If you are thinking about when to visit Phuket, there are a number of things to take into account. The best time to visit the island would change with what exactly it is, which you are after from a holiday. During the three most exciting times of year to visit Phuket, you could end up having the biggest waterfight of your life, sitting on a secluded beach watching the stars and fireworks or seeing a parade of people with swords and knives through their cheeks.
Songkran, the Thai New Year, was originally a time for prayer and the purification of sins. This was in the form of water being splashed gently down people’s shoulders in the street. Now, it has evolved into the biggest waterfight in the world. It takes place all over Phuket, but is especially fun in the island where the tourist influence has magnified the significance of the purification powers of the water.
Hat Patong is the beach where the action is the wildest, but going out into the streets anywhere during your visit to Phuket on the 13th to the 15th of April is a mistake, if you do not like getting wet. The streets will be lined with people armed with waterguns, waterhoses or buckets filled with water, all intent on getting you wet for your sins.
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival was started by the large Chinese minority on Phuket and is a time where they voluntarily abstain from eating meat for a week. It is also a really weird time when men and women walk around the streets in a trance with lots of objects piercing through their cheeks. There are needles, swords, spears, knives or any type of sharp instrument used by them. It occurs every October. There is also fire-walking and other carnival like displays during the event. You will find that most of the restaurants have taken meat off the menu. If you plan to visit Phuket during this time of the year, make sure to go to the Chinese temples for seeing the ceremonies and other parades that will happen. Shephan Hin is where the ceremonies climax is held. There is a huge firework display for everyone.
The Chinese New Year is also a good time to visit Phuket. The large Chinese minority celebrates it almost as hard as they do on the mainland. This event happens in February. The best place to go during the New Year is the Patong Beach. The street sellers sell large amounts of fireworks to everyone and the sky is lit up brighter than the 4th of July in US. There is nothing better then sitting on a beach watching the sky explode with fireworks.
