General Information about Phuket, Thailand
The resort island of Phuket is generally not a place one might consider being “off the beaten track.” With its golden beaches, turquoise seas, and amazing selection of seafood restaurants, it’s a renowned beach resort destination which sees hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
PHUKET: Being such a popular spot it’s hard to envisage there might anywhere you can get away from the teeming crowds spread across the island. But for the more adventurous traveler, seeking out the quieter, less frequented spots, all is not lost. With a bit of exploring there are some hidden gems to be found where the hordes of tourists seem a world away, and you can feel as though you really are off the beaten track.
Getting there: Being one of the most popular beach locations in Thailand there are a myriad of transportation options from Bangkok. The quickest and least stressful is on one of the dozens of flights which depart from the international and domestic airports in the capital. For those on a budget, there’s a combination of trains and buses departing from Bangkok at regular daily intervals.
Click here to choose your preferred transportation option from Bangkok to Phuket
Accommodation in Phuket: There are literally thousands of accommodation choices in Phuket to suit the individuals taste and budget range. A centrally located option, which is in a quieter area of Patong is the BARAMEE RESORTEL. This 3 star hotel is located at the northern end of Patong Beach with a good selection of restaurants, convenience stores, massage outlets, travel and motorbike rental agencies nearby.
Click here for booking inquiries
Getting off the Beaten Track in Phuket, Thailand
Getting to these “off the beaten track locations” is going involve a do-it-yourself (DIY) approach to sightseeing. Most tour companies won’t know where these non-mainstream locations are and they certainly won’t be interested in taking you to places outside their arranged tour options.
Rent a motorbike: Getting off the beaten track in Phuket is going to involve hiring your own transportation (motorbike) for the day then driving, and hiking, over some dirt tracks. Obviously there’s a bit of effort involved and, more than likely, a fair amount of perspiration. But the reward when you get there is often the best uncrowded viewpoints, and beaches, on the island. A recommended motorbike rental outlet, near the Baramee Resort, is the CHEAP AS CHIPS SHOP.
Note: If you rent a motorbike in Phuket you should have a motorbike license from your home country. If not there’s a high likelihood you’ll get a fine if stopped at one of the many police checkpoints which are often positioned along the coastal beaches.
Police Checkpoints: These are normally positioned in locations where you don’t see them until you’re just a few meters away. For example, around a bend in the road. If you don’t have a motorbike license you’ll be issued an on the spot fine and may have to fork out 400 THB and perhaps more, if you’re not wearing a motorbike helmet. Always wear a helmet and keep your license on you.
Best Phuket Beaches
Freedom Beach
Freedom Beach: Aficionados of Freedom Beach swear it’s the most pristine stretch of coast on the island. The clean white sand, turquoise waters, and low numbers visiting make it the archetypal tropical paradise. Ironically it’s only a stone’s throw from arguably the most crowded and chaotic tourist area on Phuket; Patong beach.
Uncrowded: In this regard its surprising Freedom Beach doesn’t attract greater numbers to its paradisaical setting. One can only surmise the major deterrent for many potential visitors is the physical exertion required for the hike out, at the end of the day. The road in can also be hard work for those not used to motoring across rough, dirt tracks.
Getting there: The access track branches off the main road from Patong to Karon. It’s a potholed dirt road which heads into the jungle and winds its way around the first large hill south of Patong. The 1.5 km track to the parking area is actually marked on Google Maps. The first few hundred meters pass through a ramshackle village before Jungle Trail snaking around the left side of a hill and eventually ending at the top of the hiking track down Freedom Beach.
Note: There are two trails down to Freedom Beach. The northern trail is controlled by local landowners and, as such, they charge an entry fee of 200 THB to go down to the beach. Click here for the access trail.
North Karon Beach
Karon Beach is not really “off the beaten track” but as far as Phuket’s mainstream beaches go, the northern end sees significantly less visitors than most others. Click here for directions.
Getting There: Follow the coastal road south, from Patong. Approximately 200 meters before the Karon roundabout there’s T-Junction. A left turn takes you to the roundabout, a right turn takes you through an entrance to the beach area. Take that and work your way past the artificial lake and restaurants on the right. The cement road eventually gives way to a sand track, which continues for another 200 meters. The line of restaurants on the right finishes towards the end of the sand track. For beachgoers an ideal time to visit the northern end of Karon Beach is either first thing in the morning, before the crowds begin to gather, or late in the afternoon to catch the brilliant sunsets.
