Phuket Full Day City tour & Lunch & Tiger Park

This is a private 8-hour sightseeing day around Phuket, run by KRIS Travel with an air-conditioned vehicle, a TAT-licensed English-speaking guide and lunch. The group is limited to 14 people, so it suits families and friends who want to set their own pace at each stop.

The route starts on the coast. You stop for three beaches in a row, then two viewpoints looking out over the Andaman Sea, including a stop at the Big Buddha. From there the day turns to the town: Wat Chalong, the island’s best-known temple, which dates from the 19th century, and a walk through Phuket Old Town to see its Sino-Portuguese buildings (the itinerary dates the building it visits to 1892).

Two factory stops fill the middle of the day. At a cashew nut factory you can see how the nuts are processed and taste the flavours on offer. At a pearl factory the staff show how pearls are produced and how to tell real pearls from fake ones. Lunch is Thai or local Phuket food, with a vegetarian option if you ask when booking. The final stop is a green park near the mountains, which the inclusions list as a Tiger Park walk-around with flexible time inside.

Temple and factory entrance fees, fuel and drinking water are covered. Wear clothes that cover your shoulders and knees for Wat Chalong. The tour can also collect passengers from the cruise terminal, and specialised infant seats are available.

Insider Tip: Eight hours includes a lot of short stops. Start with a light breakfast, because lunch comes mid-route and the factory tastings add up.