Tours and activities in and around Phuket

If you're bored with the beach you could hire a jeep and explore the island. Rental companies are easy to find, just ask at your hotel reception, or in the shopping area. You won't really need to hire a car if you stay at Kamala Beach as everything is within easy walking distance, but it's a great way to discover the rest of the island...

If you want to explore the islands or go to the mainland you could take a local tour. Kamala has several tour agencies which offer excursions to offshore islands like Phi Phi or to the evocative scenery of Phang Nga. Full day tours include lunch and transfers as well as transport and guides.

If you prefer smaller groups and something a little different, you could take a PADI certificated dive course and learn to scuba dive, go fishing, cruise the islands by speedboat, or have a round of golf at some of Phuket's excellent courses.

For some great deals check our website at Phuket Tour Guide. for eco-tours which include canoeing, or elephant trekking if you want more then simply sightseeing.

Sea Kayaking - Phang Nga

Phang Nga is a fascinating area with fantastic limestone scenery containing huge caves, interior lagoons and hundreds of small islands soaring out of the sea. In the interior of many islands, are collapsed cave systems known locally as "hongs" or "rooms." These magical "hongs" open to the sky, have their own unique eco-system, and can only be accessed via tunnels and caves at low tide in a sea canoe.

Local operators have so far gained access to dozens of hongs between Phang Nga and Krabi to the south. The various hongs each have their own distinct character, and it's easy to spend days, even a week, visiting island after island, paddling around the caves and exploring. Limited numbers of people are taken out at a given time; and guides accompany every boat, not just to lead the way and to provide commentary, but also to advise on ways to conserve these precious natural resources. Take a full day trip, or go late afternoon and see some of the caves by starlight - either way, it's a wonderful experience.

For those who like their sunshine, December to March is recommended. See our Special Phuket Kayak Trips

Scuba Diving & Snorkeling

Kamala has a number of dive centres where you can book day trips to outer reefs, introductory dive courses or longer range live-aboard cruises to world class dive sites like the Similans. If you want to learn to dive, PADI- and/or NAUI certificated dive courses are available. If you sign up for any course or expedition, be sure to check the equipment, and staff credentials. Another point to check is if the company is a member of Divesafe Asia, and therefore eligible to use Phuket's new hyperbaric centre and decompression chamber.

A number of first-rate Dive Shops offer affordable scuba accreditation all the way from absolute beginner up to master instructor. What better souvenir to take home than a PADI Open Water certificate as a scuba diver, or, if you're already qualified, accreditation from a specialty course such as Natural History. See our selection of diving daytrips and liveaboards cruises with special discounts!

If you prefer just to snorkel, most of the dive companies will take snorkelers along, or you can rent a local boat off the beach and go snorkeling along the coast where there are a couple of reefs close to the headland.

Cruises - Island hopping - Speedboats

Phang Nga Bay, Phuket and the Phi Phi Islands offer perfect destinations for island hopping. Take a tour around magical Phang Nga Bay, the amazing Krabi coastline and idyllic Phi Phi Island. Stop for a swim, sip an ice cold drink, set against a background of spectacular scenery, or drop anchor at an exotic destination...

The ideal escape if you're short on time, and want to see as much as possible, is to take a speedboat around the islands and go snorkeling off deserted beaches. Not as expensive as you would think. Get a few friends together. A number of operators run boat trips - half day, full day and extended tours of the area, most include swimming and snorkelling stops at secluded beaches. For more details see our Phuket Cruises.

Golf

Phuket has four fine golf courses, all of which have been designed around the natural features of the landscape offering spectacular, sometimes daunting, natural hazards and providing a challenge for golfers at every level. Many visitors come solely for golf, but accompanying family members rarely complain about being left to laze by the pool or on the beach. Standards are high and there are enough challenges to stretch scratch players (the Blue Canyon Country Club hosted both the 1994 Johnnie Walker Classic Golf Tournament, the Honda Invitational tournament and the 1998 Johnnie Walker Classic).

Close to Kamala, the Loch Palm Golf Club spreads over a lush, rolling 160 acres of hilly plateau. This 18-hole, par 72 course has been masterfully designed to blend beautifully with the natural terrain. Nestled below a panoramic range of peaks, the layout surrounds the largest lake on any golf course in Phuket, Crystal Lake. With more than 1,400 towering palms lining the fairways, you'll find yourself playing in the midst of serene surroundings that harbour many challenging hazards amid its lush greens.

Also only 30 minute drive away is the Phuket Country Club. Established in 1989, it's the first and one of the finest golf courses built in Phuket, and lies on a reclaimed tin mine site. A 9 hole course is also available here.

The Banyan Tree Golf Club is a resort style 18 hole golf course located within the Laguna Phuket development. Situated on the exclusive Bang Tao Bay on the western shore of Phuket Island, this par 71 layout stretches 6,850 yards from the championship tees.

The afternoon is often the most ideal time of day for golfers unused to a tropical climate. For more details see our Phuket Golf Special Offers.

Fishing

Mahi mahi (dorado), tuna, sailfish, marlin and other species can be found in the blue waters of the Andaman. Depending on the tides, you can test your skills against the renowned marlin at the drop-off, near the Similan Islands. Charter a boat for the day, or join a fishing trip. See our Phuket Fishing Charters for more info.

The deep blue waters of the Andaman Sea are ideal for gamefish, and the region is on the migratory paths of classic fighting fish such as marlin. At certain times of the year, the sailfish fishing compares with anywhere in the world; and this is one of the top three queenfish venues...

Eco Tours

Adventure, excitement and a little education are on offer with eco tours in Phuket, Khao Sok National Park, Khaolak and Krabi. Take a short elephant trek in Phuket, or go off the island i-00+++nto the mainland provinces of Phang Nga, Khao Lak and Khao Sok.

Tours include river rafting, kayaking and trekking with experienced guides. Great value and a wonderful experience for the kids. If you want to really experience the tropical forest, stay overnight at Khao Sok National Park. A chance to get close to nature in southern Thailand......

Local Island Tours

Explore Phuket island by jeep, stopping at local temples, places of interest and viewpoints. Various full and half day tours are available, some include a spot of shopping and others are more activity based. Mini eco-tours combine sightseeing and trekking - learn about elephants - their conservation and training and take a short elephant trek through the hills. Try a ride on a traditional cart pulled by buffalo and watch the monkeys being trained to pick coconuts.

If you prefer to explore at a slower pace, take a mountain biking tour. Full and half day tours with experienced guides take you through shady rubber plantations and coastal roads. A great way to see the island.