Phuket Island & Big Buddha Private Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Explore Phuket's stunning beaches
- Visit the iconic Big Buddha
- Discover the serene Wat Chalong Temple
- Enjoy panoramic island views
- Experience local culture and history
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Private guided tour of Phuket Island
- Visit to Big Buddha and Wat Chalong Temple
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Meals and beverages
Itinerary
Pass by: Patong is a beach resort town on the west coast of Phuket Island, facing the Andaman Sea in the southwest of Thailand. Its sandy, crescent beach is lined with cafes, restaurants and bars
Well-known destination for picturesque views of the ocean, beaches & lush island surroundings.
Pass by: Karon Beach refers to a beach, and the town adjoining it, on the west coast of Phuket, Thailand. The beach is a popular destination for tourists. Generally quieter than neighbouring Patong, it is popular with families and couples
The most important of the 29 buddhist temples of Phuket is Wat Chalong or formally Wat Chaiyathararam, located in the Chalong Subdistrict, Mueang Phuket District.
Pass by: Phuket City, on Phuket Island, is the capital of Thailand’s Phuket Province. In the Old Town, Thalang Road is lined with colorful 19th-century shophouses and Sino-Portuguese buildings.
A visit to the cashew nut factory in Phuket is a must for cashew nut lovers. The Cashew nut is a native produce that is grown in Phuket and other provinces of Southern Thailand, and are relatively cheap compared to prices in Western countries.
Phuket's Big Buddha is one of the most important and revered landmarks on the island. The huge image sits on top of the Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata and, at 45 metres tall, can be seen from as far away as Phuket Town and Karon Beach.
Important information
Know before you book
- This is a private tour; the price is per group, not per person.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off are included; please provide your accommodation details upon booking.
- The tour operates in English; please inform us if you require a guide who speaks another language.
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable clothing and footwear suitable for walking and temple visits.
- Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a camera to capture the beautiful sights.
- Ensure you have sufficient local currency (THB) for any personal expenses.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Stroller Accessible
- Infants Required On Laps
- Infant Seats Available
Good to know
- Restroom facilities available
- Infant seats are available but cannot be guaranteed. They are on a 'first booked-first served basis'
- If you are being picked up in Rawai, you will be picked up after the tour stops at Patong Beach.
- The last stop is at Gems Gallery International, the biggest gem store and factory in the world. Take advantage of complimentary soft drink, the air-conditioned lounge, the cinema and visit the factory and the enormous store with your own personal assistant. You may CHOOSE to stay here for as long as you want OR leave straight away, the choice is yours and your guide will see that you receive transportation back to your hotel as quickly as possible.
- One of Phuket's largest sources of income comes from Cashew Nuts. A brief, yet popular, visit will be made to one of the island's first Cashew Nut factories. Enjoy free samples. Any purchases are optional and at your own expense
- This is a private tour including guide. This is one price for 1 - 8 passengers (same price) not per person price
Traveler reviews
Viator tours and their staff are fabulous!!!
Amazing tour! Adha and Chai Yo are a big asset to Phuket and Viator tours! I highly recommended. Yesterday, doing The Big Buddah tour was so special and with these two great tour guides made it that much more amazing!!
A great introduction to Thailand...
Nong was waiting for us at the end of the cruise pier and we were soon travelling out of town to a panoramic view-point of the coast. From there we journeyed inland and ascended a mountainous small road to the Big Buda statute, which also provided more panoramic views. Next was a Thai temple, subtly different from temples we’d seen before, but interesting, nevertheless. On to get some cashew nuts from a local “factory”, where you can buy every flavour imaginable. Then to the old market for souvenirs, all cheap as chips. An enjoyable private tour giving us a great introduction to Thailand, thank you.
Wonderful day!!
Our guide Aida was wonderful. She cared about having the knowledge of each location visited. She also took great photos of us and knew right where to position us. We were fortunate to have her as our guide!!
A 6 hour taste of Phuket
The driver and guide was available promptly at the hotel for pickup. The entire experience was about 6 hours. We went from our hotel to a viewpoint over looking the island and seeing a view from a distance the Big Buddha. Due to a previous landslide we were unable to walk around Big Buddha and only got close-ish from the side viewpoint. From there we went to a cashew nut facility. We were shown workers breaking down the nuts and preparing them for the next process of cleaning them and cooking them. Then we were given a taste of each flavor. We felt inclined to buy a box. Then from there we went to a random Jewler. There was a ride that we went on that was Disneyland light. It showcased history of mining in Thailand and the popular jewels including pearls that come from the region. From there a guide at the Jewelry company took us to show us ones working on Jewelry in a room and then we went to the show floor and were encouraged to buy jewelry. We politely declined many times. We tried to find our way out of this large shop and finally did. We reconnected with our guide and made our way to Old Town Phuket and it was not our scene, hot crowded streets selling stuff made in China but it was nice to see quickly the old area and the French Quarter style architecture. Then the long the travel home in stop and go traffic and we were done. Overall a good experience but some interesting qwerks and things along the way.
Tourist trap, better stay away
First of all, Big Buddha temple has been closed for months, but the advertisement still refers to it (indeed AFTER we booked and paid, the operator sent a message to inform us about this). The trip included some nice panorama points to take photos and look around, a stop at a temple and the rest was made up of shops where the guide pushed us to buy stuff. The last stop was meant to be the old town of Phuket, and we didn’t even manage to get there. We felt ripped off, and the guide was too pushy and kept rushing us and insisting to buy stuff (including expensive jewelry).