The outlandish landscape of Phang Nga Bay, the deep blue and green waters around Phi Phi, mesmerizing sunsets and gorgeous views in Phuket-Thailand's incredible beauty took me completely by surprise.
We were looking for our first international trip with a toddler, and finally zeroed in on Phuket, owing to my baby's love for beaches, and a perfect mix of activity and leisure which our trip promised.
We covered Phuket and Phi Phi for 5 nights and 6 days. We didn't stay in Krabi but if you'd like to explore Krabi, consider extending your stay in Thailand by 1-2 days. I have covered the detailed itinerary of our trip here. If you want to know other information about visiting Thailand, please check out my guide
DAY 1: EXPLORING PHUKET
Our flight landed in Phuket around 11 AM local time. After VoA process, we left the airport by 12.30 PM. We had pre-booked our tours and transfers from India, so we started on our sightseeing journey immediately.
Our first stop was Wat Chalong Temple. It is a beautiful Buddhist Temple Complex, and easily accessible from the main areas of Phuket.
After spending around 30-40 mins here, we left for Big Buddha. It is situated at a height and the road is steep, but cars can easily go till the top. A short walk will lead you to the Buddha Statue and the most amazing views of Phuket coastline. The temple is actively used for worship and people are expected to cover their knees and shoulders while visiting here.
While coming back from Big Buddha, we stopped for lunch at Big Buddha Art Cafe and Restaurant. They had affordable Thai meals, shakes and juices. They also had a beautiful view from the restaurant.
Around Big Buddha, there are lot of adventure activities and animal safaris/interactions. You can plan a complete day out here if you wish.
Our final destination was Karon View Point. Cars can go till the top and the view of the coast line is really beautiful.
DAY 2: JAMES BOND ISLAND TOUR
The second day started early, at around 8.30 AM. We had booked a group tour to James Bond Island.
After pickup, it took us around 1.5 hours to reach Phang Nga, located towards the Northern end of Phuket.
Our first stop was Wat Suwan Kuha, where there is a huge reclining Budhha statue inside a cave. It is an amazing place to explore.
After exploring the cave, we started our boat journey through the mangroves of Phang Nga. We had booked a longtail boat ride, which is a traditional boat.
The next stop was for lunch at Koh Panyi Village. It is a village on stilts. They served us Thai Lunch and the tables were already laid when we reached. Here, you can shop for souvenirs, clothes, jewelry etc.
After lunch we moved to James Bond Island or Koh Tapu. You have to move long the side of the boat to disembark here, as they anchor the boat in shallow water. Dresses should be chosen accordingly, and shorts are very comfortable on this trip, and any island-hopping trip in Thailand.
We spent around 45 mins here, playing in the sea and clicking loads of pictures. There is a national park fee to be paid before entering the island, and please confirm whether it is included in your tour price or needs to be paid separately.
Our final stop of the day was at Koh Talu, where we were put in small rubber canoes and taken for a journey into sea caves. This was an optional activity which was separately charged. But it was quite thrilling and completely worth it.
We reached back to our hotel at around 6 PM. After freshening up, we walked to Patong Beach(approximately 700 m) and saw beautiful sunset views while sipping on mango juice.
Next we had dinner at Amritsr, an Indian Restaurant offering authentic North Indian cuisine. It is a bit on the pricey side, but if you are craving for home food, you can give it a try.
Finally we walked back to our hotel through Bangla Walking street. This street is closed for cars at night, and full of adult entertainment, night clubs, parties and a lot more. So if you want to explore Phuket nightlife, walk through this street for sure.
DAY 3: PHUKET-PHI PHI ISLAND
Early morning, the next day, we left for Phi Phi Island. It takes 1.5- 2 hours by ferry, and that itself is a wonderful experience. There were day trips also available, but we chose to stay 2 nights in Phi Phi to experience the culture.
The ferry departs from Rassada Pier in Phuket and arrives at Tonsai Pier in Phi Phi. There is a small 20 Baht fee you have to pay in Phi Phi to enter the tiny island.
