With towering platform leaps, rainforest zip-lines, sleazy nightclub shrieks and creepy-crawly treats, this four-day Phuket itinerary isn’t for the faint-hearted. Find out why even James Bond would agree.
Updated on: 7 Sep 2022
Just two hours away from Singapore, Phuket makes an easy island getaway, but lazing about for a week might just scream boring to you. Personally, I’ve been a sucker for do-nothing suntan vacations, but I’ve gotten restless after many same-old beach holidays. What would make Phuket any different?
Consider me fooled! More than just the beautiful beaches, Phuket ended up being full of activities that challenged me to step (and island hop) out of my comfort zone.
Here’s how we packed our 4D3N Phuket itinerary with enough thrills for an unforgettable adventure!
Read also: The Ultimate Phuket Guide — 27 Fun Things To Do For An Adventure Packed Holiday
Pre-trip Essentials
Flights: Jetstar currently operates five-times weekly direct flights from Singapore to Phuket. On top of affordable fares starting from S$74^ one-way, Jetstar also offers a Price Beat Guarantee — if you find a lower fare for the same flight online, Jetstar will beat it by 10% (T&Cs apply)!
Getting Around in Phuket: Most attractions are scattered around Patong Beach or Phuket Town. If your accommodation is in these areas, you can easily take the local tuk tuks, taxis, or songtaew (bright-blue local buses) for transport. But if you’re staying outside the main hub, we recommend hiring a chartered car to get from place to place. Aside from time and money, you’ll also save yourself the need to haggle down fares every step of the way.
4G SIM Card: The Happy Tourist SIM provides 15GB data for eight days (at 3G/4G speeds) for only ~S$9! If you order online, you can collect your SIM upon arrival at Phuket International Airport.
Best Times To Visit: Phuket’s tropical climate means it’s never a bad time to visit, with the weather varying from sunny, cool, and rainy through the year. May, September, and October are the wettest months, however, so check beforehand if your preferred activities are available!
Day 1: Swim, Fly, and Hike Through Phuket’s Lush Outdoors
Bang Pae Waterfall
Freshen up from your flight and start your adventure with a splash in Phuket’s biggest waterfall!
Nestled in Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, Bang Pae Waterfall takes an easy 10-minute hike to reach. The clear water is perfect for a dip, and the trees let in sunlight while providing shelter from the heat. This beautiful photo opp is also a hidden gem — there were no other tourists when we visited in the late morning.
Also, do check out the National Park’s noisy inhabitants — you’ll hear their hoots as you approach the Gibbon Rehabilitation Center, near the park’s entrance.
Cost: ฿200/~S$8.40 (includes entrance to the Gibbon Rehabilitation Center)
Opening Hours: 9AM – 5PM
Address: Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, Phuket, Thailand. It’s along the way from the airport to Phuket Old Town.
*Pro-tip: If your driver insists on collecting an admission fee above ฿200, show him prices quoted on TripAdvisor to lower the fee.
Flying Hanuman Zipline
*Update (15 August 2022): Flying Hanuman is temporarily closed. Instead, check out Hanuman World (From ~S$37) for similar ziplining adventures, plus a zipline rollercoaster and an optional skywalk!
Dry off from your waterfall session by zipping through the air like Hanuman — the Hindu Monkey God from whom Flying Hanuman gets its name.
After a 20-minute wilderness trek, get your adrenaline fix with 15 zip-lines through an expansive, lush Thai jungle. You’ll also abseil down an ancient tree, take an extra-long whiz along a 400m zip-wire, and fly alongside a buddy on the Honeymoon Sling!
Zip-lines aside, brace yourself for high element thrills including sky bridges and spiral staircases. Our cheeky guides even added to the scare factor by bouncing on the bridges as we struggled across.
Cost: From ~S$66 depending on tours ranging from 1 – 3 hours (options for lunch and pickup available)
Opening Hours: 8AM – 5PM
Address: 89/16 Moo 6, Soi Namtok Kathu, Wichitsongkram Rd., Kathu, Phuket, 83120. Free parking available onsite.
