Things To Do In Phuket

Phuket Travel Tips

G-Free Travel Rating

6/10

Major Airport

Phuket International Airport (HKT)

Official Language

Thai (most tour guides will know some English)

Currency:

Thai Baht

Power Outlets:

Types A, B, C & O

Voltage is higher = 220V

Eating Gluten Free in Phuket

Considering we spent a lot of time in and around this area we decided to highlight our gluten free experiences in their own post, Gluten Free Phuket. If you are looking for restaurant recommendations or a Thai cooking class, I would head that way.

Muay Thai

Muay Thai is Thailand’s national martial art. It is known as “Art of Eight Limbs” because it utilizes elbows, fists, knees and shins. It was initially used in combat before it became as internationally known as it is now.

Terry has always wanted to train a martial art in the country where it originated. He has trained in boxing, wrestling, and jiu-jitsu. While I have no interest in learning wrestling or jiu-jitsu and boxing isn’t my personality, it was a search for which one to learn. I have always wanted to learn kickboxing, so we compromised and decided on Muay Thai. Even though we were going to be in beginner courses while in Thailand, we decided to learn some techniques and train a few times before heading over. We found a gym, Forward Thai Boxing, near our house that was a great fit for what we wanted and decided to keep training once we returned.

Where We Trained

Tiger Muay Thai: We spent a full week here training. It is located on a strip with a bunch of other Muay Thai gyms and body conditioning gyms, meaning there are plenty of options around if you want a variation in coaching. Tiger, being one of the larger gyms, has many different rooms for the various classes going on if you are interested in something other than Muay Thai. We stayed in the beginner classes. The 2-hour morning class was more than enough for us for the day. They covered all the main strikes, pad-feeding, bag time and sparring. Seeing that we wanted to learn as much as we could, each of us opted for personal trainers to fine-tune the techniques and we felt like this added a lot to the classes.

PaSak Muay Thai: This was a small gym that required you to reach out for availability prior to a class. They focused a lot more on technique with some pad-feeding and body conditioning. We had such a blast at this gym.

Yaya Muay Thai Boxing: Located on Railay Beach it was the only gym on the island. It’s not a typical gym; just a boxing ring where you meet a trainer if you reached out to them. This trainer, who had a fight a couple hours after our session, was the most into correcting our technique.

Hydration

It is crucial that you stay hydrated while working out in these conditions. The heat and humidity were a significant challenge for us coming from Wisconsin in winter. Despite drinking liters upon liters of water the first day, I ended up overheating and had to go to the hospital. Once I finally cooled down and the nausea was under control, I was back to it the following day. We made a few changes and added electrolyte packets to some water bottles once back at our dorm. I also took frequent breaks during training sessions to hydrate, although the instructors were concerned about this. I even had one instructor start massaging my temples and rub something on my wrist to help…

Viewpoints & Lookouts

Phuket offers numerous viewpoints, all of which offer amazing views looking out over the ocean and nearby beaches. Visiting at sunset enhances the experience, but keep in mind it tends to be more crowded at this time. Because we like exploring various viewpoints with minimal distractions, we headed out earlier in the day to avoid the congestion. Karon Viewpoint and Windmill Viewpoint are two of the more popular ones, which unfortunately we didn’t get a chance to go to. Below are our experience at the couple we did make it to.

Promthep Cape

Located at the southernmost point in Phuket, it offers great views of the rocky coast. If you walk all the way to the top, there is a small lighthouse that has a tiny museum you can enter. Also located at the top is an elephant shrine. According to legend, you ought to make a wish in this place and if it comes true, you need to bring another elephant statue to the shrine.

Not far from the cape there is a street full of shops and restaurants making this a very popular tourist destination. We went right after sunrise to avoid the heat, since I was still struggling to adapt to the temperature and to avoid the crowds. I think we only passed 10 other people so this worked in our favor.

