4-Day Phuket Itinerary including Phi Phi Islands

Explore Phuket, the pearl of South Thailand through this 4-day itinerary

Magnificent long white beaches, crystal blue water, stunning undersea scenery, sensational parties, and the overall tropical atmosphere of Phuket entices many people to visit for their island holiday. Renting a car is the best way to explore the island, and we’ve shared a Phuket transport and rental guide here.  

Some of the main sights visited included Nai Yang Beach (nearby the airport), Old Phuket Town, Big Buddha, night strolls in Patong and Bangla road. Karon and Nai Harn beaches were a delight, but Karon and Windmill viewpoints were even more captivating! Not to mention the stunning sunset at Promthep cape. Phi Phi Islands tour was incredible, gifting us the most memorable time in Phuket!

Explore our suggested 4-day itinerary to help you plan your travel to Phuket!

🚀 Day 1: Arrive in Phuket, Rent a Car, Lunch and Sunset at Nai Yang or Mai Khao

Upon arrival at Phuket International Airport, the first thing you’ll have to do is pick up a SIM card. You’ll find plenty of options at your disposal such as AIS, DTAC, and TRUEMOVE H. Depending on the length of your stay, choose the tourist sim package that fits your need. 

If you’ve pre-booked your car, some companies offer a free SIM which you can collect from the rental counter at the airport along with your car.

Once you’ve settled in the car, head to Nai Yang beach or Mai Khao Beach, both of which are only a 10-minute drive from the airport. You’ll find plenty of restaurants, supermarkets, food and fruit stalls, and Thai massage shops in the vicinity. The beaches are of a super long stretch, so they make for a perfect place to swim, have an evening stroll while watching planes take off in the sky, and immerse in the beauty of the sun setting on the horizon.

Sirinath National Park is what encompasses the two above mentioned beaches as well as Nai Thon and is a lovely place for camping or a picnic. The entrance ticket prices are THB 200 (USD 6) for adult foreigners, THB 100 (USD 3) for child foreigners, THB 40 (USD 1.25) for local adults, and THB 20 (USD 0.60) for local children. So if you prefer the forests, trees, swamps, plants and animals over the beaches, then this park is for you!

After sunset, drive down south for an hour and reach Patong, the most happening part of Phuket. It constitutes of umpteen hotels and resorts, numerous eateries catering a wide variety of cuisines (local street foods, fancy beach side restaurants, dessert parlours), entertainment and shopping complexes, and night clubs.

🚀 Day 2: Wat Chalong, Shopping at Old Phuket Town, Big Buddha, Bangla Road

Head to Wat Chalong, the largest and most visited Buddhist temple in Phuket. Locals and many tourists come here to pray and pay respects to the monks. The temple’s architecture is intricately beautiful, and a relic which is a fragment of a bone of the Buddha can be found here.

Note: The Wat Chalong is open every day from 7am to 5pm. Entry to the temple is free. Dress code wise you’re expected to be well-covered (avoid tank tops and shorts, or carry a sarong and a scarf with you).

Next, head to Old Phuket town, a historic area of the city where you can witness a wave of Sino-Portugese culture. This part of town is teeming with a wide range of sights and shopping activities. You’ll find shrines, temples, colourful souvenir and clothing shops, quaint little cafés and restaurants, museums, and a tourist information center. This complex is also a great place to exchange money!

Following that, head to the Big Buddha which is one of the most prominent landmarks on the island. The 45-meter giant white marble statue of the Buddha is situated on one of the Nakkerd Hills offering impressive 360-degree views of the island. The locality is undergoing construction at the moment, but you’ll be distracted by the vistas, Buddha statues, monks chanting, and thousands of gold coloured metal leaves. It’s a sweet delight to read the little wishes people have written on the golden leaves which can be purchased for THB 100 (USD 3) and serves as donation for the temple. Marble tiles are also available for THB 100 (USD 3) for the same purpose.

Note: The Big Buddha is open every day from 6am to 7pm. Entry to the Big Buddha is free. Dress code wise you’re expected to be well-covered; but fret not if you’ve landed up in your shorts and tanks because scarfs and sarongs are available on site to borrow in return for a little donation amount.

Drive back to Patong and catch the sunset at Patong Beach. Afterwards, head for dinner at one of the many restaurants located on the opposite side.

Bangla road is also great for a night stroll afterwards to indulge in some shopping or to party at one of the neon-lit bars dispersed in and around the area.

🚀 Day 3: Hop around Beaches and Viewpoints

Freedom Beach and Laem Ka Beach are hidden gems of Phuket promising clean sands and clear sparkling aqua blue waters. However, Freedom beach is not easily accessible by car as it’s located off the beaten path with only two stretches of rutted dirt road at your disposal. There’s a 30-minute hike to complete down the mountain through steep steps before reaching the beach. Entrance fee costs THB 200 (USD 6) because the place is privately owned. Laem Ka beach is also a private beach offering stunning views of offshore islands, but is currently closed for the public.