*Pro-tip: Bring body wipes/sprays to freshen up, as you’re bound to sweat buckets under the jungle heat. Your travel buddies will thank you!
Lunch at One Chun Restaurant
Recharge with a delicious meal at one of Phuket’s must-try restaurants, known for its amazing seafood dishes. Designed like a 1950s shophouse, One Chun provides the perfect atmosphere to catch your breath after the morning’s heart-pumping activities.
We recommend ordering the Fresh Crab Meat With Yellow Curry And Coconut Milk (฿370/~S$15.50), and the Fried Grilled Pork With Chili, Pepper And Garlic (฿150/~S$6.30).
Cost: Mains range from ฿90/~S$3.80 to ฿350/~S$14.70 per pax
Opening Hours: 10AM – 10PM
Address: 48/1 Thepkrasattri Rd. Phuket town, Talat Yai, Phuket Town, Phuket 83000, Thailand
*Pro-tip: Reserve a table in advance as the restaurant is very popular during lunch and dinner times.
Monkey Hill
Take a two-hour hike up Monkey Hill, home to about 400 macaques. It’s a popular exercise spot for locals, who trek up the 1km incline for stunning views of Phuket.
If you’d rather not sweat, take a small car or motorbike up to the peak. Do note that the road is closed to traffic from 5PM – 8PM, giving trekkers more space to work out while monkey-watching!
Entrance Fee: Free
Opening Hours: 12PM – 12AM
How to get there: From Thepkasattri Road, take the first road left after Phuket Prison onto Toe Sae Road, leading up to Monkey Hill. It’s close to Phuket Town’s Provincial Court.
Phuket FantaSea
Wind down with some lighthearted thrills at Phuket FantaSea, an exciting mesh of theatre, theme park, and shopping.
Feast on a buffet spread of international dishes, served in an immaculate dining hall adorned with celestial-themed art and floor-to-ceiling statues.
Phuket FantaSea’s theatre show holds nothing back, mixing top-quality acrobatics, magic, and even fireworks, drawing nonstop wows from the audience. Word of warning: if you’re an animal lover, you may feel uncomfortable with the show’s use of trained animals in some segments.
Also, don’t miss the carnival games (~฿80/~S$3.37 each). If you’re up for it, you can feed (฿80/~S$3.37) or ride elephants (฿1100/~S$46.30) as well.
Cost: From ~S$56 (options for buffet and pickup available)
Opening Hours: 5:30PM – 11:30PM (buffet hall opens at 5:30PM. Show begins at 9PM)
Address: Phuket FantaSea, 99 M3 Kamala Kathu, Phuket 83150. Located on Kamala Beach, next to Patong and Surin Beach. Take a taxi or tuk tuk to the theatre, or opt for a roundtrip hotel transfer.
*Pro-tip: While there’s no need to book in advance as the theatre is really big, you can save a ton by booking through Klook (from ~S$56) rather than the official website (from ~S$75)!
Day 2: Get Pumped on Island Hopping and Live Boxing
Speedboat Island Adventure to James Bond Island
Pretend to be the world-famous secret agent with a speedboat trip to James Bond Island. Known for being the filming location of 1974’s The Man With The Golden Gun, the iconic setting is great for spy-worthy photos.
The Island Speedboat Tour also takes you to four other islands, and lasts roughly eight hours:
Panak Island — Known for its iconic limestone caves, go exploring through a dark tunnel, and admire the interesting rock formations along the way. Reaching the end of the cave, you’ll be rewarded with a hidden enclave full of scenic mangroves and cute mudskippers.
Hong Island — A five-minute ride away from Panak, Hong Island is great for canoeing, letting you explore smaller islands unreachable by speedboats. Keep your eyes open for the pretty canopies with a heart-shaped clearing!
