10 Things to Do in Phuket in January

Phuket is a Thai island, considered one of the wonders of mainland Asia. There are as many things to do as there are types of travellers. Therefore, during your stay in January you won't have to worry, as fun is guaranteed.

During this month, the weather conditions are quite favourable: little rain, lots of sunshine and low humidity. Undoubtedly one of the best times to visit the island and discover the best things to do in Phuket. For example, celebrate Chinese New Year, shop for seasonal produce at the traditional market, visit the Monkey Cave and much more.

If your trip to Phuket coincides with the second half of January, then you can enjoy the Chinese New Year celebration on the island. Be part of an age-old tradition and enjoy a series of colourful cultural performances.

This celebration is very popular on the island, due to the large number of Chinese inhabitants living there. To enjoy the traditional events of Chinese New Year, just head to the local streets, markets and temples.

For example, some destinations include the following:

• Jui Tui Shrine Temple, a 14th century Buddhist compound belonging to the Chinese community. There, you can watch the Dragon Dance, light incense sticks to purify yourself, read your fortune for the year ahead and have a snack.
• Phuket Old Town and Bangla Street. You'll see musical performances by street performers, some traditional dragon and lion parades, a big fireworks display and much more.

In addition, you can go to the local markets around the Wat-Chalong Temple. These are usually one of the must-visit destinations on any Phuket food tour and New Year's Eve celebration. You can try some traditional dishes such as rice balls, spring rolls, longevity noodles, among others.

If you are a photo enthusiast or simply want to capture great memories of your visit, you should know that the clear skies and moderate temperatures of January in Phuket are favourable conditions for taking amazing pictures. All you have to do is create a route with the different tourist destinations on the island, grab your camera and set off.

Some of the most photogenic places on the island that you can visit are the following:

• Phuket's Old Town, which is notable for its Sino-Portuguese architecture, present in buildings, palaces and shops. A picturesque and lively scene, frequented by dozens of locals.
• The Wat Chalong temple complex, which houses gardens, Buddha paintings, golden statues and many more relics. It is one of the most important Buddhist temples on the island.
• The Great Buddha Maravija, whose marble structure dominates the island's landscape.
• The viewpoint at Cape Promthep, a large rocky hill approximately 60 metres above sea level.

After this photographic adventure on the island, you can continue with other activities on your itinerary. For example, buy tickets for a show at Simon Cabaret in Phuket, the latter being a good option to incorporate among the things to do in Phuket at night.

Among the things to see and do in Phuket in 3 days or more during the month of January, you can incorporate a visit to the town's Central Market. There, you will find a wide variety of fresh seasonal produce brought in every morning by local farmers and fishermen: fruits, vegetables, spices, fish, among others.

Upon arrival, you can start your tour in the main area, which is located inside the building. You will be amazed by the picturesque scene, led by dozens of stalls with exotic fruits such as Keo Mangkon (dragon fruit), frang (guava), longan (dragon's eye), malacoo (papaya), mamuang (mango), etc.

You will also see chillies and curry paste, which are widely used in traditional preparations. And, in the seafood area, you will find fish such as blue jack mackerel, the popular eel, among others. You will also come across some exotic products such as snakes, red ants, tarantulas, worms and more.

The market is located on the west side of the island, on Ranong Road (shopping street). This is a busy place for locals and tourists alike. In fact, if you decide to join a Thai cooking class in Phuket in January, you will surely visit this destination to buy some fresh ingredients and learn about them.

While January is among the cooler months in Phuket, daily temperatures remain high. So it doesn't hurt to make a stop along the way to cool off. The best way to do this is at one of the **island'**s ice cream parlours.

Whether in the Old Town, on the busy Phuket Road or elsewhere on the island, you'll find a wide range of ice cream parlours on Phuket Island. Such is the case of Always Summer Coconut Icecream, Lucky Scoops Phuket, Samero's Icecream Paradise, Manzoni Ice Cream, among others.

In any of them, you can soothe the heat and delight your palate with the variety of flavours: mango rice, creamy coconut, hazelnut, chocolate, sesame and many more. Ideal if you are in Phuket with children, as they, like you, will be amazed by the flavours and presentations.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to try some coffee or iced tea, depending on your tastes. After this refreshing experience, you can continue with your activities. Perhaps join one of the guided tours of Phuket Town, go shopping or purchase tickets to Aquaria Phuket to see around 25,000 aquatic creatures.

The island of Phuket in January offers a wonderfully contrasting sunset that you won't want to miss. Join a boat trip along the island's coastline and stop at Promthep Cape to see a dozen warm colours tint the sky, thanks to the season's low rainfall and cloud cover.

Just connect with a cruise service for this scenic adventure, which usually starts at the marina in Ao Chalong Bay. There, you will set sail for Koh Hey, also called Coral Island, where you will get a privileged panoramic view: clear waters surrounded by white sand and lush vegetation.

You will also stroll around Promthep Cape, where you will stop to watch the sunset. This is a cape with a picturesque natural scene, where you will be about 60 metres above sea level and enjoy a magical view of the ocean and the sun setting on the horizon as it covers the sea with its last rays.

Whether you plan to stay 1 to 5 days in Phuket or even longer, this scenic adventure along the coast of the island is a must-do activity during the month of January. After docking at the harbour, you can continue the fun with activities such as a Phuket pub crawl.

