How to organize a family holiday in Phuket that is full of fun and excitement

Phuket is an ideal tropical island for a family holiday with offshore islands to explore, some of them being the famous Phi Phi Islands and Phang Nga Bay with spectacular beaches and unique natural formations adding to their enchantment. Phuket Island itself boasts a lovely historic old town, an array of cultural attractions, stunning viewpoints and more. With such a vast offering, explore the best experiences to make your visit to Phuket an unforgettable memory for the whole family. 

Phuket Old Town

Endowed with a lot of personality coming down for centuries from the time of the tin boom in Phuket, history and persona go hand in hand in this beautiful old town with colourful and well-preserved shophouses, ornate Buddhist and Chinese temples, some museums, charming cafes as well as the opulent Sino-colonial mansions which were occupied by the tin Barons when it was a commodity with a high value. With everything so close to each other, a stroll with your family can easily cover the old town in a couple of hours. This is an activity enjoyed by many guests at Phuket luxury hotels. Do it early in the morning or at sundown to avoid the midday heat. You can also indulge in some refreshments from the cafes dotted around.

Iconic Phang Nga Bay

It is not only the spectacular beauty of the series of sheer limestone cliffs that seem to spring forth from the clear emerald-hued water of the bay that draws your attention. It is also the immense popularity associated with the legendary movie, The Man with the Golden Gun, which was shot at this bay, thereby making the picturesque bay with many scattered islands a world-famous icon. The best way to reach here as a family would be to use a traditional Thai long-tail boat from Surakul Pier from Phang Nga, as mostly used by families and groups from Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas.

Karon Viewpoint

Take in the stunning views of Kata Noi, Karon and Kata Yai beaches from this vantage viewpoint situated between Kata Noi and Nai Harn beaches. It will not be surprising to see many vehicles stopping by for people to get a view of this fantastic location showcasing gleaming blue waters, curls of white surf and pristine white sands of the three beaches. The northern view from Karon’s viewpoint is one of the most frequently captured images by locals and visitors. With ample parking space and refreshment stands plus a convenient gazebo with seats this is indeed an inviting place to capture family portraits.

Bennypc, Phuket Aerial, CC BY-SA 4.0 

Phuket Walking Street

There are many street markets in Phuket which can take the fancy of a family, out of them Phuket Walking Street is a night market operating on Sundays from 4 pm to 10 pm on Thalang Road in the Old Town which is an intriguing one. Visitors can explore authentic Southern Thai Cuisine, fresh fruit juices, ice creams and Thai Sweets here which will be a treat for the whole family. Apart from the food, many handicraft items, gift and toy stalls and entertainment features such as musical performances make it an ideal place for a family to have excitement and fun that your kids will remember for a long time.

The Big Buddha Statue

One of the most venerated religious places in Phuket, this magnificent statue of the seated Lord Buddha is on Nakkerd Hill between Kata and Chalong. 45 metres tall and made out of white marble this iconic statue is visible from miles away. Once you visit this serene statue enjoy the panoramic view of Phuket Island from atop Nakkerd Hill. As this is a place of worship modesty in dress and demeanour is expected.