TH · Phuket · 7.89°N 98.40°E

phuket

Beaches, Old Town shophouses and island-hopping, all a short flight from KL.

Best time
November to April is dry and the sea is calm. May to October brings the southwest monsoon, with rougher seas and strong currents on the west-coast beaches.
How long
4 days, 3 nights
Getting there
About 1.5 hours' flight from KL to Phuket. The island is big, so allow 30 minutes to an hour from the airport to most beaches.
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TH · Phuketphuket7.89°N 98.40°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Beaches, Old Town shophouses and island-hopping, all a short flight from KL.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingPhuketTH, Phuket
KLphuket
≈ 641 km from KL, as the crow flies
An aerial shot of Phuket's beaches taken from Karon Viewpoint

Photo: Bennypc · CC BY-SA 4.0

1 / 5

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Thailand's biggest island, on the Andaman Sea, and probably the easiest Thai beach trip from Malaysia. There's a beach for every mood, a colourful old town built on tin-mining money, and boat trips out to Phi Phi and Phang Nga Bay.

Makan

  1. Phuket Hokkien meeThick yellow noodles fried with seafood and pork, a Peranakan-Chinese favourite.Map ↗
  2. Khanom jeenRice noodles with a choice of curries and fresh vegetables, a Phuket breakfast staple.Map ↗
  3. O-aewA local shaved-ice dessert with jelly, red beans and syrup.Map ↗
  4. SeafoodGrilled fish, prawns and crab at the restaurants by the sea.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Phuket Old TownSino-Portuguese shophouses, cafés and the Sunday walking street on Thalang Road.Map ↗
  2. Big BuddhaA huge white marble Buddha on a hilltop, with views over the south of the island.Map ↗
  3. Island hoppingDay trips to Phi Phi, Phang Nga Bay's limestone islands or, in season, the Similan Islands.Map ↗
  4. Promthep CapeThe island's classic sunset spot, at its southern tip.Map ↗
  5. The beachesPatong is loud and busy. Kata and Karon are calmer, and the north is quieter still.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Taxis and tuk-tuks are pricey. Agree the fare first or use a ride-hailing app.
  • Respect the red flags on the beaches in monsoon season. Rip currents are dangerous.
  • Cover your shoulders and knees at temples and the Big Buddha.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.