10 Things to Do in Phuket in October

Phuket is an island in the Andaman Sea, considered the largest in Thailand. About 50 kilometers long, this province is home to a large number of tourist destinations: beaches, temples, markets, viewpoints, shopping malls, bars, caves, among others.

This island is one of the main tourist destinations in Thailand. Here, you will find many activities to add to your October itinerary. Such is the case of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival, the celebration of Halloween night in local pubs, off-season shopping, among other of the best things to do in Phuket, which I will tell you about in a moment.

If your trip to Phuket in 3 days or more coincides with the first weeks of October, then you can experience the island's Vegetarian Festival up close. You will enjoy processions and acts of self-mortification by devotees.

This celebration in honor of the Taoist gods is held at the Buddhist temple Jui Tui Shrine, located on Ranong Road. There, you will see how the inhabitants of the island seek the path of spiritual redemption, after having experienced a period of a completely vegetarian diet.

At the temple you will witness a series of sacrifices, in which devotees pierce their cheeks or other parts of the body with needles, spears, knives and other sharp objects, sometimes even performing self-mutilation. Also, you will observe other people walking on burning embers.

Also, you will have the opportunity to know your fortune, since in this popular Chinese temple generally incorporated in the guided tours of Phuket, you will find the bamboo sticks of fortune. This brief ceremony consists of shaking the top of a bamboo to make a stick fall to the ground, see its number and look for the paper that corresponds to your future.

The island of Phuket does not escape from the celebration of Halloween in October. Therefore, if you are an enthusiast of this spooky date, during your stay you should go to some of the local pubs, bars and clubs. You will live a different and fun night.

To enjoy this night adventure, you can head to Bangla Road. This is a street in Patong Beach, known for hosting most of the nightlife of the whole island. Upon arrival, you will find a truly celebratory atmosphere with witches, zombies, ghosts and more.

You will have dozens of bars and nightclubs along this street to choose from. Such is the case of the Illuzion nightclub. This is a must-see place, which offers local DJs and, occasionally, some international ones such as Aoki, Garrix, among others. In addition, you will enjoy acrobats, dancers, hip-hop shows, lights, visuals and more.

In addition, there are Margaritabar-Rock n Roll, Discoteca Tigre, Titanium Club Patong, among many other entertainment venues. You can visit these places on your own or join a Phuket pub tour to enhance the experience.

The low price season in Phuket coincides with October, so if you find yourself on the island during this month, you might as well take advantage of it to do some shopping. In this sense, the Jungceylon mall is an unmissable shopping and leisure destination.

This huge mall is located on Bangla Street in Patong and offers a lively atmosphere with trampolines, temporary exhibitions, cinema, dozens of stores with all kinds of products: fashion, personal care, perfumes, jewelry, electronics, technology, health, souvenirs, among others. The best thing is that the prices are quite affordable.

In addition, you will find a food bazaar with a surprising variety of national and international cuisine. You can choose from gourmet dishes to the most delicious local street food: pad thai (stir-fried rice with egg), mango with rice, tom yam kung (spicy soup with prawns), noodles with vegetables, etc. Undoubtedly, an ideal destination to incorporate in a gastronomic tour of Phuket.

Information of interest

• Price: free admission.
• Hours: daily from 11:00 am to 10:00 pm.

After sunset the island remains hot. Temperatures in October rarely drop below 27°C and, in addition, the rains are unpredictable. However, this does not prevent you from having fun in Phuket at night. There are several shows you can attend, such as the FantaSea.

This is a Las Vegas-style theatrical production that tells the story of Thai culture: myths, legends, mysteries and much more. All this, characterized by more than 150 actors on stage and about 30 trained elephants.

You will be amazed with the acrobatics, traditional and contemporary choreographies, special effects, visuals, pyrotechnics, music, dazzling lighting and much more. Undoubtedly, a good option to spend a different time on the island without being exposed to weather changes.

Also, if you plan to stay 5 days in Phuket or more, you could incorporate to your itinerary other leisure activities for the evening hours. For example, purchase tickets for a show at Simon Cabaret in Phuket, as this is another popular event on the island.

Information of interest

• Price: the cost of the ticket is about 50€ per person.
• Schedule: the show lasts approximately 75 minutes.

The monsoon season and high temperatures in October in Phuket are the main reasons for the low tourist numbers during that month. Take advantage of these conditions to visit the island' s markets without the usual crowds of locals and tourists.

Some of the day and night markets you can discover include the following:

• Phuket Night Market, on Thalang Street, is a night market with a family atmosphere, where every Sunday you will find traditional Thai food and some handicrafts.
• Karon Temple Market, near the Karon Temple. The market is open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 16:00 to 21:00. You will find Thai street food and a variety of souvenirs.
• The Phuket Indy Night Market, on Dibuk Road. This is a street market with fashion, many street and exotic food stalls, music, live shows. Open every Wednesday and Sunday from 16:00 to 23:00.

In addition, there is the Phuket Central Market on Ranong Road. A must-visit place if you participate in a Thai cooking class in Phuket, as there you can buy fresh seasonal ingredients (exotic fruits, vegetables, seafood) brought every morning and evening hours by local farmers and fishermen.