Ko Panyee Island — Have lunch at Ko Panyee, a colourful floating village that’s truly a sight to behold. Note: Being home to ~1,500 Muslims, alcohol and skimpy clothing aren’t allowed, so bring something to throw over your bikini!
Naka Island — An island purely for lazing around, take a break from adventuring with some beachside drinks.
There are also other beautiful islands you can visit — read our Island Hopping Guide for more!
Cost: ~S$113 (includes lunch and pickup). Option to purchase photos and videos by tour cameraman for ฿1200 on DVD, or ฿1200/~S$50.51 on USB.
Tour Hours: 6:30AM – 5:30PM
How to get there: Free pickup from Phuket Town/Chalong, Kata/Karon, Le Meridien Area/ Tri Tang, Patong, Kamala, and Laguna. Surcharge for pickup from other areas in Phuket.
*Pro-tip: Bring small notes (~฿100/~S$4.20) to tip the various guides after each activity.
Catch a Live Boxing Match
Soak up the atmosphere at a live boxing match in Phuket’s biggest Muay Thai stadium, the Patong Boxing Stadium. The two-hour match begins with smaller, younger fighters, before progressing to incredibly intense battles between Muay Thai heavyweights.
Cost: ฿1500 (regular seat), ฿1800 (ring-side seat). Bring extra cash (~฿150/~S$6.30) for snacks and booze.
Pickup Times: 9PM (Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays only). Pickup 10 minutes before.
Address: 2/59 Sainamyen Rd Tambon Patong, Amphoe Kathu, Chang Wat Phuket 83150
*Pro-tip: Get the mid-tier ringside seats if you want more space and privacy.
Day 3: Bungy, Box, Eat Bugs, and More
Phuket Bungy Jump
*Update (15 August 2022): Phuket Bungy Jump is closed till further notice.
Here’s something to check off your bucket list: a vertical free-fall of 50m, or the height of a 15-storey building!
For over 20 years, Phuket Bungy Jump has seen countless jumps by those brave enough to take the leap. You can opt to dip the water as you fall, or dive in tandem with a friend. Just remember to psych yourself up before you go — there’s no refund if you back out!
Cost: ~S$88
Opening Hours: 9AM – 5PM
Address: 61/3 Wichitsongkram, Kathu, Phuket 83120. By tuk tuk or taxi, it’s a 10-minute ride from Patong Beach. Hotel pickup also available through Klook.
*Pro-tip: Bring your own action camera to capture the experience! There’s a ฿500/~S$21 top-up but it’s cheaper than renting the onsite GoPro Hero4 for ฿700/~S$29.46.
Lunch at Tu Kab Khao Restaurant
Feast on Thai-fusion dishes in a 120-year-old building, fitted with Victorian decor and vintage China plates. Meals at Tu Kab Khao are a little pricy — this is a classy place! — but the food is delicious and service is excellent.
Try the Crab Curry with White Noodles, the Tom Yum Milk Broth, the Spicy Fried Pork with Basil Leaves, and of course, a glass of Thai Milk Tea.
Cost: Mains cost ~฿200/~S$8.42 per pax
Opening Hours: 2PM – 12AM. Closed on Sundays.
Address: 8, Phang Nga Road, Talat Yai, Phuket Town, Phuket 83000, Thailand
Sightsee on an ATV
Up the ante on your usual sightseeing with an ATV adventure! It’s definitely a more fun way of getting to Phuket’s iconic Big Buddha, where you can take photos and admire panoramic views of the island.
With bumpy roads and of course, tons of mud, you’ll rough it out as you zoom through the great outdoors. The off-road trail is shared with passenger-carrying elephants, but the wide roads provide space for you to move as you admire these gentle giants.
Don’t worry if you’re a beginner — friendly instructors will watch out for your safety, and even help take cool photos and videos for an additional ฿200/~S$8.42.
Cost: ~S$64 for one hour; ~S$86 for two hours (Pickup available)
Opening Hours: 8AM – 5PM
Address: 54/2 Moo.7 Chalong Muang Phuket Thailand. Pickup available from certain areas.
