6 Great National Parks In and Around Phuket

Khao Phra Thaeo National Park is a huge natural rainforest in North Phuket. It's a protected area and has an impressive coverage of 2,200 square kilometres, making it a significant green lung for the island. It has two beautiful waterfalls: Ton Sai and Bang Pae, both of which you can hike to. There's even an eight-kilometre long trail from Bang Pae to Ton Sai Waterfall. The Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre which rescues abandoned pet gibbons is located near Bang Pae waterfall—a must-visit for animal lovers who want to spend their holiday understanding local wildlife conservation efforts.

Saphan Hin is a big, multi-purpose park on Phuket's southeastern coast. It boasts a number of facilities including jogging trails, a walkway through the mangrove forest, and a stadium with numerous sports courts, fields, and even a swimming pool. Visiting Saphan Hin is a popular activity in Phuket especially for locals. Here, you can see families having picnics, youngsters playing sports from badminton to football, and visitors at the Tin Mining Monument.

Located on the island's northwest coast, Sirinat National Park is a popular national park in Phuket. It spans three beaches including Mai Khao, Nai Thon, and Nai Yang beaches with an area of 90 square kilometres. Sirinat is known for its white beaches, beach and mangrove forests, and is also a sea turtle nesting ground. There's even an 800-metre long wooden pathway with signs explaining the flora and fauna in the park, perfect for a leisurely, nature-filled stroll to get the peace and quiet you need to revitalise your inner mind, away from hectic everyday life.

Ao Phang Nga National Park is a 400 square metre area in Phang Nga Bay which consists of 40 different islands. This national park covers a diverse marine and island ecosystem in the bay, and serves to protect the natural limestone formation and wildlife of the region. Some wildlife you can spot here includes mangrove trees, mudskippers, water monitors, fruit bats, finless porpoises, and various kinds of birds.

Khao Lampi National Park is located around 70 kilometres north of the centre of Phuket. This national park is divided into two regions: Lam Pee Mountain and Tai Muang Beach, with a total area of 72 square kilometres. Khao Lampi boasts a long list of flora and fauna with its highlight being the various species of birds including the Collared kingfisher, multiple species of eagles, Oriental Honey Buzzard, and more. Located less than a couple hours' drive from Phuket, this park is definitely worth visiting to see Phuket off the beaten path.

If you want to have a new view of Phuket, head to Khao Rang Hill. From up here, you can see across the main town centre all the way to the Big Buddha to the South and even some islands off Phuket's east coast. Coming here should be among your Phuket activities as it's very close to the town centre and is a great place to enjoy a walk or jog. The park has a spacious, landscaped garden with numerous large trees providing cool shades around the park. If you're hungry, you can fill your stomach at Phuket View Restaurant at the top.