Best Things to do in Phuket with Kids

Here we highlight all the best things to do in Phuket with kids, from island hopping to water parks and more.

Thousands of families head to Phuket in Thailand every year, attracted by its beautiful beaches, amazing resorts and fabulous food, making it one of the most popular family holiday destinations in Asia.

And most of these people don’t venture much further than the beach or their resort pool during their Phuket family vacation.

But there are loads of fun things to do in Phuket for families. In this article we highlight some of the most fun kids activities in Phuket and our favourite places to visit in Phuket with family.

From water parks to snorkeling, kayaking, wake boarding, rock climbing and more, we help you decide what to do in Phuket with kids with our pick of the best Phuket activities for families.

You may also like these articles:

• The Best Beaches in Phuket for Families
• Best Family Friendly Resorts in Phuket
• Best Family Villas in Phuket

Phuket Water Parks

Given the tropical climate, a day at a water park is always a good idea in Phuket. There are three fun water parks in Phuket to check out: the original favourite, Splash Jungle plus two newcomers Andamanda and Blue Tree.

Andamanda Phuket

Phuket’s newest waterslides boasts 25 attractions, including 12 extreme water slides and rides spread across 5 themed zones.

Toddlers and little ones are well catered for too at Water Wonderland water play area, while slightly older kids can enjoy some tamer rides at Little Reef and Atoll Adventures.

There’s also a 550m lazy river and a 10,000 square-metre wave pool, plus restaurants, a swim-up bar and even a floating market and replica James Bond Island, all making this the perfect family fun day out.

Click here to buy discounted tickets for Andamanda Water Park.

Blue Tree Phuket

Located close to Bangtao Beach, Blue Tree is a water park with a difference.

More than just water slides (although it definitely has these), Blue Tree also offers wakeboarding and paddle boarding on its enormous lagoon pool.

There’s also zip lining and rock climbing, beach activities such as beach volleyball and soccer, and even fitness classes and outdoor fit trails and running tracks.

Another hit with families is the indoor Adventure Village, featuring trampolining, zip lines, roller skating, foam pits, donut slides, Lego zone and more. There’s even a supervised Kids Club for kids aged 1.5 – 6 years old.

Plan to spend the whole day here as there is loads to do.

Click here to buy discounted tickets to Blue Tree water park.

Splash Jungle Phuket

This original water park in Phuket is still a hit with the kids. The park is fairly small so easily done in half a day, although the kids may never want to leave!

There is a good selection of slides to choose from at this Phuket tourist attraction, including body slides, tube slides, a family raft ride, lazy river and a wave pool.

There’s also a kids zone for the little ones with plenty of aqua play fun – a great option if you are looking for something to do in Phuket for toddlers.

This Phuket water theme park has a choice of cafes and bars, including a swim-up bar, as well as locker rental, towel hire and a gift shop (that also stocks swimming gear if you forget yours!)

Top Tip: Try to arrive early to get your pick of the best sun loungers and to ride some of the slides before the masses arrive and the queues build up later in the day. With young kids, we try to head here for opening (10am) and then leave around lunchtime.

Click here to book tickets for Splash Jungle.

You can even stay overnight at Splash Jungle. The rooms and pool villas here provide a handy base close to the airport, which is just 10 minutes away.

Click here to check prices for accommodation at Splash Jungle.

James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay

With its 42 islands, towering limestone cliffs and stunning grock formations, Phangnga Bay is a Phuket must see.

The most famous island here is Koh Tapu, otherwise known as James Bond Island, thanks to its starring role in the movie The Man with the Golden Gun.

Top Tip: The area is undeniably stunning, but this also makes it one of the most popular places to visit in Phuket. If you want to visit, try to find a tour that arrives early as it gets busier as the day goes on as all the day trips from Phuket arrive in droves.

Most Phuket day tours to James Bond Island also include some kayaking at nearby Hong Island. Note that most of the time this actually involves the guide doing the kayaking while you just sit there and take in the view.  This can be good for young children, but frustrating for adventure seekers.

Click here to check prices and book James Bond Island tours.

If your kids are ok getting up early, then booking a sunrise tour is another great way to avoid the crowds at James Bond Island.

John Gray’s Sea Canoe

If you are looking for more active Phuket adventure activities, check out the tours from John Gray’s Sea Canoe, which have come highly recommended by everyone who has done them.

These small group tours take you sea kayaking at a selection of scenic spots around Phangnga Bay, specially chosen to avoid the crowds.  They also offer Starlight Tours and overnight trips up to 7days/6nights.

Snorkelling in the Similan Islands

The Similan Islands national park is a group of 9 islands located 85km northwest of Phuket and some say offers the best snorkeling in Thailand.