Before entering Koh Phi Phi Don(the inhabited island), the operators take you around Koh Phi Phi Leh, and show you a glimpse of the towering limestone cliffs of the island, the Viking Cave, famous Maya Bay from a distance.
After reaching Phi Phi, we waited for a porter from the hotel where we had booked our stay- Phi Phi Banyan Villa. There are no roads on the island, and most of the hotels send their porters with wheelbarrows which are suited for the cobblestone paths. So, if you are planning to stay in Phi Phi it is better to travel light, ensure that the hotel sends a porter and choose a hotel closer to Tonsai Pier where the boats are anchored.
After check in, we rested a bit. Then we went to have lunch at Pirates House which claimed to serve Indian food as well(we tried Thai curry, dal and butter chicken, and the food was decent). Since it was quite late, we didn't take the sea tour of the island that day. We had planned to visit Phi Phi View Point, but unfortunately, we all slept soundly through the evening.
At around 7, we left for Loh Dalum beach, which is on the other side of the island, to witness one of the famous fire parties. The concept is to sit, drink buckets of cheap beer(or lemonade) some light snacks, and enjoy the show. The shows themselves are free, but the restaurants expect you to buy some drinks.
Finally, we roamed around the island a bit(it felt a bit creepy to me because there were too many cats around), had Shwarma at Efe the Mediterranean Restaurant(simply superb!), a salad at Pirates House, and called it a day.
DAY 4: PHI PHI ISLAND
We spend the day on Phi Phi Island. We wanted to go on an island tour, but all the tours were departing too early. So, we decided on a private longtail boat from our hotel itself(Cost 2500 baht). Unfortunately for us, the weather was inclement and the sea was choppy. So once we were out in the sea, the boat started moving from side to side lie a cork being pushed around by the sea. It started raining, and with a (almost) 2 year old baby in my lap, I was just praying to reach back safely!
However, the beauty of Phi Phi Islands is simply breathtaking, and this tour of the islands is a must do! We saw Viking Caves(from a distance as it is private property), Pileh Bay and Lagoon(where snorkeling and swimming is possible), Monkey Beach(famous for Monkeys) and a glimpse of Maya Bay, since it was not open to public in September. We wanted to visit Bamboo Island and Mosquito Island but we didn't have the time and courage to do that. But we heard that these islands are simply breathtaking a worth the effort to visit.
After coming back from the island tour, we left for Loh Dalum Beach, which is a stunning white sand beauty. It is the main beach of Koh Phi Phi Don.
We had lunch in Atom Resto and their pasta as well as pizza was simply awesome!
Next we had mango shakes for desert at Mango Garden, which I felt was overpriced. However, they do have a huge variety of Mango Desserts, and we especially like the shae with coconut milk in it.
We had some light dinner and slept early to get ready for the next day's journey back to Phuket.
DAY 5: PHUKET
We chose to take the ferry at round 11 so that we would reach Phuket around our check in time(2 PM). You can choose an earlier ferry if you wish to explore a bit more in Phuket.
After check in at Ramada Phuket, we explored the hotel amenities a bit, and in the evening we went to Patong beach for watching sunset.
Then we strolled through the Patong market, and bought some souvenirs for friends and family back home. Bargaining is second nature here, and the best gift were the cashmere shawls for 100 Baht each.
We came back to hotel, got some takeaway from local hotels and enjoyed homemade sandwiches, burgers and spicy green Thai Curry.
DAY 6: DEPART FROM PHUKET
Finally, after 5 adventure packed days, we said goodbye to Phuket and boarded our flight back home.
Our 5 day adventures in Phuket and Phi Phi were memorable, and we found Thailand to be a really friendly country, especially for children. We were happy with our decision to take our baby for his first international trip to Thailand.
If you are also looking for a solo, couple or family international trip, Phuket will fit all the bills. And if you've already been here, or explored some other places in Thailand, do let us know your recommendations in the comments or write about it on Tripoto