Top 10 best things to do in Mai Khao Phuket

A beautiful tropical island in the South of Thailand

Phuket is a beautiful tropical island in the South of Thailand, connected to the mainland by only a bridge. The South of Thailand offers fantastic experiences for holiday makers, however, choosing where to stay on the island itself can be challenging as there is just so much to see and do. Mai Khao is just one of the many fantastic areas in Phuket which you may consider staying.

1 -

Top 10 best things to do in Mai Khao Phuket

1. Go plane-spotting at Mai Khao Beach

The most southern-end of Mai Khao Beach is one of Phuket’s best and most popular plane-sighting hotspots. Be sure to check out the daily arrival and departure listings before going.There are two distinct plane-spotting seasons in Phuket. First - high season, from December to April. Throughout these months planes will be passing over the beach to land in Phuket Airport, as planes are required to face the wind when taking off and landing.

2. Spend an epic day at Splash Jungle Water Park

For adrenaline and thrill seekers or for those wanting to relax and lounge around a lazy river - Splash Jungle Water Park has something for everyone. Spend the day here exploring the multitude of rides and slides on offer; order some tasty food and play the day away. Splash Jungle Water Park is a must-visit if you want to experience the best things to do in Mai Khao Phuket.

3. Roam around Sirinat National Park

Sirinat National Park is one of the main tourist attractions of Mai Khao Phuket. The park itself is around 30km from Phuket Town and covers a vast 13km of coastline and white sand beaches.The national parks main purpose is to preserve natural resources such as coniferous forests, coral reefs and beaches as safe havens for sea turtles to lay their eggs. If you’re searching for some of the best things to do in Mai Khao, check out some of the coral reefs of the Marine National Park and snorkel in the idyllic spots.

4. Visit Mai Khao Marine turtle foundation

Located on Mai Khao Beach and part of the wider known JW Mariott Resort, a visit to Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation is an experience not to be missed if you are wishing to experience the best things to do in Mai Khao. This NGO-led foundation was initially set-up with the intentions of protecting nestling turtles in the areas and promote the vital need to keep seas and beaches clean around the island. The foundation is now home to a number of sea turtles with permanent residency due to disabilities that would not allow them to thrive in the wild. You can visit the foundation to hear more about their work in their information sessions and even experience their “feeding time”.

5. Discover Mai Khao Plaza

Described as a contemporary style shopping and dining complex, Mai Khao Plaza is one of the best places in Mai Khao Phuket to visit for a shopping experience. Mai Khao Plaza is a popular location, and an alternative choice to Turtle Village, for enjoying shopping, dining and spa treatments.

2 -

And more...

6. Explore Wat Mai Khao

Despite not being as well known as Phuket’s Big Buddha or Wat Chalong, Wat Mai Khao is situated in beautiful surroundings. Located at Baan Mai Khao, the stunning surroundings of this beautiful temple alone are worth a visit and are sure to leave you speechless.

7. Visit Soi Dog Foundation

Soi Dog Foundation is a non-profit animal sanctuary based in Mai Khao, Phuket. If you are a dog lover, then you can opt to visit Soi Dog Foundation and have your very own volunteer experience at their shelter. Soi, meaning “stray” in Thai, dogs, are a very real issue in Thailand. There are too many dogs on the streets needing medical assistance and homes. Volunteering at Soi Dog Foundation is just one way in which you can help and it is sure to be one of the best things that you do in Mai Khao, Phuket.

8. Attempt wake boarding at IWP International Wake Park Phuket

Another activity that is not for the faint hearted! If you wish to attempt a wake boarding session while visiting Phuket, then IWP International Wake Park, located in Mai Khao is the place for you. You can also opt to try out IWP’s “flow ride”, to try and catch some waves while on holiday.

9. Shop until you drop at turtle village

Unlike popular tourist destinations in Phuket like Patong and Phuket Town, Mai Khao offers a unique and fun shopping experience in its recently opened Turtle Village. Shops that you will find at Turtle Village include: Eye Bright, J&P Gems, Jim Thompson, Kashmir Gallery, PIK LIK, Private Collection, Red Coral, Soul of Asia Art & Boutique, StarBlu, Triumph and Turtle Mart.

10. Check out Sarasin Bridge

Built in 1967, Sarasin Bridge was the first bridge to connect Phuket to mainland Thailand. As tourism began to boom in Thailand and road traffic increased, the authorities took the initiative to build a larger bridge right next to it. Sarasin Bridge has since been re-invented as a tourist attraction. It is now the perfect place to catch the sunset and take in the views over the Andaman Sea to the west of the bridge and Phang Nga Bay to the east. A visit to the Sarasin Bridge is definitely a top contender for one of the best things to do in Mai Khao Phuket.