7 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.

The Phuket Elephant Sanctuary rescues elephants from work camps and other tourist destinations, and provides a home for them. Bordering on the Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, the sanctuary is covered in vegetation and rivers.

When you visit the sanctuary, you'll be taken on a tour of the park by following the elephants as they go about their activities, while maintaining a respectable distance. As a result, there's no direct interaction with the elephants other than a brief feeding session. Visiting the sanctuary should be in your Phuket activities' list if you want a rewarding experience of seeing elephants in the wild.

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.

Ao Phang Nga National Park is a 400 square metre area in Phang Nga Bay which consists of 40 different islands with. 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, and has an 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.

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.