Phuket: A Five Day Itinerary
PHUKET, THAILAND
Phuket is a beautiful place to be in January. It’s warm and sunny, the people are friendly, the food is great, and there’s plenty to do and see. Even though there are enough things to see in Phuket to pack a five day itinerary, don’t forget to leave time for one of the most important activities – relaxing.
But first, let’s talk details
There are a few important things to decide before planning an itinerary, the first being your budget. One of the things that amazed me about Thailand was the price range of options for food, lodging, and activities. Everything is on the table, from dirt cheap hostels to hotel rooms that cost thousands of dollars a night. While you can spend a fortune, you won’t have to break the bank to travel comfortably. $50 to $100 per night will get you a nice hotel and $20 a good dinner and drinks.
Next, decide where you will stay. This depends on the type of trip you are looking for. If you want to party hard, Patong is probably the place for you. If you want privacy and luxury, look into Surin Beach. This post has a good summary of the different areas to stay.
Lastly, decide how you will get around. Cabs and tuk tuks are overpriced in Phuket but if you are traveling with a group, they could be economical when split. Renting a car provides the most flexibility but driving in Thailand can be a little stressful. We decided to rent a car and the cost of the car ended up being less than what we would have spent on cabs. Do some math to see what makes sense for you.
- Renting a Car in Phuket
- When deciding whether to rent a car, consider how much to plan to move around the island. Getting around Phuket by cab or tuk tuk can be expensive. A ride from the airport to Karon is 1500 baht. A trip from Karon to Phuket Town will cost you around 700 baht. Local trips between Karon and Kata or Patong will be around 400 baht. A rental ended up being the right choice for us. The cost of the car was less than we would have paid for cabs and it allowed us the freedom to drive around in search of a more secluded beach.
- If you are traveling during peak season (November-February) and plan to rent a car, make sure you book ahead. We met a couple who had planned to rent a car when they arrived but were unable to find one.
- To navigate our way around the island we used an offline maps app. Many people will recommend buying a temporary SIM card, but we didn’t find that necessary. Virtually every business offers wifi so you can look up a destination or directions there and use an offline map to navigate. I used MAPS.ME and had good luck with it.
Day One
Arrive, Relax, Explore
We spent the first day settling in. We arrived from Bangkok midday and picked up our rental car. After we dropped our things at the hotel in Karon, we took off on foot to explore the area. We went to the beach for a while then walked through the small town, stopping in small shops along the way.
Day Two
Morning Cooking Class
Take a cooking class! I probably sound like a broken record when giving this travel advice to family and friends but I cannot overstate how much I’ve gotten out of cooking classes while traveling. They are a fun and delicious way to learn about local cuisine and culture.
We did our cooking class at The Blue Elephant, a restaurant and cooking school housed in a beautiful old Sino-Portuguese mansion. Our instructor, Chef Molly, greeted us at the door and offered us a place to sit and some refreshing floral tea while we waited for class to start. The first portion of the class was a market tour. I highly recommend finding a class that offers this, we learned a lot about local produce and ingredients on the tour.
Back at the mansion, we got to work on the four dishes we would cook. Chef Molly would demonstrate a dish then we would prepare it at our individual stations. After everything was done, we gathered at a table on the patio to enjoy the fruits of our labor. This was one of the best meal I had in Thailand.
Before frying. 
After frying.
The end result of our cooking class at Blue Elephant
Take the afternoon off
After cooking all morning then overeating, we were tired. We headed back to the hotel to lounge at the pool, but first, we had to book day trips. If you plan to do any excursions, you can wait to book until you’re there. Even during peak season, we had no trouble arranging a trip only one day in advance.
Shop around when booking day trips. The streets near our hotel were full of small travel agencies that work with the tour companies to get people signed up for trips. Also have an idea in mind of what you’re looking for in a trip. There is a range of options from relaxing cruises to all day parties with unlimited drinks.
After booking our trips it was time to relax at the pool. The beaches in Phuket are wonderful but sometimes, it’s just so much more convenient to walk down to the pool. Most hotels in Phuket will have a nice pool, but double check before booking.
Day Three
Phi Phi Island Day Trip
Our first of the two day trips that we booked on day two was Phi Phi Island. The company we went with was called SeaStar. They did a great job but, to be honest, most of the companies seemed very similar. There are so many different day trips that you can take from Phuket, read about Phi Phi Island here to see if it’s the one for you.
When we returned from the trip we were exhausted from swimming and just being in the sun all day. We mustered the energy to go out for dinner and couple beers that night, but I wouldn’t plan on much more than that.
Bamboo Island 
Pileh Lagoon
Day Four
Morning Trip to Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Elephants are majestic animals that so many people want to interact with while in Thailand. Many people look at elephants and assume, because of their size and strength, that riding an elephant is not harmful to the animal. Do not fall into this trap. Any activity that involves forced interaction with a wild animal, such as riding or swimming with elephants, should be avoided (I explain why here). Research any animal based activity before signing up. Just because a place has “sanctuary” or “rescue” in the name, does not mean it is ethical.
The best way to ethically see elephants in Phuket is at the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. This organization rescues old or injured elephants from the tourism industry and gives them a place to live out their years free from abuse. Visiting the sanctuary is a fun, rewarding experience and it supports a good cause.
I wrote more extensively about my visit to the sanctuary here. If you’re still considering riding an elephant (or taking a picture petting a tiger or holding a monkey), please read my post first. And don’t just take my word. There are plenty of articles about unethical animal tourism and how to avoid it.
Madee and Kannika 
Find Your New Favorite Beach
We set off from the elephant sanctuary in search of a more secluded beach. The beaches of Karon and Kata are nice, but they are always crowded. Someone had recommended Bang Tao Beach so we drove in that general direction until we ended up at Layan Beach Restaurant. We rented a couple lounge chair and relaxed until the sun started to set.
If you’re looking for something secluded and luxurious, there are plenty of high end beach clubs in Phuket. Most have an entrance fee or a minimum food and drink spend that can be quite high. But if you want to feel like a celebrity for an afternoon, a fancy beach club is the way to go.
Bang Tao Beach
Day Five
James Bond Island Day Trip
On our final full day in Phuket we went on a sunrise trip to see James Bond Island and some other attractions in Phang Nga Bay. The sunrise trip was definitely worth getting up early. It was less crowded and the sunrise over the ocean was beautiful. Read more about the trip here.
Sunrise en route to Koh Panak 
Koh Ta Pu, better known as James Bond Island
Another perk of the sunrise trip was that it finished earlier than a regular trip. This gives you time to get back to the hotel, shower, and even take a nap before any evening activities. Use this to hit up the bars in Patong one last time or to go out for a nice dinner in Phuket Town to savor your last night on the island.
Restaurant Recommendations
Blue Elephant: Located in a beautiful old mansion in Phuket Town, this restaurant serves delicious, upscale Thai food. It is expensive for Thailand but would make for a lovely date night dinner.
Mama Jin: Quick, casual, and inexpensive – just what you need after a long day at the beach.
Pinto Karon: A small, cozy restaurant with a wonderful patio.