When To Go

Phuket has a tropical monsoon climate, which means it is warm all year round. The best time to visit is between November and March, when the weather is at its best and the water is calm and clear (and ideal for diving). However, there are often some tempting deals to be found from May to October, when the Indian Ocean monsoon brings heavy showers and rougher seas (albeit with plenty of sunshine in-between downpours).

Top 5 Places To Stay

• Kamala Dreams

  Located close to FantaSea, this two-story hotel overlooks Kamala Beach. There is an outdoor swimming pool, and the air-conditioned guestrooms have traditional décor, TVs and balconies.

• The Royal Paradise Hotel

  2km from Patong Beach, The Royal Paradise Hotel offers an outdoor pool, children’s pool, fitness center, spa tub, and full-service health spa, as well as views of the mountains and ocean.

• Koyao Island Resort

  Situated among tropical gardens on the island of Koh Yao Noi, this resort is one hour from Phuket. In addition to private beach access, the 15 beach-facing villas have Thai architecture and views of Phang Nga Bay.

• Banyan Tree Phuket

  With private landscaped gardens for all villas, and open-air bathtubs, Banyan Tree is utterly relaxing. Full spa facilities including yoga, meditation and tai chi are also available, along with golf, swimming, tennis, and boat-cruise dining.

• Patong Beach

  Located in the centre of Patong Beach, this modern hotel overlooks the Andaman Sea. All rooms offer contemporary Thai décor, and amenities include four restaurants, two landscaped outdoor pools, a health spa and fitness equipment.

Top 5 Things To Do On Your Visit

• Jungle trekking

  – Although much of Phuket’s forestry has been industrialised, there is one significant patch of jungle left in the northeast of the island. Many companies offer guided tours along a set path, but if you’re feeling more adventurous you can easily complete the trail unaided. Spectacular waterfalls, plants, sounds and smells await you!

• Diving

  There is a huge variety of dive locations around Phuket, with something for everyone regardless of experience. Crystal-clear waters, spectacular reefs and a vast array of interesting wildlife give every location something different, and learners can complete PADI dive courses on the island too.

• Phuket Zoo

  With its tigers, monkeys and snakes, the zoo offers an interesting glimpse into the animals that used to naturally inhabit the island. Many are tame enough to pose for photographs and play with visitors, and the zoo, which is fairly small, has a rare intimacy that makes it unique.

• FantaSea

  A 140-acre complex complete with theatrical shows, a 4000-seater restaurant and Carnival Village, FantaSea is a hugely popular Las Vegas-style leisure park. Its over-the-top and amusing shows combine trapeze artists and dancing elephants with traditional Thai myths to create wacky – but professional – performances.

• Wat Chalong

  Phuket’s spiritual centre, Wat Chalong is visited by thousands each year. Noted for its supposed healing power, legend suggests that miracles have been performed at the temple. Regardless of the truth in that, it is a spectacular building that is really worth seeing. Despite still being used by locals, Wat Chalong has always maintained a welcoming rapport with tourists.