*Pro-tip: Bring insect repellent to ward off pesky bugs, and wear long pants if you don’t want to get your legs dirty!
Lessons at Kingka Muay Thai
*Update (15 August 2022): Kingka Muay Thai is permanently closed.
A small but established Muay Thai gym, Kingka offers Muay Thai lessons for anyone craving head-pounding action.
At the two-hour group classes (฿300/~S$12.63 per pax), you’ll get conditioning and coaching on basic moves. We recommend the one-on-one training (฿600/~S$25.25 per pax), which offers a full hour of basic coaching with friendly instructors who are experts at correcting form.
Cost: Varies
Class Timings: Varies. For private class bookings, call 093 576 9104 to secure your slot.
Address: 43/42 Moo 7, Viset Rd, Rawai, Amphoe Muang, next to Nai Ham Beach
Dinner at Kampong Kata Hill Restaurant
Have an out-of-this-world dining experience at Kampong Kata Hill Restaurant. The range of classic Thai dishes — from Seafood Salad to Green Chicken Curry — are delicious, but what’s really invigorating is the restaurant’s decor. Packed with oriental antiques, statues, and ceramics, Kampong Kata Hill exudes mystery and magic.
Cost: Mains range from ฿300 to ฿1160/~S$12.63 to ~S$48.82
Opening Hours: 6PM – 11PM
How to get there: two entrances, either by 4 Karon Road, Kata Centre or on Taina Road.
*Pro-tip: If you’re driving, come via the Kata Centre entrance, as parking is much harder to find on Taina Road.
Stir-Fried Crickets Along Bangla Road
Take a gastronomic adventure by munching on nature’s finest (and perhaps crunchiest) — stir-fried crickets!
You’ll find these culinary sensations along pushcarts on Bangla Road. Our vendor was super excited that foreigners were buying her crunchy snacks, and even fed us with glee! Infused with lemongrass sauce, the crickets were crisp and chewy — if you stop thinking ew crickets, they actually taste pretty good. But don’t take my word for it, try them yourself!
Cost: ฿20/~S$0.84 for a small packet
Opening Hours: 4PM – Late
How to get there: Between Rat-U-Thit Road and Beach Road, near Jungceylon Shopping Centre, Central Patong. Walk along Bangla Road and look out for the mobile carts.
Day 4: Dive into the Sea and Get a Taste of Phuket Sleaze
Underwater Adventure Tour at Phuket’s Famous Dive Sites
Continue your Phuket adventure with what makes the island so special — beautiful waters and amazing marine life!
The Three Dives Nearby Phuket by Big Boat tour brings you to three of Phuket’s famed dive sites: King Cruiser, Shark Point, and Koh Dok Mai.
King Cruiser is an 85m passenger boat that used to travel between Phuket and Phi Phi Island. After it collided with a rock in 1997 and sank, King Cruiser has become a popular wreck-diving site. Don’t worry about ocean ghosts though — there were no casualties!
The second gorgeous dive site is Shark Point, named after the leopard shark which makes an occasional appearance. Currents here can be strong, so be careful as you dive!
Koh Dok Mai, also known as Flower Island, is renowned for its diversity of corals and marine life.
Nutritious meals are included on the tour, such as toasted sandwiches with ham, onion, and cucumber.
Cost: ~S$148 (inclusive of breakfast, lunch, and pickup from certain locations. Excludes diving gear which you can rent for ฿500/~S$21 per pax on the boat)
Tour Hours: Pickup between 7AM – 7:45AM depending on location. Tour takes 7 – 8 hours.
How to get there: Free pickup from Patong, Karon, Kata & Chalong; other areas incur a surcharge of ฿300 to ฿500/~S$12.63 to ~S$21 each way.
*Pro-tip: Though not compulsory, bring your own mask and regulator mouthpiece for a more hygienic and comfortable experience.