Useful information

• Price: The cost of this type of tour is approximately €42 per person.
• Duration maximum 4 hours.

January temperatures in Phuket are some of the coolest of the year on the island. Therefore, taking a trip to the Monkey Cave in this month is a good option. You'll have a direct encounter with Buddhist culture, rafting and zip-lining.

This is one of the best day trips from Phuket, allowing you to get away from the hustle and bustle of the island. You will travel by car with a driver-guide to Phang Nga province (about 70 minutes). You'll also enjoy the picturesque scenery, led by limestone cliffs.

You'll arrive at the Wat Tham Suwan Khuha Cave Temple, whose stalactite-lined interior houses a number of Buddhist artefacts and sculptures, including a 15-metre-long reclining golden Buddha. And, if you're lucky, you might even catch a monk meditating.

Afterwards, you'll head to Mueang Phang-nga, to jump into the water for a thrilling 5km of white-water rafting. Afterwards, you'll take a 150-metre-long zip line ride. To end this monkey cave, rafting and zip line tour from Phuket, you'll head to Sa Nang Manora Forest Park for an open-air walk and view of a reservoir pond.

Useful information

• Price: the price of the tour is around 45€ per person.
• Duration approximately 10 hours.

If you're keen on off-road adventures then a buggy tour of the island in January is a must. You'll enjoy warm but cool weather, thanks to the 9 kilometres per hour winds that tend to prevail during this month. There is also no risk of rain. Without a doubt, a perfect time for this type of activity.

This type of guided tour of Phuket starts with a transfer from the centre of the island to the camp of the contracted buggy company. There, an instructor will explain the basic rules of buggy driving and you will have a short time to practice with the instructor.

You will then drive behind the guide, who will take you along the bumpy roads of the mountain range that stretches to the south side of the island at Laem Promthep. You will be surrounded by lush vegetation and will have the opportunity to enjoy a privileged view of the coastline.

Useful information

• Price: the average price for this activity is around 51€ per person.
• Duration: approximately 3 hours.

In January, the sea in Phuket is usually an average of 28°C, so you'll enjoy warm and pleasant waters. Take advantage of this condition on the island's beaches and try some water sports.

For this adventure, you will have several options when it comes to beaches. All you have to do is choose the one that best suits your needs. Some of them could be the following:

• Patong Beach, with an approximate extension of 3.5 kilometres of white sand, where you can lie down and enjoy the view and dive into its transparent waters.
• Karon Beach, where you will find about 2.5 kilometres of fine sand. You can swim, rent jet skis, etc.
• Kata Beach, with the best waves on the island for surfing, windsurfing and sailing.
• Panwa beach, which stands out for its crystal clear, shallow waters, ideal for snorkelling.

You should know that on each beach you will find places where you can rent the necessary equipment for each practice. In fact, if you wish, you can hire the service of a professional instructor, who will teach you how to drive a jet ski, the safety rules for windsurfing, surfing and other sports.

Moreover, if your itinerary is not very tight, you can also join a 3-day PADI Open Water Diver Certification tour from Phuket. You'll be able to enhance your underwater experience and explore deeper into the marine life.

Despite being one of the cooler months of the year, January in Phuket is still a little hot. As such, you may not want to spend the whole day out in the sun doing outdoor activities. In this regard, the Trick Eye Museum is a good option to incorporate into your itinerary.

This innovative museum is located in the Central Phuket Floresta shopping centre. There, you'll enjoy a series of exhibits made up of augmented reality photos and videos.

You'll have the chance to sit on an ice cliff next to a polar bear or come face to face with a fire-breathing sea dragon. You can also enter Wonderland with Alice, swim with whales and sharks, among other adventures.

Useful information

• Price: about 10€ per person.
• Opening hours every day from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm.

January may not be a low season month on the island, but it is a time of moderate tourism. Take advantage of this annual trend to attend the Siam Niramit theatre show, avoiding the long queues at the box office.

This performing arts group is located about 15 minutes' drive from the centre of Phuket. The show tells the history of Thailand (culture, religion, art) through an amazing staging with a duration of about 80 minutes.

You will see about 100 performers on stage, accompanied by a soundtrack, lights, special effects and more than 80 backdrops. You will be amazed by the more than 500 costumes used by the actors to carry out the characterisations. You will feel that history has come to life and that you are part of it.

Useful information

• Price: the cost of the show is around 40€ per person.
• Timetable: The show generally runs from 8.30pm to 9.50pm from Wednesday to Monday.

Temperatures in Phuket during January tend to range from an average minimum of 24ºC to an average maximum of 33ºC. This is a month with a low humidity percentage and about 30 millimetres of rainfall, which corresponds to approximately four rainy days.

On the other hand, there is the temperature of Phuket's sea water, which generally varies between 27ºC and 28ºC. You certainly won't find a cold sea, but it's a pleasant temperature for diving and some water sports.

If you're wondering what to pack for a trip to Phuket in January, the first thing to bear in mind is that it's a bit of a hot place. For this reason, clothes made of light and breathable fabrics are essential: shorts, dresses, T-shirts with short sleeves or without them.

Also, take a high coverage sunscreen, mosquito repellent, sunglasses, hat, cap, among other accessories. Don't forget to pack mountain clothing and a light coat. This, if you plan to go on an excursion. For example, you can buy tickets to the elephant sanctuary in Phuket, among other options.