Phuket Calling – How and when to get there!

Though Phuket seems like a heaven on earth, getting to this island is not as difficult as the way to heaven. You can get there by air, road, rail (in a roundabout way), and of course by sea if you have your own boat.

Perhaps, the easiest and the most preferred choice is by flying to Phuket. The island has an international airport with an increasing number of scheduled and charter flights arriving from Europe and Asia, as well as a dozen daily flights from Bangkok.

By road, you can opt for a bus or car. Buses from Bangkok take approximately 14 hours. Government buses can be boarded at the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai) in Thonburi. Private tour companies also operate coaches and minibuses. By Car the 867km journey from Bangkok to Phuket will take 10 hours or more also giving you the opportunity to explore the beauty on the way.

There is no rail link between Bangkok and Phuket but you can get to Surat Thani and take a bus to Phuket. Trains in Thailand are slow, but cheap and very comfortable.

As for deciding the best time to visit Phuket, it would be helpful to know a bit about Phuket’s climate. Phuket has tropical monsoon climate with warmth all year round and temperatures ranging between 25 – 34°C (77 – 93°F).

The dry season in Phuket is also the cooler season. It begins in December and usually lasts until March. With the climate is at its best, characterized by gentle breezes, calm seas and clear blue skies, this season is the peak for the tourists.

The rainy season begins in June and lasts until October. This is not exactly the best time to visit Phuket as it is hot, humid and wet now with the strong winds bringing warm moist air from the Indian Ocean and plenty of rain. This also affects boat tours and ferries, often prohibiting boat trips to other islands. Stirred silt reduces visibility for divers.

But there is a brighter side to this period. Lower volume of tourists during this period means that prices plummet and hotel rates are often half that of the high season. So, this period can be ideal if you are the one on a budget or if you simply wish to avoid the crowds during the high season.
Average Rainfall in Phuket:

Average Temperatures in Phuket: