If you have decided to escape the freezing winter and jet off to sunny Thailand for the coming winter, you certainly aren’t alone, as the European winter coincides with high season in Thailand. If you have already booked, you are no doubt excited about the trip and to make sure you see the best attractions, here are some to add to your itinerary.
- Phi Phi Island tour – Known as the James Bond Island, the iconic sheer walls of limestone rise majestically from the blue/green water. This is nature at her finest and there is a vast array of water activities that you can enjoy, such as scuba, snorkelling, parasailing, jet ski and kayaking. There are boat trips from Phuket to many stunning tourist destinations and they can all be found with a Google search.
- Big Buddha – Perhaps the most talked about attraction on the island, mainly because it is visible from many locations. A stunning white Buddha in a seated position, the statue sits on top of Nakkerd Hill, which is close to Chalong; it stands 142ft and many Thais visit daily to make merit. Chalong temple is well worth a visit and every tuk-tuk and taxi driver knows where Big Buddha is. The project began in 2004 and took 3 years to complete and it is a perfect backdrop for an Instagram page.
- Andamanda Water Park – Probably the best water park in the entire country, this is very busy at the weekends, as the locals flock to the park. The 3 main slide features have something for everyone; Rolling Ripples is a long, slow-moving artificial river where you float along on an inflatable; then there’s the adrenaline rush you get with Eagle Flyer and the Racing Nagas offers a speedy ride. Click here for walking holiday tips and what to pack.
- Old Town – The Old town of Phuket is a window into the past and is definitely something to add to your schedule; Sino-Portuguese architecture is one of the attractions tourists enjoy and there are local markets in the early evenings, where you can buy souvenirs. A sleepy ambience makes the area feel warm and inviting, while food vendors are everywhere. This is a great place for an evening stroll and there are a few bars where you can enjoy an iced-drink.
- Green Elephant Sanctuary Park – A responsible organisation that does not ‘use’ the elephants, rather they give them a wonderful life and you can help as a volunteer to experience these majestic creatures. It is incredible to witness elephants enjoying their natural habitat, with a daily visit to the river where the elephants bathe and play.
Phuket is known as the jewel of southern Thailand and for very good reason and if you have booked a holiday to Phuket, get ready for the holiday of a lifetime.