Thailand's South - Phuket & Ko Phi Phi

Round trip through the south of Thailand – Travel planning:

For the round trip through the south of Thailand ten days were planned. From Beijing we took a five hour direct flight to Phuket.

After a three-day stay, we took the ferry to the island of Ko Phi Phi and after an overnight stay, we moved on to Ao Nang in the Krabi province.

We planned two days for Au Nang before we drove to Khao Sok National Park and finally back to Phuket.

Thailand is summery warm all year round. From April to October is the rainy season and significantly more precipitation is to be expected. The air can be cloudy in March as many farmers burn the straw in the fields.

Arriving on Phuket Island:

The entry into Thailand went smoothly. The entry cards that are often described on the Internet have now been abolished. You only get an entry stamp in your passport, which is valid for a maximum stay of 30 days.

The best way to get to the property from the airport is by taxi or shuttle organized by the hotel. Alternatively, you can of course rent a vehicle. However, traffic drives on the left in Thailand.

For our stay on the island of Phuket we booked three nights in the Sugar Marina Resort ART at Karon Beach. The hotel is located quite close to the beach.

The nickname ART suggests art. Inside the hotel attention to detail and artistic ideas can be found in every corner.

The breakfast buffet offers both local and international delicacies.

Numerous local and international restaurants are within easy walking distance.

Day trips and ferry tickets can easily be booked at one of the shops in front of the hotel. Pick-up is at the reception.

Drone Registration for Thailand on Phuket Island:

After breakfast, before we started touring the island, we visited the Thai Aviation Authority to get the necessary flight permit for the drone.

If you want to take aerial photos in Thailand, you have to register the aircraft before use. The process is described here in detail and up-to-date. A good preparation before the trip is recommended, although the entry stamp must be proven for the final steps. The processing time is given as 15 working days, but depends heavily on the number of incoming applications.

All in all, the process is straight-forward, a personal visit to the authority can shorten the processing and undoubtedly simplifies the payment.

The Big Buddha of Phuket:

There is a lot to discover and experience on Phuket. One day is far from enough to see everything. However, you can also get a good overview and visit the most important places in a short amount of time.

We hired a driver for 10 hours who accompanied us throughout the day.

Our tour started at the accommodation and the first stop was the big Buddha, which can be seen from afar, enthroned on his hill.

The big Buddha can be easily reached from the parking lot via a staircase. If you want, you can have your wishes immortalized on tiles that are used for restoration.

The platform on the hill also offers a great overview, especially in clear weather and good visibility.

Unfortunately, it wasn't very clear during our visit, so the panorama isn't quite as impressive.

You should be particularly careful with the monkeys that live here, and they like to steal something from visitors.

Drinks should be stowed out of sight, especially in hot, dry weather.

Wat Chalong, the most important temple on Phuket:

The Wat Chalong is Phuket's most important temple and the complex is not only spectacular because of its architecture.

There are a variety of Buddhist buildings and spiritual customs to see on the extensive area.

The various buildings of the temple complex are absolutely fascinating and lovingly detailed. Shoes must be removed to enter.

Wat Chalong is also suitable for a walk. Magnificent green areas complete the temple and invite you to linger.

The buildings are not only impressive from the outside, there is also a lot to see inside. In addition to paintings and countless Buddha statues, it is above all the small details that are worth discovering.

You can easily spend half a day in the Wat Chalong temple to soak up the spiritual atmosphere.

Finally, we visited the hall of the high-ranking monks, who can be worshiped in a teak house.

Wat Chalong is a recommended place to immerse yourself in Thai customs and culture.

In the afternoon we drove from the Wat Chalong temple complex towards Talat Yai.

Phuket Town:

Phuket Town is the capital of the island and known for its numerous souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes. Here you can stroll and try one or the other treat. You will also find something here when you are looking for souvenirs. The buildings are reminiscent of Portuguese colonial architecture.

In addition to tourist attractions, the city also has cultural attractions to offer. Here is one of the artistically decorated gates in town.

There are special and excellent cafés on every corner. You are spoiled for choice as to which one to choose.

A real eye-catcher are the colorful houses along the streets of Phuket Town.

If you look at the individual shops, you will always find special and sometimes bizarre ones, such as the Pub Hog's Head.

From the Wat Mongkol Nimit temple, in the middle of Phuket town, we drove to the southern tip of the island. From Cape Phrom Thep we want to watch the sunset.

Sunset at Cape Phrom Thep on the southern tip of Phuket:

There is no better way to end a day than with a colorful sunset by the sea. As soon as we arrived at Cape Phrom Thep, the colorful spectacle began and provided a wonderful end to the day.

Day Tour to James Bond Island:

For today we had booked a tour to Ko Ping Kan Island, better known as James Bond Island. Here in 1974 the title "The Man with the Golden Gun" with Roger Moore was filmed.

After a short breakfast, we were picked up at the hotel reception at 7:30 am. We took the shuttle bus to the port. There was the opportunity to regain strength with a cup of coffee, small snacks and fruit.

The departure by speedboat was scheduled for 9:00 a.m.

Alternatively, tours with slower excursion boats are also offered. Depending on the swell, the speedboat ride can be quite adventurous.

Today we were lucky with the weather and the sea was calm.

Just a few minutes after we cast off, we drove through a fascinating island world of karst rocks.

Individualists can also do the tours with the long-tail boats typical of Thailand.

The first short stop on the way was in a small cave, the so-called ice cream cave in the north of the island of Ko Pa Nak. Over the years, impressive stalactite formations have formed here that look like ice cream.

Our next stop was Ko Phing Kan, James Bond Island.

