Old Town, Wat Chalong & Big Buddha Tour – Full Day

When you think of Phuket, a number of things might come to mind: Thailand’s biggest island, home to over a dozen beaches (or more, if you count the hidden beaches!), a city teeming with marketplaces, or a community committed to preserving its environment through elephant sanctuaries. It’s less common to hear about Phuket’s post-colonial architecture, cultural history, or even rum-making facilities – but that’s what awaits you on this entertaining full-day tour.

If you want to take a peek into the historical heart of Phuket, this no-shopping sightseeing tour of “The Real Phuket” will be perfect for you. Board an air-conditioned minivan with WiFi and begin your tour with the trusty local guide and driver – a tandem that has earned some fame for their fun and knowledgeable energy on the trip. (If you’re lucky, your tour guide will be the crowd favorite, Ann, whose passion in life seems to be curating unique tour itineraries around Thailand.)

“Couldn't have asked for a better tour. Our guide was super knowledgeable and had a great sense of humor. We had plenty of time to stop, take in the scenery and take pictures. As we came back to the van after each stop there was water, sodas or a fresh cool face wipe. It just seemed as if this group went out of their way to make sure everybody had a good time.” – loca1111, Florida

You’ll begin the day from a high point in the city, somewhere amidst the green hillside, to take in the beauty of Phuket. Then, you’ll be immersed in the Sino-Colonial architecture of the Old Town, where traces of the city’s heritage can still be seen on the facade of buildings and shops.

Places like The On and On Hotel, located around Phang Nga Road, capture this signature design and might interest you to know even makes a cameo in The Beach’s opening scenes. On your next stop, you’ll find yourself in the biggest Buddhist temple in Phuket, Wat Chalong. As though that weren’t enough, you’ll soon after be escorted to The Big Buddha located 45 meters high atop the Nekkard Hills. You can trust the tour guide to recommend a tourist-friendly and value-for-money restaurant along the way. Fill up as you’ll be ending the day at a rum distillery with a mojito in hand.