14 things to do in Phuket to get the best out of your weekend holiday

ROOMS WITH A VIEW

Image: Sri Panwa

While Phuket offers something for everyone, the discerning few head to the island for its luxurious resorts. Aside from stunning sunset vistas over the Andaman Sea, the 16ha Sri Panwa is also home to Baba Nest (above), a rooftop bar with an infinity pool and a 360-degree view of Phang Nga Bay.

Design and nature combine perfectly in The Naka Phuket, where modernist glass villas are set dramatically on a cliff overlooking Kamala Bay.

TALES OF NOMADS AND NONYAS

Learn about the original nomadic inhabitants of the Andaman Sea at a sea-gypsy village. The residents speak only indigenous languages and Thai, so book a tour with a guide to show you around.

Phuket’s newest attraction, Peranakan Nitat Museum, showcases the culture of the Straits-born Chinese.

In Phuket Town, visit Sino-Portuguese mansions such as Baan Chinpracha (98 Krabi Road, Tel: 66 7621 1167).

MAJESTIC TEMPLES

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Don’t leave Phuket without visiting the Big Buddha, a 45m-tall statue made of white marble, on Mount Nagakerd in the south.

The island’s largest temple, Wat Chalong (above), houses a bone fragment believed to have belonged to Buddha. Plan your visit early in the morning, when it’s cooler and less crowded, and ensure you dress appropriately – no shorts and sleeveless shirts allowed.

For those interested in exploring the island’s spiritual sites solo, use the Phuket Town Treasure Map to take a self-guided walking tour. It features museums and historic sites, but is mostly dedicated to temples and shrines.

NOSH LIKE THE LOCALS

Frequented by politicians, movie stars and locals, Raya (48 Dibuk Road; Tel: 66 7621 8155) is regarded by many as the best Thai restaurant in Phuket Town. Try the gaeng nue poo bai cha ploo (crabmeat curry) and moo hong (braised pork).

Image: 123rf.com

For a more local experience, visit street stalls such as Po Lamai (corner of Satun and Dibuk Roads) for the breakfast favourite, kanom jeen (fish curry vermicelli); or Ahpong Mae Sunee (corner of Yaowarat Road and Soon Utis Alley), where khanom ahpong (crispy coconut crepe; above) is cooked over hot coals.

Buy fresh seafood from local fishermen at the Sea Gypsies Fish Market on Rawai Beach and take it across the road to one of the many restaurants that will cook it for you.

CATCH THE WAVES

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While Patong is one of the most popular beaches, there are others to explore. Hire a car and seek out lesser-known spots like Nai Harn, a 45-minute drive from Phuket Town, where there are great swells for surfing. Ya Nui, a sandy cove six minutes by car from Nai Harn (above), entices snorkellers and kayakers with its cerulean waters.

Scenic Phang Nga Bay is about an hour by boat from Chalong Pier. Tour its sea caves and hidden lagoons, canoe or watch the waters light up with bioluminescent plankton in the evening.

This story was originally published in SilverKris.