When you hear about Phuket, what do you have in mind? All I can think is a bout the amazing marine life, cute elephants, delicious Thai food, dense rainforests and amazing beaches. Sounds great, right? All this will introduce you to the magic of this unforgettable island paradise. Here the sun hits hard, so get your sunscreen and get your sunglasses ready!
There are several ways to get to Phuket, most travellers will probably be arriving here by airplane. We arrived here by airplane from Colombo, Sri Lanka. There are many options to get to Phuket, depending on where you are. I know that you can take a bus from Bangkok to Phuket or a ferry from Koh Samui.
ELEPHANT JUNGLE SANCTUARY PHUKET
We wanted to visit an ethical sanctuary, so we did our research beforehand. I have never been a person to enjoy riding animals, I don’t see the fun in it, but I like to get close to animals and I want to do it without causing them any harm. And because I love them I want to make sure before visiting this places, that they live in a safe environment. So we found out about Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. Here you’ll have an intimate meeting with very few guests where you learn about herds and problems that challenge the survival of elephants.
Elephant sanctuaries are a part of protecting endangered, lost and disabled elephants in need of help. They provide elephants with an adequate amount of water, food, walks and help bath them. The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Thailand is an organization and a part of an ethical and sustainable eco-tourism project. It aims to protect elephants by providing them with a safe shelter and care.
This ethical sanctuary in Phuket, will give you a unique opportunity to interact with magnificent elephants in the safety and security of their natural home. Here you’ll have an experience unlike any other. You’ll get to feed, bath and even play with them.
What’s it like to meet an elephant? Awesome!! You’ll immediately see how cheeky and playful they are and that each one has their own personality. Lovely personalities. You’ll spend a bit of time feeding and observing the elephants as they do their favourite thing.. eating hahhaha.
We were given a basket of banana and pineapple to feed to the elephants. The elephants happily take the fruit from your hand with their trunks and place the food in their mouths and then we went for a walk. It was amazing. After you have met and walked all the elephants, you will accompany them to a nearby mud spa.
The environment in Phuket Sanctuary is as natural as it can be, which mostly means walking through the forest with the elephants in their natural habitat. It was one of the best walks of my life.
If you want to do more than just walk and feed the elephants for a day, the sanctuary also offers volunteering opportunities. A week long stay allows you to integrate into the life of the sanctuary, helping to prepare food, clean enclosures and care for the elephants.
PHI PHI ISLANDS
Phi Phi is one of the most visited island in Thailand. What you should know is that there are two islands with an almost identical name: Koh Phi Phi Don and Kho Phi Phi Leh and they are very close to each other, but the only island where you can actually stay for the night is Koh Phi Phi Don.
Visiting the Phi Phi Islands is a fabulous experience. Whether or not you choose a day, or choose to spend a relaxing few days on the islands, you’ll find many wonderful activities. This island is perfect for beaches, snorkelling and epic views.
MAYA BAY
Maya bay beach a top place to visit, famous for its crystal water and amazing white sand. You will immediately fall in love with the surroundings as it is so serene and beautiful as the mountains curl around the bay. The great thing is that you can swim here, the waters are so crystal clear, you can see all the colourful fish floating around you.
SNORKELLING
You can go snorkelling just about anywhere in the Phi Phi Islands. There is a huge diversity of marine wildlife to spot. Just make sure that you go with a guide, as some areas have tricky currents to navigate.
There are also may diving activities. Just speak to a tour company to find the best spots for diving. If you’re a beginner, there are plenty of diving locations which are great for entry level diving. More advanced divers will find some deeper and more challenging dive sites further out.
NUI BAY
This beach has the softest and whitest beach, where you can do some awesome snorkelling and take great photos with the surroundings. There are no sun loungers available in so throw down a towel and lay down on the beach. Are many bars around where you can buy a cocktail.
We found this place coming back from a beach day and we fell in love. This place offers some incredible panoramic views of Phuket town, as well as the beaches and bays of the coast. We even had a mini jungle experience as this place us surrounded by lush vegetation and palm trees. This place was quiet and far away from the crowds.
WATCHING SUNSETS
I’ve been many places in my life and I’ve seen the sunset in destinations all over the world. And yet, watching the sunset in Phuket was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. This beach was right in front of our resort. We had the great opportunity to witness some heavenly sunsets. It was amazing watching as the sky painted a magnificent purple and orange and it’s reflection glowing off the Andaman sea.
FOOD
Thai food is popular globally for many reasons. Here you can expect the most authentic Thai food that you can ever have. Pancakes or roti dipped in the curry or meatballs, or the chewy noodles. To tell you the truth, here in Phuket I ate some of the most delicious food in the world.
WEATHER IN PHI PHI
Phi Phi is a year round destination. When to visit will depend on your weather and preferences.
The off-peak season aligns with the monsoon season; May, September and October are typically the wettest months. The temperatures are still warm though and you’ll still see a good amount of sunshine. Just be wary of sudden and heavy downpours.
March to mid-May are the hottest months with very high humidity. If you’re not a fan of the intense humidity then best to avoid these months. But if you love the hot weather then it’s a great time to visit, with beautiful weather.
November to February are the coolest months (but still warm enough for plenty of sun-bathing). The weather and temperatures of these months are arguably the most favourable, which does also mean they are the more expensive months to visit.
Madeleine 𓇼 