As much as the idea of isolated and less crowded beaches appeals to many people, there are plenty of other beaches more easily accessible with stunning viewpoints dotted in-between.

Start your morning looking for the bright sun and clear sea at Karon Beach, the second largest beach in Phuket. Hotel complexes and restaurants line the street on the opposite side of the beach.

Then head to Karon Viewpoint and be gifted with picturesque views of the vast sea and three beaches – Kata Noi, Kata, and Karon.

In the afternoon, head for a resort spa or Thai massage in Kata, and indulge in some relaxation while staying away from the scorching sun.

Then drive down south to Nai Harn Beach, which is a great place for a swim specially during November to April when the currents aren’t so strong. It is surrounded by jungle shrouded mountains, and the cluster of rocks on the left side against the elevation beautifully add to the aesthetics of the beach.

Windmill Viewpoint comes next and is located between Ya Nui and Nai Harn beaches. Living up to its name, the viewpoint has several slim white windmills facing out to sea, and the views looking down on Ya Nui Beach with Phromthep Cape far in the distance are colour-poppingly spectacular!

Promthep Cape is the island’s most irresistible location. Also known as God’s Cape or Laem Phra Chao, it is on the southernmost point of Phuket and is a special place offering breathtaking panoramic sunset views that you’ll cherish for a long time! Try to reach there by 5:30pm so you’ll have plenty of time to find a good spot to view nature’s epic show.

🚀 Day 4: Phi Phi Island Tour

The emerald waters of the Andaman Sea, white-sand beaches, majestic limestone cliffs with striking foliage, and colourful marine life under turquoise waters all call your name when in Phuket. Pick a Phi Phi Island tour package from one of the numerous tour shops in Patong.

We managed to get a deal for THB 900 (USD 27) per pax and the tour constituted of the following itinerary:

• 8:45am: Hotel pick up from Patong, transfer to the pier (complimentary coffee/tea and biscuits were provided in the morning while waiting for other clients to arrive before briefing of the tour started)
• 11:00am: Departure on speed boat to Phi Phi Lae for sightseeing at Maya Bay, Loh Samah Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave
• 1:00pm: Hangout at Monkey Beach where you can encounter monkeys hopping around on the beach
• 1:30pm: Free lunch at Yao Island
• 3:00pm: Swimming and snorkeling in the stunning turquoise blue Phi Phi waters
• 4:00pm: Hangout at Khai Nai Island
• 5:00pm: Return to pier to be transported back to hotel

The tour provided mask, snorkel, and life jacket for snorkeling, but we had to either rent snorkeling fins for THB 100 (USD 3) or buy water shoes for THB 350 (USD 11) because they warned us about the dangerous sea urchins we might come in contact with while snorkeling. So look into bringing your own water shoes and you won’t have to cough up so much money while on tour.

Currently, Maya Bay on Phi Phi Island is shut between June – September for recovery from environmental destruction due to mass tourism that has caused beaches to become polluted and significant bleaching of coral reefs. Similan Islands tour is a fantastic alternative if you’re in Thailand between October – May. Otherwise tours of Khao Lak, James Bond, Coral, Raya, Ko Samui, Ko Lipe, and Ko Lanta Yai are also available, and they are impressively stunning in their respective ways.

Visa Information

Thailand offers Visa On Arrival (VOA) for a stay period of maximum 15 days for THB 2000 (USD 60), with an express VOA option for an additional THB 200 (USD 6). In order to be eligible for a VOA, you will need to provide the following documents:

• Passport with at least 6 months validity containing blank pages for visa stamping
• Filled VOA form with a recent photograph attached
• Confirmed return tickets within 15 dates from date of entry
• Proof of accommodation
• Proof of sufficient funds to support the travel [THB 10,000 (USD 300) for individuals, THB 20,000 (USD 600) for family)

If you don’t fancy queuing up and sorting the VOA formalities at the airport, consider applying for a tourist visa beforehand at The Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate in your city. This option is a cheaper alternative and costs only THB 1300 (USD 39). Simply fill the application form, provide passport and recent photographs, bank statement of the past 6 months to show proof of sufficient funds, accommodation proof, flight tickets, and you’re good to go! If you’re going as a family, make sure you provide relevant marriage and birth certificates to clearly identify the relation of the travellers with the sponsor. Document requirements vary from country to country, so do check your local Thai embassy/consulate’s website before applying.

Have a phenomenal time in Phuket, a holiday you’ll cherish for a long time! Don’t forget to leave the place better than you visited because the islands are too gorgeous to be destroyed by human negligence 😊

Happy Travels 🌴🌊🏖️

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