From the small jetty we walked, about 10 minutes, through the forest. The famous rock, Ko Tapu, which served as a film set in the 1974 classic “The Man with the Golden Gun”, could already be seen from afar.

There is also a small temple on the small James Bond Island. In the middle of the forest there is a small prayer shrine.

A little later we reached the place where Roger Moore entered the island.

If you want, you can also pass the time with swimming. After a short stay, we continued to the next destination of the tour.

The floating fishing village on Ko Panyee Island:

After 15 minutes on the boat we reached the island of Ko Panyee. On the island there is a Muslim fishing village, which has about 1600 inhabitants, who originally come from Malaysia.

After lunch on the island, we had the opportunity to look around the village.

The simply built, colorful houses serve the people here as accommodation and mostly as a stall for souvenirs.

The residents live almost self-sufficiently and produce most of what they need themselves. In addition to numerous souvenir shops, a mosque is also part of the image of the floating fishing village.

Canoeing at Ko Pa Nak Island:

On the way back we stopped again at the island of Ko Pa Nak, where we had already visited the ice cream cave in the morning. This time we went on a canoe trip.

Even where the larger excursion boats do not have enough space, there is a lot to discover. Sliding leisurely through caves and along the mangrove forest in a canoe was a special experience.

Swimming and Relaxing at Ko Naka Noi Island:

Our last destination was the island of Ko Naka Noi. Here we had time again to cool off in the water or a refreshing fruit cocktail with a wonderful view over the bay.

Afterwards we went back to Phuket and took a shuttle to the accommodation.

Sunset at Karon Beach on Phuket:

After returning, we even made it on time to enjoy the sunset on the beach in front of our hotel.

Arriving on Ko Phi Phi Island:

The first change of accommodation was imminent and we were picked up at the reception of the accommodation on Phuket in the late morning and taken to the ferry to the island of Ko Phi Phi.

I booked an overnight stay in the Coco Bella Hotel on the island of Ko Phi Phi. From the port you can reach the hotel in a few minutes on foot. Heavy luggage can be brought to the accommodation.

The hotel is right in the center of the settlement. Excursions and tours can be booked directly at the reception. Local and international restaurants can be found throughout the island.

The breakfast buffet offers plenty of treats in the hotel's restaurant.

Discover the island of Ko Phi Phi:

Bars, restaurants, small shops and travel agencies are lined up in the village. During the day it makes a rather calm and relaxed impression. In the evening, however, the place becomes a party location.

A picture typical of Thailand. Long-tail boats that serve as water taxis around the islands, transporting locals and tourists alike from island to island.

The car-free island can easily be explored on foot in an afternoon. In addition to the promenade, the beaches and the two main viewpoints are particularly recommended.

The path to Long Beach, said to be the most beautiful beach on the island of Ko Phi Phi, led us through mangrove forest right along the shore. It takes about 30 minutes on foot. Insect repellent should definitely be at hand here to avoid getting completely bitten. Alternatively, you can also take a long-tail boat there. The journey takes 10 minutes.

The last stretch down to the beach was a short scramble. The effort is rewarded with a wonderfully soft sandy beach that, despite the neighboring hotels, is not overcrowded.

For the way back we took one of the waiting boats to be at the viewpoints in time for the sunset.

The viewpoints "Viewpoint 1" and "Viewpoint 2" can be reached from the village via a staircase that leads you up the hill. From “Viewpoint 1” a hiking trail leads to “Viewpoint 2”. You should plan half an hour for the ascent.

From the vantage points you have a fascinating view over the island. If you want to watch the sunset, you should be in time, because the popular viewpoints are quickly overcrowded, especially when the weather is good.

By speedboat to Maya Bay:

The next morning we took a boat tour from Ko Phi Phi island before a speedboat took us towards Au Nang in Krabi province in the afternoon.

Unfortunately it was a bit windy today and the sea was choppy and rough. With the speedboat, “island hopping” took on a new meaning. The boat literally jumped over the waves and mostly landed pretty rough.

By speedboat you can reach the island of Ko Phi Phi Leh can be reached by speedboat from the island of Ko Phi Phi in a quarter of an hour. The small neighboring island was the location and backdrop for the movie "The Beach" with Leonardo di Caprio.

The beach in Maya Bay in particular is world-famous and was even closed for several years to protect nature because of the crowds of visitors.

Efforts are currently being made to make tourism more sustainable and to have less impact on sensitive ecosystems.

The Pi Leh Lagoon:

Not far from Maya Bay is Phi Leh Bay or Phi Leh Lagoon. Protected from wind and swell, you can swim and snorkel here in a relaxed manner. The fascinating and colorful underwater world can be wonderfully observed.

The Monkey Beach:

We had another brief stop at Monkey Beach on Ko Phi Phi Island before continuing to Bamboo Island for lunch.

Be careful on the monkey beach. As cute as the monkeys may seem, they can be aggressive and snappy. A courtesy distance can't be wrong.

Bamboo Island:

The last destination of the tour was Bamboo Island, where we also had lunch. Here, too, you can spend the rest of the time swimming or snorkeling before returning to the island of Ko Phi Phi.

The connecting boat to Krabi was already waiting for us in the harbor when we came back. The luggage was also brought to the pier by the hotel staff, so that the transfer was easy to manage.

Conclusion:

There is a lot to discover in southern Thailand. In the first half of our trip we visited Phuket and the surrounding islands.

In addition to beaches and temples, Phuket also offers places that fascinate with their colonial architectural style. The islands are all unique and special and worth a visit.

Excited we drove towards Ao Nang and look forward to the flora and fauna in the Khao Sok National Park.