Rainy Day Activities in Phuket

Things to Do in Phuket when it rains

Here's a baker's dozen of things to do when the sun's in hibernation and the day is damp:

1. Indulge in a relaxing spa and massage treatment

There are so many spas around the island offering facials, body scrubs, traditional and Thai massage. From 300 Bath for a traditional massage to an all-round pampering treatment for 10,000 Baht or more.

2. Learn something new

Try your hand at Thai cooking, fruit carving, massage, batik making or whatever strikes your fancy. A number of resorts offer indoor programs for adults and kids - be sure to check when you book your room.

3. Go shopping

...and melt those wet season worries away - Antiques, clothing, fabrics, homewares, souvenirs and more. Central Shopping Mall, Big C, Tesco-Lotus, Ocean Plaza and Robinsons Department Store around Phuket Town. For more upscale shopping (antiques, etc,) try Laguna Canal Village and Surin Springs, etc.

4. Take a temple tour

When visiting the majestic and colourful Wat Chalong, the Chinese shrines around Phuket Town and other temples, the gloom and mist of the rain often adds a hint of mystery to the experience.

5. Do a classic rainy-day standby

Go bowling at Big C or Pearl in Phuket Town. Take in a movie or both! SFX cinema in Central Shopping Mall (Phuket Town)

6. See a thrilling live nature show

Find a beachfront/cliffside restaurant with a view along the west coast and watch an exciting display of storm clouds and crashing waves.

7. Grab a book and go to a coffee shop.

There's an abundance of cafes in Phuket, from local Chinese vendors serving sweet Thai-style coffee in Phuket City to Starbucks in Patong. A relaxing way to wile away a grey afternoon.

8. Take a step back in time

Learn more about Phuket's past by exploring the Thalang National Museum - a great deal at only 30 Baht - or the old Sino-Portuguese mansions in Phuket City.

9. Check your fortune

There's a fortune teller in the lobby of the Holiday Inn, Patong, a few more along the main roads of Patong, and several in Phuket City. Ask your Thai friends or hotel staff where to find one - many Thais use the services of the mor du. See if they'll predict when the sun will come out.

10. Visit the Phuket Aquarium

Phuket Aquarium, re-vamped, with a walk through tunnel, is a dry and comfortable way to learn about marine life - and there's no chance of getting seasick!

11. Get a tune-up.

Phuket's health and dental services are excellent and inexpensive. Go for a health check, teeth cleaning, an acupuncture session, a laser skin treatment, or even plastic surgery. It's all available.

12. Get moving

Many resorts and other Phuket venues offer instruction in fitness and health techniques such as yoga, aerobics, dance, Pilates, Tae Kwon Do, Muay Thai kick-boxing and more, as well as a range of indoor sports facilities. No need to be a couch potato here.

13. Wallow in the wet

Go for a stroll along a lonely beach, take a muddy and wild ATV or rafting adventure, or grab an umbrella and and explore the nooks, crannies and small lanes of the towns. A tropical rainfall gives any excursion a new dimension - most notably an absence of the usual searing heat.

Final note:

Savvy visitors soon learn to savour the blessings of a Phuket rainy day - the crowds vanish, the scents and colours of the flowers become stronger, and the island, while remaining balmy, gets an invigorating cool down. And what may start out as a wet day may very well turn sunny within hours - it rarely rains for long periods of time, even in the height of the monsoon season. Enjoy!

See also 10 Must See in Phuket !