If you want to visit any temple while travelling around Phuket, Phuket Big Buddha is the most renowned and attractive one to visit.
Location
Big Buddha (or Ming Mongkol Buddha) is Phuket’s newest white marble covered religious statue on top of the Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata. It is an important and revered landmark, visible from almost everywhere in Phuket. It is also one of the largest Buddha statues in the world.
How it is built
Phuket Big Buddha is 25.45 metres wide at its base and 45 metres high. It is built of reinforced concrete, and adorned with white jade marble shining in the sun, making it a natural symbol of hope. The weight of the white jade marble is about 135 tons. The entire spot sits on 49 rai (around 7.8 hectares) and is surrounded by a tropical rain forest. Views inside the structure are very colourful and tidy. This temple is highly impressive and spiritual to locals and international Buddhists.
How to go
Phuket Big Buddha is easily reachable by a 6 kilometre road leading from Chao Fa West Road, just 2 km from Chalong Circle. In case of coming from Kata Beach, you will turn left, then find the Phuket Big Buddha sign. There are large signs pointing the road to the top of the mountain. It’s about 17 km away from Phuket city. Since the road condition is very good, there is no problem to head to this temple by a car, or a tuktuk. But the hill up to the Phuket Big Buddha is a steep road, so drive carefully. Below this temple, you will notice a bigger car parking and some nice & hygienic toilets. You will find lots of shaded areas in the statue ground to relax.
Dress Code
There is no strict dress code for entering the Phuket Big Buddha Premises, but it is a sacred site, so visitors are asked to dress politely. You should wear clothing that covers shoulders and knees. Avoid beachwear, short skirts and T-shirts with offensive images. But in case you have come directly from the beach or did not know about the dress code, you can always ask for a free sarong from a booth on the Phuket Big Buddha premises. You will also have to take off your shoes before entering the temple.
Entry Fee
Whilst entry to the Phuket Big Buddha in Phuket is totally free, donations are encouraged. If you donate 100 baht for a marble tile, you are handed a black marker to sign your name and write a message on the tile. Nobody is pressured to donate; donations totally depend on your intention.
Meditation Hall
Inside the meditation hall is a platform where a line of monks are sometimes seen sitting and saying prayers. They can accept offerings for merit making while blessing. From here, a covered concrete path and a staircase lead up to this temple. It is only about a five-minute climb.
Big Buddha is an exquisite viewpoint
The views from the top of the hill where the Phuket Big Buddha is located are mesmerising. This spot will provide you with the opportunity to enjoy a 360 degree panoramic view of Phuket Town, the islands around Phuket and the Andaman Sea. You will also get a unique chance to see breath-taking views of Karon and Kata Beaches.
Nearby Hotels & Restaurants
Along the road leading to the famous Phuket Big Buddha, there are at least five restaurants (including Nakkerd Seaview Restaurant located close to the Big Buddha), an ATV riding centre and an elephant riding operation. In these restaurants you will find cheap tasty Thai dishes, soft drinks and ice-cold beers at a reasonable prices. Vendors are also seen selling snakes and drinks. You will also find many hotels, resorts and villas in Kata and Karon near it for staying overnight.
Other Attractions
Next to the Phuket Big Buddha, there is a smaller Buddha statue that looks golden, but is made of 22 tons of brass worth about 8 million Thai Baht. It is 12 metres in height and very attractive. This statue was dedicated to HM Queen Sirikit.
Via downhill ATV driving and riding an elephant, you can also discover tropical jungles while visiting this temple. For shopping you will find some stalls at the top selling gift and souvenir items.
When to visit
Considering the heat of the day and the tourist crowds, it is best to visit this temple in the morning. But a late afternoon visit offers a great chance to watch the sunset over Karon bay in the west and Chalong Bay in the east. Consuming Thai dishes at Nakkerd Seaview Restaurant in the evening will be a fantastic experience.
Time needed to visit
It will take approximately 1 hour to discover the whole of the Phuket Big Buddha area. But you can spend more than 1 hour enjoying an overall look over southern Phuket. You can also attend impromptu meditation training sessions to relax as well.
Hundreds of tourist flock to this famous temple every day to enjoy the magnificent views of Chalong Bay, Phuket Town and Kata Beach.
