Location & Attractions
38 Katekwan Rd., T.Karon, A.Muang, Phuket 83100 THAILAND
Tel +66 (0) 76 330 979, (0) 76 330 870-1, Fax +66 (0) 76 330 905
Beaches, attractions, activities, day trips and festivals – plan your trip in and around Phuket!
For more information, suggestions, or assistance, please contact our front office.
Ordered by distance from Sawasdee Village.
Spa Day
Tired from your flight or all the activities you’ve been doing in Phuket? Pamper yourself with a relaxing spa treatment! The Baray Spa offers an array of spa treatments, or bundle it up with a spa package for a head-to-toe revitalisation.
Click here to view spa menu.
Thai Cooking Class
Experience Thai culture through a Thai cooking class! Here at Sawasdee Thai Cuisine we offer a 3-course cooking menu. Start the programme with visiting the local market to shop for ingredients, cook under our chef’s guidance, then enjoy our creations with unlimited free drinks!
Click here for more information.
Kata Beach
The nearest beach to Sawasdee Village is the beautiful Kata Beach, only one kilometre away. The curved bay overlooks the tiny Crab Island, and has lovely soft white sand and a shady area under the trees to picnic and watch the sunset. Kata is one of the best beaches in Phuket and offers a range of activities such as surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and paddle boarding. We offer an hourly shuttle bus service to and from Kata beach (09:00 am – 06:00 pm) for all guests staying at Sawasdee Village.
Water Activities
Surrounded by the Andaman Sea, there are plenty of water sports and activities that you may be interested in. Please always practise caution and participate at your own risk.
Surfing, Kata is the most popular beach for surfing with plenty of surfing schools and board rental kiosks along the beach. Surfing season is from late May to around October.
Scuba diving/freediving/snorkelling, with many shore dive spots and day trips leaving daily. Officially, the diving season is from October to May. Shore dive is suitable during December to April, as the water is calmer. Some day trip routes are available all-year-round.
Paddle-boarding, beach kiosks offer paddle boards for rent. Suitable during high season with calmer waters.
Kayaking, explore the bay through kayaking – Ya Nui and Patong beach offers kayak rentals.
Sailing, there are many sailing schools and boats for charter. Meanwhile you can sail year-round, the best time is between November to March.
Kitesurfing, an up-and-coming extreme sport in Phuket. Kitesurfing season starts in November and peaks between December and February.
Surf House Kata Beach
Have you ever tried flow-boarding? Expert or beginner, you can visit Surf House Kata for flow-boarding sessions, a trendy venue with surf wave machines right on the Kata beachfront. The Surf House has a restaurant and bar, great music, lively atmosphere and you can flow-board no matter what the weather! We offer an hourly shuttle bus service to and from Kata beach (09:00 am – 06:00 pm) for all guests staying at Sawasdee Village.
Kata Shopping Center
Sawasdee Village is about a 5-minute walk from the main road that runs through Kata Centre. Stroll along Kata Road and discover a wide selection of shops, markets and plazas. The evening is the best time to browse the souvenirs, beachwear, clothing, home décor, accessories and more.
Karon Beach
Sawasdee Village is around a 20-minute walk from Karon Beach, one of the longest beaches in Phuket. There are public exercising machines, beach volleyball area, a playground, and a recreational area by the pond where people come to relax, jog, bike and skate around sunset time.
Dino Park Mini Golf
Only 1 km from Sawasdee Village, Dino Park is an ideal place to take the family with young children for a fun game of mini-golf! The venue re-creates the prehistoric era with dinosaur statues, steamy rivers, lush jungle ambiance.
Karon Temple Night Market
Located in the temple grounds, the outdoor night market is a lively place to pick up a few bargains. The stalls cater mainly to tourists with printed t-shirts, souvenirs, bags, sarongs, cheap watches, jewellery and more. You can also grab quick bites of local delicacies from the food vendors here.
Kata Noi Beach
Kata Noi or “little Kata” is a relatively small beach. Due to its hideaway location, Kata Noi escapes the crowds and has a tranquil and romantic setting for sunbathing and swimming.
