Cape Panwa Phuket – A Hidden Gem

Cape Panwa Phuket – A Hidden Gem

Get Off The Beaten Path at Cape Panwa Phuket

Cape Panwa is a spit of land in the south of Phuket. If escaping the crowds is the goal on your Phuket holiday then it could be just the place for you. You’re not going to get the riotous excitement of Patong or even the low key nightlife in Karon or Kata. What you will get is stunning scenery away from the hustle and noise of the other Phuket beach resorts.

What Is There To Do In Cape Panwa?

Not much but that’s why you would stay there. Small scenic beaches, quaint restaurants and some of the few affordable hotels that are directly on the beach. If you do fancy a night out then Phuket Town is only a short taxi ride away. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous then you can get a songthaew from the aquarium to Phuket Town for next to nothing.

small but scenic beaches along the west coast of cape panwa

small but scenic beaches along the west coast of cape panwa

Phuket aquarium is probably the most well known tourist attraction at Cape Panwa. Not a large aquarium but certainly big enough to kill a few hours with the family. Behind the aquarium and closed to the public is the Marine Biological Centre, they do a great job of rehabilitating turtles and other marine life so if you’re not comfortable with seeing captive animals this may make you feel a little better.

The Koh Kaed viewpoint tower is another great place to visit on Cape Panwa. You’ll get great views across Chalong Bay and on a clear day you can just make out the Phi Phi Islands. You can take the direct steps to the tower or a longer walk through the jungle walkway. We recommend the jungle walkway, it’s a gentle stroll in the shade and you may get to see some of the local wildlife. The huge golden orb weaver spiders that are numerous along the path make huge webs which seem golden in the sunlight.

view of chalong bay from koh kaed viewpoint

view of chalong bay from koh kaed viewpoint

Where To Stay

Most of the hotels in the Cape Panwa are are high end, catering for the tourists who want to relax and get away from it all. We can’t say we’ve stayed in them ourselves but we’ve have positive customer feed back from the following hotels:

How To Get There

Not many options to choose, all of the hotels will supply an airport pick but you’ll have to pay for it. Taxi’s from the airport will be expensive but will definitely be the quickest option. If you’re on a budget then you could get the airport bus to Phuket Town and then a songtheaw to the aquarium. From there the only option will be a taxi.

You are a bit out of the way so hiring a car or scooter might be a great option if you have an international drivers permit. The roads are quite around Cape Panwa so riding a scooter is a little less risky than the rest of the island.

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By Justin Hartrey

I've been enjoying the incredible marine life in our oceans for over 25 years. 13 years ago I became a PADI professional in Phuket, hoping to introduce as many people as possible to the incredible beauty of the seas.

Having been fortunate enough to dive all over south east and especially Thailand, I enjoy sharing my diving experiences and passion on this blog.

Originally from Bristol in the UK, I swapped the frigid waters of the North Atlantic for the warm tropical seas around Thailand and can confidently say that I wouldn't go back

Posted in Phuket Sights & Fun on .

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