What to Wear in Phuket

Sitting just eight degrees north of the equator, Phuket is warm and humid every single month of the year, with daytime temperatures hovering between 30°C and 34°C and a fierce tropical UV index on the water. Packing well means separating what you wear on Andaman boat trips and west-coast beaches from what you wear inland in Phuket Old Town and Buddhist temples.

Island boat days and west-coast beaches

• Long-sleeved UV rash vest and reef-safe mineral sunscreen: two hours of snorkelling or riding on the bow of a speedboat in the Andaman glare will burn unprotected skin even on a cloudy afternoon. A UPF 50+ swim shirt protects your back and shoulders in the water while complying with Thai Marine National Park rules that ban coral-bleaching chemical sunscreens (those containing oxybenzone and octinoxate).
• Grippy water sandals and a waterproof dry bag: many island stops and longtail boat boardings involve stepping straight into knee-deep surf or walking over coarse shell sand and wet boat decks; bring secure strap-on water sandals rather than loose flip-flops, and keep your phone, passport copy and dry shirt inside a 10-litre roll-top dry bag.

Phuket Old Town, Wat Chalong and monsoon showers

Swimwear and bare chests belong strictly on the sand and around hotel pools; walking down Thalang Road in Phuket Old Town or stepping into local Peranakan restaurants in beachwear is frowned upon by residents. Pack airy 100% linen or lightweight cotton shirts, loose culottes, sundresses and tailored shorts, which look smart against the pastel shophouse facades and dry quickly in the coastal breeze. For visiting Wat Chalong, the hilltop Big Buddha precinct or Chinese-Thai shrines such as Jui Tui, both men and women must wear clothing that covers shoulders and falls below the knee, with slip-on sandals that remove easily at shrine thresholds. If you travel during the May-to-October green season, add a featherweight packable rain jacket or compact umbrella and mosquito repellent for dusk dinners. Check seasonal weather before you pack.