After landing at Phuket International Airport in Mai Khao at 17:45, allow about 45–90 minutes for immigration and baggage. A taxi or app-booked car to Nai Yang usually takes 5–10 minutes; agree the fare or check the app price before setting off. Once you’ve checked in, keep the first evening easy.
Take a relaxed 45-minute stroll along Nai Yang Beach—it’s close to the airport and a lovely place to stretch your legs after the flight. Wat Mongkol Wararam is nearby, but it may be closed by the time you arrive: only stop in if it’s still open, and dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered. January sunset is around 6:20 pm, so you may catch the last light at the beach.
Choose a casual Thai seafood spot along the Nai Yang Beachfront; expect roughly ฿250–700 per person, depending on what you order. There’s no need to rush on this first night—eat nearby, then turn in early, especially with tomorrow’s early start for the Similan Islands.
Your pre-booked speedboat tour of Similan Islands National Park will mean a very early pickup and a long day: from Phuket, the drive to the pier in Khao Lak can take around 1.5–2.5 hours each way, before the boat ride. Confirm your pickup time and pier with the operator the night before, and bring your passport details if requested. Check whether the national-park fee—typically about ฿500 per foreign adult—is included in your tour price; tours often cost roughly ฿2,500–฿4,500, depending on inclusions.
If your operator’s route includes it, Donald Duck Bay on Island No. 8 is a lovely spot for a swim and the short viewpoint walk; wear grippy shoes and follow your guide’s advice about access and conditions. Later, enjoy the planned snorkel stop at Ao Kuerk (Christmas Point) if sea conditions allow, followed by the reef site chosen by your guide. The exact stops can change with weather and currents, so pack reef-safe sun protection, a dry bag, and motion-sickness tablets if you need them.
Expect to reach the tour operator’s return drop-off in Phuket in the evening, tired and salty from the boat ride. Keep dinner simple near your accommodation—allow around ฿200–฿600 per person—and avoid arranging anything time-sensitive tonight. Ask the operator in advance what lunch, drinking water, towels, and transfers are included, and bring some cash for any park fee or extras not covered.
Take a relaxed 1.5-hour wander through Phuket Old Town, admiring the Sino-Portuguese shophouses and stopping for a coffee if something catches your eye. Then spend about 45 minutes browsing Thalang Road and its independent shops. Because it’s Tuesday, don’t count on the Sunday Walking Street market; shop hours vary, so treat browsing as a bonus rather than a must-do.
Have an early lunch at Raya Restaurant, a much-loved heritage-house spot for southern Thai dishes; budget around ฿300–700 per person. Check its current opening hours and allow time for service. The flight to Koh Samui takes about an hour in the air, but plan roughly 4–7 hours door to door once you include the ride from the Old Town to Phuket International Airport, check-in and the arrival transfer. This morning only works comfortably if you’ve booked a sufficiently late flight—Bangkok Airways’ flights are limited, so confirm the schedule and airport check-in requirements before committing to lunch plans.
If you arrive with energy and enough evening left, head to Bophut Fisherman’s Village for a gentle stroll and dinner; allow about ฿300–800 per person. If the flight timing or delays make that feel rushed, check in and keep the evening easy instead.
Hire a songthaew or private driver for a northeast-coast loop; a driver is especially handy because taxis between stops can be patchy. Start at Wat Phra Yai, the Big Buddha temple, and allow about 45 minutes to climb the steps and take in the island views. It’s generally open during daylight hours, but check locally before setting out. Entry is usually free, with donations welcome; cover shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes where requested.
Continue a few minutes to Wat Plai Laem for its colorful lakeside statues and temple buildings. Give it about 45 minutes, dress respectfully here too, and bring small cash for a donation. The temple grounds are generally open during the day; if a ceremony is underway, keep your distance and follow signs.
Head to Choeng Mon Beach for a swim and an unhurried lunch by the water. Allow around 1.5 hours, and check conditions before swimming—waves and currents can vary. Beachfront restaurants range from simple Thai meals to pricier seafood; budget roughly ฿150–400 for a casual meal, more for seafood. Keep some time flexible for the drive and a rest back at your accommodation before dinner.
Finish at Krua Bophut in Bophut, where you can settle in for Thai food by the sea. Aim to arrive around sunset, and check the restaurant’s current opening hours and reserve if you want a waterfront table. Budget about ฿400–900 per person; a ride from Choeng Mon usually takes roughly 15–25 minutes, depending on traffic.
Head to Nathon Pier with plenty of time for your pre-booked ferry: allow for the transfer from your Samui accommodation, check-in, and roughly 1–2 hours for the crossing and arrival logistics. Check your ticket carefully—the departure pier can vary by operator, and Nathon Pier is not the only Samui option. Ferry fares are typically around ฿300–600; book with the operator or through 12Go Asia.
After arriving at Thong Sala, leave about an hour for lunch and to arrange onward transport. The town has plenty of casual Thai restaurants and cafés near the pier; keep your bags with you or ask your accommodation about storage, and confirm a ride to Haad Rin before setting off. The drive across the island usually takes around 30–45 minutes, but allow extra time if traffic is building.
Arrive at Haad Rin Nok (Sunrise Beach) early to settle in, find your bearings and sort out a safe way back to your accommodation. The Full Moon Party runs late; check current entry arrangements and transport options in advance, carry cash, and keep your valuables secure. Important date check: January 21, 2027 is not the January full moon, so confirm the official party date before booking. If the party is held on January 22, an afternoon departure for Koh Tao that day would mean missing it—you’d need to stay an extra night and travel on January 23 instead.
