New Year in Phuket: Which excursions to choose in December and January

New Year in Phuket is not just a holiday that is celebrated all over the world. Millions of tourists choose December and January for their vacation, which makes this period the peak.

Phuket is an ideal place for a beach holiday during these months. The high season pleases tourists with pleasant sunny weather, calm sea and a variety of excursions. But how not to get lost in the huge choice? In this article, we will tell you which excursions are best to choose in Phuket to make your holiday unforgettable.

Why are December and January the best time for excursions in Phuket?

December and January are the peak of the high season in Phuket. During this period:
- The air temperature is comfortable: about +28–32°C.
- The sea is calm, without storms, which makes island excursions especially popular.
- The probability of rain is extremely low, most precipitation is short-term and falls mainly at night.

Top 10 Peak Season Excursions

1. Phi Phi Islands

The Phi Phi archipelago is a must-see. We recommend paying attention to tours with early departure on a catamaran or speedboat - "Phi Phi Bamboo" and "Phi Phi Bamboo PRO" . An early departure will allow you to avoid the crowds on the most famous beach of the archipelago - Maya Bay. For active travelers, the two-day tour "11 islands PRO" is also suitable, which takes place on a comfortable catamaran.

2. Similan Islands

These islands are open only from October 15 to May 15. Considering the weather, which has already become stable, December and January are the best time to visit them. Similan Islands are famous for their white beaches and incredible turquoise water. We offer two programs : Similan Fantastic with improved service (on comfortable speedboats and free beach kit rental) and Similan Taplamu with an early departure to see the islands with a minimum of people on the beaches.

3. Krabi Islands

A relatively new program to the islands of Krabi province with an early departure , which will help you avoid the crowds on the beaches and enjoy the beauty of nature to the fullest. The rich program includes the islands of Lao Lading, Hong Island with an incredibly beautiful lagoon and observation deck, Nok Island and Yao Yai Island. It takes place on a comfortable catamaran, from the roof of which there is an excellent view.

4. James Bond Islands and Phang Nga Province

This excursion is ideal for those who love beautiful views and active recreation. Despite the fact that this program is most popular in the summer season, the number of people wishing to get to these islands in winter only increases. After all, this province is truly impressive with its views. Here you will see the famous rocks that were filmed in the James Bond movie, explore the inner caves and lakes by canoe and get to know the life of sea gypsies in the village of Panyi. This excursion is carried out in two versions - on a speedboat and on a large ship (suitable for elderly tourists, pregnant women and babies up to 1 year old).

5. Jet Ski Islands

A very popular excursion among active youth. It is held twice a day (morning and afternoon) and covers the nearest islands to Phuket. You control the jet ski yourself . You can go alone or in pairs, and you can change places during the trip. Do not forget to wear closed clothing or thick waterproof sunscreen (SPF50 minimum).

6. Bus tours to national parks

These excursions are suitable for those who have been burned by the active Phuket sun or want to get to know the Thai jungles closer. At the moment we offer two excursion programs in Russian with a trip to the mainland.

Khao Lak National Park is the most family-friendly bus tour, which is a worthy replacement for the zoo. Here you will get acquainted with nature, feed wild monkeys in their natural habitat and cuddle with elephants in an eco-friendly elephant camp. Rafting is a calm type of rafting on the river. Which will appeal to even the smallest tourists.

Amazing Phang Nga is a more intense program, which also includes a visit to the Temple of the Reclining Buddha with a mountain of monkeys and an elephant house. You will also see a beach with airplanes (Mai Khao), have lunch in the village of sea gypsies, and walk along the glass bridge Beyond Skywalk Samet Nangshe. You can also find this excursion under the names "The Path of Avatar" or "Avatar".

In both programs you can swim and ride elephants. We recommend more environmentally friendly interaction with animals - bathing and feeding, as in high season there are more people who want to ride and this can negatively affect the health of the animals.

7. Zipline

We offer two zipline centers to choose from: Hanuman World and Erawan . These are two different centers located in different areas. But they both will give maximum positive emotions to those who prefer active recreation.

8. Water park

Of course, we should pay attention to this type of entertainment on the island itself. It is suitable for both family holidays with small (and not so small) children, and for young people. We offer for booking the largest and newest water park "Andamanda" . The cost when booking in our agency will be lower than at the entrance to the water park itself.

9. Evening shows

Evening shows in Phuket have different focuses. Our managers can help you choose based on your interests and the composition of your family or company.

The adult show "XXX show" is recommended for those who want to "cheer up", laugh and get to know the term "shocking Asia" better.

Simon Cabaret is not a vulgar and very beautiful cabaret-style performance, suitable for those who want to spend a pleasant and carefree evening, singing along to popular hits with the theater actors.

Siam Niramit is a cultural and historical show that we highly recommend visiting. Here you will not only see a theatrical performance, but also take a closer look at a life-size model of a Thai village. There you can try on national costumes, taste national cuisine or try your hand at folk crafts. It is perfect for the whole family.

10. Individual trips on sailing and motor catamarans.

With the arrival of the high season, the sea around Phuket becomes calm and private catamaran trips become increasingly popular. We offer several sailing and motor catamarans with different programs for half-day, full-day and half-day with sunset. They are suitable for those who want to celebrate an event or just spend time with their family and friends. We recommend planning private trips at least 2 weeks in advance during the peak season, as the number of boats is limited. New Year's dates are booked a month or even earlier.

Tips for choosing an excursion

• Book in advance: high season means high demand. On peak dates "for tomorrow" there will be no places left, group excursions are best booked 3-5 days in advance. And popular tours with early departures a week in advance. It is better to think about booking individual excursions even earlier - a couple of weeks before the expected departure date, contact the manager so that he can reserve transport for you.
• Choose excursions with early departures if available: fewer people on the beaches and the opportunity to avoid traffic jams.
• Please note the restrictions: pregnant women, children under 1 year old and elderly people over 70 years old are prohibited from sea excursions on high-speed transport. Please inform the manager about pregnancy or chronic diseases.
• Choose tours based on your vacation preferences and the composition of your family/company: if you can't decide on a choice, write your request to the manager and he will help you. There are no universal tours that suit all tourists without exception.
• Beware of scammers: we do not recommend booking excursions (and other services) in the Telegram messenger (as it is an anonymous messenger and allows you to delete correspondence), especially if you received a recommendation from a stranger. Unfortunately, the number of fraud cases increases during the peak season. You can read reviews of our work on this site, in our social networks, and also if you enter the query "Phuket plus excursions reviews" in search engines (for example, Yandex and Google). Our company documents are at the bottom of the main page in the "Terms of Agreement and Company Documents" section.

Let's sum it up

 
December and January are the best time to explore Phuket if you don’t mind the crowds on the beaches and popular attractions. Sea excursions will delight you with the incredible beauty of the islands and coral reefs, and land tours will allow you to get acquainted with the culture, nature and history of Thailand. With the right preparation, your holiday will definitely be filled with vivid impressions. Book excursions in advance so as not to miss the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Phuket during the high season.