Top Things to do in Phuket
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The 10 Best Nature & Parks in Phuket, Thailand
Thailand’s largest island is an international magnet for beach lovers and serious divers, who enthusiastically submerge themselves in the Andaman Sea. Blue lagoons and salmon sunsets make for a dream-like atmosphere, and indeed, a vacation here can feel a bit surreal. Watersports are the most popular activities, though once you’ve had enough sun there’s still plenty to explore at the island’s aquariums, gardens, and Buddhist temples.
Restaurants in Phuket
1. Soi Dog Foundation
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,283 reviews
Soi Dog Foundation is S.E. Asia’s largest rescue organisation for vulnerable street dogs and stray cats. For 16 years, supported by generous donations and global volunteers, SDF has worked tirelessly to reduce animal suffering through CNVR (Catch; Neuter; Vaccinate; Return) programmes. For animals unable to be returned safely to the streets, SDF provides sanctuary, as well as local and international adoption services. Rather than a “pound”, SDF is a haven where sick and vulnerable dogs and cats receive world-class medical care, and love. SDF is working in several countries to help end the inhumane and barbaric dog meat trade. SDF is also committed to environmental sustainability and has several ongoing green initiatives. Please feel free to enquire during your tour. Guided tours available Monday-Friday at 10:00am and 13:30pm. Following the 40-minute tour, visitors are encouraged to socialise with our lovely cats and dogs.
Reviewed By timtA6918AZ - Salisbury, United Kingdom
Simply an amazing and rewarding experience - we gave five days of our time volunteering, which primarily involved walking the dogs and then hours of playful interaction. We were so sad to leave at the end, but recommend it to the many travellers who pass through Thailand.
2. Green Elephant Sanctuary Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,464 reviews
In the Elephant Sanctuary Park you can experience elephants in the most natural way. In their natural environment, where they are free and simply wonderful! It is important to us that you can experience the daily life of the animals. And that you can approach them when feeding or bathing. Briefly: it is a wonderful experience that you will remember for a long time. How much do you want to bet?
Reviewed By BridgitM9 - Singapore, Singapore
It was an AMAZING EXPERIENCE!! Highly recommended to all who want to see how they look after the elephants and they are all such gentle magnificent animals ????????????????????????????????The hosts and people are wonderful!❤️
3. Nai Harn Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,372 reviews
Reviewed By ozpepper2018 - Australian Capital Territory, Australia
This was our first visit to Phuket and The Nai Harn resort was highly recommended by our travel agent, Flight centre. We had a lovely & fantastic experience, the staff was very courteous and always willing to help and amazingly knew our names every time they met us. The facilities are excellent and location of resort is out of the world, right on the beach which is neat with nice waves and clear water. The buffet breakfast had plenty of choices and fabulous food quality. They even extended our stay for couple of hours to accomodate our flight. I will highly recommend this to anyone visiting Phuket. I really five star memorable experience.
4. Gibbon Rehabilitation Project
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,128 reviews
We're a unique animal welfare and conservation project working to rehabilitate unwanted or confiscated gibbons from the pet trade and tourist industry. Come visitor our centre at Bang Pae waterfall and learn about the fascinating lives of gibbons and how you can help these highly endangered animals! Open 9am - 4.30pm (except Thursday, 9am - 3pm) our centre is free of charge however entrance to the national park area where we are located is 200 Baht per adult. For information about volunteer opportunites visit our website. Please note: GRP is an active conservation project and the majority of our animals are part of an ongoing reintroduction program. A select number of gibbons can be seen from our public viewing area but visitors are not able to feed them or otherwise interact with them.
Reviewed By hansgruber420 - Sydney, Australia
This project is an incredibly worthwhile place to visit to support a magnificent cause. The project works with local authorities to rescue captive gibbons, typically stolen from the wild as young for the illegal pet trade, with the poachers killing their family groups in the process. Once in the projects care, the gibbons healed and rehabilitated before their eventual re-release into the wild. So far, this project has returned about 50 gibbons to the wild, and seen many of them give birth to young in the wild. Animals under stress or in inadequate conditions rarely mate and give birth successfully, so this is a sign of this project's success in providing incredible care for these animals. I visited for the first time as a kid in the mid-2000s and remember that visit fondly. Returning for a second time over a decade later, it is great to see that the work has continued so successfully to repopulate Thailand's rainforests. It is important to note that this is not a zoo, it is something better. The focus is not on you getting close with the gibbons, rather those are the conditions that they are fighting against. The gibbons in rehabilitation receive minimal human contact, both from their carers and visitors. The ones that you are able to see are those that are unable to be released, including severely disabled and non-native individuals. There is a strong focus on education and promoting ethical tourism. Visiting this noble cause is free, excluding the low park-entry fee, and well worth your time. The project does not receive funding from the national parks or any portion of the park's entry fee. It relies instead on the generosity of our donations, sponsorships, purchases at the gift shop, and support from volunteers. With that in mind, I would discourage people from visiting completely for free because I am confident that visiting would convince you it is deserving of a donation. I would strongly recommend visiting for anyone headed to Phuket.
5. Bang Tao Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 924 reviews
Reviewed By Julie3333333 - Leeds, United Kingdom
This is a great beach if you like a nice walk on clean sand with the option of dipping in and out of the beautiful clear sea every so often. There are plenty of restaurants dotted about for refreshments if needed.
6. Koh Yao Yai
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 232 reviews
Reviewed By SumithD_13 - Ernakulam, India
This is the island we spend about an hour. Shallow water and white sand. You can walk around quite a bit. Nice place to run around.
7. Freedom Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,658 reviews
Reviewed By LoveNatureTraveller
Fantastic warm, clean water, one small cafe on beach, take tuk tuk instead long boat ( tuk tuk from Karon Beach to Freedom costs 400 baht, and long boat from Patong charge 1000 baht, although trip is very short. If you arrive by car/tuk tuk/motorbike, you have to walk down/up the stairs - some good, some broken, but manageable - average fitness required, down takes 20 minutes to walk, up - 25-30 mins to walk. Clean beach. Jewel in the midst of civilization. Definitely recommended!!!
8. Mai Khao Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 495 reviews
Reviewed By arkadyl77 - El Salvador, null
Quite empty beautiful beach. Great place to see planes landing right over your head. Many people come there just for that. Quite an attraction.
9. Kata Noi Beach
10. Yanui Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 571 reviews
Reviewed By mitchp155 - Saint-Tropez, France
Beautiful beach and when I go back to Phuket I hope its not full of tourists. The water is clear and with a mask and snorkel you can watch the fish. Its not a place to party but its a nice quiet spot to get away from the hordes of people at Patong. I would have liked to say something bad about the place so no one goes there but I can't.