Black Rock Viewpoint

A little more off the beaten path but still popular. If you have your own vehicle it will make getting to the trailhead much easier. If you don’t, your taxi or Grab driver will drop you off at the end of the street and you will have roughly a 1-mile walk to the trailhead. Once you arrive at the trailhead it is only a 200m climb. We had the whole summit to ourselves, so we just chilled on a rock and took in the unobstructed views. On our way down we started to pass more people embarking on this adventure.

Again, we recommend heading out early to avoid the crowds, especially if you are walking from the road. It can get very dusty during the dry season and there is a company that offers 4-wheeler tours nearby which adds to the sound and dust. There are restaurants along the roadside if you need to stop in for a quick snack or something to drink. The one we stopped at had a swing next to Deadpool. One thing we did notice around Phuket was their fascination with superheroes…

Dragon Crest Mountain

While we never actually made it here, we were recommended to go by one of the hotel staff at Old Capital Bike Inn. She said it’s one of her favorite hikes/viewpoints. It is in Krabi which is why we never made it. She said the views are unparallelled of tropical forests overlooking the ocean. Because it is in a National Park there is a CASH ONLY entrance fee of 200 baht per person. For what it is worth; she also said it is a moderate hike with an intense elevation gain. Plan to bring lots of water and I would anticipate Bug Spray since you’re hiking in the forest.

Visit a Distillery

The Distillery Phuket is the only distillery currently in this area. It is home to Chalong Bay gin, rum, and vodka. They offer tours of the distillery that take you behind-the-scenes of their process. At the end you can indulge in a tasting session, where it seems like you quite literally taste everything they make. There was a lot to taste, especially if you grabbed a drink to sip on during the tour. Remember to stay hydrated with water during your time here.

They also offer cocktail workshops. You join in with their mixologist to create 2-3 different drinks. We created the Chalong Loei and Spicy Smash, both of which were fantastic. Although the spicy smash was by far my favorite between the heat from the Thai red chili and the sweetness from the pineapple and honey, it was a perfect combination. There was another group that prepared an additional beverage which the mixologist provided to me. It is worth noting that participants completing both the workshop and the tour will assuredly have ample opportunities to enjoy various drinks.

The location is situated in a serene and spacious residential area, offering a quiet atmosphere. If you get hungry while there, they offer a good number of food options (gluten free included)!

Shopping

Similar to Bangkok, Phuket has a mix of modern malls to lively outdoor markets. Really there is something for everyone, whether you are looking for a luxury item or local souvenir it can be found. Sometimes meandering through a mall is nice just to get out of the heat and humidity and enjoy the air conditioning. Their Sunday night market was a fantastic combination of local crafts, authentic street food and a cooler environment.

Things to buy at a local market:

Authentic street food you can eat…definitely be cautious…at least get some coconut ice cream out of a coconut!
Wooden crafts…We came away with a wooden magnet that we will turn into a Christmas ornament to place on our Christmas Travel tree.
Thai silk or Sarong pants. Both are very comfy and convenient especially if needed to convert to something else to cover legs or shoulders when touring temples.
Muay Thai shorts. This one may not be for everyone but since we spent days training this sport we figured we might as well come away with the attire.

When shopping at a local market try and have small bills in their local currency (Baht) to help with the ease of transaction. We found very few take credit card and if they do they charge a percentage fee. One last pointer, don’t be afraid to bargain a little. Most will bargain with you to about 30% off. Most things in Thailand are significantly cheaper than the United States anyways so don’t be too aggressive with it.

Railay Beach

Enjoy a Longtail Boat Ride

A longtail boat is distinctive to Southeast Asia and you can see them commonly used as a means of transport to get from island to island or navigating the canals. These boats are designed so you are able to get to shallow waters (i.e. West Railay Beach). However, you may have to disembark into the water, which is the temperature of bath water.

They are long narrow boats made out of wood with the distinguishable feature being the long propeller shaft extending from a car engine. Each skipper stands in back to steer the boat and each boat is decorated differently so you can easily pick out the one you came in on.

