Phuket City Tour with Rum Tasting: Old Town & Big Buddha

A rum distillery sits at the end of a temple and monument tour, not the beginning.

This is a guided tour of Phuket's landmarks—the old city, Big Buddha, Wat Chalong temple, and a rum distillery—with private hotel pickup and an English-speaking guide. The tour hits three viewpoints overlooking Karon, Kata and Kata Noi beaches, includes a walk through Thalang Road's colonial buildings, and ends with rum tasting at Chalong Bay where you pay for your own drink. The whole day runs four to six hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Phuket city tour and rum tasting

• Pickup from hotel by private vehicle
• Walk and explore Phuket Old Town, Thalang Road
• Visit Phuket viewpoint overlooking Kata Noi, Kata, Karon beaches
• Visit Wat Chalong Buddhist temple
• Visit Phuket Big Buddha and learn about marble stone
• Visit Chalong Bay Rum Distillery for rum tasting
• Return to hotel

The Experience

A private vehicle picks you up from your hotel and heads straight into Phuket Old Town, where the guide walks you through Thalang Road to see the Sino-Portuguese architecture that shaped the neighborhood. You stop for photos at viewpoints overlooking three beaches—Karon, Kata and Kata Noi—before moving on to Wat Chalong, the largest Buddhist temple on the island. The guide explains what you're standing in front of at each stop.

From the temple, the route continues to Big Buddha, the marble statue visible across much of Phuket. Here you can buy a small piece of marble to have mounted on one of the pillars if you want to mark your name. The guide shares how the site works and what the views toward Phuket town and Chalong Bay show you. Then the tour heads to Chalong Bay Rum Distillery, where you taste and learn about organic rum—you order and pay for your own cocktail there.

The guide speaks English throughout, and the vehicle is private, so the pace stays yours. A soft drink is included during the day. The tour wraps back at your hotel.

What’s included

• Private hotel pickup and return.
• English-speaking guide throughout the tour.
• soft drink during the day.
• entrance to Wat Chalong and Big Buddha viewpoint access.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by Phuket Travel Deals

Is this one for you?Book this if you want a guide walking you through Phuket's old town and temples in one afternoon—the private pickup and all-day pacing mean you see Thalang Road, Wat Chalong, and the Big Buddha without managing your own route.

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Top questions

What is Wat Chalong and why does the tour stop there?

Wat Chalong is the largest and most prominent Buddhist temple on Phuket. The guide takes you through it as part of the cultural landmarks on the route, explaining the site as you walk.

Do I have to pay extra for the rum tasting at Chalong Bay?

Yes. The distillery visit is included, but you order and pay for your own cocktail there. A soft drink is provided earlier in the tour at no extra cost.

What are the three beach viewpoints on this tour?

The tour stops at a viewpoint overlooking Karon, Kata and Kata Noi beaches. You get photos from this single vantage point rather than visiting each beach itself.

Can I buy a piece of marble at Big Buddha to take home?

Yes. At Big Buddha, you can purchase a small piece of marble to have mounted on one of the pillars with your name marked on it, if you want a keepsake from the visit.

Is the guide included, and what language do they speak?

Yes, an English-speaking guide is included with the tour. They walk you through each stop and explain the sites and history as you go.