14 prep tasks left
The route
Phuket → Krabi → Khao Lak → Phuket, a loop around Phang Nga Bay.
London Gatwick
Aonang Villa Resort
Le Méridien Khao Lak Resort & Spa
Riu Palace Phuket
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Top picks for you three
The best-rated experiences that mix adventure with comfort. Add them to a day and they'll appear in your plan.
Similan Islands day trip
This is the reason to stay in Khao Lak: powder-white sand, the best snorkelling in Thailand and the Sail Rock viewpoint (a short, steep climb) at Donald Duck Bay. December is prime season with calm, clear seas.
John Gray's 'Hong by Starlight' sea canoe
The original Phang Nga Bay sea-cave operator (since 1989). Guides paddle you through tunnels into hidden lagoons, you watch the sunset over the karsts, then float a candle-lit krathong among glowing plankton. Mon 14 Dec is close to the new moon, so it will be dark and magical.
4-island sunset cruise + glowing plankton swim
Snorkel, watch the sunset with a drink, then swim in the dark among bioluminescent plankton. Your Krabi nights fall just before the new moon (9 Dec), so the skies should be very dark and the plankton at their most vivid.
Railay & Phra Nang Cave Beach
Jungle-clad limestone cliffs, a cave beach and calm turquoise water, just 10–15 minutes by longtail from your hotel. No tour is needed.
Khao Sok & Cheow Lan Lake
Take a longtail between towering karsts on an emerald lake, hike through ancient rainforest to a cave, swim from a floating raft house and eat lunch on the water. It's a jaw-dropping day.
Big Buddha hike & Wat Chalong
A 45 m white-marble Buddha on Nakkerd Hill, with 360° views over Chalong Bay and the Andaman Sea. Walkers can earn the view on a jungle trail of about 1.8 km that climbs about 270 m. Afterwards, visit Wat Chalong, Phuket's largest and most revered temple.
Day by day
booked is confirmed. plan is our suggestion. option is an alternative. Activities you add from Explore appear here as added.
Off we go
- 09:00bookedCheck in at London Gatwick North Terminal. Desks open 3½ h before departure, and self-service bag drop is available.
- 12:30bookedTUI flight TOM094 to Phuket, a 787-8 Dreamliner. Flight time is 12 h 10 min.
- tipSet your watches 7 hours ahead and try to sleep after the first meal. Keep the TDAC QR code handy (the Prep tab explains it).
Land & reach Ao Nang
- 07:40bookedLand at Phuket. Show your TDAC QR code at immigration.
- ≈09:00bookedIncluded transfer to Ao Nang, about 2 h 45 min.
- MiddayplanDrop bags, have lunch and use the pool until your room is ready (usually ~14:00). Have a nap!
- 18:12planSunset stroll along Ao Nang beach.
- DinnerplanCelebration dinner at Lae Lay Grill (book a sunset table) or an easy night at Kodam Kitchen.
Railay day
- 08:00planTake the longtail (฿100) from the south end of Ao Nang to Railay. Head first to Phra Nang Cave Beach, before the crowds.
- Late morningoptionFor the adventurous: the Railay viewpoint scramble, or a half-day rock-climbing taster.
- LunchplanBeachfront lunch at Rayavadee (Krua Phranang or The Grotto).
- EveningplanKrabi Town Weekend Walking Street, which runs Fri–Sun 17:00–22:00 (25 minutes by Grab).
Island day
- Plan AplanHong Islands by speedboat with lagoon kayaking (about 08:30–15:30).
- Plan BoptionTreat day: a 4-island sunset cruise with a glowing-plankton swim. It's a dark-moon week, so the plankton should be at their best.
- Plan CoptionInland: Tiger Cave Temple at 07:00, then the Emerald Pool and hot springs.
- DinnerplanFresh seafood at Krua Thara.
Transfer to Khao Lak
- MorningoptionEarly risers: climb the Tiger Cave Temple at 06:30 and be back for breakfast and checkout.
- MiddaybookedIncluded transfer to Le Méridien Khao Lak, about 3 h. Confirm the time with your TUI rep.
- AfternoonplanCheck in to your swim-up room and switch to all-inclusive mode.
- 18:13planSunset on Bang Sak beach, or a short hop to Pakarang Cape.
Similan Islands
- ≈07:00planHotel pick-up for a full day in the Similans: snorkelling, white-sand beaches and the Sail Rock viewpoint.
- ≈17:30planBack at the hotel. Relax at the pool bar.