Island Hopping Tour

If you are in the need for some speed and want to see gorgeous beaches then make sure to tour the Phi Phi Islands. Most tours to the Phi Phi Islands are going to be a full day on the water and consists of beach, boat and snorkeling. There really is no other way to see these crystal-clear waters while standing on some of the softest white sandy beaches. All the while taking in the backdrop of the limestone cliffs jutting out of the water and the lush tropical landscape behind you. You may even see some monkeys who call these beaches home.

One of the highlights is seeing the infamous Maya Bay. This cove was made famous from the filming of “The Beach” starring Leonardo Dicaprio. Because of the fame and attention the movie brought to the cove, the government had to close the cove to protect the corals. Boats are no longer permitted to dock at the beach. Instead, access is now only available from the rear entrance, requiring a short walk to the beach. You are not allowed to wade in past your ankles; it is strictly enforced. Yet, if you are lucky you may see some wildlife.

Snorkeling

After wandering up and down the beach, we stopped for a snorkel. This lagoon wasn’t our anticipated location, but we had to adjust. There were many boats here so our guide led us away and we were able to snorkel for about an hour. Kara decided not to come because her stomach was bothering her a little and the waves in the water were enough to send a few people back early. We did see many schools of fish, lionfish, barracudas and unique underwater landscapes against the limestone cliffs. Unfortunately, we didn’t bring our GoPro to capture this. However, I did try to sneak off with Kara’s brand new iPhone in my pocket. Good thing Apple’s design allows for excursions up to 20 feet deep for a couple minutes.

Soon after we stopped at another beach for lunch. Lucky for us they could cater to gluten free diets. We had more than enough food to eat and didn’t need the fruit snacks or granola bars that we packed just in case. They provided plenty of refreshments and fresh fruit as a snack.

Things to pack: Water shoes, sunscreen, medications to prevent sea sickness, extra water and towels. Maybe some cash in case you want to buy a drink or have to use the bathroom.

Rock-climbing

The limestone cliffs rise from the turquoise waters, offering routes that range from beginner-friendly to challenging overhangs and multi-pitch climbs. Thailand uses the French grading system; consequently, most routes range from 5a to 8c. If you get stuck and are unsure where to make your next move, your guide can show you. Most bring a laser pointer to help make it easier to know what they are talking about.

We booked a private half-day tour through Krabi Rock Climbing. The guide was great and very patient with us when we decided to bow out early because our forearms and hands were burning. The atmosphere was very laid back; we would highly recommend using them. However, there are many other rock-climbing companies on Railay Beach where you could walk up and rock climb that same day. Making advanced reservations is definitely not something that you need to do especially if you are going to spend a couple of days in the area.

Attend a Muay Thai Fight

We wanted to attend another Muay Thai fight while we were in Thailand and weren’t able to squeeze it into our schedule while in Phuket. Lucky for us Railay Beach has a small ring where they occasionally host fights. It is tucked back in the corner of a restaurant near the Last Bar. Quite literally it is the last bar on a little path on the eastside of Railay Beach. They don’t advertise the fights around the island so if you are interested in attending a fight, we recommend you take a stroll along the path to the Last Bar and inquire.

There are posters advertising Muay Thai training sessions posted around the island, if interested. This is how we found out about the fight. We reached out to the instructor for a session, which we did accomplish and found out later that night they were having a fight. Unfortunately, our instructor had to fight. He did win!

The other thing to point out is that monkeys may be curious during training sessions or fights. You can hear them scampering across the ceiling, which was a little alarming at first. You grow used to it after a while. In fact, you will grow used to the monkeys as they are all over the island from walkways to Muay Thai boxing rings to hotel swimming pools. They are fun to watch but just please remember to give them space. We saw them charge people on more than one occasion.

Beach Day

After all the exploring don’t forget to just sit back and relax on the beach. There are very few times throughout the day where you will have a beach to yourself. However if you head there right after sunrise or after sunset there are a lot less people. All the beaches are nice white soft sand that squishes between your toes. Since there are so many people at these beaches, it is unlikely to see wildlife other than little schools of fish. If you have snorkel gear and want to practice, these beaches are perfect since there are little to no waves. These beaches are really a slice of paradise all the way around.

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