The Phuket Big Buddha not only offers a great opportunity to take in the views but raises your spiritual feelings when you visit this iconic and scenic destination.
world that experience extreme warm or cold weather, Phuket remains relatively warm during the entire year. Although there is division of the whole year into “High season” (from November to April) and “Low Season” (from May to October), you can travel to Phuket all year around. Comfortable weather, gentle breeze, turquoise water, eco-friendly environment, hill areas and marine beauty of the Andaman sea make Phuket the best holiday destination in Thailand.
When you think of Phuket, spectacular beaches come to mind first. Very few cities in the world boast of so many fantastic beaches as Phuket. But some beaches are very popular with locals & tourists alike. Some unrivalled beaches to remember are Patong, Karon, Kata, Nai Harn, Kamala, Bang Tao, Surin, Mai Khao, Paradise, Ya Nui, Banana, Rawaii and Laem Ka. These beaches are the most concentrated areas of tourist accommodation, shops, nightclubs, restaurants and many exciting beach activities. Phuket Beaches are one of the main reasons why Phuket is the best holiday destination in Thailand.
Phuket is undoubtedly a very popular holiday destination in Thailand because it guarantees a memorable vacation experience offering great accommodation for everyone’s taste and budget. Phuket accommodation includes beachfront hotels, luxury hotels, world-class chain resorts, private villas and low-cost hotels. You will find a complete array of hotels, resorts & villas offering excellent facilities and services including Thai décor air-conditioned rooms with attached bathroom, beach view balcony, traditional Thai spa centre, free wifi, car & bike rental, free parking, world class restaurant serving Thai and International cuisines, bars for wide ranges of beverages to enjoy an amazing holiday. You can visit our 
Phuket is a shoppers’ paradise. Ample shopping opportunities make Phuket the best holiday destination in Thailand. In addition to roadside stalls and markets, there are lots of big departmental stores, shopping malls as well as a good number of boutiques shops around the entire island. Some of the 
Phuket hosts unparalleled nightlife entertainment near all its famous beach areas. Patong is the most concentrated place for enjoying nocturnal nightlife activities. Centre of this nightlife is Soi Bangla (Bangla Road) where you will find discos, beer bars, sports bars, wine bars, go go bars, live bands, concerts, girly activities to enjoy unforgettable night-out. Some of the popular night spots of Soi Bangla road are Soi Sea Dragon, So Crocodile, Soi Tiger, Soi Vegas, Soi Gonzo, Rat-U-Thit Road. Some good nightclubs, bars and pubs host nightlife activities in Kata, Karon and other beach areas. If you love to enjoy night-time activities, Phuket is the unparalleled holiday destination in Thailand.
Phuket Island is surrounded by more than 38 of smaller islands. But the islands closest to Phuket are Coral Island (or Koh Hae), James Bond at Phang Nga, Racha Yai & Noi, Koh Yao Yai & Noi, Koh Khai, and you can reach them by speedboat within the shortest time. Some of these islands are very famous for fishing, diving, snorkelling, and marine life. Other most popular and most visited islands in the Andaman Sea are Phi Phi Islands, Koh Lanta, Koh Similan, Koh Thachai, Koh Bon, Koh Surin, Richelieu Rock to enjoy the idyllic natural beauty of them. These islands are also suited for sailing, diving, snorkelling and many exciting activities. Sailing to Phuket islands is a memorable experience to treasure as well. While visiting Phuket, you should plan a tour to explore these magnificent islands and discover the underwater marine beauty that abounds near them.
Phuket, surrounded by the Andaman Sea boasts all necessary ingredients to make wonderful holiday tours. These tours include on-land local tours to explore Phuket, marine adventure tours, jungle adventure tours, live aboard tours and breath-taking diving tours. All these tours will provide you with ample opportunities to discover and enjoy white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, unique landscapes, and marine life of the Andaman Sea. These tours also include scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking, fishing, landscape sighting, zip-line adventure, bird watching, cycling, visiting national parks etc. 
1. Jungceylon: Jungceylon Shopping Complex, located in the very centre of Patong beach at the end of Soi Bangla, is the largest of the 8 best shopping places in Phuket. It hosts a wide variety of food outlets & restaurants offering various food types where you can spend a great time. First floor is full of designer labels, the top floor contains gizmos and gadgets, the cinema at the far end shows films with excellent seats. It also features Millennium Resort which is a popular hotel, a bowling zone, a famous rooftop nightclub and Big C supermarket. Undercover parking makes it nice when you need to park with quick access to the mall. It is a must visit if you are in the Patong area.
