Want to enjoy a holiday on a tropical island surrounded by beaches and great food? Then head out to Phuket. Phuket is Thailand's largest island, located in the Andaman Sea off the country's southwestern coast. Situated about 860 kilometers south of Bangkok, or a 1 hour 30 minute flight away. 

Famous amongst young travelers and honeymooners, Phuket is also a family friendly destination. Phuket offers beautiful scenery and a lot of interesting things to do with children. Check out Traveloka’s family travel guide for the best things to do in Phuket with kids on this article!

Read More: Phuket to Phuket Travel Guide

These are the top 8 recommendation of places to visit and things to do in Phuket when traveling with kids:

Famous for its beaches, you could pick a hotel/resort by the beach, so that the sand and sea is just a step away. Not all beaches are suitable for family traveling with kids, so here are some of our recommendations:

When traveling with children at the age of 9 or older, a one day tour to James Bond Island can be a fun exploration to view the scenery. The tour usually consists of:

Come visit the friendly retired elephants in their final home. Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is the first ethical elephant sanctuary in Phuket, set on 30 acres of lush tropical jungle bordering the Khao Prae Teao National Park.

There is also a guided tour to help you and your family learn and observe how elephants rehabilitate into forest life after decades of hard work, and of course interacting with these incredible largest land mammals in their day to day lives. 

There are two main aquariums in Phuket. Depending on the vibe you’re looking for and the budget, here’s a quick summary of both:

Read More: Top Budget Friendly Things to do in Phuket

Another day trip to take with the family is a journey around Phi Phi Island and Maya Bay. The tour usually picks you up at the hotel between 7:30 AM and 8:30 AM, followed by a 45 to 60-minute transit via speedboat or catamaran from a Phuket pier to the Phi Phi archipelago.

You will then spend about 50 to 60 minutes walking the famous boardwalk in Maya Bay and relaxing on the beach made famous by Leonardo DiCaprio’s movie, The Beach. Then add another stop at Pileh Lagoo, Viking Cave & Monkey Beach, and buffet lunch at Phi Phi Don. This tour is more suitable for families with older children, because  it could be exhausting and a bit boring for young children.

If the trip to Phuket happens on the weekend, don’t forget to venture to the old city to visit the famous Big Buddha and Phuket Old Town Sunday Market. The Big Buddha in Phuket is a 45-metre-tall white marble statue that sits on Nakkerd Hill (Mount Nagakerd), in the southern part of Phuket between Karon and Kata to the west and Phuket Town to the east. A breathtaking view to witness.

After that, go visit the Old Town to have lunch at the famous Blue Elephant Restaurant, and stroll around areas such as; Soi Romanee and Phang Nga Road. At 4.00 PM, head to the Sunday Market (Lard Yai Market) at the historic Thalang Road, offering endless Thai street food, handmade crafts, live music, and colorful Sino-Portuguese architecture.

Entertain the children by visiting some of Phuket's great water parks including Andamanda, Aqua Kingdom, and Blue Tree. Featuring giant water slides, variation of pool size, and other rides and facilities, choose the one closest to your hotel and book a refreshing playtime in the midst of Phuket’s heat. Don’t forget to apply and reapply your sunscreen generously.

Read More: Where To Stay in Phuket Old Town

Holidays in Phuket will fly by in a blink of an eye, so a 3-4 days trip is quite an ideal time to spend with the family here. You could directly fly to Phuket from Singapore or fly to Bangkok first to spend a few days in the capital city before heading to Phuket to enjoy leisure time at the beach.

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