Phuket pairs its own beaches and nightlife with easy access to Krabi's dramatic karst coastline, a short ferry or minivan away. Between the two you get everything from Patong's neon strip to Railay's rock-climbing cliffs and Phi Phi's turquoise bays.
Good to know
- Check flag warnings during monsoon season (May–Oct) — rip currents close beaches to swimming some days.
- Negotiate longtail boat prices before boarding, or book island tours through your hotel.
- The Phuket–Krabi transfer takes about three hours by minivan-and-ferry combo; book it a day ahead.
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Places the planner can use
Mark places as a must or something to skip. The itinerary is built only from this list; ★ marks the destination’s highlights.
Phuket's biggest, busiest beach, backed by malls, bars and the neon strip of Bangla Road.
Neon-soaked strip of go-go bars, cabaret shows and street stalls that defines Patong after dark.
Glamorous, long-running transgender cabaret show, one of Phuket's most popular evening outings.
Sino-Portuguese shophouses turned cafés and galleries along Thalang and Dibuk roads.
Market visit and a hands-on class in tom yum, pad thai and massaman curry.
45-metre white marble Buddha on a hilltop with a 360-degree view over the south of the island.
Phuket's most important temple, its tall chedi said to hold a fragment of the Buddha's bone.
Speedboat to Maya Bay's limestone cliffs and turquoise water, plus snorkeling stops around Phi Phi Leh.
Boat-only peninsula of dramatic limestone cliffs, a magnet for rock climbers and one of the region's best beaches.
Pick live seafood from the market stalls and have it grilled next door at plastic tables by the water.
Jungle-fed jade-green pool and warm mineral streams inside a national park, a couple of hours from Ao Nang.
Half-day longtail hop between Chicken, Tup, Poda and Phra Nang islands for snorkeling and a sandbar lunch.