Phuket—Thailand’s largest island—has been a maritime crossroads for centuries, blending Thai, Peranakan, Malay, and Portuguese influences. You’ll see it in the Sino‑Portuguese shophouses of Phuket Old Town, taste it in peppery Southern Thai curries, and feel it in the gentle rhythm of life that beats between temples, markets, and the Andaman Sea.

Beyond postcard beaches, Phuket is a superb base for island‑hopping to Maya Bay and the Phi Phi Islands, kayaking through Phang Nga Bay’s limestone karsts, and snorkeling over colorful reefs near Racha and Coral Islands. Inland, Buddhist landmarks like Big Buddha and Wat Chalong offer quiet perspective between market rambles and café stops.

Practical notes: the dry season (Nov–Apr) brings calmer seas and prime visibility for snorkeling and diving; the green season (May–Oct) has lush scenery and better hotel values but rougher surf. Dress modestly for temples, use reef‑safe sunscreen, and favor ethical wildlife experiences (no riding, no tricks). Street food is a highlight—start mild and work spicier as you go.

Phuket

Why go now: A 15‑day Phuket itinerary lets you savor the island at an unhurried pace—mixing culture, cuisine, beaches, and day trips—without skipping icons like Phi Phi and James Bond Island.

Getting to Phuket (HKT): Most travelers fly. From Bangkok, nonstop flights take ~1h25 (often $40–120 one‑way). From Singapore ~1h50 ($80–200), Kuala Lumpur ~1h30 ($60–150). Long‑haul routes connect via hubs such as Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Doha, or Dubai. Search fares on Trip.com Flights and Kiwi.com. If you’re elsewhere in Thailand and prefer rail, the nearest mainline station is Surat Thani—then bus/ferry to Phuket—bookable via Trip.com Trains.

On‑island transport: Airport to Patong/Old Town is 45–70 minutes by taxi (roughly 700–900 THB). Grab/Bolt ride‑hail is widely used. Scooters are for confident riders only; otherwise use taxis or hotel shuttles.

Where to stay (area guide + booking links): For heritage and cafés, base in Phuket Old Town. For lively nightlife and convenient beach access, Patong. For a calmer west‑coast vibe: Kata/Karon (great for families and surfers), Kamala and Bang Tao (beach clubs, upscale resorts), Nai Harn/Rawai (laid‑back sunsets), or Mai Khao/Nai Yang (quiet, near the airport). Browse stays on VRBO Phuket or compare hotels at Hotels.com Phuket.

Notable properties (example picks): Banyan Tree (lagoon villas in Bang Tao), The Nai Harn (panoramic south‑coast sunsets), Amari Phuket (Patong headland views), Keemala (pool villas tucked in rainforest near Kamala), The Memory at On On (historic Old Town stay), Sri Panwa (Cape Panwa cliffside views and famed rooftop).

Days 1–3: Old Town culture, temples, and southern beaches

Start in Phuket Old Town. Stroll Thalang, Soi Romanee, and Dibuk Roads to admire pastel shophouses and Peranakan details; pop into Thai Hua Museum for context on Chinese‑Thai heritage. Seek out street art and snap the old post office and Jui Tui Shrine.

Devote a morning to Wat Chalong, then continue up to Big Buddha for island‑wide views and a gentle introduction to Buddhist customs. Time sunset at Karon Viewpoint or wind to Promthep Cape for a horizon of islands.

• Breakfast/Coffee: Campus Coffee Roasters (meticulous pour‑overs, Old Town), Phuketique (butter‑soaked French toast and Thai tea), Bookhemian (arty nook for cold brews).
• Lunch: One Chun (Michelin Bib; crab curry and moo hong pork belly), Lock Tien (old‑school food court: Hokkien noodles, satay), Go Benz (late‑night pork broth rice noodles).
• Dinner: Raya Restaurant (century‑old mansion; massaman and crab curry), Tu Kab Khao (playful Southern Thai, beautiful interiors), Blue Elephant (royal Thai tasting menus in a governor’s residence).
• Drinks: Dibuk House (mixology with Thai botanicals), Timber Hut (live bands, local institution).

Guided highlight: Let a local expert frame the island’s story and viewpoints with the half‑day tour below (hotel pickup included):

Phuket City Tour Sights Tastes Cultural Experience — a flexible primer on Phuket’s heritage, temples, and coastal lookouts (typically 5–6 hours).

Days 4–6: West‑coast beach time, markets, and a Thai cooking class

Beach‑hop the west coast. Kata and Kata Noi have beginner‑friendly surf and clear‑water snorkeling near the rocks; Karon offers long, open sands; Kamala and Bang Tao pair soft beaches with relaxed beach clubs.

Between swims, hit a spa—Oasis Spa (Secret Garden) for tranquil garden salas or Let’s Relax for consistent treatments—and plan a market night. The Sunday Walking Street Market (Lard Yai) turns Old Town into a street‑food runway; Chillva Market brings live music and container‑style stalls.

• Beach Clubs & Sundowners: Catch Beach Club (Bang Tao; sashimi and sunset DJs), Café del Mar (Kamala; Balearic beats), The Sundeck (Kata; golden‑hour cocktails above the bay).
• Lunch by the Sea: Ta Restaurant at Kata Noi (simple Thai, toes‑in‑sand), Kalim Rim Lay (local seafood on the rocks north of Patong).
• Dinner: Suay Cherngtalay (creative Thai by Chef Noi), Samut (sea‑focused tasting menu highlighting Andaman produce), Laem Hin Seafood (pier‑side classics; ask for mantis shrimp when in season).

