Flights to Phuket

Choosing your route

The winter non-stop from Heathrow is the quickest option, at around 12 to 13 hours. Outside that season, flying to Bangkok and taking a domestic flight of about an hour and 20 minutes keeps travel time down, while Gulf and Istanbul connections often suit regional UK airports. Booking both legs on one ticket checks your bags through and protects you if the first flight is late.

From the airport to the beaches

Phuket International is at the northern tip of the island, close to quieter beaches such as Mai Khao and Nai Yang. Patong, the busiest resort, is around 45 minutes to an hour by road, with Kata and Karon a little further south, and Phuket Old Town about 40 minutes away. Metered taxis, minibuses and hotel transfers all run from the arrivals hall, and public buses link the terminal with Phuket Town and the west-coast beaches at a fraction of the taxi fare.

Beaches, temples and boat trips

Each stretch of the west coast has its own character, from lively Patong to family-friendly Kata and sheltered Nai Harn. Inland, Wat Chalong is the island's most important temple, and the Big Buddha statue looks out over Chalong Bay. Phuket Old Town has Sino-Portuguese shophouses and cafés, and day trips run to Phang Nga Bay and the Phi Phi Islands. Phuket has a long-established Muslim community, so halal restaurants are easy to find.

When to book

November to April is the dry season on the Andaman coast, with calm seas for boat trips. From May to October the south-west monsoon brings rougher water and red-flag days on some beaches, but fares and hotel prices drop.

Combining Phuket with Bangkok or Krabi? Call 020 7871 4545 and we'll put the whole trip on one ticket.