The best activities for kids and families in Phuket are those that combine excitement and wonderment with a certain amount of comfort and convenience. This ensures that all members of the group – regardless of their age or ability – can enjoy a fun and memorable experience together, rather than having some people sit it out while others are having a great time. This was our guiding principle when selecting the following list.

There's a great selection of things to see and do around Phuket and the nearby islands and areas, from exploring the great outdoors to exciting cultural shows. Take a look through this list and we're sure you'll find something to keep everyone entertained for when you decide to have a day off from relaxing on the beach.

  • 1

    John Gray Sea Canoe in Phang Nga Bay

    10 Hours

    John Gray Sea Canoe in Phang Nga Bay
    • Adventure
    • Families
    • Photo

    Explore the limestone caves around Phang Nga Bay with an experienced guide and learn about their discovery by John Gray in 1989. Travel by a specially-made inflatable canoe as you duck under low-hanging ledges and uncover hidden worlds on this thrilling water-bound adventure. Catch a ride from your Phuket hotel and head to the port, where you can climb aboard and grab a plate to fill up on a tasty buffet lunch of Thai specialities. Cruise as you eat, making your way to the canoeing launch site. 

    Reach the first site of the day and hop onto your inflatable canoe, letting your guide take care of the paddling while you enjoy stunning views of the surrounding limestone karsts. Duck into hidden caves, known as hongs, keeping your eyes peeled for sure-footed macaque monkeys and bright-blue kingfishers that call this area home.

  • 2

    Phi Phi by speedboat

    8 Hours

    Phi Phi by speedboat
    • Adventure
    • Families
    • Photo

    Enjoy a day of sightseeing in the Phi Phi Islands, a popular destination in Southern Thailand made famous by the movie The Beach (2000). Admire stunning views and crystal-clear waters of Maya Bay, enjoy lunch, spot limestone cliffs, and get a chance to go snorkelling. After pickup from your hotel, ride to a private area at Dolphin Seaway Pier where you take a short break and enjoy a lovely live band before hopping into a speedboat. 

    Visit Phi Phi Island and relax on the sand, go for a swim, and explore the beautiful surroundings of spectacular hills and mountains. As you swim in PiLeh Cove, feel like you're in a lagoon-like private pool. Next, go sightseeing around the island by speedboat and visit Viking Cave, where swifts make their nests and wall paintings feature boats resembling Viking ships. At Monkey Beach, try to spot wild monkeys from the speedboat.

  • 3

    James Bond and beyond

    9 Hours

    James Bond and beyond
    • Adventure
    • Families
    • Photo

    Cruise along the beautiful Phang Nga Bay and discover the famous James Bond Island. Canoe your way to the exotic Talu Island and see the wonderful stalactite caves. Feast on delicious Thai seafood before cooling off with a swim at stunning Naka Island. Begin your day trip with a transfer from your hotel to the exclusive private pier at Dolphin Seaway, where you are serenaded by the Dolphin Seaway band before boarding the speedboat to Phang Nga Bay. 

    Cruise upon gorgeous emerald-green waters and stop at the renowned James Bond Island. The amazing and stunning stone rock of Koh Tapu is a tall islet that towers over 20 metres above sea level. The rock was the filming site for the 1974 James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun.

  • 4

    Phuket ATV tour

    1 Hour

    Phuket ATV tour
    • Adventure
    • Families

    Whether you’re new to riding or an experienced pro, quench your thirst for adventure on an ATV journey in the exciting terrain of a 142-hectare off-road area. Explore the wonderlands of plantations, farms, and jungles on this 2-hour guided tour. Head to the riding site in comfortable and convenient transportation from your hotel. Upon arrival, listen to brief safety instructions before climbing aboard your all-terrain vehicle and preparing for your adrenaline-fueled excursion. 

    Follow a knowledgeable guide as you manoeuvre the rugged roads of Phuket. Splash down muddy trails, power over bumps, and zoom around obstacles. Along the way, pass by dense mangrove swamps, rubber plantations, and palm gardens. Take breaks to get closer looks at the environment – you might even see a Venus flytrap as it captures insects in its sticky grasp.

  • 5

    Khai Nok and Khai Nui island excursion with lunch

    5 Hours

    Khai Nok and Khai Nui island excursion with lunch
    • Adventure
    • Families
    • Photo

    Just off the coast of Phuket are 2 magnificent islands called Khai Nok and Khai Nui – small gems of white-sand beaches and tree-covered rocks surrounded by clear, turquoise water. Take a boat ride to these peaceful islands and spend the day basking in their paradisiacal ambience. After convenient pickup from your hotel, make your way to a nearby pier and step aboard a boat that whisks you out onto the waters of the Andaman Sea. 

    Enjoy a welcome drink and snacks while you cruise over idyllic waters toward Khai Nok, which is your first stop. Disembark the vessel and take advantage of the opportunity to relax on the island's warm sand, or put on snorkelling gear and marvel at the bustling aquatic world that thrives just off the coast of this pristine isle.

    • Adventure
    • Families

    Flying Hanuman offers a high-speed ziplining adventure that's unlike any other, sending you flying through the treetops with the speed and grace of a bird. Admire Phuket Island's dense jungle landscapes and forest-covered hillsides while you get your adrenaline pumping. After pickup from your hotel, take a drive to the zipline course and meet your friendly guide, who goes over a safety briefing that helps you prepare for your adventure. 

    Nestled on an 80,000-sq-m plot of land covered with rubber trees, Flying Hanuman is the perfect place to observe the thriving green flora and diverse fauna that make the island unique.

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  • 7

    Coral and Racha islands full-day tour

    8 Hours

    Coral and Racha islands full-day tour
    • Adventure
    • Families
    • Luxury
    • Photo

    Discover the gorgeous and magnificent Racha and Coral islands on this day trip from Phuket. Take the opportunity to snorkel for an up-close look at the gorgeous and vibrant aquatic life or lounge on the white-sand beaches under the glimmering afternoon sun. After pickup from your hotel, drive to Chalong Pier and climb aboard a modern boat for a calm cruise to gorgeous Racha Island. Upon arrival, put on your snorkelling mask and get ready for a close look at the local aquatic life as well as beautiful corals and a kaleidoscope of fish in the clear turquoise waters. 

    Next, hop on your boat and depart for Coral Island. Replenish your energy with a delicious Thai buffet lunch at Hey Island Restaurant and enjoy time on the pristine white-sand beach or perhaps try some sea sports like beach diving, parasailing, and banana boat riding at your own expense. After an adventurous day, return to the pier and drive back to your city hotel.

  • 8

    Phuket countryside half-day bike tour

    6 Hours

    Phuket countryside half-day bike tour
    • Adventure
    • Families

    Leave the bustling tourist district of Phuket behind and get a taste of the countryside as you bike by traditional villages, tropical plantations, and the beautiful white sands of Sala Beach. On your way to a tranquil waterfall, stop at a sanctuary for rehabilitating endangered gibbons. Your adventure begins at Sala Beach in the quiet, northeast section of Phuket Island. Pedal through the idyllic Thai countryside, passing by rubber, palm, and pineapple plantations as you cruise down dirt paths.

Ben Reeves | Compulsive Traveller