for tourism only. Every foreign visitor must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online at tdac.immigration.go.th within 3 days before arrival. Passports need six months' validity, and officers may ask to see 10,000 baht per person (20,000 per family) and an onward or return ticket.
Vapes, cannabis and beach smoking can cost you far more than the holiday
- Vapes and e-cigarettes are illegal to possess or use, including heat-not-burn devices: fines are typically 5,000–30,000 baht, with possible detention and court. There is no exception for tourists.
- Cannabis is limited to medical use with a Thai prescription (up to a 30-day supply); recreational use is illegal and carrying cannabis out of Thailand is prohibited.
- Smoking on designated beaches, Patong among them, has carried a fine of up to 100,000 baht or a year in prison since November 2017. Smoking in public can also bring a fine of up to 5,000 baht.
- Temples: cover shoulders and knees at the Big Buddha and take shoes off in indoor worship areas.
Respect the red flags and keep your passport
People have drowned in riptides off Phuket's beaches. Lifeguards work only at designated beaches with flags, and a red flag means do not swim. UK advice also warns about drink spiking and methanol in alcohol, which you cannot taste or smell, and against handing your passport to jet-ski or scooter rental businesses, which may hold it against claimed damage.
| Tourist Police | 1155 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 1669 |
| Police | 191 |
| Visa-free stay | 30 days, tourism only (from 15 September 2026) |
| Arrival card | TDAC online, within 3 days before arrival |
| ATM fee on foreign cards | Usually 220–250 baht per withdrawal; some up to 350 baht |
Thai ATMs charge foreign cards a fee on every withdrawal, usually 220–250 baht and up to 350 baht at some machines, so take out larger sums less often, and decline the offer to convert the amount into your home currency. Cash is still widely used at markets like the Sunday Walking Street, though some stalls take QR payments.
What mistakes do visitors to Phuket regret?
- Swimming under a red flag. Three tourists drowned in two days in June 2025; shallow-looking water can still pull you out.
- Booking a Similan trip for the wrong month. The park is open only from 15 October to 15 May.
- Planning Maya Bay for August or September, or expecting to swim there at any time of year.
- Packing a vape. It is illegal to possess one, with fines typically 5,000–30,000 baht.
- Assuming the old 60-day visa-free stay. It has been 30 days since 15 September 2026, and the TDAC must be filed before arrival.
- Renting a scooter without a 1968-convention IDP, or leaving your passport as a deposit.
- Going to the Walking Street market on a Saturday. It runs on Sunday evenings only.
- Arriving at the Big Buddha in beachwear. Shoulders and knees must be covered.
- Accepting a ride from a terminal tout instead of using the official counter or the 100-baht buses.
- Making lots of small ATM withdrawals at 220 baht or more each.
Phuket FAQ
When is the best time to visit Phuket?
December to March. These months average 24–74 mm of rain, against 320–361 mm in September and October, and every island trip is running. November and April are good shoulder months.
Is Phuket worth visiting in the rainy season?
It can be, if you plan around the sea. From May to October the west-coast beaches often fly red flags and boat rides are rougher, Maya Bay is closed in August and September and the Similans are closed until 15 October. Old Town, food tours and Phang Nga Bay canoeing still work.
Is Maya Bay open, and can you swim there?
Maya Bay is open except from 1 August to 30 September, when it closes every year with Loh Samah and Lo Ko bays. Since it reopened in 2022, swimming is not allowed, boats stay out of the bay and visits are limited to one hour.
When are the Similan Islands open?
From 15 October to 15 May, and the park can close earlier in bad-weather years. Visits are day trips only (08:00–16:00), with a daily cap of 3,325 visitors and a 500 baht fee for foreign adults.
Is the Big Buddha in Phuket open?
Yes. It reopened on 3 March 2026 after being closed following the landslide of 23 August 2024. Entry is free, shoulders and knees must be covered, and reported opening hours vary, so check on the day.
How do I get from Phuket airport to Patong or Kata cheaply?
Take the Phuket Smart Bus, which runs from outside the domestic terminal (exit 3) to Patong, Karon, Kata and Rawai for a flat 100 baht. For Phuket Town, the Airport Bus costs 100 THB. A taxi to Patong costs roughly 600–1,000 baht.
How long can I stay in Thailand without a visa?
Since 15 September 2026, visa-exempt visitors can stay up to 30 days, for tourism only. You also need to file the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online within 3 days before arrival.
Are vapes and cannabis legal in Thailand?
Vapes and e-cigarettes are illegal to possess or use, with fines typically 5,000–30,000 baht and no exception for tourists. Cannabis is restricted to medical use with a Thai prescription; recreational use is illegal.
Are national park fees included in Phuket island tours?
Sometimes. Fees for foreign adults are 300 baht for Phang Nga Bay and 500 baht for the Similans; for Phi Phi most sources report 400 baht. Many tours include them, but ask before you pay.
Can I rent a scooter in Phuket?
Legally only with a 1968-convention international driving permit plus your home licence, and a helmet. Rental bikes in tourist areas are often unregistered, riding without a valid licence can void your insurance, and you should never leave your passport as a deposit.
Sources and how this guide is made
Written by the Excurgo editorial team with AI assistance. We are a tour comparison site, not a tour operator, and we have not personally tested every tour. Every fact was researched in official and specialist sources and checked against them before publication; prices, ratings and tour counts come from our live catalogue of 1,440 Phuket tours. Ratings and review counts are collected by Viator and Tripadvisor. Tours are picked by rating weighted by number of reviews (at least 20); we earn a commission from Viator when you book, and it does not affect the order.
- GOV.UK (FCDO) — Thailand entry requirements: 30-day visa-free stay, TDAC, passport rules (Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK (FCDO) — Thailand safety: riptides, vapes, cannabis, scooters, rental scams (Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK (FCDO) — Thailand emergency numbers (Oct 2026)
- UNESCO Creative Cities Network — Phuket, City of Gastronomy since 2015 (Oct 2026)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand — Old Phuket Town shophouses (Nov 2015)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand — Phuket and Phang Nga viewpoints (Mar 2021)
- Tourism Authority of Thailand — beach smoking ban and penalties (Oct 2017)
- Thai Meteorological Department 1981–2010 normals for Phuket (via Wikipedia) (Oct 2026)
- Phuket Smart Bus — routes, fares, Day Pass (Oct 2026)
- Airport Bus Phuket — airport to Phuket Town fare (Oct 2026)
- Phuket Elephant Sanctuary — programmes and prices (Oct 2026)
- Thai National Parks — Mu Ko Similan: season, fees, quota (Oct 2026)
- Thai National Parks — Mu Ko Phi Phi: fees, Maya Bay (Jun 2026)
- Thai National Parks — Ao Phang Nga: fees, James Bond Island (Oct 2026)
- Window on Phuket — Big Buddha reopening, hours, dress code (Aug 2026)
Photos come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences (CC BY, CC BY-SA, CC0 or public domain); the author and licence are shown under each one. They show the places described, not the exact tours listed.
Changelog. October 2026: guide published.
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