Karon Viewpoint
Also known as “sam ao” or “three bays” viewpoint, the scenic coast road from Kata to Nai Harn offers an amazing check-in spot. Walk up the viewing platform to enjoy the view over three west coast beaches – Kata Noi, Kata and Karon Beaches.
Black Rock Viewpoint (Pa Hin Dum)
This beautiful panoramic view can be reached after a 450m tropical hike. The road leading to the parking lot forks off just 400m after Karon Viewpoint (Kata to Nai Harn direction). From there you can see Nai Harn beach, Phromthep cape, Windmill viewpoint, Chalong bay and even as far as Ko He and Ko Racha on a good day. Don’t forget to bring water and wear sunblock if you’re looking to go during the day!
Ya Nui Beach
Approximately 20 minutes drive away from Sawasdee Village, Ya Nui beach is a small and cosy beach lined with trees. During the high season, the water is crystal clear and calm, usually suitable for a dip or snorkelling. There is also kayak for hire, where some visitors paddle to Ko Man island just right off the Ya Nui beach.
Krating Cape (Laem Krating)
Known as one of the more challenging viewpoints to get to, the amazing scenery is well worth the hike. The entrance is quite hidden, through a small passage leading you to a small beach where you’ll have to walk through the rocky shore before getting to the hike. The hike is around 1.4km on an unpaved path and steep slopes at parts – so make sure to have good footwear, water and a flashlight with you. Caution is advised if you plan to visit after it rains/rainy season as the path may be slippery.
Windmill Viewpoint
A breezy and scenic spot with road access, overlooking Nai Harn beach, Ya Nui beach and the Andaman sea.
Promthep Cape
The Southernmost point of Phuket with postcard-picturesque seascape, a popular spot for sunset lovers. You can also do a 15-minute hike down to the tip for a different angle of this destination. Please note that the roads to Promthep gets busy closer to sunset time.
Patong Beach
The vibrant Patong Beach is a magnet for tourists seeking fun in the sun while on holiday, packed with stalls, bars, restaurants and Jungceylon shopping centre. Bangla Road is famous for its bustling nightlife – lined with clubs, it’s buzzing every evening but even more so during weekends. Meanwhile the road is open for anybody to visit, the legal age to enter clubbing establishments is 20 years old and bouncers may ask to check your identification at the entrance.
Big Buddha Phuket
The 45-metre high white marble Buddha statue sits on top of the Nakkerd Mountain and offers magnificent 360-degree views from east to west coast. The Big Buddha is a familiar sight to anyone visiting the south of Phuket and can even be seen from Phuket Town. It is one of the most revered landmarks on the island and is accessed from the Chaofa West Road in Chalong, about 15 minutes from Sawasdee Village. For hiking enthusiasts, there are also hiking trails up the hill!
Wat Chalong
Chalong Temple is one of the most visited temples in Phuket and has been welcoming visitors for over a century. The beautiful Grand Pagoda is decorated with fine paintings depicting the Buddha’s life, and features a 60m tall glistening pagoda which contains a splinter of Lord Buddha’s bone. There are also statues of the founders and former temple abbots, including the locally-revered “Luang Por Cham”, whom many locals and Thai visitors come to pray to.
Sunday Walking Street (Lard Yai)
Situated in the beautiful Sino-Portuguese area in Phuket Old Town, this bustling market takes place every Sunday from 16:00 to 22:00 hrs. Filled with delicious street food, live performances, handicrafts, souvenirs, and restaurants and bars lining down the road. Peak hours are between 18:00 to 20:00 hrs.
Phuket Old Town
Hop into town to explore the rich history and culture of Phuket. Thalang Road, Dibuk Road, Phang Nga Road, and Yoawarat Road in Phuket town all offer a glimpse of life more than a century ago, from our tin-mining era. Enjoy the Sino-Portuguese architecture, try some delicious local food or cafe hop between the plenty cafes the town has to offer!
Sapan Hin Park
A sea-side public park where locals come to exercise and relax, usually during/after sunset. Cars are barred from entering during peak hours and lanes are sectioned for walking, cycling and skate-boarding. The beautiful Kio Thian Keng shrine sits at the seashore, filled with elaborate sculptures of Chinese deities.