Culinary deep‑dive: Learn to balance sweet‑salty‑sour‑spicy like a local with a flexible cooking course (you pick the dishes):

Choose Your Own Dishes: Half-Day Thai Cooking Class in Phuket — market visit, hands‑on prep, and lunch you cook.

Days 7–9: Phi Phi & Maya Bay, snorkeling, and seafood feasts

Make your Andaman dream day happen: speedboat to Ko Phi Phi Leh to float in jade‑green lagoons and admire protected Maya Bay from the boardwalk; snorkel with reef fish at Pileh or Bamboo Island depending on sea conditions. Go early for softer light and fewer crowds.

Follow up with a slower day at Coral Island or head to Racha Yai for clearer water and laid‑back sands—you’ll find decent entry‑level snorkeling just off the beach when visibility is good (best Nov–Apr).

• Seafood to remember: Mor Mu Dong (stilted huts over mangroves; turmeric‑fried fish, pak miang leaves with egg), Kruvit Raft (floating restaurants off Laem Hin; order steamed blue crab and tom yum), Kan Eang@Pier (grilled seafood with Chalong Bay views).
• Sweet Stops: The Feelsion Café (retro‑industrial sweets and Thai desserts), Torry’s Ice Cream (Peranakan‑inspired scoops like a‑pong crumble).

Signature day trip: Choose a highly rated operator with experienced island guides and quality gear:

Phi Phi Islands Adventure Day Trip w/ Seaview Lunch by V. Marine — an award‑winning full‑day with snorkeling stops and a scenic lunch.

Days 10–12: Phang Nga Bay, caves by sea kayak, and viewpoints

Phang Nga Bay is otherworldly—vertical limestone towers, hidden lagoons, and bat‑filled caves carved by the sea. Many tours include sea canoes piloted by local guides who steer you through tide‑dependent hongs (rooms) barely accessible at low water.

If you can wake early another day, drive to Samet Nangshe viewpoint on the mainland for sunrise over the karst archipelago—easily one of southern Thailand’s best dawns.

• Afternoons: Cool off at Khao Rang Viewpoint near town (pair it with coffee at TUNK-KA Café). Consider an ethical elephant visit (no riding/tricks, small groups, plenty of foraging and mud time) in the Kathu/Phang Nga area.
• Night Markets: Phuket Weekend Market (Naka) for vintage finds and skewers; head back to Old Town for a late roti or mango sticky rice.

Bay classic: A premium speedboat keeps transit swift so you linger longer among the karsts and lagoons:

Phuket: James Bond Island by Premium Speedboat with Lunch — includes sea‑canoe time in limestone caves and a village stop.

Days 13–15: Rainforest, wellness, and one last golden sunset

Trade salt air for rainforest at Khao Sok National Park: jungle hikes under towering limestone, canoe drifts, and the emerald reservoir at Cheow Lan Lake (2.5–3 hours one way by road; pack insect repellent and a rain layer). If you’d rather stay coastal, book a daybed at a beach club and let the island slow you down.

Round out your stay with a Muay Thai class (intro sessions are welcoming and fun), a final massage, and a sunset toast. If you can snag a reservation, a rooftop at Cape Panwa delivers a cinematic finale; otherwise a simple coconut on Nai Harn Beach will do the trick.

• Wellness & Training: Try a beginner Muay Thai session in Chalong; finish with an herbal compress massage at a reputable spa.
• Final Dinners: PRU at Trisara (Michelin‑starred, farm‑to‑table tasting menu), Black Ginger (boat‑access Thai in a torch‑lit lagoon), The Nai Harn’s Rock Salt (Mediterranean‑Thai plates with surf views).
• Parting Sundaes: Torry’s for a last a‑pong crumble or mango sorbet between souvenir runs along Thalang Road.

Optional guided finale: If you skipped the city overview at the start, plug it in now for context and a tidy round of sights, snacks, and photo stops:

Phuket City Tour Sights Tastes Cultural Experience — great as a closing highlight reel, too.

Practical extras

• Booking tips: For best rates, compare options on VRBO Phuket and Hotels.com Phuket; for flights, monitor Trip.com and Kiwi.com a few weeks out (earlier for holidays).
• Weather watch: Ocean conditions vary; heed red flags and lifeguards. Some marine parks close temporarily for reef recovery (e.g., Maya Bay has periodic closures).
• Etiquette: Shoulders/knees covered for temples; remove shoes before entering sanctuaries; a light scarf is handy.

At‑a‑glance featured experiences (bookable)

• Phi Phi Islands Adventure Day Trip w/ Seaview Lunch by V. Marine

• Phuket: James Bond Island by Premium Speedboat with Lunch

• Choose Your Own Dishes: Half-Day Thai Cooking Class in Phuket

• Phuket City Tour Sights Tastes Cultural Experience

Fifteen days in Phuket gives you time to trace the island’s layered history, graze your way through Southern Thai flavors, and unspool among reefs, bays, and beaches. You’ll leave with salt in your hair, a camera full of island light, and a list of eateries you’ll dream about for years.