The rainy days of October in Phuket are not an impediment for you to enjoy the paradisiacal beaches of Phuket. During this month you will find clear days, with plenty of sunshine and no rainfall, ideal for swimming and water activities. Just keep an eye on the weather forecast to find out the ideal time.

Although the island has about 70 beaches, Panwa Beach stands out as the most convenient option in October. This is because it is a beach protected from the winds that accompany the monsoons of the season, so the sea remains calm and safe.

When you get to this beach you can walk or lie on the fine white sand. Also, dive into its turquoise waters, which in October have a gentle swell and reach an average temperature of about 28 ° C, being quite warm. Quite suitable for snorkeling, surfing, swimming, among other activities.

The best thing is that you will not have to worry about equipment for these sports, since you can rent it on the beach. Even if you are a beginner or are in Phuket with children, you can hire an instructor to teach them the basic techniques of snorkeling, surfing, etc..

Another of the things to see and do in Phuket during the low season of October is to visit the Wat Chalong Temple. You will be able to admire in detail the interior of this Buddhist temple at your own pace, without the annoying crowds of tourists characteristic of other months of the year.

Wat Chaiyathararam, as this Buddhist temple is also known, is considered one of the most important of the island. It is located in the district of Mueang about eight kilometers from Phuket Town, so you can easily reach it by car (a journey of about 22 minutes) or by public transport (a journey of about 55 minutes approximately).

When you arrive at this spiritual center, you will be amazed by the architectural beauty of this building, erected in honor of the two guru monks who fought against the Chinese rebellion in 1876, Luang Pho Chaem and Luang Pho Chuang.

During the tour, you will see the thousands of crystals that cover the temple, Buddha statues, beautiful gardens and ponds with lotuses. You will also have access to the Chedi, which is the most recent construction of the site. Its ceiling and walls narrate the life of Buddha through a series of frescoes. And, from the terrace of this building, you will contemplate a complete panoramic view of the temple.

Information of interest

• Price: free admission.
• Hours: daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Part of the month of October in Phuket offers good visibility, thanks to the fact that during this season winds reach around 7.6 kilometers per hour. This weather condition, coupled with the sunny days on the island, are very favorable for taking good pictures and thus creating lasting memories of the trip.

To put your photography skills to the test, just grab your camera and set out on a free tour of the island or, if you wish, join a guided tour of Phuket. Whichever option you choose, you'll find dozens of photogenic locations.

Some of the places you can photograph include the following:

• The Great Maravija Buddha, located at the top of Nakkerd Hill near Chalong. This is a structure built in marble, which leads the landscape of the island.
• Cape Promthep, with a privileged view of the Andaman Sea.
• The old town of Phuket, in which prevails an important architectural legacy belonging to the Chinese-Portuguese style.

During the month of October in Phuket very hot days occur , so in your itinerary should not miss water activities, which help you fight the heat wave and, in turn, have fun. A good option is Andamanda, a water park inspired by Thai culture.

This is an ideal place if you want to spend a different day in the company of friends, family or the little ones of the house, in case you have traveled with them. You will have a total of 29 slides, 12 of which are extreme, as well as a pool with artificial waves up to three meters high, to surf as if you were at the beach.

There is also a special area for paddling, children's pools and a relaxation area, to dive into the water while enjoying a drink. On the other hand, you will find the restaurant, whose design recreates the Thai floating markets. There, you can try a variety of dishes.

Interesting information

• Price: from about 47€ per person.
• Opening hours: daily from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Whether you plan to spend 1 to 7 days in Phuket or more, taking a boat trip to Promthep Cape in October is a must-do option. You will enjoy a privileged sunset with warm colors, thanks to the low cloud cover caused by the 7.6 kilometers per hour winds of this month.

The adventure usually starts at the marina in Ao Chalong Bay, where you will board a boat bound for the famous Promthep Cape. Along the way, you will see the island's coastline with its white sand and lush vegetation.

Upon arrival at the cape, you can explore the area on foot. There, you will find a lighthouse with an important display of maritime artifacts. You will also see a small temple of Buddhist worship accompanied by a series of elephants carved in wood.

Then, from the top of the hill about 60 meters above sea level, you will have the opportunity to contemplate a privileged landscape where the Andaman Sea and the sky combine on the same horizon. All this, tinged by the warm colors of the October sunset.

Information of interest

• Price: the excursion has an approximate cost of 42€ per person.
• Duration a maximum of four hours.

Temperatures in Phuket during October range from an average low of 27 ºC to an average high corresponding to about 29ºC. This is a rather hot month, belonging to the monsoon season, which runs from mid-May to the end of October.

Meanwhile, the sea water temperature in this month is usually around 29°C, being suitable for swimming and some water sports. Meanwhile, the average rainfall volume is around 320 millimeters, corresponding to about 25 days.

Phuket in October offers rainfall accompanied by a heat wave, so during your stay on the island you should implement some alternative plans to protect yourself from the weather changes.

For example:

• Use sunscreen with 50+ filter, as in recent years the UV index during October is 11+.
• Wear long, breathable clothing that protects you from the sun's rays at all times without sacrificing coolness.
• Don't forget accessories such as sunglasses, hat and cap.
• Avoid exposure to the sun during midday, as the intensity of radiation is higher.