- EveningoptionIf you have the energy, Bang Niang market (open Wed).
Slow day
- MorningplanThai cooking class with Chef Wandee at Pakinnaka (market tour, then cook).
- AfternoonplanSpa treatment at the resort, then swim-up-bar time.
- Late afternoonplanVisit the Boat T.813 tsunami memorial, then Bang Niang market (open Thu).
Jungle & lake
- ≈07:00planKhao Sok and Cheow Lan Lake by private tour: a longtail through the karsts, a jungle walk, a cave and lunch on a raft house.
- Alt.optionEasier alternative: the Lam Ru Small Sandy Beach trail in the morning and the beach in the afternoon.
- EveningoptionNight out at Ta-Krai (Thai fine dining).
Transfer to Phuket
- Late morningbookedIncluded transfer to Riu Palace Phuket, about 1 h 20 min.
- AfternoonplanExplore the brand-new resort and book your à-la-carte slots in the RIU app.
- 18:16planSunset walk on Mai Khao beach.
Big Buddha & Old Town
- ≈07:30planHike the jungle trail up to the Big Buddha for the views (or take a taxi to the top), then visit Wat Chalong.
- Alt.optionFor thrill-seekers: the Flying Hanuman rainforest zipline in the morning.
- AfternoonplanGrab to Phuket Old Town: Soi Romanee, cafés and street art.
- 16:00–22:00planLard Yai Sunday Walking Street on Thalang Road. Dinner at One Chun or Raya.
Phang Nga Bay
- ≈10:30planPick-up for John Gray's Hong by Starlight: sea caves, hidden lagoons, sunset and floating a candle krathong.
- Alt.optionRelaxed alternative: a private longtail to Koh Yao Noi.
Last full day
- 06:40planSunrise walk on Mai Khao beach (it's turtle-nesting season).
- MorningoptionThe Gibbon Rehabilitation Project and Bang Pae waterfall trail, with Wat Phra Thong on the way.
- AfternoonplanPool, spa and packing. Pop down the beach road to the turtle foundation.
- DinnerplanFarewell dinner at PRU (Michelin star, open Tue–Sat), or Black Ginger's floating house.
Homeward
- ≈10:00bookedCheck out. The transfer to Phuket airport takes about 25 minutes. Aim to arrive by about 10:30.
- 13:40bookedTUI flight TOM087 to London Gatwick, a 787-9. Flight time is 13 h 45 min.
- 20:25bookedLand at Gatwick North.
Route map
Numbered squares are your hotels and stars are things to do. Small gold dots are places to eat. Tap any of them for details.
Explore experiences
27 of 27 experiences
Railay & Phra Nang Cave Beach
Jungle-clad limestone cliffs, a cave beach and calm turquoise water, just 10–15 minutes by longtail from your hotel. No tour is needed.
Hong Islands by speedboat (with kayaking)
The 'Hong' (room) lagoon is a hidden pool ringed by sheer cliffs. It's quieter than Phi Phi, with great snorkelling and paddling.
4-island sunset cruise + glowing plankton swim
Snorkel, watch the sunset with a drink, then swim in the dark among bioluminescent plankton. Your Krabi nights fall just before the new moon (9 Dec), so the skies should be very dark and the plankton at their most vivid.
Tiger Cave Temple climb (Wat Tham Suea)
Around 1,237–1,260 steep steps lead to a golden Buddha with a 360° view over the karsts. It's a proper workout for keen walkers.
Emerald Pool, hot-spring waterfall & Tiger Cave tour
A rainforest walk to a natural turquoise pool, then a soak in hot-spring cascades. It's a lovely inland contrast to the islands.
Ao Thalane mangrove kayaking
Paddle through mangrove canyons and hidden lagoons below the cliffs, spotting monkeys and kingfishers on flat water. It's easy for beginners.
Rock-climbing taster at Railay
Railay is a world-famous climbing spot. A beginner session is fully roped and guided, and you'll get a big sense of achievement for Brett (and brave parents!).
Early-bird Phi Phi & Maya Bay speedboat
Maya Bay ('The Beach') and Pileh Lagoon are spectacular. The early-bird departure gets you there before the crowds.
Krabi Town Weekend Walking Street
A buzzing local night market with southern Thai street food, live music and crafts. It's cheap, cheerful and very local.
Similan Islands day trip
This is the reason to stay in Khao Lak: powder-white sand, the best snorkelling in Thailand and the Sail Rock viewpoint (a short, steep climb) at Donald Duck Bay. December is prime season with calm, clear seas.
