Best known as the filming location of the Leonardo DiCaprio film, The Beach, the Phi Phi Islands are scattered across the Andaman Sea and can be easily accessed via a one-hour speedboat ride from Phuket. On a daytrip with V.Marine, you’ll have the chance to visit some of the six islands and swim in the calm bays that surround them – including Bamboo Island, Ko Phi Phi Don (where you’ll indulge in a relaxed buffet lunch once ashore) and the famed Maya Bay itself. Underwater, the technicolour reefs form a playground for schools of butterflyfish and angelfish – if you’re lucky, you might catch sight of a hawksbill turtle or blacktip reef shark – while above ground, admire the striking limestone formations that tower over the archipelago and sink your toes into white-sand beaches.

You can find just about anything at a market in Phuket. The Naka Weekend Market (opposite Naka Temple) is open on Saturday and Sunday with stalls selling giant jackfruits, durian and Sa-Tor (affectionately known as “stinky beans”) – a local delicacy with an asparagus-like flavour that’s best enjoyed in a stir-fry. On Sunday, follow the crowds along Phuket Town’s Thalang Road, where the famous Walking Street (Lard Yai) brims with stands offering everything from deep-fried prawns and sand crabs to handcrafted keepsakes including watercolour paintings and delicately carved lotus soaps. Malin Plaza Patong at the southern end of Patong Beach comes to life at night. Perusing the market’s wares is best enjoyed while indulging in wok-fresh Pad Thai and banana-and-chocolate crepes.

One of the biggest challenges you’ll have at 39-key Trisara Phuket (a favourite of Roger Federer and John Legend) is leaving the infinity pool overlooking the Andaman Sea in your secluded suite or villa. Just as alluring are the resort’s private beach, the six restaurants and bars on offer and the decadent jungle-fringed spa, where traditional Thai wellness therapies are given the spotlight. Nestled on the island’s north-western coast – an just over an hour from Phuket Town and a 22-minute drive to Sirinat National Park – the property’s crown jewel is the island’s first Michelin-starred restaurant, PRU, where lesser-known Thai ingredients such as Ceylon Oak are sourced from local communities and transformed into a refined eight-course degustation in the open kitchen.

Perched in the Andaman Sea, the Similan Islands – regarded as one of the world’s top diving sites – are an 11-island archipelago that’s only open to visitors for seven months of each year (mid-May to mid-October) in order to help preserve the area’s precious ecosystem. If you haven’t packed your diving kit, you can experience the region’s underwater wonderland on a dedicated snorkelling tour. Starting at Tablamu Pier in Phang Nga (a one-and-a-half-hour drive north of Phuket Town), board a speedboat to Similan Island No. 8 where you’ll hike to Sail Rock and enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the region and Donald Duck Bay – named after a uniquely shaped rock that resembles the cartoon character – below. Afterwards, it's time to hit the water surrounding Ba Ngu Island before wandering along the coral-sand beaches of Mieng Island. Your last adventure for the day? Snorkelling at Payu Island, where the reef is home to orange clownfish and ancient sea turtles.

Thailand is renowned for its fiery, flavourful cuisine but dining at Samut, near Nai Harn Beach, is a whole different experience. Diners can expect 16 dishes from throughout the degustation but that’s about all that can be guaranteed: the restaurant’s modern Thai menu leads your tastebuds on a journey through the ocean’s finest spoils, with everything from fresh razor clams to Phuket lobster making an appearance on plates. Here, the visuals are just as important as the taste, with each course dressed to the nines, often decorated with edible flowers, pearlescent sea grapes or a vibrant dusting of kale powder.

One of Phuket’s most visited sacred sites, Wat Chalong, was built in the early 19th century to honour two monks who led the local community during the Chinese rebellion of 1876. Located about a 30-minute drive from Patong or 20 minutes from Phuket Old Town, the temple’s centrepiece is the 60-metre-tall golden Phra Mahathat Chedi stupa, which was added between 1991 and 2001. Wear clothing that covers your shoulders and leave your shoes at the door before entering this three-storey pagoda, which houses one of Buddhism’s most precious relics: a fragment of the Buddha’s bone. Climb to the top floor for 360-degree views of the grounds and surrounding countryside.

