Phuket - activities/tours

[invisible999]

Hello folks,

Now I am trying to find out useful activity our first visit in Phuket. I've spent good amount of time on TripAdvisor and Wikivoyage trying to understand what is available/makes sense for us to do. We are in fairly fit and like water activities, like kayaking and rafting.

After looking at different tour operations, seems that most of them offer the same programs at Phang Nga. Also the same or very similar itinerary across different tour operators could be double of the price. I wonder if most of them are just agents subcontracting tours to third parties and while you pay top dollars you eventually end up cramped with dozens of others with mediocre experience at best and would like to avoid.

All of the rafting tours include visit of Monkey cave and elephant trekking - I'd rather avoid to be part of. Also the rafting itself is merely just 45 min, while I am looking for for something at least two hours. So... do you have any company/tour/itinerary to recommend? Moreover - does it actually makes sense to do, considering the travel times to/from Surin?

If rafting\kayaking is not the best option for RoI, what would you recommend? We are interested in nature and activities (trekking, biking, kayaking, rafting), cultural and religious sites. If you have a tour operator to suggest, please share.

Completely not interested (bodling specifically for people in this forum who are commenting without reading the message) and would like to avoid:
- parting/drinking
- nightlife (unless there is really good Latin music or jazz place)
- huge crowds, especially from Russia and China
- malls, markets and shopping
- overused tourist spots
- forced stops and pressure to buy something at markets and shops.

Thanks in advance.

 

[BoonMee]

Seastar or loveandaman..

 

[santa74]

We are also looking for same thing for our first trip to Phuket. We still couldn't find too...

 

[invisible999]

We are also looking for same thing for our first trip to Phuket. We still couldn't find too...

Ok, there are some things I've learned this week after spending >5h daily on research.

While staying in Phuket, going for rafting in Phang Nga makes no sense. You will spend >1.5h in car one way to reach your destination while rafting itself takes no more than 45 min. After that they will take you on a ride on (abused) elephants and mandatory stop at local shops markets. Look at the overview of the rafting trip at Jamie's Phuket Blog and notice that this amount of people were during the low season. You can imagine what high season (now) would look like.

If you want to have enjoyable stay you need to prepare to pay top dollars for exclusive experience. Expect to pay $400-$500 for a tour for two with Phuket Sail Tours or Simba Tours.

If you go with average or cheap tour operator they will outsource the tour to a third third party and they will cram people into boat and take them into places where accident is waiting to happen. See here:

Speedboat Propeller Severs Tourist’s Leg

If you are interested into street food or walking tour, again expect to pay top dollar and have a private guide - Phuket Tours With Jo

Bottom line - for money spent for vacation, Phuket is a bad investment. You can have the same environment\activities for 2x-3x cheaper in Bali and Lombok.

 

[invisible999]

Seastar or loveandaman..

After reading average/poor/terrible reviews of them in TripAdvisor, I'd rather stay away.

 

[santa74]

Ok, there are some things I've learned this week after spending >5h daily on research.

While staying in Phuket, going for rafting in Phang Nga makes no sense. You will spend >1.5h in car one way to reach your destination while rafting itself takes no more than 45 min. After that they will take you on a ride on (abused) elephants and mandatory stop at local shops markets. Look at the overview of the rafting trip at Jamie's Phuket Blog and notice that this amount of people were during the low season. You can imagine what high season (now) would look like.

If you want to have enjoyable stay you need to prepare to pay top dollars for exclusive experience. Expect to pay $400-$500 for a tour for two with Phuket Sail Tours or Simba Tours.

If you go with average or cheap tour operator they will outsource the tour to a third third party and they will cram people into boat and take them into places where accident is waiting to happen. See here:

Speedboat Propeller Severs Tourist’s Leg

If you are interested into street food or walking tour, again expect to pay top dollar and have a private guide - Phuket Tours With Jo

Bottom line - for money spent for vacation, Phuket is a bad investment. You can have the same environment\activities for 2x-3x cheaper in Bali and Lombok.

Thank for explaining bro.

 

[invisible999]

Thank for explaining bro.

Sure. One I am back, I will add some more info.

 

[invisible999]

Folks, if you've been in Phuket, would you recommend to do any sightseeing tour by a car and if yes, which places? I really want to avoid standard tourist traps - shopping, overcrowded places.

 

[thespinsterella]

Folks, if you've been in Phuket, would you recommend to do any sightseeing tour by a car and if yes, which places? I really want to avoid standard tourist traps - shopping, overcrowded places.

I didn't do any sightseeing but more of going from one beach to another via scooter. One place worth going to is Ao Sane beach although I think it may be a bit tricky to drive there cos of the narrow one way road. I went there in 2014 and it was quiet and away from the throngs of ppl at Nai Harn beach.


Direction : From Nai Harn Beach just drive west to the Royal Phuket Yacht Club. Stay to your left and go down into the tunnel under the resort. You will arrive on the other side on a small road that winds along the coast and up a hill. When you come down the hill you will see the sign for Ao Sane Beach on your left. There is a car park at the top of the beach and a very steep hill that you can choose to either drive down or walk if you are on a motorcycle.

 

[invisible999]

Thank for explaining bro.

OK, if you want really good day trip, book sunset dinner cruise on a sailboat from Phuket Sail Tours.

If you are lucky, there will be less than 10 people it is designed to carry and if you are VERY lucky, it will be just for you two and you will have private tour for 6 hours.

Trust me, it worth $185 for two.

 

[santa74]

OK, if you want really good day trip, book sunset dinner cruise on a sailboat from Phuket Sail Tours.

If you are lucky, there will be less than 10 people it is designed to carry and if you are VERY lucky, it will be just for you two and you will have private tour for 6 hours.

Trust me, it worth $185 for two.

Thank you bro invisible999.
Quick question, all this tour booking, did you book online in advance before you went to Phuket or book when you were there. If book when you were there, did you book through agent or did you go direct to their office in Phuket?
Sorry to ask you many questions.