Due to its size you can see a lot on Phuket and companies: While the center of the island is beautiful green, there are larger and smaller tourist centers on most parts of the beach. But outside these centers there is much to discover. The tours you can either drive yourself or make as an organized tour or private tour in a taxi. The prices for organized tours are for adults from about 950 THB and for children between 500 - 750 THB. There are different providers with different tour points. In a private minibus, an island tour with sightseeing costs between THB 2,500 to THB 2,900 for adults. For children, the tour costs about 1,000 THB.

Tips for self-drivers (car, motorcycle, moped or scooter)
Although the roads in Phuket are generally very well developed, heavy traffic accidents often occur. Especially in the early evening hours regular traffic checks take place everywhere on the island. Particularly strict controls take place between Kata and Karon.

Controlled at the scooter / moped / motorcycle:

•     Driving with helmet (who drives without a helmet risks a penalty of 500 THB)
•     International driver's license - the European driver's license is invalid !!! (Penalty 500 THB)
•     Bag checks are also carried out (control of drugs, illegal items, weapons, even e-cigarettes are illegal     in Thailand)

Driving practice is very important if you rant a scooter / motorcycle! It is not recommended to climb a scooter or even a motorbike for the first time in your life! When it rains you should drive in reasonable speed, as the roads are often slippery. Everywhere is to be expected that an animal (dog, cat, chickens, etc.) can jump on the road and make a "fright braking". It is also advisable to wear sturdy shoes (sneakers). (We've already seen people who lost their flip-flops at the traffic lights).

Controlled at the car:

• Seatbelt-obligation (who is not wearing a belt risks a penalty of 2.000 THB!) This also applies in mini-vans of organized tours!
• International driver's license - the European driver's license is invalid !!! (Penalty 500 THB)
• Checks are also carried out on the interior of the vehicle / luggage compartment (control of drugs, illegal objects, weapons, even e-cigarettes are prohibited in Thailand)

The Big Buddha (in Thai also Phra Phutta Mingmongkhon Eaknakakeeree) is one of the most striking viewpoints of Phuket. He towers east on the Khao Nakkerd in the direction of Chalong Bay. In 2008, the 45 m high marble statue was completed - except for the pedestal. The pedestal is still a kind of "work-in-progress" and you can buy for a small fee marble tiles and built with his name installed.

From the viewpoint you have a wonderful view over Kata Beach, Phuket Town, Chalong, Cape Panwa, and the offshore Racha Islands.

There is also a temple here and you can be blessed by a monk. For the visit of the temple you should be dressed appropriately (not too revealing!)

The easiest way to reach the Big Buddha is via Chalong (signposted several times). From the roundabout in Chalong, drive towards Wat Chalong. The driveway is on the left and is signposted. Then simply follow the road towards the mountain.

The viewpoint is one of Phuket's most famous viewpoints and is located above Kata Noi. It is easy to reach by scooter or car and there is ample parking. The view towards Karon is over 3 bays (the closest is Kata Noi Beach, then Kata Beach and further north is Karon Beach).

From the villages of Kata and Karon, the viewpoint is the fastest to reach by heading towards Kata Noi Beach. At "Orchidacea Resort" (located right at the crossroads) turn left and drive up the hill and then follow the road, past the After Beach Bars on the right to Viewpoint.

The Promthep Cape is one of the most photographed spots in Phuket and a very nice place to watch the sunset. On Thai holidays and on the weekends, it is very crowded, so you may have to reckon with traffic jams on the access roads! Especially in the high season here come a lot of tourist buses.

The Promthep Cape is Phuket's southernmost point and juts like a rock outcrop into the sea. The view overlooks the bay of Naiharn on one side and Kaew Yai, Bon and Raya Island and Rawai Bay on the other.

The fastest way to reach Laem Promthep is from Rawai and Naiharn and is well signposted.

Bang Pae is located in Khao Phra Taew National Park and 17 meters high, Phuket's largest waterfall. The water descends in cascades, which then form into a river. Through the National Park there is a trekking path along the river. In the park there are various animal and plant species.