Lek Seafood Restaurant: The very last restaurant is owned and operated by a Phuket local called “Tony” and the Thai food and seafood served there is excellent (big portions for a reasonable price). The restaurant is an outdoor setting with an unobscured view across the beach and ocean beyond. Lek Seafood Restaurant is a great place to have a cold beer or two while the sun sinks spectacularly over the Andaman Sea.
Tri Trang Beach
Tri Trang Beach or, more precisely, the cliff line above the beach’s western end is a great spot for a late afternoon drink while looking out over Patong Bay. Unfortunately it’s not a great position for a sunset view as the cliff line faces east. However for a quiet, uncrowded spot for a drink at the end of the day it’s certainly one of the best in the area. Click here for directions.
Sunset drinks: If you arrive there at around 4 PM you can park up and do the walk along Tri Trang Beach, have a swim and then head back up the hill for a well-earned thirst quencher. As the sun sinks behind you the skies darken and the twinkling, bright lights of Patong Beach make for a nice setting as you look out across the Bay. The bars also double as restaurants and serve a nice selection of Thai cuisine. At the right time of year – the high season (December – March) – the calm seas in the bay often have passenger liners anchored directly in line with Tri Trang Beach.
Note: Although Tri Trang Beach is a nice uncrowded location for a meal and a drink in the early evening, it’s a bit of a hassle to get there as access involves a drive through the congested streets of Patong. To get there you’ll need to go along Patong Beach 2nd Road (Song Roi Pee Road) then turn right at the southern end and take the road to the beach. When you get to the roundabout, turn left and follow the road around the coastal route until you arrive at Tri Trang beach.
Nui Beach
As far as Phuket Beaches go Nui Bay (and beach) is quite possibly the best kept secret on the island. It’s located on the south western tip of Phuket Island in an area known as Cape Krating. With its steep hillsides and rough dirt tracks the bay is difficult to access. It’s predominantly because of the difficulty in getting there the beach remains relatively uncrowded, even in the height of peak season. Click here for directions.
Getting there: The locals who operate the beachside restaurants have put in a lot of effort to get sightseers to this pristine beach. They offer transportation all the way to the beach, from the turn off from the main road. Even so, it’s still a bit of an undertaking getting to the beach taxi departure point. Because of the distance from the main accommodation areas on the island, the only cost effective way of getting there is on a rented motorbike. The price of a local taxi from Patong would be prohibitive.
Access Track: The access track into Cape Krating is approximately 200 meters south of a well know landmark on the western coast; Karon Viewpoint. Approximately 300 meters in from the turn-off is the beach taxi service down to Nui Beach. You can park your motorbike there, in safety, and take the 4 x 4 taxi. The road from that point is rough with bumps and pot-holes. If you’re confident with your riding skills, then continue along this access road to the parking area at the top of the steep 1 km track down to Nui Beach.
Phuket Sightseeing & Trails
Black Rock Viewpoint is without doubt, the best high vantage view point on Phuket Island. What is rather ironic is that it looks out over the islands most famous sunset viewing location, Cape Prom Thep. As hundreds gather almost daily to watch the sun sinking on the western horizon they’re blissfully unaware of a much better viewing location, with very few sightseers, on a hill high above them. This is because Cape Prom Thep is a mainstream tourist destination which is set up to cater for hordes of visitors each day and the tour companies have no knowledge of alternative locations.
Getting There: This is actually not too difficult if you have no problems with a ride over 2 km of dirt road and a 300 meter hike through the jungle. The location is approximately 500 meters further on from the trail down to Nui Beach. From the Nui Beach parking area you’ll see a dirt road branching off to the left and up the hill. Take that and follow it until you come to the 2nd fork in the road. Go right at this point and continue on for another 400 meters. You will eventually come to a large rock with the Thai words “PA HIN DUM” painted on it, and an arrow pointing directly across the road to where the hiking trail starts. Park your bike/vehicle here and take the trail to the viewpoint. The view when you get there is quite spectacular. Click here for directions.
The Dragon Cape Trail
Dragon Cape: This hike is probably one of the little known gems in Phuket and is located on Laem (Cape) Krating; one of the least developed and least populated pieces of real estate on Phuket Island. It’s most well-known attractions are Nui Beach and Black Rock Viewpoint (Pa Hin Dum). Beyond Black Rock Viewpoint is a little known hiking trail which goes around the Dragon Cape and eventually to Nui Beach. The total distance is probably 3 km or so and on the way there’s a couple of excellent viewpoints at the end of short branching Trails.