Renowned for its clear blue water and magnificent snorkeling and diving, it is one of the top Phuket tourist spots and a great choice for a snorkeling day trip from Phuket.

Most Similan Islands tours include various stops for snorkelling and swimming with a picnic lunch on one of the white sandy beaches.

The boat ride from Phuket takes around 1.5 – 2 hours so tours tend to leave early in the morning. For a shorter boat ride, you can also depart from Kaho Lak if you are staying in a hotel closer to Khao Lak.

Click here to book a Similan Islands tour from Phuket.

Top Tip: The Similan Islands is also where to go in Phuket to spot migrating manta rays and whale sharks between February and April. So, if you are visiting Phuket with older kids, you might also consider a liveaboard dive trip to make the most of this.

Note that the national park is closed from mid-May to October due to the monsoon season.

Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

I am always reluctant to include elephant parks in roundups of things to do, given that there are so many unethical parks out there.

However, I still believe if you do your research well and choose a park that properly cares for rescued elephants, this can still be a rewarding thing to do on a family trip to Phuket.

The general consensus is that the less actual interaction with the elephants the better. And definitely avoid parks that allow elephant riding or encourage the elephants to do tricks or partake in activities such as ‘painting’. Even bathing with the elephants is a no-no these days.

Read this article in the National Geographic for more information about animal tourism.

Two ethical elephant parks in Phuket that I believe are sticking to high moral standards are the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary in Paklok and the Elephant Retirement Park. Both offer half-day programmes.

Phuket Big Buddha

The Big Buddha in Phuket, otherwise known as the Great Buddha of Phuket is one of the most famous points of interest in Phuket.

At 45 metres high, this huge Buddha image can be seen from far away across the island of Phuket. Visiting the Big Buddha rewards you with 360 degree views over Phuket island, making it one of the most popular Phuket places to visit for sunset.

Remember to dress respectfully when visiting the Big Buddha – especially try to cover the knees and shoulders.

Click here to visit the Phuket Big Buddha website.

Phuket Old Town Tour

I visited Phuket several times before I actually ventured into the old town and I was sorry I hadn’t visited earlier.

Phuket Old Town is surprisingly picturesque with an interesting history. The town boomed in the 19^thcentury thanks to the tin mining industry that saw 1,000s of Chinese labourers and European mine owners moving in.

The Sino-colonial architecture has been well preserved, making for an interesting and beautiful walking tour. The town is very reminiscent of Singapore or Malacca, with Phuket sharing their Peranakan roots, but with its unique Thai heritage twist.

The Phuket Baba Museum is one of the popular Phuket town attractions and a good place to start to get an overview of the Peranakan culture and history of the town.

Also call in at the Woo Gallery to admire a beautifully preserved Peranakan house and try out some traditional snacks. You can also spend the night here if you like the idea of a traditional boutique hotel stay.

There is some interesting street art to find as you wander and plenty of cute little cafes and Phuket town restaurants to call in at along the way.

If you visit on a Sunday afternoon, Thalang Road is transformed into Phuket Walking Street with a lively night market, where you can shop for souvenirs, try some local cuisine and even find some entertainment for the kids.

This is one of our favourite things to do in Phuket at night with kids.

Click here to book an Old Town and Peranakan Food Trail Tour.

ATV Tour

For some pure fun, join an ATV Tour, where you’ll zip through the Phuket jungle on-board the all terrain vehicles.

Prepare to get muddy and have a lot of laughs along the way. Kids as young as 4 can ride along as passengers with an adult.

Click here to find out more and book.

Phuket Cooking Class

Thai cuisine is one of the absolute highlights of visiting Thailand. Taking a cooking class not only gives you a deeper appreciation of the food, but means you can learn to make it when you go back home too.

I have done several cookery classes in Thailand and have loved every one of them. Some also include a market tour beforehand to go an learn about all the different local produce.

If your kids are older then having them join in with the cooking fun is a great way for them to learn more about the local cuisine, culture and maybe even try some new food along the way.

Click here to book a Cookery Class.

Phuket Food Tour

I love to take a food tour whenever I am in a new place. I find it one of the best ways to see some otherwise missed parts of the town and find some local secrets.

I like to take a food tour early on to get recommendations from my tour guide to check out later. No matter how well you think you know a cuisine, there is always something to be learned and excellent food to be found on a food tour.

Last time I was in Phuket I did this food tour, which included a tour of the Phuket Old Town and tasting many many dishes along the way.

Click here to book a food tour in Phuket.