Khao Sok & Cheow Lan Lake
Take a longtail between towering karsts on an emerald lake, hike through ancient rainforest to a cave, swim from a floating raft house and eat lunch on the water. It's a jaw-dropping day.
Lam Ru National Park — Small Sandy Beach trail
A jungle coastal path (about 1.6 km each way, 1–1.5 h) to a secluded cove, with hornbills and monkeys along the way.
Thai cooking class (Pakinnaka, Chef Wandee)
Shop at the market, then cook curries, papaya salad and pad thai. It's a brilliant shared experience, and the skills come home with you.
Tsunami memorials: Boat T.813 & museum
A police boat carried 2 km inland by the 2004 tsunami, now a memorial park. The small museum nearby tells Khao Lak's story of recovery.
Bang Niang night market
Grilled seafood, roti, Thai sweets and cheap massages. It's a fun break from the all-inclusive.
Pakarang Cape sunset
A coral-strewn headland near your hotel. At low tide you can walk out onto the reef flats as the sun drops.
Ton Chong Fa waterfall walk
An easy-to-moderate forest walk to a series of cascades you can swim under. It makes a cool morning outing.
Big Buddha hike & Wat Chalong
A 45 m white-marble Buddha on Nakkerd Hill, with 360° views over Chalong Bay and the Andaman Sea. Walkers can earn the view on a jungle trail of about 1.8 km that climbs about 270 m. Afterwards, visit Wat Chalong, Phuket's largest and most revered temple.
Flying Hanuman rainforest zipline
Glide between platforms high in the canopy of a hillside rainforest, with sky bridges and an abseil drop along the way. It's a properly thrilling few hours that needs no fitness, and the safety record is excellent.
Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation
The charity protects the sea turtles that nest on your beach. Its small shelter, next door at the JW Marriott, cares for injured and young turtles, and staff explain the nesting season.
John Gray's 'Hong by Starlight' sea canoe
The original Phang Nga Bay sea-cave operator (since 1989). Guides paddle you through tunnels into hidden lagoons, you watch the sunset over the karsts, then float a candle-lit krathong among glowing plankton. Mon 14 Dec is close to the new moon, so it will be dark and magical.
Phuket Old Town + Sunday Walking Street
Pastel Sino-Portuguese shophouses, street art, cafés on Soi Romanee, then Thalang Road turns into the 'Lard Yai' Sunday street-food market.
Private longtail to Koh Yao Noi
A slow-paced rural island in the middle of Phang Nga Bay. You can cycle past rice paddies, eat a seafood lunch with karst views and have deserted sandbars to yourselves.
Gibbon Rehabilitation Project + Bang Pae waterfall
A charity rescuing and re-wilding gibbons, set in Phuket's last rainforest. Afterwards there's a short jungle trail to Bang Pae waterfall. There's no handling, so it's ethical.
Mai Khao beach walk & Sirinat National Park
About 11 km of near-empty sand from your door. It's a sea-turtle nesting beach (season Oct–Mar, peak mid-Nov to Feb), and you'll see planes landing low near the south end.
Wat Phra Thong (half-buried golden Buddha)
Legend says a golden Buddha rose out of the ground here, and only its head and shoulders are visible. It's peaceful and rarely busy.
Blue Elephant cooking school
Royal Thai cuisine taught in a restored 1903 governor's mansion in Phuket Town, with a market visit and then lunch of what you cook.
Where to eat
Krabi is breakfast-only, so these are your dinners. In Khao Lak and Phuket they're optional treats away from the all-inclusive.
Lae Lay Grill
Cliff-top terrace above Ao Nang with sea and island views. The sunset table is a must for a celebration dinner. Open 11:00–22:00 and closed on Wednesdays (fine for your dates). Book a sunset table.
Kodam Kitchen (Ao Nang)
Hugely popular, authentic Thai in a garden setting. A great easy first-night dinner. They also have an Oceanview branch with a seafood focus.
Krua Thara
Choose-your-own fresh seafood, cooked southern-Thai style (try the yellow curry and the steamed fish with lime). On Nopparat Thara road, about 10 minutes by taxi.
Rayavadee: Krua Phranang / The Grotto
Five-star beachfront dining on Phra Nang beach, with The Grotto set right under the cliffs. It's the perfect Railay-day lunch. Non-guests are sometimes refused reservations, so email ahead or try for a walk-in at lunch.
Family Thaifood & Seafood
A classic, unfussy Ao Nang spot for crab, prawns and curries.