Rang Hill
An idyllic hilltop overlooking Phuket City, ideal for a quick stop when you’re visiting Phuket town. During the day, you can spot monkeys in the area – meanwhile relatively docile, please be careful of your food/belongings and to not get too close to them. Watch the colourful sunset hues from the hilltop and see the city light up at night. There are several restaurants and cafes there too.
Museums
Learn more about the rich history of our island through museum visits. Click museum names to open in Google Maps.
Peranakan Phuket Museum: discover old Phuket with showcases of art, culture, history, costumes, faith and beliefs.
Thai Hua Museum: set in a 1977 Sino-Portuguese building, this museum exhibits the history of Hokkien-Chinese people settling in Phuket.
Phuket Mining Museum: showcases history of Phuket’s tin-mining industry and the local’s way of living in the past.
Shopping Malls
For some indoor downtime, there are several shopping centres for you to choose from:
Jungceylon: department stores, restaurants, cinema, gaming arcade, bowling and supermarket.
Central Festival/Floresta: department stores, luxury brand goods, restaurants and cinema.
King Power: Duty free selection with watches, fashion items, perfumery, gadgets and premium Thai products.
Bang Pae & Ton Sai Waterfall
These two waterfalls are located in the Khao Phra Thaeo national park, where you can do a short trek surrounded by lush greenery to reach the refreshing stream. More suitable to visit during the rainy season as the stream may run dry during the dry season. Walking shoes, water, suncream, and mosquito repellent are recommended. There is an admission fee to enter the park.
Bang Pae Waterfall – Open in Google Maps
Ton Sai Waterfall – Open in Google Maps
Phuket Heroine’s Monument
Known to locals as “Ya Mook” and “Ya Chan” (ya means grandma in Thai), the monument commemorates the two heroic sisters who led the locals to fight against Burmese invaders 2 centuries ago. Most Thai visitors make a stop-by visit to this monument, bringing with them garlands and incense sticks to pay their respect meanwhile locals ask for the heroine’s protection from misfortune before leaving the island. The Thao Thepkasattri-Thao Sri Suntorn Festival is an event around mid-March which celebrates their legacy, consisting mostly of sporting and cultural experience events.
Mai Khao Beach
Located in the North of Phuket, it is approximately an hour’s drive away from Sawasdee Village. The main attraction is the Mai Khao Aeroplane Viewpoint, where you can view and take pictures with aeroplanes descending to land at the airport nearby. Meanwhile you can also swim here, please note that the sand bed dips quickly and the sea can be a little rougher than the South-side beaches.
Day Trip: Phi Phi
One of Thailand’s most famous islands, Phi Phi can be reached by boat from Phuket. A speedboat takes around an hour, and a standard ferry takes around 2 hours. Phi Phi has beautiful rock formations lined with serene beaches and surrounded by turquoise water. You can contact our tour desk to book a trip or for more information.
Day Trip: Samet Nangshe
A hilltop panoramic viewpoint with winding streams leading out to the bay. With limestone of various sizes jutting out and a hilly backdrop in the distance, Samet Nangshe is a breath-taking beauty. It is approximately 1 hrs 30 mins drive from Sawasdee Village, where you can park at a designated lot and buy a ticket to get up to the viewpoint via an arranged pickup truck. You can contact our tour desk to book a trip or for more information.
Day Trip: Phang Nga Bay
Surakul Pier, Phang Nga, is approximately 1 hrs 40 mins drive from Sawasdee Village, where you then take a boat trip to tour the bay. Limestone cliffs, wildlife, and gorgeous caves (which you can kayak through) are in abundance. Visit “Koh Tapu” or James Bond Island, which was featured in The Man with the Golden Gun and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. Koh Panyi is another famous stop, where a village entirely built on stilts thrives. You can contact our tour desk to book a trip or for more information.
Thai New Year (Songkran)
Songkran, more famously known as the water splashing festival, falls on the 13th – 15th of April, is the traditional Thai New Year (Phuket celebrates Songkran only on the 13th, meanwhile Bangkok 13th-15th of April). On this day, people are armed with bowls, buckets, hoses and water pistols engaged in a full-blown water fight! On a traditional note, many spend this holiday with their family, visiting temples and performing gentle water rituals with the seniors and elderly in their community.
