A Travel Guide to the Best Touring in Phuket, Thailand

Phuket, Thailand is a wonderful destination for touring. With activities suitable for every type of traveler, these are my top picks for touring in Phuket.

1. An absolute must-do when in Thailand is a visit to an elephant sanctuary. This is a truly incredible once-in-lifetime experience where you’ll be able to see the elephants roam freely in their natural habitat, feed them — bananas, pineapples and cucumbers — and enjoy a Thai vegetarian lunch. This was an absolute highlight and a tour that you don't want to miss. The tour is approximately four and a half hours in length with roundtrip transportation from your resort.

2. A second must-do is a visit to the Phi Phi Islands. Take a full day adventure day trip to the Phi Phi Islands and visit the legendary Maya Bay from "The Beach," snorkel at Bamboo Island and visit Monkey Beach. This is a fun-filled day where you will travel by speedboat and enjoy beautiful scenery, snorkeling and a buffet lunch. This tour is approximately nine hours with optional hotel pick-up provided.

3. My third recommendation is a Phang Nga Bay Sea Cave Canoeing and James Bond Island by Big Boat day trip. I really enjoyed this full day adventure paddling around Panak and Hong Islands in a canoe, swimming at Lawa Island and getting some fantastic photos of James Bond Island. You'll enjoy a delicious Thai lunch onboard and have the option of roundtrip transportation from your resort. This tour is approximately seven to eight hours.

4. For the thrill seekers, I would recommend a Phuket Paradise ATV and Zipline Experience. This is a small-group adventure tour comprised of off-roading in Southern Phuket with a stop to visit the Big Buddha Statue and a zipline adventure course through the rainforest. This is a tour you won't want to miss. This is a half-day tour that runs approximately three hours and is limited to 10 people.

5. Take a Phuket City Tour visiting Karon View Point, Big Buddha and Wat Chalong. A great half day adventure with opportunity to learn more about Thai culture and important sites. A great option for history buffs or those seeking some stunning photographic opportunities. This five hour tour also includes a visit to a cashew nut factory.

6. In a culinary heaven like Phuket, another must-do is a Thai cooking class. Enjoy a Phuket Thai Cooking Class with Market Tour Option. Cooking classes are a great way to learn something new while immersing yourself in the local culture. This tour offers a small-group cooking class where you will learn to cook authentic Thai dishes such as red and green curry, pad thai, tom yum soup and mangoes with sticky rice. The menu can be adapted to your dietary needs and there is a market tour included with morning class — both morning and afternoon options are available.

7. For those travelers who may not want to partake in a traditional cooking class and just want to eat, I would recommend a Southern Flavors Phuket Food Tour with 15+ Tastings. This is a small-group 4-hour tour perfect for all foodies in Phuket Old Town. You'll sample both savory and sweet dishes such as Burmese curries, Hokkien noodles and grilled meats with peanut sauce.

8. My final tour recommendation is a full-day Racha Yai Private Scuba Diving Course from Phuket. Perfect for beginners, you'll learn to scuba dive off the coast of Phuket. You'll enjoy two, open-water dives with certified instructors with opportunity to observe tropical fish, sea turtles and colorful coral. Roundtrip transportation, breakfast and a buffet lunch are included on this eight hour tour.

For me, Phuket was just one stop on a longer Southeast Asia itinerary. As your travel advisor with expertise in the region, I'm happy to help you coordinate a longer Southeast Asia trip if desired.

As an individual who is normally on time or early for everything, one thing that surprised me in Thailand is that tours don't necessarily leave right on time. If you are a Type A individual like myself, remember that you are on "island time" and enjoy.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Phuket. In need of further inspiration? Check out Katie Anderson's guide, The Ultimate 7-Day Utah Adventure for an Unforgettable Road Trip.