Phuket: 5 viewpoints to explore the island differently

A simple little article about walking around the most famous island in Thailand, the aptly named Phuket. I'm not going to offer anything really new because all the places I'm going to present to you are, to my knowledge, already quite well known, or even very...

But it is also a way of defending this "unloved" city a little, Phuket being regularly reduced to "Patong", implying that some people categorically reject it, notably citing its overly touristy character (to ultimately end up on its "rival", Ko Samui...)

If we can't take that away from it, Phuket is certainly the most visited island in the country, it nevertheless has some pretty spots that are still well worth a visit, especially since I want to remind you that Phuket is an island, but also a province in its own right, which stretches over more than 50 km long.

Forget the exuberance of Patong, it can certainly be crowded but many are concentrated in specific areas, the island is large enough to offer all types of atmosphere, including off the beaches, like its charming little town.

Read here: Phuket Town: Urban Escape in the Old Town

But let's get to the heart of the matter, here are 5 viewpoints to admire the island of Phuket.

1. The Big Buddha

Let's start with the most obvious one, since it is one of the most famous on the island, as you will see day tour signs offering it or taxis ready to take you there. The Big Buddha of Phuket, its full name Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Eknakiri, sits proudly on the hill called Nakkerd.

The Big Buddha seen from Chalong Road.

The 45m statue, dressed all in white, is in the classic position in Thailand, with the right hand on the knee, a position called " Maravijaya", or "victory over Mara", more commonly the position calledcall for witness from the earth. A reference in Southeast Asian Buddhist mythology in which the Buddha, while focused on achieving Nirvana, is disrupted in his task by Mara, a deity who views Gautama Sidhartha's goal of becoming an equal to the gods with a negative eye. The future Buddha then touches the earth to call upon the goddess known in Thailand as Mae Thorani to help him defeat Mara.

Construction of this important Phuket landmark began in 2004 and is still ongoing today, with over 80% of the project completed to date (mostly the work on the base remains). We also see the importance of Buddhism in Thailand, because not only was it mainly funded by donations (to the tune of $1 million), the statue is located in the heart of what is a national forest (so normally a protected area), having received approval from the Royal Thai Forestry Department.

Obviously if you only visit Phuket and its surroundings, this will probably be the most imposing Buddha you will have the opportunity to see. But for me its main interest remains the breathtaking view of this southern part of the island. Because the hill dominates the beaches of Kata and Karon on one side, and overlooks Chalong on the other side, towards which it is directed.

We can see the municipality and its quay, from where mainly charter yachts leave, but also the entire Panwa peninsula, where there are some beautiful luxury hotels. We can also see the small island of Ko Lon, located in Chalong Bay. On the other side, the view is a little more limited, but we can clearly see the end of Karon beach, recognizable by its reservoir and the only large hotel in the area with a tower, the Paradox Resort Phuket.

Note that if you have not yet seen a monkey in Thailand, this will be the opportunity because you will be able to see them going about their business around the base of the statue.

2. Karon Viewpoint

Located along the road between Rawai and Kata beaches, this is one of the most famous viewpoints on the island. Among other things because it is located directly on the edge of a busy road, it is difficult to miss.

It is also for the iconic view it offers, on the 3 coves formed in order by the beaches of Kata Noi, Kata then Karon in the background, which, for a reason that I do not know, gives its name to this point of view without being the beach dominating this landscape, nor even located within its enclosure.

Note as a bonus that just 300 m before the viewpoint if you arrive from Rawai, you will have a small unpaved road going off to the left. The latter leads to the small private beach of Nui but also, since it is the subject of this article, to the Black Rock Viewpoint. By following the path for about 1,5 km, there is normally barely 300 m left to walk to reach the point itself, located on the side of a hill overlooking Nai Harn beach, from where you can see the entire southern tip, including Yanui beach, Promthep Cap and the viewpoint I talk about just after.

I mention it in this paragraph and not separately, because I haven't been there and therefore don't have any photos to show, but the place looks really cool.

3. Windmill Viewpoint

Windmill Viewpoint is located a little further south of Karon Viewpoint, slightly set back from the road that runs from Rawai to Nai Harn beach, passing along the coast and in particular the famous Promthep cape mentioned just after.

Windmill can be translated as "windmill". In fact, you will not find a mill here, but a wind turbine, which should translate as "Wind Turbine" but nevertheless gives its name to this spot which allows you to dominate the beautiful little beach of Yanui, about a hundred meters wide. Just like at Promthep Cape, located a little over a kilometer away, you can see the small island of Ko Man, which bathes in this bay on the southern tip of the island.

Little bonus: From this point of view, we can partially see Nai Harn and in particular its emblematic hotel with the explicit name " The Nai Harn, Phuket", very close from there, you can see a clear view of the whole Nai Harn Bay if you go down the road for 150m, from the intersection of the main road and the one leading to the parking lot of the viewpoint.

Viewpoint over Nai Harn Beach.

4. Promthep Cape

Promthep Cape is certainly one of the most famous places on the island. This small outgrowth of a little over 260 m long, forms the southernmost point of Phuket. If I'm honest, it's not where you'll have the best view (the one before is much more interesting for example) but its popularity is mainly due to its privileged location for sunsets. So expect, in the evening, to meet many people there.

While you will find a drink/coconut vendor and toilets at Windmill Viewpoint, Promthep Cape is the only point on this list that is really developed as an attraction. There is a line of shops with food, drinks, souvenirs, clothes, right in front of the main car park.

In addition to the view itself, you will see a shrine housing a statue similar to the one at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, which represents the Hindu god Indra (a sort of Zeus in Indian sauce). The latter is surrounded by multiple elephant statues, Erawan, the mount of the god Indra, turns out to be a three-headed elephant.

At the other end of the square, you have a monument dedicated to the Prince of Chumphon, a famous Thai admiral of the early 20th century who almost acquired the status of protector of the seas (there are more than 200 shrines dedicated to him on the Thai coasts, one of the most famous being in Chumphon). Right next to the Prince's Shrine is a small lighthouse, Laem Phra Chao Lighthouse, built in 1996 by the Navy to commemorate the 50th year of King Bhumibol's reign (Rama 9).

5. Laem Sing Viewpoint

This is a small viewpoint located once again on the side of the road between Kamala and Surin beaches. As its name suggests, you will then have a superb view of the small beach of Laem Sing, mainly accessible by boat. In the background, you have Kamala Bay and the hill that separates Kamala beach from Patong.

Note that it is safer to stop there if you are going towards Surin from Kamala rather than the other way around, the viewpoint will then be on your left directly and avoids cutting the road, knowing that its location between two bends makes it a very accident-prone area.

Bonus: view from the restaurant “On The Rock”

I put it as a bonus because it is not strictly speaking a point of view, especially since the latter requires going to a private establishment while all the other spots presented here are public places. But the view that you will get on the beach of Karon is still frankly nice, I wanted to include it.

The restaurant is part of the facilities of the Marina Phuket Resort, a beautiful establishment with tropical garden and is also a good choice for lunch, although obviously the prices reflect the range of the hotel and especially the view it offers.