Vegetarian Festival (Gin J)
Also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, this annual festival is held during the ninth lunar month for 9 days (usually falling in September – October), and is one of the most auspicious and biggest events in Phuket. Crowds of people don modest white clothing and gather at shrines to pray and attend rituals. The streets leading up to and around are dotted with endless vegan street food stalls, drawing lively crowds every night. There are many events during the festival, ranging from praying rituals to the more “extreme” fire-walking and self-mortification performed by mediums of Chinese gods in a trance-like state. Morning processions are not recommended for the faint-hearted. To make the most of this unique event, visit the major shrines, Put Jaw, Jui Tui, Bang Neow, Sam Ong Hoo, and Kathu Shrine. Please note that many non-vegetarian restaurants in town may be closed during the festival. Additionally, locals playing with firecrackers are common in Phuket Town and Saphan Hin.
Hungry Ghost Festival (Por Tor Festival)
Por Tor is celebrated by Phuket’s Hokkien Chinese community. Beginning on the first day of the waxing moon of the seventh lunar month (usually in August – September), it’s believed that gates of hell are opened, allowing for ghosts and spirits to return and enjoy feasts prepared by their relatives. Sheng Tek Beo Shrine is the centre of this festival, usually holding an event for 7 days and night, with many food stalls, shops and performances around. The shrine is filled with “ang ku” offerings – turtle-shaped red ceremonial cakes.
Vien Tian Ceremony
Held on religiously important days of Buddhism, Vien Tian occurs 4 times a year: on Makha Bucha Day, Visakha Bucha Day, Asalha Bucha Day and Atthami Bucha Day, with exact dates depending on the lunar calendar. Devotees visit their local temple to make merit, give alms, listen to Buddhist teachings, recite scriptures and participate in an evening candlelight procession around the ordination hall (circling around the hall three times). There are often food carts and flower vendors around the temple on this day. Every body is welcome to celebrate and Chalong Temple is a popular pick for visitors. Note: please dress modestly before attending or you may be refused entry by the temple caretaker.
Loy Kratong
This cultural event is held on the evening of the 12th lunar month (usually in November). Many visit temples for rituals during the day and participate in “loy kratong” at night, floating away the “kratong”, and with it, bad luck. The ponds and lakes are filled with kratongs with its’ thousands of flickering candles reflecting off the surface paired with floating lanterns in the sky – making it a magical sight. Some locals dress in traditional Thai costume to participate and events are usually held around the pond/lake in conjunction, with food stalls and performances abundant. Nong Haan (Karon Beach) is the closest location to Sawasdee Village to celebrate Loy Kratong.
King’s Cup Regatta
Held at Kata Beach in the first week of December, this event draws international sailors and big boats from all over the world, featuring upwards of 90 boats ranging from ocean cruisers to keel boats and multihulls. Combining sailing, sunsets, music, partying, fireworks and good company – King’s Cup Regatta is truly a joyous event. We offer an hourly shuttle bus service to and from Kata beach (09:00 am – 06:00 pm) for all guests staying at Sawasdee Village.
Phuket Bike Week
Annually set in April, you’ll start seeing more big bikes and choppers around Phuket days leading up to the event held at Dolphin Park, Patong Beach. Amongst the beach parties, concerts, food stalls and merchandise stalls, the most anticipated activity bike enthusiasts and curious visitors look forward to are the motorbike and custom bike exhibitions. Fostering a spirit of unity in the Asia-based riders community, this event draws enthusiasts from all around Thailand and neighbouring countries.
Chinese New Year
Celebrated at the start of the lunar calendar (usually between mid January-February). While not a public holiday, about 15% of Thailand’s population is of Chinese descent and so Chinese New Year is widely celebrated with streets covered in red lanterns, banners and decorations. Events are usually held in Phuket Town area with traditional Chinese opera shows and lion dances. Restaurants, malls and shrines are usually busy with many donning red to spend time with their family and friends. Get into the spirit by dressing up in red!
New Year’s Eve
Phuket celebrates New Year’s Eve with dazzling displays of fireworks at many spots throughout the island. Many visitors attend gala dinners and celebrate at the hotel, meanwhile some head to the beaches to countdown and watch fireworks before heading to the New Year’s parties and events happening all around. Planning is advised as there may be heavy traffic en route to party destinations such as Bangla Road.