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9 Special Fun Facts About Phuket

UPDATED July 31, 2025 · 7 MIN READ
Emma Juno Sparkes
WRITTEN BY Associate

I collected my 9 best fun facts about Phuket based on my experience, including information about the unusual rituals of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, the region’s 147-foot-tall Buddha statue, and its famous James Bond Island.

Phuket is both an island and a province in Southern Thailand.

Here’s the primer:

  • Phuket Province: The province includes Thailand’s largest island, Phuket, along with 32 smaller nearby islands.
  • Phuket Island is a rain-forested, mountainous island surrounded by the Andaman Sea, which is part of the Indian Ocean. Phuket is famous for the beaches, particularly on its west coast. It is the largest island in Thailand and covers 222 square miles (576 square kilometers), making it slightly smaller than Singapore.
  • Phuket Town (also known as Phuket City) is the capital of Phuket Province, known for its markets and nightlife. Patong Beach is the main resort area. Phuket Old Town is a historic area within Phuket City, known for its Sino-Portuguese architecture, shops, temples, and cafes.
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Phuket is famous for its sandy beaches, including popular spots like Surin Beach, Patong Beach, Kata Beach, Karon Beach, Nai Harn Beach, Mai Khao Beach, and Nai Yang Beach. The island serves as a waypoint to the Similan Islands, which are known for their whale sharks and offer excellent diving experiences.

I had an amazing time traveling there and I strongly recommend taking a trip to Thailand yourself. But before all that, let’s learn some fun facts about Phuket.

9 Fun Facts About Phuket

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  1. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a huge event on Phuket and throughout the region
  2. While it’s known for beautiful beaches, 70% of Phuket’s land is mountainous
  3. Tourism is the backbone of Phuket’s economy, contributing to 90% of the island’s revenue
  4. The Phuket Big Buddha is 147 feet (45 meters) tall and one of the largest Buddhas in Thailand
  5. Phuket was never colonized thanks in part to two local women
  6. Phuket Province has a James Bond Island
  7. Chalong Bay is the gateway to Coral Island, Phi Phi Islands, and Racha Island
  8. Agriculture is still a major industry in Phuket
  9. This tropical paradise is an important nesting ground for sea turtles

1. The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a huge event on Phuket and throughout the region

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is a significant event on Phuket and throughout the region. This annual nine-day festival occurs during the 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar, typically falling in September or October. Also known as the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, it is one of the most important and largest events on Phuket Island.

Large crowds gather at Chinese shrines across Phuket to honor the gods and express gratitude for blessings, protection, and good health. The streets of Phuket are filled with people eager to participate in and watch the unique and intense penance rituals.

A Warning About the Phuket Vegetarian Festival

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival may not be suitable for all attendees. The festival rituals include acts of extreme self-penance, which may be distressing to some.

People in orange headscarves march through the streets for the Phuket vegetarian festival.

A scene from the Phuket Vegetarian Festival.

2. While it’s known for beautiful beaches, 70% of Phuket’s land is mountainous

Phuket is known for its beautiful beaches, but 70% of its land is mountainous, forming part of the Phuket Mountain Range. The island has no major rivers, only creeks. Its highest point is Khao Mai Thao Sip Song, standing at around 1,735 feet (529 meters) above sea level.

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3. Tourism is the backbone of Phuket’s economy, contributing to 90% of the island’s revenue

Tourism is the backbone Phuket and makes up 90% of the island’s economy. Phuket was first inhabited around the 1st century BC and served as a major trading stop between India, Southeast Asia, and China throughout its history. However, trade routes and methods changed, and Phuket now relies on tourism for most of its income.

Before COVID-19, Phuket welcomed around 10 million visitors annually. Fortunately, tourism has improved since the pandemic, and the region saw approximately 11 million visitors last year, according to the Bangkok Post.

Phuket is an attractive tourist destination, drawing international celebrities like Snoop Dogg, Naomi Campbell, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kim Kardashian, Mick Jagger, Paris Hilton, Rihanna, Tommy Lee Jones, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Kate Moss.

Phuket International Airport is the third busiest airport in Thailand, serving this tourism demand.

The Phuket Big Buddha sits behind palm trees.

The Phuket Big Buddha is the fourth-largest Buddha in Thailand.

4. The Phuket Big Buddha is 147 feet (45 meters) tall and one of the largest Buddhas in Thailand

Phuket has the fourth-largest Buddha statue in Thailand, standing at over 147 feet. The Phuket Big Buddha on Nakkerd Hill offers panoramic views of Phuket Island, including Chalong Bay and Kata Beach.

The top 5 largest Buddha statues in Thailand are:

No. Building Location Height (ft)
1 Wat Muang Ang Thong Province 301.8 ft
2 Wat Bhurapha Piram Roi Et Province 194.2 ft
3 Wat Pho Bangkok 150.9 ft (long)
4 Phuket Big Buddha Phuket 147.6 ft
5 Wat Lokayasutharam Ayutthaya 121.4 ft (long)
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5. Phuket was never colonized thanks in part to two local women

Phuket was never colonized, unlike many other regions in Southeast Asia. This impressive feat was achieved in part thanks to the efforts of two local sisters.

In 1785, during a Burmese invasion, Lady Chan and Lady Mook played a key role in defending Phuket. They organized a local militia and led the island’s defense.

Their efforts helped to drive back the Burmese forces, and today, they are celebrated as heroines. A monument built in their honor stands on Highway 402.

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6. Phuket Province has a James Bond Island

James Bond Island is a set of limestone cliffs rising out of the emerald waters of Phang Nga Bay. The island was originally known as Koh Tapu but became internationally famous after it was featured in the 1974 James Bond movie “The Man with the Golden Gun.”

After the movie’s success, the island was unofficially renamed “James Bond Island.”

In addition to “The Man with the Golden Gun,” a number of other movies have used Phuket as a filming location, including:

  • Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
  • Tomorrow Never Dies
  • The Beach
  • Good Morning, Vietnam
  • Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason
A view of the beach taken from a drone in Phuket Thailand.

Phuket’s beautiful scenery makes it a fantastic filming location.

7. Chalong Bay is the gateway to Coral Island, the Phi Phi Islands, and the Racha Islands

Chalong Bay is a large, sparkling bay on the southeastern coast of Phuket, Thailand. The marina serves as a departure point for boats and yachts heading to nearby Coral Island, the Phi Phi Islands and the Racha Islands.

8. Agriculture is still a major industry in Phuket

Thailand is known for its tourism, but fishing and agriculture are major industries, particularly along the east coast and in northern Phuket. Phuket Island is covered with rainforests, pineapple farms, rubber plantations and palm oil plantations.

Read more: Packing tips for different climates when traveling abroad

A student holds a turtle hatchling in her hands with sand visible in the background.

A student holds a turtle hatchling in her hands.

9. This tropical paradise is an important nesting ground for sea turtles

Phuket’s Sirinat National Park in northwest Phuket is a nesting ground for sea turtles. A significant event occurs annually at nearby Mai Khao Beach, where baby turtles are released back into the ocean as part of a conservation effort to protect marine life. We love conservation programs!

 

>> LEARN MORE: Fun Facts About Thailand.

This article is part of the Rustic Pathways Fun Facts Series. Explore more quirky facts from around the world.

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