Phuket in Four Days

If you're heading to Thailand's most popular island but have only a few days to spare, try this sample itinerary, which will ensure you see all the most important sights on and around the island and also have a little time to rest and relax on the beach. The other option, of course, is to just to land at the Phuket airport, get yourself to the nearest beautiful beach, park your butt on a beach chair and stay there for the next 96 hours. The tourist attractions are interesting but in all honesty there are no true "must see" sights on Phuket. So, plenty of folks pick option B with great success, tho if you're the type who needs stuff to do and things to see while you're on vacation, it might not be the best choice for you.

Day 1 - Arrive in Phuket

If you landed in the late afternoon or evening or you're still suffering from jet lag, write this day off and start the itinerary the next day. Otherwise, assuming you've arrived by midday and are fresh and full of energy, check in to your hotel when you arrive and then take a drive to see one of the island's landmark sights -- the Big Buddha. This 150 foot tall statue of the Buddha sits atop a tall hill on the southern part of the island. This impressive statue, which was started in 2004 and completed in 2012, has little specific religious significance -- it was built by a group of laymen and funded mostly through donations and has become more of a tourist attraction than anything else. Still the massive scale of the statue alone is worth viewing and the views of the island from the statue are the best you'll find on Phuket. The statue sits right above Chalong Bay. Most days you can easily see Kata and Kata Noi, Karon and Nai Harn Beaches and on a clear day you can see out onto Phang Nga Bay.

After visiting the Big Buddha, if you have time, pay a visit to Wat Chalong, formally called Wat Chaiyathararam but known across the island by its informal name. The Rattanakosin-style temple, with traditional red roofs and gold doorways, is one of the island's largest and most significant historically and religiously. It was built in 19th century and is significant for two reasons. The first is that it is said to house a relic(a bone fragment) of the Buddha that came via Sri Lanka in 1999. Another reason: a former Abbot, Luang Phor Cham, was said to have special healing powers and was recognized by King Rama V.

This part of the itinerary makes the most sense if you are staying in the Patong, Karon or Kata Beach area. If you are staying in the northern part of the island, you can take a look at these attractions when you visit the southern part of the island.

Day 2 - Tour the Island or Hang Out in Your Hood

Phuket has nearly a dozen main beaches, all of which are slightly different and all of which have different appeal to visitors depending on their interests. Pick a couple of beaches you're interested in visiting and split your day between them. If you love a packed party beach with lots of activities such as parasailing and jet skiing and want to be surrounded by a bustling, hectic, urban environment while you're having fun in the sun, you'll want to visit Patong, where you can also spend a little time shopping if you're interested. If you like more mellow beaches next to quieter walking villages, try Karon, Kata and Kata Noi Beaches. Looking for a more secluded beach experience in Phuket? If you want to stay in the southern part of the island, visit Nai Harn Beach in addition to Karon, Kata or Kata Noi. Or, visit some of the less developed beaches in the northern part of the island, such as Mai Khao, Nai Thon and Nai Yang Beaches. If you prefer to stick to the beach you are staying at, even better, as you'll cut down on transportation time and expense. If you want to do a little shopping or exploring, spend some time walking around the town or village adjacent to your beach, wherever you are.

During the evening plan on taking in one of Phuket's shows, such as the Simon Cabaret or head to one of the island's nicer restaurants for a special dinner. After that, if you're up for it, hit one(or a few) of Patong's clubs and discos for a taste of the nightlife scene in Phuket.

Day 3 - Take a Boat Trip

No trip to Phuket is complete without a boat tour of surrounding Phang Nga Bay, so even if you don't plan on doing anything else while on vacation, find a day for this part of the itinerary. There are a handful of tour companies offering mostly day trips; some focus on Koh Phi Phi, some focus on other small islands in Phang Nga Bay; almost all include either snorkeling or kayaking or both. It is also possible to take a day trip to the Similan Islands, a group of islands with some of the best snorkeling and diving in the region, to the east of Phuket in the Andaman Sea. Any day trip you take will include pickup from your hotel, lunch, snacks and water and a ride back in the evening when the tour is finished. You can buy tickets at any travel agent and also at your hotel. List prices are negotiable.

Whatever trip you take, you'll likely spend some time snorkeling and swimming and walking around in the sun. Most people find these trips exhausting, so plan on an easy night when you get back to your hotel.

Day 4 - Hit the Town

Though Phuket Town, the island's capital city on the east side of Phuket, doesn't offer quite enough to keep you occupied for more than a day, it is a fun, interesting place to visit and is worth a few hours of your time. The historic center of town has some lovely little boutiques filled with Thai textiles, antiques and all sorts of interesting stuff, great coffee shops and very pretty Sino-Portuguese architecture. There is also a museum in the center that you can check out if you are interested in learning about the history of the island. The part of Phuket Town you'll most likely want to explore is all accessible on foot and you can take a bus, taxi or tuk tuk to and from the beach you are staying.

You'll probably want to spend just a few hours in Phuket Town, so you'll be able to either visit another beach or hang out at your hotel pool for the rest of the day. When you're planning, keep in mind that Phuket Town has some of the best dining on the island, so plan your visit to coincide with either lunch or dinner.

Suzanne Nam