Craving a tropical escape but short on annual leave and funds? This Thailand Phuket travel guide shows how we did 12 nights in paradise for under £1,500 – including flights, accommodation, food, and activities. With return flights from London Heathrow to Phuket for just £420 with China Southern Airlines (layover in Guangzhou), we’ll walk you through how to maximise a short trip without missing out on that Thailand backpacker travel experience. The China Southern long haul economy review can be found here, whilst the Phuket Coral Executive airport lounge review can be found here.
On This Page:
- Phuket: Kamala Beach
- Khao Sok National Park
- The Phi Phi Islands
1. Phuket: Kamala Beach (5 Nights) – Thailand Phuket Travel Guide
Stay: Citygate Residences Airbnb – £350 total for 5 nights (£175 pp)
Location: 5 minute walk from Kamala Beach
In this Thailand Phuket travel guide, we begin our journey in Kamala Beach, which was a quieter alternative to Patong, with beautiful sunsets and local charm. We stayed in a stylish Airbnb at Citygate Residences. This expat condo had 2 rooftop pools, a main pool on the ground floor (with a swim up bar), a café and an Internation cuisine themed restaurant. We absolutely loved this one bedroom studio, it had mountain views, was walking distance to Kamala beach, and a fully equipped kitchen to cut food costs. There was also a 7 eleven just a 3-minute walk down the road, which was handy for breakfasts and stocking the fridge with Chang beers!
What We Did + Costs:
- Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Visit – £82 pp (includes transfers from your Phuket address, breakfast + lunch). The link to booking a tour at this ethical sanctuary can be found here. If you choose to book through this link, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We really appreciate your support as it helps us keep sharing travel guides like this one!
Anyway back to the elephants. The morning trip to the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary was an unforgettable experience, starting with a delicious breakfast and lunch in the jungle, surrounded by nature. We learned how the sanctuary rescues female elephants aged 40 or over, who were previously forced to work in logging or tourism industries, and the sanctuary’s sprawling 30-acre grounds provide these elephants with a peaceful home. The highlight was watching the elephants bathe and interact in their natural environment. It was an educational and heartwarming experience well worth the money. - Chalong Bay Rum Distillery Tour – £12 pp
Located in the south of Phuket island, this is a great activity to pair up with the Big Budda due to their close proximity (20 min drive/5.8 miles away). Great value for a quick 45 minute tour behind-the-scenes looking at craft rum making. After the learning about the rum, there was an excellent one-hour rum tasting session. If rum isn’t your thing, you also had the opportunity to try their homemade vodka and gin. I highly recommend sampling some of their craft cocktails afterward. Their bar and lounging area are amongst a lush tropical garden. The cocktails were extra and completely worth it at around 300 THB ($10 each). - Big Buddha & Viewpoint – Completely free!
The views over the island and the peaceful atmosphere made this a must see whilst on Phuket Island. This took us around 2 hours to walk around, so was perfect to pair with the Chalong Bay distillery to make the outing a full day trip. If you have a bit more to spend and want a more structured tour, GetYourGuide offer a combined day trip for The Big Buddha and Chalong Bay, which can be booked here. - Patong Night Food Market – £7 ($10) for a full meal & drink.
Pad Thai, grilled meat skewers, mango sticky rice, pancakes cooked to order in front of you, coconut ice and fresh smoothies – this place is a budget foodie paradise. There was plenty of seating, and the stall owners were so friendly. All the food we had here was excellent, so this has got to be on your itinerary! There were lots of tourists here, so expect the place to be very busy. Breakdown of cost of food items here: - Meat skewers: 20 THB per skewer
- Pancakes: 40 THB per pancake
- Pad Thai: 100 THB
- Coconut Ice Cream (served in a coconut): 80 THB
- Fresh smoothies: 70 THB
- Chang Beer: 50 THB
- Cocktails: 200 THB
Total Phuket Spend: £400 pp (including activities, food, transport, and Airbnb)
2. Khao Sok National Park: Jungle Escape (2 Nights) – Thailand Phuket Travel Guide
Stay: Khao Sok Treehouse Resort – £180 total for a private treehouse for 2 nights (incl. breakfast) (£90pp)
Transport: Grab (Uber equivalent) – £60 (£30 pp when splitting between 2)
No Thailand Phuket travel guide is complete without venturing inland to Khao Sok National Park. Staying in a literal treehouse, surrounded by jungle sounds, was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The resort was made up of around 10 treehouses, built into the dense jungle. There was a private balcony where we enjoyed one of our most memorable morning coffees, especially when the monkeys decided to join us! The breakfast was absolutely incredible. Every morning, we’d go up to the reception and place our order. We had the most delicious fresh banana pancakes, paired with a selection of passion fruit, dragon fruit, and pineapple. The resort was family-owned, which created a warm, welcoming, and friendly atmosphere.
