Why go to Phuket
Phuket is Thailand’s biggest island. Patong is lively and loud. Kata, Karon and Kamala are calmer and better for families. Phuket Old Town has colourful shophouses and good cafés.
Boat trips leave every morning for the Phi Phi islands and Phang Nga Bay, with its tall limestone islands. The photo above is Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh, a day trip by boat. Maya Bay closes for two months every year, usually August and September, so check before you plan.
Best time to visit Phuket
November to April is the best time: sunny, with a calm sea on the west coast. May to October is the monsoon. It doesn’t rain all day, but the sea gets rough, some beaches fly red flags and some boat trips are cancelled. Hotels are much cheaper then.
- January: best time
- February: best time
- March: best time
- April: best time
- May: off season
- June: off season
- July: off season
- August: off season
- September: off season
- October: good time
- November: best time
- December: best time
Phuket visa for Indians
Visa-free, 30 daysLast checked October 2026
Phuket is in Thailand, so Indian passport holders can visit without a visa for up to 30 days (this changed from 60 days on 15 September 2026).
Fill in the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online within 3 days before you arrive. Keep your return ticket and hotel booking on your phone in case immigration asks.
Apply only on the official site, tdac.immigration.go.th, or through a trusted agent. Look-alike sites charge extra. Rules change, so check again before you book.
Flight time and fares from Delhi
Nonstop flights from Delhi take about 4½ hours. If Phuket fares are high, check a flight to Bangkok plus a short domestic flight to Phuket (about 1 hour 20 minutes). There are many budget flights between the two, and you get a couple of days in Bangkok as well.
Getting from the airport
Phuket airport is in the north of the island. Taxis to Patong take about 45 minutes to an hour, longer in traffic. If you land late at night, book a transfer through your hotel.
How many days you need
Five or six days works well: two lazy beach days, one island boat trip, an afternoon in Phuket Old Town, and a spare day for rain or rest.
Food for Indian travellers
Indian restaurants are common in Patong and around Kata and Karon. Seafood is everywhere, so vegetarians should ask for “jay” food or say no fish sauce.
