The Big Buddha, Phuket

Yes, the access to the front side is still closed but you will get to visit it from the back side of the statue. The views from here are absolutely breathtaking and the breeze is strong! The road leading to it is nice and winding but be careful when going downhill. Beware of the nearby monkeys as they will definitely grab your food and stuff. There is ample of parking. The washroom is okay! Overall I would rate this place as good and must visit if you have rented a scooter or car.

Read that the front entrance to the Big Buddha is closed but the back entrance is open, but when I went on 1 December 2025, Monday, it was closed entirely and there was no way to get to the Big Buddha area at all. There is a great view from the top, overseeing the area, a drink stall and the big Buddha's back / side view and that was it. Do try to ensure that you have your own 2 way transport to get to the Big Buddha and down, because it may be challenging to get a Grab or Bolt once you get up there. I took a Thb 200 Grab from Wat Chalong to Big Buddha and the Grab driver offered to wait for me and send me down and back to my hotel or another location at Thb 800, which was quite a crazy price! Decided to give it a miss and just do a one way trip with him. I reached there, didn't see the Big Buddha and tried to get a Bolt down as Bolt had more competitive prices if you were willing to wait a little longer. The Bolt driver came about 30 to 45 minutes later, which was good for me because I was sitting on the green grass and enjoying the view and breeze. However, the Bolt driver could not come all the way to the Big Buddha back entrance as the area was "guarded" by the taxi stand drivers and tuk tuk driver that were stationed there. The tuk tuk driver was charging Thb 800 to get down and out. Not sure about the taxi prices though.. It's probably exorbitant. My Bolt ride costs THB 300, which was a huge shave off from THB 800. But I do think I was pretty lucky to get a ride because not many drivers would want to make a trip all the way up to the Big Buddha, pick up the customer and send them to another location. The journey up to Big Buddha is probably already around 25 to 30 minutes.

Visiting the Big Buddha is an amazing experience and well worth the trip for the incredible views over Phuket. Even though the site itself wasn’t open when we visited, it was still impressive to see from up close and the panoramic scenery made the journey worthwhile. Be aware that the Big Buddha can be unreliable in terms of opening, as there seem to be ongoing issues, so it’s best not to plan your visit around access alone. A taxi from Karon Beach cost around 300 baht, and it’s worth asking the driver to wait 20 minutes and return you. Walking down is possible but challenging, with steep, gravelly paths requiring ropes and careful footing.

An iconic and serene landmark perched on Nakkerd Hill offering breathtaking 360 - degree views over Phuket. The massive white Buddha statue is a peaceful place for reflection and a must-visit cultural site. Remember to dress respectfully - no shorts or sleeveless tops - to honor the sacred atmosphere.

**Visted last week, It was closed temporarily due to land slide** 🙏 A majestic 45 m white-marble statue offering stunning island views from Nakkerd Hill. 🌅 Peaceful, spiritual, and perfect for photos. It was raining and foggy, weather was Nice and it is partly uphill, so visit early or at sunset. 🛕 Dress modestly—shoulders and knees covered. Some areas may be restricted, but still worth a visit for the views and calm vibe.

Amazing view of west and east coasts at top of Big Buddha. Unfortunately the temple site is closed as there was a disastrous landslide in 2024. Site will remain closed until investigations resolved. However, there are some excellent traders at the top with local nuts, food and drinks. Can take in the views and also watch the monkeys in the trees at the top

I was here back when the monument was still open, so let me share my impressions from that time. In fact, Phuket doesn't have many large monuments. Yes, there are plenty of temples, but they are all rather small, which is interesting from the perspective of exploring the country's culture, but not more than that (if you consider them purely as monuments). Against this backdrop, the Big Buddha stands out at least because of its size - it is 45 meters tall. The monument looks stunning against a clear sky - a classic combination of white and blue. The Big Buddha is a relatively new monument; its construction was completed only in 2015. And now it's been closed again following a landslide, which, according to preliminary reports, was caused by the monument's construction - the statue weighs 135 tons, which led to ground instability; in addition, part of the forest was cleared for the construction. Thirteen people lost their lives… Initially, there were even talks about possibly demolishing the monument, but whether that will actually happen remains unclear. Let's see what its destiny will be…

Even though The Big Buddha is currently closed, it’s still absolutely worth the visit — you can easily reach the parking area, which offers an astonishing panoramic view over the whole of Phuket, with a peaceful breeze and perfect photo spots. The road going up is also very pleasant, lined with small local businesses, cozy roadside cafés, and even a few elephant owners along the way, giving the whole trip a very authentic and charming local feel. You’ll also often find playful monkeys near the top, adding extra excitement to the experience 🐒🌿 A beautiful and memorable stop in Phuket!