Catamaran Sailing Trip

Being out on the ocean, admiring the limestone karsts, visiting sandy beaches and snorkelling in the warm water is all part of the fun of a Catamaran sailing trip in Phuket.

You can book a private hire charter or join a day tour. Sunset cruises are popular, but with kids, we prefer a daytime tour, where you can enjoy some fun in the sun as a family.

Aquaria Phuket Aquarium

Hopefully you will be blessed with bright sunshine throughout your visit, but if you’re looking for rainy day activities in Phuket, then check out the aquarium.

Located within a large modern shopping mall Central Phuket Floresta, Phuket’s largest aquarium is home to over 25,000 sea creatures.

There are also shows and feeding times throughout the day to keep you entertained and educated. Don’t miss the Mermaid Show!

Rebel Rock Climbing

If you have active kids to entertain on a rainy day in Phuket, take them along to Rebel Rock Climbing. This indoor rock climbing facility is one of the best Phuket attractions for family indoor fun.

It has over 700sqm of wall space, including a boulder wall, top out boulder wall, top rope wall and lead climb wall. They run 2-3 hour courses for both adults and kids of all levels and there is an onsite café with WiFi.

Click here to visit the Rebel Rock Climbing website.

Wake Boarding

Right next door to Rebel Rock Climbing is Anthem Wake Park. This cable wakeboarding park is on a fresh water lake and allows beginners and experts alike the chance to wakeboard in safe surroundings.

There are 11 obstacles around the circuit and also training cables for complete beginners.

We also like International Wake Park Phuket, which not only has the wakeboarding lake, but also a fun surf simulator, two swimming pools and even mangrove kayaking on offer, making it a great option for things to do in Phuket with family.

Click here to visit the International Wake Park website.

Best Beaches in Phuket

Of course you can’t talk about visiting Phuket with children without mentioning the Phuket beaches.

There are so many beautiful beaches in Phuket, you really are spoilt for choice. Jump in the back of a tuk tuk and head to a different beach every day if you want!

Some of our picks for the best family beach in Phuket include:

• Kamala beach for its calm water and good selection of nearby restaurants, cafes and bars
• Bangtao beach for its long stretch of white sand and fun range of beach clubs and water sports
• Mai Khao beach for its unspoilt beauty and lack of crowds

Click here for more recommendations of the best family beaches in Phuket.

Flying Hanuman

If you have daredevils in the family, then a zip lining experience in one of the top things to do in Phuket.

Suitable for kids aged 4 and up, Flying Hanuman has your flying through the natural rainforest just 6 kilometers from Patong beach. There are 28 zip lines, plus sky bridges, spiral stairways and a sky rail to tackle.

Not for the feint hearted!

Click here to book tickets for the Flying Hanuman experience.

Batik Painting in Koh Yao Noi

For something completely different, spending a day on Koh Yao Noi is a great way to get away from the Phuket tourist places and experience what it Phuket was like 50 years ago.

With kids, a fun thing to do is to try out your hands at batik painting. The very talented local women at Tha Khao Batik will provide all the materials and help release the inner artist in you.

To get there: Take the public boat from Ban Rong Pier (around 30 minutes travel time) and jump in a song thaew at Koh Yao Noi pier. Just ask them to take you to the batik painting at the Tha Kao Pier.

Best Family hotels in Phuket:

There is a huge range of family friendly hotels in Phuket to choose from. You can read my full list of recommended family hotels in Phuket here

A couple of our favourite Phuket kid friendly resorts are highlighted below.

Angsana Laguna Phuket

The Angsana Phuket is located within the large Laguna complex, where you will find some of the best resorts in Phuket.

This sprawling Phuket beach resort has large rooms, some of which open directly onto the swimming pool. The family pool has a fun ‘beach’ to play on and the lazy river is fun for exploring.

There is a good choice of restaurants including the fun Xana beach club, which has its own beachside swimming pool and does a fab Sunday brunch. The resort is located right on fabulous Bangtao beach, and also boasts the biggest kids club in Phuket. What more do you need?

Click here to check prices for the Angsana Laguna Phuket.

JW Marriott Phuket

The JW Marriott is often regarded as the best place to stay in Phuket for families. Handily located just a 15 minute drive from Phuket airport, this beautiful resort has three swimming pools, 11 restaurants and bars and a kids club.

The Oceanfront Family Pool rooms are perfect for larger families, with separate living area, outdoor decking and private pool. The Marriott Phuket is located right on stunning Mai Khao beach, a beach within a protected national park meaning it is largely unspoilt and rarely busy.

Click here to check prices for the JW Marriott Phuket.

Coming to Phuket via Bangkok? Click here to check out our favourite things to do in Bangkok with kids.

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