After the Full Moon party, keep the morning slow and check out with your bags ready. Head to Thong Sala Pier for your pre-booked afternoon sailing; confirm the operator’s pier and check-in deadline on your ticket, and leave extra time for the island transfer. The high-speed ferry to Mae Haad Pier takes roughly 1–2 hours, with tickets commonly around ฿500–800. Afternoon sailings are limited, so check the schedule in advance—if the timing doesn’t work, you may need to leave earlier or stay another night on Koh Phangan.
At Mae Haad Pier, arrange a hotel pickup or a local taxi/songthaew before setting off; fares can be less predictable than on the mainland, so agree the price first. Drop your bags, then take an easy 45-minute shoreline stroll or swim at Mae Haad Beach. The water and sand are right by the village, making this a low-effort first look at Koh Tao after the ferry.
For dinner, try Pranee’s Kitchen in Mae Haad for Thai staples; budget roughly ฿200–600 per person, and check that it’s open when you arrive, as hours can vary. Keep the evening unhurried after last night’s party, and pick up any essentials in the village before turning in.
Take it slowly at Sairee Beach: a swim and unhurried walk along the west-coast sand make a good start to the day. Allow about 1½ hours, and check the sea before swimming—conditions can change, so follow any local warnings. Then head across to Koh Tao Leisure Park for mini golf or another easygoing activity; plan on 1–2 hours and check the day’s opening hours before setting out.
Continue to Blue Shark Brasserie in Sairee for a relaxed lunch; budget around ฿250–600 per person. It’s a sensible place to refuel before the southern-island outing. A taxi or local songthaew can connect the stops, but agree the fare before you ride; if you rent a scooter, Koh Tao’s steep, rough roads call for experience and caution.
From Sairee, allow roughly 20–30 minutes by road to reach John-Suwan Viewpoint, with extra time if you’re travelling slowly or waiting for a ride. The uphill hike takes about 1½–2 hours round trip and is steep and rocky in places: wear shoes with grip, bring water, and go in daylight. There’s typically a small entrance fee, so carry some cash. Afterwards, unwind at Chalok Baan Kao Beach and have dinner nearby; expect around ฿250–700 per person. Keep the return ride in mind, as transport can be less readily available later in the evening.
Hire a local driver or taxi for the east-coast stops; Koh Tao’s steep, winding roads make this a more comfortable option than trying to squeeze in several scooter rides. Start at Aow Leuk for a morning snorkel, allowing about two hours. Check the sea and visibility before getting in, and ask locally whether there’s a beach-access charge. Then continue to Tanote Bay for around 1½ hours of swimming and snorkeling; the road is hilly, so allow roughly 15–25 minutes between bays.
Head back west to The Gallery Restaurant in Sairee for Thai lunch; budget about ฿300–700 per person. After eating, arrange your boat trip to Koh Nang Yuan—book ahead and confirm the departure point, return time, current access rules and any entrance fee. Allow 3–4 hours for the boat ride, viewpoint and snorkeling, and bring water and sun protection. The viewpoint involves a steep climb and can be busy, so leave time rather than rushing straight back.
Finish with a relaxed Sairee stroll around sunset, then choose a casual dinner nearby; expect roughly ฿250–700 per person. If the sea has been choppy, check the return boat timing with your operator before settling in for the evening, and keep some cash handy for local rides and small charges.
Make this a morning departure if you want a realistic chance of reaching Phuket in time for dinner. The quickest option is a ferry to Koh Samui, then a separately booked Bangkok Airways flight to Phuket; allow roughly 5–8 hours door to door, including ferry check-in, the airport transfer and time at the airport. The connection is the weak link: leave a generous buffer, and don’t assume a later ferry will connect. The ferry-and-flight combination is around ฿5,000–10,000, depending on availability and fares. A cheaper combined ferry-and-bus journey via Surat Thani takes about 8–11 hours and can get you in late. If your only workable departure is in the afternoon, treat the evening plans as optional.
If you arrive with time and energy, take an unhurried walk through Phuket Old Town. It’s Monday, so the Sunday Walking Street market won’t be running; enjoy the Sino-Portuguese shophouses and lively historic streets without expecting market stalls. Then have southern Thai food at One Chun Café & Restaurant (about ฿300–700 per person); check its current hours before setting out, as a delayed connection could push dinner late. A taxi or app-booked car from the airport to the Old Town usually takes around 45–60 minutes, traffic permitting.
After dinner, head to your Phuket accommodation and keep the rest of the night flexible in case the ferry, flight or road transfer runs late. Confirm how you’ll get to the airport tomorrow and allow plenty of time for the journey and check-in before your 17:00 flight to India.
Start at Wat Chalong when it opens, generally around 8:00 am; allow about an hour to see the temple buildings and grounds. Dress modestly—cover shoulders and knees—and remove your shoes before entering temple halls. From there, it’s a short drive to Chalong Bay Rum Distillery. Tours last about 1–1½ hours, but run only at set times, so book a suitable slot in advance rather than counting on a walk-in.
Continue south to the Rawai seafood market to browse the stalls and choose seafood to be cooked at a nearby restaurant; budget roughly ฿300–800 per person, depending on your choices. Keep lunch unhurried but watch the clock: Rawai to Phuket International Airport can take around 1–1½ hours by car, and traffic may add time. For your 17:00 international flight to India, aim to leave Rawai around 12:30–13:00 and reach the airport about three hours before departure for check-in and immigration. A pre-booked car or taxi is the simplest option for this final leg.
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