Doing the hike: To do this hike it’s recommended you leave your motorbikes at the Nui Beach parking area and hike the short distance uphill to Black Rock Viewpoint. This location is marked by a large rock with the words PA HIN DUM written on it. The trail up to Black Rock Viewpoint is directly opposite. Approximately 200 meters beyond this location is another viewpoint (down a short trail on the right) which provides an excellent vista along the western coastline. A few meters beyond this branching trail is the start of the track to the DRAGON CAPE.
I have much more info on The Dragon Cape Trail in my full Phuket interactive PDF guide, you can download it here:
Download my Phuket PDF Travel Guide
Karon Hill Jungle Trail
Big Buddha Hill: The large white Buddha statue which sits atop Karon Hill is quite possibly one of the most popular tourist sites on Phuket Island. The statue is visible from a few kilometers away and seems to be a magnet for people wanting to snap some nice sightseeing selfies. The large platform which circles the statue also provides a vantage point for spectacular views to the east and west of the island. Access to the statue is by-way of a sealed road which winds its way up the hill from the eastern side (Phuket Town side).
Challenging Hike: For those who want a bit more of a challenge getting to the top, there’s a jungle track up the western side of the hill. It starts at the end of Soi 12, Karon, and will definitely have you breathing hard by the time you top out on the road; some 400 meters short of the statue. The start of the trail is a bit hard to locate as its a few hundred meters off the main road. To get there you will need to find Soi 12 then follow that almost to the end. There’s some signage which will point you to the start of the hiking track (the immediate area is surrounded by a rubber plantation). The 1 km trail is quite arduous in places and has fixed ropes to assist on the steeper sections. A reasonable pace will see you arrive on the hill top road in about 45 minutes. Once you hit the road, turn right and walk approximately 200 meters until you arrive at the Star Mountain Sunset café for a well-earned banana shake. Click here for directions to the start of the trail.
Monkey Hill Jungle Trails
Monkey Hill: This is another location popular with Phuket residents for getting their daily rounds of late afternoon exercise. The 300 meter high peak is located near Phuket Town and is distinguished by the array of TV station transmission towers protruding from the top. To get there you’ll need to get onto Damrong Road and turn left at the intersection of Soi To Chae.
The Normal Route: There is a parking area at the bottom of the hill which gets quite crowded with locals around 5 PM each afternoon. The main attraction of the place is the view point at the top of the hill, and the large number of monkey’s which hang around waiting for hand outs from the locals and visiting tourists. The hike to the top is by-way of the 1.9 km sealed road which has a reasonably gentle incline. Most hill walkers are able to get to the viewpoint in about 30 minutes.
The Jungle Hike: For those wanting a more challenging climb to the top, there’s a hiking trail which snakes its way through 2 km of jungle before emerging at the TV transmission towers, at the very top of the peak. Some sections of the jungle trail are quite arduous. On the steeper stretches there are fixed ropes in place to assist with ascents and descents. There is actually 3 different routes which, depending on your fitness level and upper body strength, can be quite challenging.
I have much more info on The Monkey Hill Jungle Trails in my full Phuket interactive PDF guide, you can download it here:
Download my Phuket PDF Travel Guide
Phi Phi Islands
The Phi Phi Islands: Located approximately 48 km from Phuket Island, the Phi Phi Islands are visually stunning. The island group, in the Southern Andaman Sea, attracts large numbers of sightseers wanting swim, snorkel and scuba dive in the surrounding crystal clear waters.
Tsunami: In 2004 the islands were hit by the full force of a Tsunami, which devastated the accommodation and habitation area. . Nearly twenty years on, the island group has made a full recovery and now offers a wide range of accommodation, restaurant and touring options to cater to the large numbers of visitors. With this in mind it’s difficult to understand where to go to avoid the endless tour groups. This section will offer helpful hints on getting to Phi Phi Islands, as an independent traveler, and where to find the less crowded spots.
Getting There: To do an independent day tour to Phi Phi Islands (one which doesn’t lump you into a tour boat with a group once you arrive there) just tell the tour/booking agent you want the round trip ferry fare only. This type of fare can be booked at any road side or hotel tour desk on Phuket Island. The fare includes the round trip ferry ride as well as minibus transportation from your hotel and back at the end of the day.
Note: If you’re planning to stay overnight in Phi Phi, just book a one way ticket as your plans may change once you get out there. The dry season (November – April) is the best for water based activities at Phi Phi Islands.
I have much more info on the Phi Phi Islands including Tonsai Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Wang Long Bay and much more in my full Phuket interactive PDF guide, you can download it here:
