Phuket has been a crossroads of cultures for centuries—Sino-Portuguese merchants, Malay traders, and southern Thai communities all left their mark. Today, the island blends teak-shuttered shophouses and golden temples with powder-soft beaches and emerald bays. You’ll taste peppery curries unique to the south, find Chinese shrines beside Buddhist wats, and watch longtail boats rest against limestone towers.

This weeklong itinerary splits time between the West Coast beaches (Patong/Kata-Karon) and atmospheric Phuket Old Town. Expect island-hopping to Phi Phi and Phang Nga, the Big Buddha and Wat Chalong, an ethical elephant sanctuary, and a Thai cooking class. We’ve packed in beach time, heritage lanes, viewpoints, and excellent food—from crab curry in Old Town to grilled seafood at Rawai.

Practical notes: Dry season runs roughly November–April, with calmer seas ideal for snorkeling; May–October brings bigger waves—heed red flags when swimming. Grab and taxis are easy, and the Phuket Smart Bus connects many beach towns. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a light shawl for temples, and cash for street markets.

Patong & West Coast Beaches

Patong is Phuket’s buzzing beach hub—wide sands, watersports by day, neon nightlife by night. Just south, Kata and Karon offer gentler surf and family-friendly stretches, while Kamala and Bang Tao lean relaxed and upscale. Use this base for island-hopping and sunset cruising in Phang Nga Bay.

Top nearby sights include Kata Noi Beach, Karon Viewpoint, Promthep Cape at golden hour, and snorkel-friendly Ya Nui. Watersports range from beginner surfing at Kata to stand-up paddle at dawn in calm season. By night, beach clubs spill onto the sand, and live DJs light up Patong’s strip.

Eat and drink: In Patong, try Kaab Gluay for spicy Southern Thai and crab, No.9 2nd Restaurant for value Thai classics, and Kudo Beach Club for sunsets with a spritz. In Kata/Karon, Pad Thai Shop is a beloved hole-in-the-wall, Mom Tri’s Kitchen pairs coastal views with refined Thai, and EAT. Bar & Grill excels in steaks and Thai comfort dishes.

• Stay (beach area): Ultra-private villas at Trisara Phuket; sleek romance at The Shore at Katathani (adults-only); beachfront fun at Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket; family-friendly Sunwing Kamala Beach; good-value social hub Lub d Phuket Patong; iconic splurge at Amanpuri. Browse more stays: Hotels.com Patong or villas on VRBO Patong.
• Getting in: Fly to HKT (Phuket International). Search fares on Trip.com flights or Kiwi.com. Airport to Patong is ~50–60 minutes by taxi (≈ THB 700–900). Optional arrival ease: Phuket Airport VIP Fast-Track Immigration.

Featured activities (beach base): Choose 2–3 while here.

• Luxury Small Group Phi Phi Sunrise from Phuket — beat the crowds and snorkel quiet bays.

  

• Luxury Boat to James Bond Islands with Lunch and Sunset Dinner — daybeds, DJ, sea-cave kayaking, and golden-hour views.

  

• YONA Beach Club: Phuket's Most Incredible Boat Experience — a floating beach club for pool time with a horizon.

  

• A Morning with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary — ethical visit to feed and observe rescued elephants.

  

Phuket Old Town

Base yourself amid pastel shophouses and arcaded sidewalks where Hokkien noodle stalls perfume the air. Old Town’s lanes—Thalang Road, Soi Romanee, Dibuk—reveal Chinese shrines, Peranakan mansions, artisanal gelato, and cocktail dens with serious mixology.

Sightlines stretch from vivid street art to the stark-white Big Buddha above the jungle. Dip into the Thai Hua Museum to trace migrant histories, then sample local signatures: moo hong (braised pork), Hokkien mee, and turmeric-laced crab curry.

Cafés and bites: Campus Coffee Roasters roasts a superb Thai arabica; Bookhemian pairs brews with indie zines; Torry’s Ice Cream spins Peranakan-inspired flavors (try a-aew jelly). For meals, One Chun and Tu Kab Khao both celebrate Southern Thai heat; Go Benz Pork Noodles is legendary after dark; Lock Tien food court is a time capsule of satay and oyster omelets.

• Stay (Old Town): Browse boutique stays and shophouse apartments on Hotels.com (Phuket Old Town) or VRBO (Phuket Old Town). If you prefer to keep a beach base, all West Coast options above remain convenient by taxi.
• Getting there from Patong: Taxi or Grab ~45–60 minutes, THB 600–800. The blue songthaew (local bus) runs Patong–Phuket Town for ~THB 30–40; Phuket Smart Bus connects beaches but not directly into Old Town.

Featured activities (Old Town base):

• Phuket City Tour with Wat Chalong, Big Buddha & Famous Viewpoints — a concise overview of the island’s landmarks.

  

• Phuket Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour Option — master tom yum, pad Thai, and green curry from scratch.

  

• Dinner in the Sky in Phuket — an unforgettable elevated meal with island views.

  

Day 1: Arrival, First Swim, and Patong Eats

Afternoon: Land at HKT. Consider the VIP Fast-Track Immigration to breeze through, then taxi to Patong (~THB 700–900). Check into your beach hotel—options range from Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket (beachfront with a lazy river) to The Shore at Katathani for adults-only villas with private pools. Take a decompression swim and stroll the sand.

Evening: Dinner at Kaab Gluay—order moo hong (braised pork), stir-fried sator beans with prawns, and yellow crab curry. For a laid-back night, sip at Kudo Beach Club; for high-energy, Illuzion Nightclub brings international DJs and acrobatic shows. If you prefer a calm welcome, wander to Kalim Beach’s rocky edge for a quiet sunset.

Day 2: Phi Phi Islands at Sunrise (Full-Day Tour)

Beat the crowds on the Luxury Small Group Phi Phi Sunrise from Phuket. Expect a pre-dawn pickup, coffee and light breakfast, then Maya Bay serenity, snorkeling with colorful reef fish at Pileh or Loh Samah, and a seaview lunch. You’re typically back early afternoon—nap, beach, or a Thai massage at Let’s Relax.

Food notes: Many tours include snacks and lunch; if not, grab a pre-tour bite from your hotel or a bakery near the pier. For dinner back in Patong, No.9 2nd Restaurant is reliable for classics like pineapple fried rice and spicy larb.

Day 3: Elephant Sanctuary, Rawai Seafood, Promthep Sunset

Morning: Ethical wildlife time at A Morning with the Elephants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. Feed, walk alongside, and observe rescued elephants roaming 30 acres—no riding or performances.

Afternoon: Long, lazy lunch at Kan Eang@Pier near Chalong—grilled river prawns, spicy seafood salad, and tom yum goong. Then swim at Nai Harn Beach (gentle in dry season; watch flags in monsoon). Quick stop at Karon Viewpoint for the postcard of Kata Noi–Kata–Karon bays stacked in blue.

Evening: Browse Rawai seafood market—pick your fish, have it cooked at nearby stalls—or choose a set-menu spread. Finish at Promthep Cape as the sun slides behind the Andaman, painting the lighthouse gold.

Day 4: Beach Morning, Sunset James Bond Cruise

Morning: Coffee and pancakes at The Coffee Club (Jungceylon), then hit Kata Beach—beginner-friendly surf lessons are available much of the year. Prefer quiet? Try Kata Noi’s compact cove for snorkeling near the rocks when seas are calm.

Afternoon & Evening: Board the Luxury Boat to James Bond Islands with Lunch and Sunset Dinner. Glide across Phang Nga Bay’s karsts, kayak sea caves at Hong Island, and photograph Khao Phing Kan (James Bond Island). Enjoy a sunset dinner on deck as limestone silhouettes turn violet.

Day 5: Transfer to Phuket Old Town, Lanes & Landmarks

Morning: Taxi to Old Town (~45–60 minutes; THB 600–800). Check into a boutique stay via Hotels.com or VRBO. Brunch on Hokkien mee at Lock Tien or pork noodles at Go Benz (expect a queue; worth it).

Afternoon: Take the Phuket City Tour with Wat Chalong, Big Buddha & Famous Viewpoints. You’ll see the island’s largest temple, panoramic Khao Rang or Windmill viewpoints, and the 45-meter Big Buddha watching over the coast.

Evening: Dinner at One Chun—order crab curry with rice vermicelli, stink beans with shrimp, and coconutty khanom jeen. Nightcap at Dibuk House for thoughtful cocktails, or wander Soi Romanee to admire pastel facades under soft lanterns.

Day 6: Thai Cooking, Café Hopping, Dinner in the Sky

Morning: Shop the market with your chef and learn the fundamentals at the Phuket Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour Option—pound curry pastes, balance sweet-sour-salty-spicy, and feast on your creations.

Afternoon: Café-hop: Campus Coffee Roasters for single-origin pourovers, then Bookhemian for a pour-over and a browse. Pop into Thai Hua Museum to understand Phuket’s Peranakan heritage, and stop by a Chinese shrine like Jui Tui for a quiet moment.

Evening: Elevate your meal—literally—on Dinner in the Sky in Phuket, suspended with sweeping views. Prefer ground level? Book Tu Kab Khao for Southern Thai staples and end with a-sin (butterfly pea) ice cream at Torry’s.

Day 7: Old Town Markets, Last Bites, Departure

Morning: If it’s Sunday, stroll Lard Yai (Sunday Walking Street) for artisanal snacks and crafts; otherwise, browse indie boutiques along Thalang Road for batik and Peranakan jewelry. Breakfast at Roti Taew Nam—flaky roti with curry—then a final coffee at The Feelsion or Campus Coffee Roasters.

Afternoon: Early lunch at Raya Restaurant—signature crab curry with rice noodles—before a taxi to HKT (allow 60–90 minutes with buffer). Search return flights on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you’re extending, swap in a floating-day-club afternoon at YONA Beach Club.

Optional Swaps and Tips

• Want a classic big-boat day with caves and canoes? Phang Nga Bay Sea Cave Canoeing & James Bond Island by Big Boat.

  

• Active afternoon between beach days? Phuket Paradise ATV and Zipline Experience.
• Monsoon months (May–Oct) often favor Phang Nga Bay (sheltered) over open-sea Phi Phi; plans can shift with weather.
• Scooter rentals are common but drive defensively; helmets are mandatory. For most visitors, taxis/Grab are easiest.

Where to stay (quick reference): Beachfront ease at Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket (Karon); romantic villas at The Shore at Katathani (Kata Noi); family favorite Sunwing Kamala Beach; luxe hideaway Trisara Phuket; social budget at Lub d Phuket Patong; all-out indulgence at Amanpuri. Browse more on Hotels.com (Phuket) or VRBO (Phuket).

From sunrise over Maya Bay to sunset in Phang Nga Bay, Phuket dazzles with island-hopping, street food, and soulful shrines. You’ll leave with sand in your shoes, a few new recipes in your notebook, and a renewed appetite for the Andaman Sea.