Market Tours · PHUKET
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 14 phuket market tours worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Spend nine hours exploring Phuket with an English or Thai-speaking guide, hotel pickup, and a group capped at 10. Expect Karon and Rang Hill views, Wat Chalong, a cashew factory, Old Town, and Chillva Market. Big Buddha is currently closed because the access road is unsafe.
“Great Day with Mossy. very helpful guide kept offering to take photos and full of interesting information”
Cook classic Thai dishes with Chef VJ’s team, including curry paste made in a mortar and pestle. Choose a class with a visit to Mae Somchit Kata Fresh Market and fruit tasting, or let the market come to you. Pickup is offered from selected Phuket areas.
“Fun activity. A lot of food so pace yourself. Good food tho. Fun times! And you get the recipes at the end so that’s nice.”
Spend four hours with an English-speaking instructor such as Tik, Rosa, or May, starting at a local market and ending in a clean Phuket kitchen. Choose a morning or afternoon menu, prepare Thai dishes from fresh ingredients, and take home recipes and leftovers when available.
“Absolutely amazing! Well worth it. Great tuition makes even the worse cooks cook great meals! I was amazed, really enjoyed it and very full! My only negative comment was the cooking statins were shared so you didn't get to fully cook each meal. Keep an eye on the days as the menu changes for what you cook. I didn't know this, but got lucky with the day!”
Mr. Wooddy leads a hands-on Thai cooking class near Kata village, beginning with a local market visit and a tour of his herb and fruit garden. Choose three dishes, cook at your own station, eat what you make, and take home recipes, videos, and leftovers.
“An amazing cooking class! We went for the afternoon class and 3 dishes. I am gluten free and wooddy was very accommodating! We cooked all meals separately. The market was quieter in the afternoon, so would have preferred to do this in the morning but overall the recipes were incredible! The best food I tasted in Thailand and I cannot wait to try the recipes at home! The cooking class was at Wooddys home which made it more authentic and had a tour around his garden. I will be recommending this to everyone who visits Phuket! I will be going to the morning class next time.”
Meet chef Woody in Kata for a market visit, tropical garden tour, and hands-on Thai cooking class. You’ll choose fresh ingredients, prepare several dishes, eat what you make, and take home recipes and a video. Hotel pickup is included from Patong, Kata, Karon, and Chalong.
“Wow we got really lucky in that we were the only people on the PM class! Woody was really attentive and we loved it all. His garden is fab and the other ladies helping in the kitchen were great. Can highly recommend”
Spend six hours touring Phuket with an English or Thai-speaking guide, visiting beaches, Wat Chalong, a cashew factory, Phuket Elephant Care, Khao Rang Hill, and Old Town’s night market. Guides such as Chan, Bella, Pat, and Alex are noted for friendly help and taking photos.
“Really good trip! Bella is a great tour guide. He really looked after me! We have some amazing pictures from every stop! Memories to last! Thank you so much Bella!”
Explore Phuket beyond the beaches on a 5 to 6-hour guided outing with hotel pickup options. You’ll see Old Town, Wat Chalong, Karon Viewpoint, Khao Rang Hill, and the Sunday Walking Street Market, with time for photos, local food, and souvenirs.
“Wouldn’t recommend this trip. While you do see some cultural sites and temples, the tour includes mandatory stops at a honey shop and a cashew shop, which aren't mentioned in the itinerary. Although mildly interesting, these stops felt like a waste of time. As a result, there’s less than an hour at the night market, which isn’t enough to properly explore. That time would have been much better spent at the market or the temples (the main reason we booked this tour). If you have no other way to get around Phuket, this tour might be useful, but otherwise you’re better off saving your time and using Grab.”
Spend about five hours visiting Phuket’s Jatujak and Sunday-only Lad Yai markets with hotel pickup, an English-speaking guide, and time for street food and shopping. Guides such as Pat and May have helped explain local dishes, including mango sticky rice with ice cream. Transfers are free from Patong, Kata, and Karon.
“Niets was leuk maar 2 markten waarvan 1 met 6 kraampjes. Wij hadden voor deze prijs meer verwacht ipv 5 uur zijn we 3 uurtjes weggewerst . Gids sprak slecht engels en begreep niet alles. Ik zal zeggen dat een compensatie van het totaal bedrag terecht zal zijn!”
Meet Tony or Anne at the Phuket cooking school, visit a local market for fruit, snacks, dessert, and fresh ingredients, then cook four Thai dishes at your own station. You will make soup, curry, stir fry, and spring rolls or mango sticky rice in an open kitchen.
“It was an unforgettable experience full of learning, smells, flavors, and above all, very pleasant and enjoyable because Tony is a true master and an excellent host in his country.”
Meet your chef at Blue Elephant Phuket, visit a local morning market, then prepare four Thai dishes in a small class of up to 10. Chef Molly and Chef Paul have led highly praised sessions, with menus changing daily. You finish with lunch, recipes, a certificate, and a Blue Elephant shopping bag.
“I loved it.. the only problem was the person that cooked the food didn't know what they were doing. Very clever that you have to eat the food that you cook. No complaints to the instructor :-)”
You’ll visit a local Phuket market, learn about Thai herbs and spices, then cook four dishes in a traditional open kitchen with certified Thai instructors. Classes hold up to 12 people, include hotel transfers in many Phuket areas, and finish with the meal you prepare.
“The cooking class was amazing, organized, and delicious. The team took great care, not only educating on the food and ingredients, but also being great guides on the cooking journey. Be sure to come hungry as there is a lot of eating and learning!”
Travel by air-conditioned vehicle from Patong, Kata, Karon, or Phuket Town to Karon View Point and Promthep Cape. Your English-speaking guide then leads you through Chilva or JJ Market, where you can choose street food and browse local goods. Guide Nurse and guide Sexy have earned especially warm praise.
“It was a Great tour out guide Sexy were a fantastic guide, she really took care of us. We are so satisfied”
Join an English-speaking guide at a quiet Phuket farm for an easy Thai cooking class from 3 p.m. Prepare tom yum kung, pad Thai, stir-fried morning glory, and a Thai omelet, then eat your meal with dessert before visiting a local night market.
“Jimmy is a great teacher! Sunny, helpful, knowledgeable and very kind!”
Combine a 30-minute ATV ride and 15-platform zipline with Big Buddha, Chalong Temple, Phuket Old Town, a cashew nut factory, and a night market. English-speaking guides handle transport and insurance, while you bring water, sunscreen, closed-toe shoes, and room for local finds.
Pick a kind of market, or the hour of the day you want to be standing in one.
