Southern Thailand and Andaman Coast attractions

Set in the 3,000-seat Palace of the Elephants Theater at the Thai-themed Phuket FantaSea amusement park, the family-friendly Fantasy of a Kingdom stage show presents a mythical tale that blends traditional Thai dance, music, and costumes with colorful special effects, magical illusions, and pyrotechnics. As well as watching the show, you can explore a shopping street and feast on Thai cuisine at two buffet restaurants.

Every Saturday and Sunday, a road in east Phuket comes to life with the sights, sounds, and smells of Thai culture. At Phuket Weekend Market (Naka Market, you’ll find fragrant street food stalls offering everything from pad thai to papaya salad, and local artisans selling hand-crafted souvenirs.

Mu Ko Lanta National Park covers an area of 83 square miles (134 square kilometers). Encompassing a range of popular, well-maintained diving spots, the area is a rewarding place to explore for those willing or eager to get off the beaten track.

Opening its doors in 2012, the Phuket Botanic Garden offers a collection of rare and exotic plants, with everything from tropical palms to colorful orchids, presented over a series of 12 landscaped gardens. Highlights of the small garden include the paddy field and the koi pond, where visitors can purchase pellets and feed the fish.

Part of the beautiful Wat Khlong Thom temple complex, the Wat Khlong Thom Museum offers an interesting archaeological experience for people visiting Krabi. It’s a great place to visit if you'd like to gain a better understanding of the history of the region.

Khao Toh Sae, better known as Monkey Hill, is a popular Phuket landmark. At 360 feet (110 meters) high, it’s one of the town’s highest hills and offers panoramic views of Phuket Town, the surrounding islands, and the Andaman Sea. Its popular name comes from the hundreds of macaques that call the hill home.

For a turtle immersion, head out to the Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet Turtle Nursery near Khao Lak in Phang-nga. Nature and animal lovers will enjoy seeing the turtles, from babies to the older guys, being raised and taken care of by a compassionate staff. Your visit is welcome, and makes an educational break from jungle or beach time.

Sea creatures are the stars at Aquaria Phuket, a large aquarium on the basement level of the Central Phuket Floresta mall. The aquarium is home to around 6,000 fish and animals, and features a solid schedule of feedings, presentations, and even “mermaid” shows.

A strip of bone-white sand lapped by the Andaman Sea and backed by limestone cliffs, Monkey Beach is an unspoiled slice of paradise. Or at least its residents think so—hundreds of long-tailed macaques call this place home. The turquoise waters surrounding it are also among the top snorkel spots in the Phi Phi islands.

With over 1,000 birds including more than 100 different species ranging from colorful parrots and hornbills to giant ostrich and peacock, Phuket Bird Park offers a comprehensive introduction to Thailand’s exotic birdlife. Visitors can see the birds show off their natural skills during a live show and feed them under supervision from the staff.

The first of its kind in Thailand, Phuket’s Upside Down House (Baan Teelanka) defies gravity by letting you walk on the ceiling and climb the walls. It might feel mind-bending as you grow accustomed to the strange sensation of having the floor above and the ceiling below, but once you do, you’ll emerge with a collection of snaps that’ll take social media by storm.

Phuket is a huge island, loaded with beaches that all have their own feel. Surin is perfect for those who want a more relaxed vibe, but who still want the comforts of being able to rent beach chairs and try some local goodies from food vendors. Stay for sunset, if you like a bit of a party atmosphere.

Even though it is only 610 feet (186 meters) high, the Phi Phi Viewpoint offers some of the best views in town. After a short but steep hike, you’ll be rewarded with three different viewpoints, from which you can see the jungle-covered hills, white-sand isthmus, and iridescent waters of Ko Phi Phi Don.

So-called because of the drawings of ships found on its walls, Viking Cave is nestled inside a limestone cliff on Koh Phi Phi Leh in Thailand. Hundreds of swiftlets make their nests here from saliva—these are then harvested for the outrageously expensive bird’s nest soup, an Asian delicacy.

Part of the glorious Phi Phi archipelago in Thailand’s turquoise Andaman Sea, Ko Phi Phi Le is an uninhabited island whose standout feature is Maya Bay—which catapulted to fame after appearing in the 2000 film The Beach. The pristine waters surrounding it are prime snorkel and scuba diving spots, as they’re home to blacktip reef sharks, sea snakes, hawksbill turtles, and octopi.

Downtown Phuket’s one-stop shop for fashion, dining, and entertainment, Jungceylon is a megamall with a jungle theme, designed with high, airy spaces and lots of indoor greenery and water features. It’s one of the biggest shopping centers in southern Thailand, where you’ll find more than 200 stores selling everything from clothes and computers to perfume and sunglasses.

The volunteer-run, not-for-profit Gibbon Rehabilitation Project in Phuket rescues gibbons (a type of ape) that have been poached and held in captivity (a serious problem in Phuket). The staff then rehabilitates them before safely reintroducing them to their natural habitats, when possible.

Designed by renowned UK hedge maze designer Adrian Fisher, A-Maze Garden is the only garden maze in Phuket. Built from around 10,760 square feet (1,000 square meters) of hedges, A-Maze offers fun for families with kids, and is located next to several other family friendly attractions on the popular Thai island.