When the family comes to town! It might sound scary, but when some of my cousins told me last year that they, along with two other families, were about to book tickets to Phuket to come and see me, I knew it would be an amazing time. That being said, I was a little bit nervous as well. How does one keep 10 people happy and entertained? How should I plan a schedule for such a large group staying for 12 days in Phuket? What are the best activities to do without spending too much money on tour guides? I had to organise a few logistics.
Well, from the Big Buddha to a boat trip and lots of walking, here is what we did.
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Big Buddha
Of course visiting the Big Buddha was on top of the list to do.
After living in Phuket for three years, I still hadn’t visited the famous Big Buddha. So, when my family came to visit, I seized the opportunity to go there with them.
Although we could have easily reached the mountaintop by road with a tuk-tuk driver, we decided to hike through the jungle to the summit instead. Did you know there is a hidden path that starts near Kata and Karon? The trail climbs steeply through the jungle, eventually leading you almost to the top and the Big Buddha.
It’s not an easy walk, and I would avoid it when it rains, but it is very rewarding, especially when you arrive at the top.
And seeing the Big Buddha close up, was actually very impressive!
Travel tip: Remember to pack appropriate clothing when you plan to hike first and visit the Big Buddha after. You need to cover up! Also, good to know, the Big Buddha is totally free to enter.
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Boat Trips
Taking a boat trip is one of the highlights of visiting Phuket and definitely one of the best activities to enjoy. After all, there are so many beautiful islands to explore. Thanks to some amazing friends here, who own a charter boat, I have already had the pleasure of enjoying a few boat trips, so I couldn’t wait to share the experience with my family.
We had soo much fun! It was a great day of swimming, laughing, drinking and supping. And stop at Nui Beach of course.
Read about my other boat trips in Phuket here:
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Nui Beach
In my opinion, Nui Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Phuket. It is a small and secluded beach, most easily reached by a 4WD shuttle because of the steep road, or by boat. Of course, you can also attempt to walk there, which I did during the pandemic (read about it here- Best Beaches in Phuket). This time, however, we were lucky enough to arrive by boat.
I hadn’t been back since the pandemic, and I was amazed by how lively Nui Beach had become. Back then, it was very quiet and run-down.
It is certainly the ultimate Instagram beach. From amazing swings to gorgeous lounge areas, there are countless spots where you can take photos. And we definitely did! We spent hours posing, laughing, and enjoying Nui Beach.
A visit to this beach is a must when in Phuket and one of the best activities to enjoy with family or friends!
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Coral Island (Koh Hey)
Taking a long-tail boat ride is another adventure you absolutely shouldn’t miss. Hiring one from Rawai Beach is actually quite inexpensive. A return trip to Coral Island generally costs around ฿1,500 – ฿2,000 per boat, although prices can vary. Make sure you agree on the total price beforehand and confirm that it is for the whole boat rather than per person. Simply speak to one of the boat operators along Rawai Beach and arrange your trip.
Because we had such a large group – 11 people, after all – I asked my friend to organise a VIP boat for us. The weather wasn’t perfect, and the ride was quite choppy, but we soon forgot about that once we arrived at Coral Island.
The island has two main beaches: Banana Beach and Long Beach. Long Beach is a beautiful stretch of white sand, with water so blue that you’ll need sunglasses just to look at it. It was stunning. And another perfect backdrop for some fun family photos.
P.S. you have to pay 100 THB entry to enter the beaches but it is really worth it.
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Other family Activities
What are the other activities best to do in Phuket on a budget? Well, you can explore the amazing Sunday afternoon markets in Phuket town, go kayaking and snorkelling at Yanui Beach, indulge in Thai dining, experience tuk tuk driving, visit Kata Beach, and last but not least, go hiking.
I’ve already mentioned the hike to the Big Buddha, which is definitely the best thing to do here. However, we also hiked up to Black Rock in Nai Harn. Finding the entry to this hike is quite tricky, and you definitely have to watch your steps, but I convinced my family to get up early and watch the sunrise as we hiked. And it was stunning!
Especially since I made some coffee that we all enjoyed at the top of the hill.
And so, as their trip came to an end, we all found that the adventures in Phuket, Rawai and Nai Harn, were all extraordinary, unique, special and amazing. I had the best time with my family here. But I always knew I would. And I am glad they enjoyed it too!
I couldn’t have wished for better 12 days with them! I can’t wait for them to come back. They said they would. And I don’t blame them.. we all come back!
P.S. Thank you family for contributing to this blog post with all the amazing photos! It was hard to choose, we had soo many… xx
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