Dinner at Siang Can
At Siang Can, try some authentic dishes from Isaan, the North-Eastern region of Thailand. Isaan food tends to be more fiery, sour, and salty than your usual Thai food — here’s hoping your taste buds are prepared!
While the interior is simple and nothing to shout about, the menu is extensive, and the dishes are delicious and cheap. We’d recommend the Barbecued Pork, Crispy Omelette, and Tom Yum Soup!
Cost: Mains range from ฿50 – ฿120
Opening Hours: 5PM – 8PM
Address: Mae Luan Road, Phuket Town, Phuket, Thailand. From the front of the Mitsubishi dealership, cross the road, turn right, and walk approximately 50m. Siang Can will be on your left.
*Pro-tip: The soups can be really spicy, so ask the waiters to tone it down if you aren’t good with spice.
Get Blown (Away) at a Thai Girl Show 😉
Wrap up your island adventure with Phuket’s most notorious attraction — the Thai Girl Show. Witness performers carry out extreme acts with their, um, lady parts, including smoking cigarettes, shooting live fish into a bowl, and pulling out real razorblades — we told you this itinerary’s not for the faint-hearted!
There’s also a very… interesting segment involving ping pong balls, which explains the attraction’s other famous name, the Ping Pong Show.
If you’d rather go with something tamer, head for the Simon Cabaret Show (~S$35) instead — a classy performance featuring Thai ladyboys.
Thai Girl Show
Cost: ฿200 for entry and one bottle of beer. Be prepared to spend another ฿100 tip for performers.
Opening Hours: 6PM – Late
Address: Along Bangla Road, touts will invite you to watch the show. Exercise discretion in which club you choose, of course. We recommend Devil’s Playground, just off Bangla Road.
*Pro-tip: Before agreeing to enter a club, insist on seeing the menu (to check for hidden fees), and check if the club is filled with other tourists. Bargain and be assertive — we lowered our entrance fee from ฿900 to ฿200!
Read also: The Ultimate Guide To Nightlife In Phuket: 11 Places For An Epic Night Out
Let the beach bums graze by the sea while you embark on not “just another island holiday”, but one with thrilling stories to tell!
If you’re planning to use our Phuket itinerary, here’s the concise version:
Day 1: Bang Pae Waterfall, Hanuman World, One Chun Restaurant, Monkey Hill, Phuket Fantasea
Day 2: James Bond Island Speedboat Tour, Patong Boxing Stadium
Day 3: Phuket Bungy Jump, Tu Kab Khao Restaurant, ATV Safari, Kingka Muay Thai, Kampong Kata Hill Restaurant, Bangla Road Night Market
*Update 15 August 2022: Phuket Bungy Jump and Kingka Muay Thai are closed
Day 4: Diving at King Cruiser, Shark Point, and Koh Dok Mai dive sites, Siang Can Restaurant, Thai Girl Show on Bangla Road
Cheap flights from Singapore to Phuket with Jetstar
To keep your action-packed Phuket itinerary affordable, aim to save on big ticket items — like flights!
Jetstar’s budget-friendly fares start from S$74^ for the short two-hour journey to Phuket.
If you’re a frequent traveller, enjoy long-term savings by joining Club Jetstar for an annual membership fee of S$48*. You’ll get early access to sales and exclusive member-only fares (like S$67* to Phuket!), as well as an additional 20% off bags and seat selection for you and up to four other travel mates.
Another budget tip is to book your activities with Klook. We managed to rack up quite a bit of cost savings this way, as compared to other on-site vendors and direct bookings. We also loved how convenient it was to request pickups or make additional arrangements all on one platform.
So, pack your bags and let the adventure begin!
Which activity in this Phuket itinerary would you most like to experience? Let us know in the comments!
This post was brought to you by Klook and Jetstar.
^Fare shown is accurate at the time of writing the article. Selected travel periods and conditions apply.
*Club Jetstar terms and conditions apply.