Adjacent to the Khao Phra Taew National Park is also the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project. The project's goal is to settle Gibbons on Phuket again. If you have more time, you can also work as a volunteer here.

Sea Turtle Stranding Rescue at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) Hatchery has several pools of injured turtles that are being treated for medical treatment and then released.

Nearby is the Phuket Aquarium, which shows the local freshwater and saltwater fish. The highlight of the aquarium is a large tube with sharks and rays, as well as larger predators.

Kao Khad Viewpoint / Panwa Viewpoint is located on the Panwa Peninsula on the Cape Panwa. On a clear day you can see here to Koh Phi Phi. The view goes from Phuket Town over the Panwa Cape and the Chalong Bay. The Panwa Cape is also home to the popular Kantary Kaffe. There are various homemade cakes, cookies and coffee specialties. The coffee garden overlooks Koh Lon, Koh Hae and Koh Racha.

Radar Hill is one of the lesser known viewpoints, but the highest.
Phuket Town also has a lookout point, Khao Rang Hill, with a beautiful view over Phuket Town with its old Sino-Portuguese buildings and temples. This viewpoint is located in northwest Phuket Town and is just outside the tourist centers. In addition to a banyan tree, there are also some restaurants and you can enjoy the view over the city, the Chalong Bay to the Big Buddha while eating. On the way to the lookout point is the Wat Khao Rang temple. Here, in addition to some temple guards and Indian-looking figures, there is also a large golden Buddha to see.
Monkey Hill is also located in Phuket Town and is on the one hand a lookout point and on the other live here a few hundred monkeys.

Phuket Fantasea is a kind of Thai theme park, open only in the evenings. The complex is located directly on Kamala Beach and was opened in 1999. Since then, many tourists visit the shows, which take place 6 days a week. The heart of the complex is the theater building "Palace oft he Elephants". The style of the stage and the building is reminiscent of the temples of Angkor. Scenes from Thai history are shown in the shows, ranging from music and dances, acrobatics to shows with elephants.
Also located here is a restaurant and the "Shopping Village". In the park animals can be fed and caressed. So Phuket Fantasea is fun for the whole family.

Soi Dog in Phuket is one of the largest animal welfare organizations in Thailand. The organization was founded in 2003 and has been recognized as the first animal welfare organization in Thailand since 2005. In 2005, more than 100 dogs already lived in the clinic of the organization in Phuket Town. Since 2008 there is a private shelter (Shelter) and a larger clinic in Mai Khao (near the airport Phuket). The organization works nationwide and supports smaller organizations throughout Thailand and Southeast Asia. In addition to a hospital, there is a large shelter / shelter for dogs and cats. Here, in addition to the medical treatment and castration, animals are also sent for adoption. The shelter can be visited and you can also work there as a volunteer.

Soi Dog Phuket Address: 167/9 Moo 4, Soi Mai Khao 10, Tambon Mai Khao, Amphur Talang, Phuket 83110, Thailand www.soidog.org/

The Patong Beach Road offers many shopping opportunities at smaller shops, sports and bag shops and some good restaurants. There are also some bars and a discotheque.

Walking Street has many GoGo bars and some restaurants and shops. During the day you can drive with the moped through the street. In the evening, the Soi Bangla is closed to traffic. There is always something going on here in the evening. Countless tourists stroll the streets, trade at stalls and visit the bars and discotheques.

Especially on the weekends it is worthwhile to drive to Phuket Town. The Naka Weekendmarket (opposite Wat Naka) and the Lard Yai Sunday Market (Thalang Road) take place here. There are also many shops in the old town, as well as typical souvenir shops. Phuket Town's old town is fascinating: in addition to old Portuguese houses are Chinese temples and streets with larger malls (Robinson department store). However, when you're on the scooter in Phuket Town, you're often approached by motorbike taxi drivers. The motorbike taxis want to bring the tourists to sights or shops, as they get commission there. These annoying offers of motorcycle taxis should just be ignored and continue.