Ideally positioned amid a scatter of stunning atolls, Phuket is a popular jumping off point for any sunseeker keen to roll out a towel and escape the tropical heat with a dip in the ocean. Phuket is edged with an abundance of beaches worth spending an afternoon on and there’s one for every kind of traveller. Partygoers flock to Patong Beach, which ignites after sundown with revellers spilling out of nearby bars and restaurants; Karon Beach’s generous three-kilometre shore offers plenty of space to spread out on and is most popular during sunset; while Freedom Beach offers uncrowded sand thanks to its more remote position (you have to tackle a 15 to 20 minute scramble through some scrub to reach it).

Thrillseekers, you’re up. Whether it’s cruising on four wheels through a tropical rainforest or slicing the balmy air on a zipline surrounded by treetops, Paradise Buggy and ATV Adventure Tours offer experiences for every pace and preference. Each tour includes round-trip transfers from your hotel in Phuket with the adventure grounds located in Chalong, an urban-commercial bay area in the southern part of Phuket (just a 15-minute taxi ride from Phuket Town). The duration of your excursion is totally up to you: strap on a helmet for a 30-minute four-wheel drive or opt for a two-hour circuit that takes you deep into the rubber tree jungle. Prefer to see the area from above? The zipline course spans 10- to 32- landing points.

We’re calling it: this could be Phuket’s most spectacular spot to watch the sunset. Promthep Cape (or Laem Promthep) is a rocky headland that marks the island’s southernmost tip, just south-west of Rawai. It’s around a 30-minute drive from Phuket Town to Rawai Beach, where you can either stroll up Rawai Road to the clifftop or continue 10 minutes south in your car and make use of the parking facilities near the summit (the souvenir stalls are a good indication you’re in the right place). The reward? Panoramic views of the Andaman Sea at golden hour. For the best conditions, time your visit for the cool, dry season between November and February.

When lounging by the ocean ceases to distract the energetic younger members of your group, head to Hanuman World in Kathu, where ziplines and suspended walkways skim the lush canopies of banana palms and umbrella trees. Older kids will love the Slingshot, a thrillingly fast “ride” that launches you into the air like a human catapult, while the Skywalk, a path that cuts through the jungle, is ideal for little legs and curious eyes.

By day, Phang Nga Bay’s biggest drawcard may be the island of Khao Phing Kan – which featured in the James Bond film, The Man With the Golden Gun. But venturing to Ao Phang-Nga National Park, 85 kilometres north-east of Phuket, at night showcases a different side to the water as it lights up with the glowing natural phenomena of bioluminescence, formed by millions of plankton drifting with the waves. With 5 Star Marine, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the hidden coves and lagoons of Phanak Island and Hong Island in a canoe before indulging in dinner at Panyee floating village. Once you’ve eaten your fill, you’ll admire the luminous water while  being ferried through Phang Nga Bay via speedboat.

Follow the glow of lanterns into the jungle to discover Three Monkeys Restaurant, located in zipline park Hanuman World. A bamboo-lined path leads guests to a variety of seating options: take in the sparkling night sky from the open-air deck; slide into a cosy booth for an intimate group experience; or lounge on a sunbed for a more casual affair. While the specialty here is southern Thai cuisine – try the spicy-sour Tom Yum Goong with prawns or go all out with baked fish served in a bamboo stick – there are also Balinese and Western-style dishes on the menu. For the ultimate sweet treat, the signature Kan-harb cocktail is a mango extravaganza served in a fancy coconut.

Seeing Phuket from above is a unique way to appreciate the island’s varied terrain, from its frothy coastline to its verdant green jungle. At the Kho Sam Haad/Karon viewpoint, which towers above Phuket’s southern clutch of beaches, visitors can see all the way to picturesque Koh Pu, floating in the aquamarine of the Andaman. The viewpoint is easily reachable, too – just a ten-minute drive or taxi ride from nearby Kata Beach, with a few cafes and restaurants stationed at the top for a refreshing beverage (or two) on warmer days.