Ao Nang Landmark Night Market
Daily from about 17:00–23:00, a short walk from the hotel. There's street food, fruit shakes and live music. Easy after a long day.
Beach Grill (in your hotel)
The resort's beachfront grill, best at sunset. Check whether it's covered by your all-inclusive or needs a reservation.
Ta-Krai (JW Marriott Khao Lak)
Refined Thai fine dining, and the best 'night out' if you want a break from the buffet. Book ahead.
Tuk Tik Restaurant
Friendly local Thai kitchen in Khuk Khak, good value and authentic.
Bang Niang Market food stalls
Grilled squid, satay, mango sticky rice and roti. Go hungry.
PRU (Michelin star)
Phuket's only Michelin-starred restaurant, serving a farm-to-table Thai-terroir tasting menu next to Trisara. Dinner Tue–Sat only, with seatings at 18:00–19:00, so Tue 15 Dec is perfect for a farewell. Book weeks ahead. About 25 minutes away.
Black Ginger (The Slate)
A raft ferries you across a misty lagoon to a floating traditional Thai house serving southern Thai cuisine. Pure theatre, and about 15 minutes away at Nai Yang.
Sea Fire Salt (Anantara Mai Khao)
Beachfront grill on Mai Khao itself, with seafood and steaks cooked over fire, a few minutes down the beach road. Good for a relaxed upgrade night.
One Chun (Old Town)
Classic Phuket-Peranakan cooking: crab curry with rice noodles, moo hong and stink beans. A great pick on your Old Town Sunday. Check Sunday hours.
Raya (Old Town)
Set in a 100-year-old mansion. The original crab-meat curry with rice noodles is legendary.
Nai Yang beach seafood shacks
Toes-in-the-sand seafood under the casuarina trees, about 15 minutes away. Laid-back and authentic.
Flights
TUI Airways, direct both ways.
Outbound · Fri 4 Dec
→ 07:40 Phuket (+1 day)
Return · Wed 16 Dec
→ 20:25 London Gatwick (North)
Hotels
Three stays, getting more luxurious as you go.
Aonang Villa Resort
- Dates
- Sat 5 – Tue 8 Dec (3 nights)
- Board
- Bed & breakfast
- Room
- Premier Double Room with Sea View and Balcony
- Getting there
- Phuket Airport → Ao Nang: about 160 km, 2 h 45 min
- Address
- 113 Moo 2, Aonang Beach, Krabi 81180
- Right on Ao Nang beach — the Railay longtail ticket booth is a short stroll south along the promenade.
- Breakfast only: lunches and dinners are yours to choose — see the Eat tab for the best picks.
- You land 07:40 and rooms are usually ready from ~14:00. Pack swimwear and a change of clothes in hand luggage so you can use the pool straight away.
Le Méridien Khao Lak Resort & Spa
- Dates
- Tue 8 – Sat 12 Dec (4 nights)
- Board
- All inclusive
- Room
- Swim-up Deluxe Double Room with Pool View and Terrace
- Getting there
- Ao Nang → Khao Lak: about 190 km, 3 h
- Address
- 31 Moo 7, Bangmoung, Takuapa, Phang-Nga 82190 (on Bang Sak beach)
- Swim-up room: step off your terrace straight into the pool.
- Restaurants include The Nest (buffet), Beach Grill (rated 4.7 on Tripadvisor), Pizzeria L'Uccello and Coconut Jo's beach bar. Check which ones your all-inclusive covers when you check in.
- About 10 minutes from Pakarang Cape, which has one of Khao Lak's best sunsets, and about 20 minutes from Bang Niang market.
Riu Palace Phuket
- Dates
- Sat 12 – Wed 16 Dec (4 nights)
- Board
- All inclusive (24 h)
- Room
- Junior Suite with Sea View and Balcony or Terrace
- Getting there
- Khao Lak → Mai Khao: about 90 km, 1 h 20 min
- Address
- Mai Khao Beach, Thalang, Phuket 83110 (next to Sirinat National Park)
- Brand new: opened September 2026 as RIU's first hotel in Thailand, with 504 rooms, six restaurants, a swim-up bar and a spa.
- Mai Khao is Phuket's longest beach (about 11 km) and is quiet and undeveloped, which makes it great for sunrise and sunset walks.
- 16 km from the airport (about 25 minutes), so your last morning is relaxed.
- Book à-la-carte restaurant slots in the RIU app as soon as you arrive, because they fill up.
Before you go
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