What We Did + Costs:
- Bamboo Rafting Tour – £30 pp
The Khao Sok bamboo rafting trip was an unforgettable two-hour adventure, winding through the lush jungle with breathtaking scenery at every turn. Along the way, we stopped to make tea and coffee over an open fire, carefully pouring the warm drink into bamboo cups. This was a really cool experience that felt like we were really getting away from it all! - Guided Jungle Waterfall Hike (Ton Kloi Waterfall trek)– £30 pp
Our incredible 4-hour half-day waterfall hike through Khao Sok National Park was a true adventure, made even more special by our friendly guide who pointed out wild elephant tracks, a viper, curious monkeys, and even a massive tarantula along the trail. As we approached the stunning waterfall, we were treated to the refreshing sight of its powerful cascade and had the chance to cool off by swimming in the river right next to it. To browse and book Khao Sok tours, then please click here.
Total Khao Sok Spend: £250 pp (transport, stay, tours, and food)
3. The Phi Phi Islands (5 Nights) – Thailand Phuket Travel Guide
Stay: Hotel Cabana Beach Resort – £300 for 5 nights (£150 pp)
Ferry from Krabi Port to Ko Phi Phi: 800 THB both ways (£20pp)
This Thailand Phuket travel guide wraps up with the stunning Phi Phi Islands. The islands were absolutely stunning, with turquoise waters, limestone cliffs, and some of the best snorkeling we’ve ever done. We stayed at Hotel Cabana, steps from the beach with a pool and the most gorgeous ocean views—ideal for both relaxing and exploring. The hotel is walking distance from the main restaurants and bars, which is a rarity, as most hotels require a small boat transfer from the main ferry jetty. Tip: always opt to get the Ferry to the Phi Phi Islands and NOT the speedboat. The speedboat takes one hour but costs an extra £20 return per person (which goes a long way in Thailand). The Ferry only took 1hr 50 mins and was perfectly acceptable.
What We Did + Costs:
- Snorkelling Tour (Maya Bay, Monkey Beach, Coral Reefs) – £20 pp
Half-day boat tour including gear. Swam with tropical fish, including clownfish and even black-tip reef sharks! A range of similar snorkelling tours can be found and booked here. - Pad Thai lunches, sunset cocktails & beach dinners – £20 per day
Local restaurants and bars line the beach. You can live well here for less than you think. - Lazy Days by the Pool/Beach – Free
Honestly, some of the best moments were just soaking up the sun with no plans at all. We had a great routine of heading out in the afternoon and getting a chicken rice dish (100 THB/£2.50) at the Phi Phi Island food market and then getting a refreshing passionfruit smoothie from one of the stalls (60 THB/£1.50 per person).
Total Phi Phi Spend: £300 pp
Trip Breakdown: Total Cost Per Person
| Category | Cost |
| Return Flights (LHR–HKT) | £420 |
| Phuket (5 nights) | £400 |
| Khao Sok (2 nights) | £250 |
| Phi Phi (5 nights) | £300 |
| Total | £1370 |
Add a little extra buffer for souvenirs, occasional splurges, or emergencies, and you can easily keep this trip under £1,500.
Final Thoughts – Thailand Phuket Travel Guide
This trip was proof that you don’t need to take a sabbatical or a year out to explore parts of Thailand. This destination provides unforgettable memories, yet on a backpacker budget, and with smart planning, you can do it all: beaches, elephants, jungles, sensational food and coral reefs…even if your boss only gave you 10 days off.
Travel Saving Tips: Book flights with Chinese airlines (China Southern or China Eastern) to get flight prices under £500 return from London. Mix pricier activities with chill, free days to keep your budget balanced. Eat lots of rice dishes and Pad Thai in local restaurants as these meals were often at least half the price as western restaurants. Also if you do drink, stick to local beers as wine is quite expensive in Thailand.
If you would like to explore our ever growing list of destinations on a budget challenges, you can find them here.
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