2. Central Festival Phuket: Located at the intersection of Bypass and Wichit-songkram roads, Central Festival Phuket is the second largest shopping mall in Phuket. It provides one-stop shopping facilities in Phuket. It has a lovely local ambience, and you can purchase almost everything including electronics, clothing (local or international), groceries (local fruit, nuts, spices, etc.), chain pharmacy stores (Boots and Watsons), Thai artisan spa products, a large collection of sporting gears, jewellery items, etc. Being one of the best shopping places in Phuket, Central Festival Phuket offers numerous restaurants. You can also enjoy parlour services including massage, facial, manicure, pedicure, eyelash extensions, etc. Parking facility is also available underneath the centre.
3. Phuket Weekend Market: Phuket Weekend Market (locally known as Naka Market), located along Chao Fa West Road near the central festival Phuket is a suitable place for local foods & second hand goods. It offers an extensive variety of clothes, food, costume jewellery, and some crafty stuff. It is more interesting to just walk around the market and find curios, live animals and the local delicacies being prepared. This is one of the 8 best shopping places in Phuket, where tourists can learn a lot about Phuket from the food to the culture of the people.
4. Karon Bazar: Karon Bazar is a beachside shopping market on Karon beach. It is a tourist shopper’s dream where you will find everything under one roof. Within the bazaar, you will find an assortment of DVD’s, CD’s, sunglasses, hats as well as beach costumes, shorts and shirts. Here, tourists can purchase fashionable clothes ideally suitable for everyone. Although prices may vary from shop to shop, with a bit of bargaining it’s possible to get a good deal. There are bars outside where you can enjoy a drink after shopping as well.
6. Phuket Walking Street: Every Sunday evening, Thalang road situated in the heart of old Phuket Town, is transformed into walking street .This is a weekly market and known as Phuket Walking Street (Lard Yai). This 400-metre walking street is packed with food, souvenirs and live street shows. You will discover plenty of cheap and tasty local dishes. While cheap, the items at the street are really unique. It also allows visitors to find southern Thai gift stalls and handicrafts. This a place where the whole family and the children will enjoy themselves with numerous toy stalls. Over the years, the walking street has become a great attraction for tourists and a popular destination of the best shopping places in Phuket.
7. Banzaan Market: Banzaan market (‘Banzaan’ meaning ‘fresh market’) is located just behind the Jungceylon Shopping Mall on Patong Beach. The building hosting the Banzaan market has a modern décor and style. This is another of the best shopping places in Phuket, where you will get everything fresh. Here you will find fresh fish, meat, vegetables, fruits, juices, all the cooking ingredients and ready foods to eat. The foods are of very good quality, and all products are well-arranged to give this place a very attractive look. This market is open all day long but it is much nicer in the morning.
8. Premium Outlet Phuket: Premium Outlet Phuket is located in Tambon Thalang district on the Bypass Road (Chalemprakiat Road), almost exactly in the middle of Phuket Island. It is the most spacious of the 8 best shopping places in Phuket. It features over 300 retail outlets within the complex with over 500 parking spaces. It is a market of clothes and accessory shops selling high-quality goods. It is also a popular place to buy leather goods, houseware, home furnishings, gifts, toys as well as computer equipment & audiovisual items. Here you will also find products at up to 80% discount.
with locals and expatriates alike. It achieves the prestige of being first on the list of the 8 best Thai food for its extraordinary style, taste & quality. It is a stir-fried dish made from rice noodles, egg, chilli and tofu along with a variety of accompaniments which include prawns or chicken. Whilst it is everywhere in Phuket, it is abundant at roadside cafes.
2.Tom Yum Goong: Tom Yang Goong (‘goong’ meaning prawns) is arguably one of our selective 8 best Thai foods in Phuket. It is an aromatic dish of countless fragrant herbs & spices lurking enticingly inside. With lemongrass, lime leaves, shallots and local favourite galangal, it entices most visitors to ravenously consume. You can eat Tom Yum Goong in most restaurants in Phuket including Bang Pae Seafood restaurant at PA Khlok, Thalang, and Ang Seafood restaurant on Phuket road, on the way to Saphan Hin.
fond of curries. It is basically a beef-based dish and popular for its coconut milk-infused flavour and soft potatoes. Finished with chopped roasted peanuts (or cashews) and an assortment of spices, it is one of the 8 best Thai Foods in Southern Phuket. N.C. restaurant at Talad Yai, Muang, and Oriental Spoon restaurant on Surin Beach Road, Muang are 2 best restaurants to consume Massaman Curry.
