High atop a hill between Kata and Chalong sits this large, white Buddha, covered in marble slabs. It is not yet finished, and judging by the construction plans, it will likely be some time before it is completed. This may explain why the Great Buddha of Phuket is not marked on the free maps offered by travel agencies or the tourist police. Fortunately, the site is already attracting visitors, as donations from those who purchase small marble tiles bearing personal messages to help fund the construction are essential. The 45-meter-high main statue is nearly complete, while the base and numerous other elements, including a grand staircase with 999 steps leading up to the Buddha, are still under construction. From the platform on which the statue stands, there is a magnificent view of the city and Chalong Bay.

Entry is free, but donations are welcome. Open from 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM. The Big Buddha is reached via a winding, 4-kilometer road through the hills. The starting point of the road to the Big Buddha is easily accessible by taking the public bus from Karon Kata to Phuket Town. However, the climb to the statue is long and quite strenuous if you're on foot without a vehicle. Therefore, renting a scooter, car, or taxi is highly recommended. Alternatively, you can try hitchhiking, which is significantly easier downhill than uphill (we tried it!). If you're driving, head to Chalong. There you'll find numerous signs pointing to the Big Buddha. With its nearly 360-degree panoramic views, the Big Buddha is one of the best spots in Phuket to enjoy the sunset.

The summit where the Great Buddha of Phuket is located is reached via a 4-kilometer-long road that winds through the hills, deliberately avoiding a straight line. Therefore, while the starting point of this road is easily accessible by local bus from Karon to Kata (Phuket Town), the ascent on foot is very long and strenuous, almost endless. Alternatively, there is a 3-kilometer hiking trail. You can find a suggested route for the hike to the Great Buddha of Phuket here, or the AllTrails app offers several other routes. However, this is only for the truly adventurous! Everyone else is strongly advised to have their own vehicle or hire a taxi or minibus to get to the Great Buddha of Phuket. Of course, you can also try hitchhiking on the road to the Great Buddha, but the descent (which is how I did it) is considerably more pleasant than the ascent.

The Great Buddha of Phuket is a temple. When visiting a temple in Thailand, there are some rules to observe: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), remove shoes upon entering the building, be quiet, no hugging or kissing, do not point your feet at the Buddha statue, and do not smoke.

How to get there

How do you get to the Big Buddha of Phuket? You reach the summit where the Big Buddha of Phuket is located via a 4-kilometer road that winds through the hills, deliberately not following a straight line. Therefore, while it's easy to get to the starting point of this road by taking the local buses from Karon to Kata in Phuket Town, the hike up is very long and strenuous, almost endless. There is also a 3-kilometer hiking trail. You can find a suggested route for hiking to the Big Buddha of Phuket here, or the AllTrails app offers several other routes. But this is only for the brave! Everyone else is strongly advised to arrive by car or hire a taxi or minibus to get to the Big Buddha of Phuket. Of course, you can try hitchhiking on the road to the Big Buddha, but it's much easier to walk down (that's how I went down) than up.