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Phuket guide

Phang Nga Bay by private boat: Phuket's island day

Limestone towers, sea caves and quiet beaches, timed to avoid the crowds and the monsoon.

Beyond its beaches, the experience most cited in Phuket is a day among the islands. Phang Nga Bay, north-east of the island, is a national park of limestone towers rising straight from emerald water, with Khao Phing Kan, the so-called James Bond Island, as its best-known landmark.

Large tour boats all follow the same schedule, so a private longtail or yacht is worth it: leave early, reach the towers before the groups, paddle a canoe into the hidden lagoons, and have lunch on a quiet beach. The Phi Phi islands and Maya Bay are the other classic day, though Maya Bay closes for part of each year to let the reef recover.

November to April brings calm seas and the best visibility. From May to October the south-west monsoon makes the Andaman rougher, and some marine parks, such as the Similan Islands, close until mid-October. We match the day out to the season and to the side of the island you stay on.

Phuket Old Town and the Big Buddha

Phuket Old Town, with its colourful Sino-Portuguese shophouses built by tin merchants along Thalang and Soi Romanee, is the island's most cited cultural sight. On Sunday evenings, Thalang Road becomes a walking street market, and the local Peranakan cuisine is a highlight.

The Big Buddha, a white marble statue 45 metres tall on the Nakkerd Hills, gives sweeping views over Chalong Bay, and Wat Chalong is the island's most important temple. Promthep Cape, at the southern tip, is the classic sunset spot.

The Similan Islands

The Similan Islands, a national park in the Andaman Sea north-west of Phuket, are among the most cited day trips from the island and one of the world's best diving destinations, with granite boulders, coral reefs and clear water. Sail Rock and Donald Duck Bay are the famous landmarks.

The park is open only from about mid-October to mid-May, and daily visitor numbers are limited, so we book in advance. Speedboats leave from Khao Lak, about ninety minutes north of Phuket; liveaboard cruises suit dedicated divers.