4. Roti Nam Geang: Roti Nam Geang is a spicy form of the sweet “roti”(or flatbread) found everywhere on this island. It is a favourite dish amongst the locals & expatriates alike. The Muslim spicy trade had a profound impact on this roti for spices, and flavours were preferred by Hokkien & Tamil migrants. Roti Nam Geang is generally served with delicious chicken, beef or fish variations.
select Por Pia from the 8 best Thai food list. Freshly made fried spring rolls usually served with an apricot dipping sauce are known as Por Pia. It may also contain pork, lettuce or shrimp. It is more popular with tourists than its traditional counterparts and immensely found in sit-down restaurants as well as the street vendors.
6. Gai Med Ma-Muang: Gai Med Ma-Muang is one of the 8 best Thai foods in Phuket and available on the menu of all restaurants. It is a sweet, slightly spiced dish packed with nutritious vegetables. It is a variation of “Kung Pao Chicken,” which is a Sichuan Chinese meal. Gai Med Ma-Muang may be a combination of chicken and cashew nuts instead of peanuts used in “Kung Pao Chicken”. It is a great opportunity for visitors to taste such a Thai food without succumbing to a spice overload.
7. Homok Talay: Homok Talay is a spicy curry fish mousse which is steamed with the leaves of a local plant named Bai Cha-ploo and wrapped in a banana leaf. But before eating, beware, it might come spicy, hot and occasionally with a strong fishy taste! You can taste this dish in many restaurants including Ruen Thai restaurant at Bang Tao Beach. 
8. Oh Eaw: Oh Eaw is the best Thai Food and very familiar with locals and visitors for its unparalleled taste. It is a kind of dessert made from ripe banana. It is consumed with rice, red beans and sweet syrup. You can take it mostly during the summer season. For tasting this dessert, you can visit Phuket local food centres, like Loktien Restaurant.
motorbikes in everywhere in Phuket, mostly in front of shopping malls, bus stations, hotels and business centres. Before getting on a Motorbike Taxi, you should also agree on the fare with its driver.
A Songthaew is like a pick-up truck with two benches on the back.
many areas of Phuket. You can hire them by agreeing on the rental fees upfront. Many rental car providers will give you various options of cars. You can also book them online before your arrival. The hotel that you have booked may also arrange your transportation for your arrival at the hotel and then offer car rental services during your holidays as well.
If you want to move independently, you should rent a motorbike, is the another transport in Phuket. There are a lot of motorbike providers from where you can choose one by agreeing on the amount you have to pay per hour but usually you hire a motorbike on a daily rate.
Tail Boats, Speedboats, Yachts, Catamarans, Liveaboard vessels, and Chinese Junks in Phuket. Long Tail Boats and Speedboats are available on every beach to travel as quickly as possible to the nearest islands.
of Phuket shake hands a little it depends on their time in Phuket and their level of exposure to westerners. If they are comfortable with a handshake they will usually offer their hand first to westerners. They will usually and most often welcome you with the traditional Thai ‘Wai’ the custom of greeting or showing respect with two palms and fingertips together in front of the face while making a small bow.
The national religion of approx. 90% Thai people is Buddhism. Respecting their religious activities and dressing appropriately at temples and cultural centers are expected. Dress in a proper way when entering a temple or a religious shrine.
Buddha respectfully. The Buddha Sculpture may be small, big or partly broken; it does not matter. Buddha Sculptures are considered a holy object, and deserve respect.
On temple premises, you can walk in your shoes. But you should shoe off before entering a temple or a shrine. This custom also applies to homes and also to many less public shops.
romantic moments with your loved one, as they can offer gorgeous romantic accommodation, beach dining and many forms wedding and social activities. There are nightclubs aplenty and bars are also available to enjoy local female companionship and drinks. Patong Beach nightlife acts as the most vibrant entertainment preference you that cannot be missed.