One More Day in
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The days out are the point of being here. Here is what actually runs, and then how to get to it.
What there is to do
Phuket is the jumping-off point for most of the Andaman coast, and the boats go from three different piers depending on where you are headed. These are the days out that people come back talking about — on the island itself and off it.
Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and the limestone stacks. The most photographed water in Thailand and the longest crossing, which is why leaving early matters more here than anywhere else.
Karsts rising straight out of flat green water, sea caves you go into by canoe, and the island the Bond film used. Calmer than the Phi Phi run and, for a lot of people, the better day.
From Bang Rong on the east coast. Quieter than Phi Phi by a distance, and the closest thing to what Phuket felt like before Phuket.
Across the bay to the mainland cliffs. Railay has no road in at all, which is why it still feels the way it does.
The closest islands to Phuket and the easiest day out on this list. Best snorkelling within reach without committing to a long crossing.
Forty-five metres of white marble on a ridge with one of the best views on the island, and the island’s most important temple down the hill. Both need shoulders and knees covered; sarongs at the entrance.
The Big Buddha reopened in 2026 under conditions that can be suspended, so check it is open before you go up.
The last patch of proper rainforest on Phuket, with a walking trail between two waterfalls and the gibbon rehabilitation project at the Bang Pae end.
The gibbon project is booking-only and closes on days with no bookings. Turning up unannounced means a locked gate.
The other half of the island and the half most people never see. Shophouses, street art, the markets and the best cheap eating anywhere here.
Getting around
Almost nobody does, and the island is not really set up for it. What Phuket has instead is one bus route, a lot of Grabs and three ferry piers — and once you know that, it is straightforward.
The west side · airport → Mai Khao → Bang Tao → Surin → Kamala → Patong → Karon → Kata → Nai Harn. Nearly every beach on the island sits on this one road running north to south. End to end is about an hour and a half with no traffic, and there is usually traffic.
Across to the east side · Patong over the hill to Phuket Old Town, then down to Chalong for the pier. This is the half of the island most people never see — shophouses, markets and the best cheap eating anywhere here. About half an hour from Patong when the road is clear.
The two places that eat your afternoon are Patong Hill and the Chalong roundabout, and both are worst between four and seven. If your day crosses either of them, do it early.
Rassada Pier for Phi Phi, Krabi and Koh Lanta. Bang Rong for Koh Yao. Chalong for most of the southern island trips. Scheduled ferries cost a fraction of a booked tour and you set your own pace at the other end.
Most people book through 12Go, which resells rather than operates. Check which pier your ticket is actually for — Phuket has eight — and note the voucher is often not the boarding pass.
One air-conditioned route runs the whole west coast — airport, Nai Yang, Bang Tao, Surin, Kamala, Patong, Karon, Kata, Nai Harn, Rawai. It is the only thing connecting the beaches to each other and hardly anyone mentions it.
Published timetables disagree with each other. Check on the day rather than trusting a guide — including this one.
Grab is legal and licensed here and has its own pickup point at the airport. Song thaews run in and out of Phuket Town rather than between beaches, and stop around six. Tuk-tuks are the most expensive option on the island by some distance.
A driver who tells you your destination is closed today is steering you to a shop that pays him commission.
You legally need an International Driving Permit covering motorcycles — category A. A car-only permit does not count and is treated as no licence at all.
Insurance routinely voids cover for riding without the right licence, which can leave you liable for Thai hospital bills and repatriation. Never leave your passport as a deposit.
Because there is so little transport between the beaches, Phuket rewards picking one base and doing days out from it rather than moving every couple of nights. Your itinerary works out which days make sense from where you are actually staying.
How the island works once you are here.
No, and almost nobody does. One air-conditioned bus route runs the length of the west coast, song thaews run in and out of Phuket Town until about six, and Grab is legal and licensed on the island.
The Smart Bus runs the west coast from the airport down to Rawai and takes card, cash or QR. Beyond that it is Grab, or a tuk-tuk with the fare agreed before you get in. There is very little beach-to-beach public transport, which is why it is worth basing yourself in one place.
Only if you already ride and hold a category A permit. Helmets for both of you, and expect a cash deposit rather than a card.
Rassada for Phi Phi, Krabi and Koh Lanta. Bang Rong for Koh Yao. Chalong for most of the southern island trips. Scheduled ferries cost a fraction of a booked tour and you set your own pace at the other end.
The Big Buddha and Wat Chalong, free or a donation, best at nine in the morning or after four. Khao Phra Thaeo is the last patch of rainforest with a walk between two waterfalls. And the Old Town, which is free to walk and has a free shuttle round the quarter.
