68points · on 9 of 12 lists: TravelTriangle, Bookaway, The Land of Wanderlust, The Travel Runner, Home In Phuket, Phuket Lovin, Haute Retreats: Luxury Villa Rentals & Mansions for Rent, WanderLuxe and Phuket Travel Blog
Kathu Waterfall drops through dense jungle in four tiers, and it is the closest waterfall to Patong. A dirt trail climbs to the third tier and a scramble over rocks reaches the fourth, with shallow pools at every level for wading in the shade of the canopy. In the rainy months the first fall runs strong enough to sit under, and Jungle Cafe beside it sets its tables in the stream itself.
“This place can make you peace, listening the water sound, thinking nothing.”
Google review
“So good not busy at all hardly any tourist.”
a Google reviewer
49points · on 7 of 12 lists: TravelTriangle, The Backpacking Family, The Land of Wanderlust, Home In Phuket, Phuket Lovin, Haute Retreats: Luxury Villa Rentals & Mansions for Rent and WanderLuxe
Bang Pae is the wider of the two waterfalls in Khao Phra Thaeo, about 15 meters of cascades over rock into stream pools deep enough for a swim. Beside the entrance, the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project has worked since 1992 to return rescued white-handed gibbons, many taken from the tourist trade, to a forest where poachers had wiped them out. Its tours are free and run on donations, and the gibbons' calls carry through a 23 square kilometer sanctuary that also shelters langurs and slow lorises.
“The Bang Pae waterfall is the biggest and most impressive waterfall in Phuket.”
The Backpacking Family
“This hike follows a small path alongside the river.”
The Backpacking Family
35points · on 6 of 12 lists: Albom Adventures, TravelTriangle, The Backpacking Family, Bookaway, The Land of Wanderlust and Metadee Concept Hotel
This hike climbs Nakkerd Hill on foot to the 45 meter Big Buddha, a concrete figure clad in white Burmese marble that Thailand's Supreme Patriarch declared the Buddhist Treasure of Phuket in 2008. The trail leaves a side street in Karon and turns into a steep jungle path of rocks and roots, with ropes tied along the hardest pitch. Karon Beach shows through the trees on the way up, and at the top the statue faces Chalong Bay, with cafes waiting beside it.
“challenging but rewarding.”
a Google reviewer
“The trail itself was well signposted and required some dexterity to navigate”
a Google reviewer
Google ratings from Google on 3 October 2026. Quotes are from the published lists and reviews named beside each one.
Honorable mentions
Fourth, with 28 points from 4 lists.
“The hike to the top is well worth the effort, as you’re greeted with spectacular panoramic views of the island, the turquoise Andaman Sea, and the surrounding coastline.”
a Google reviewer
Fifth, with 27 points from 4 lists.
“There were lots of signs with facts about the nature, the termites, the waterfall itself.”
a Google reviewer
Named on only one list we found, so it cannot be ranked under the two-list rule.
The lists we counted
- Albom Adventures · May 2025
- TravelTriangle · February 2025
- The Backpacking Family · December 2025
- Bookaway · September 2022
- The Land of Wanderlust · June 2025
- Metadee Concept Hotel · April 2026
- The Travel Runner · June 2024
- Home In Phuket · August 2023
- Phuket Lovin · November 2024
- Haute Retreats: Luxury Villa Rentals & Mansions for Rent · April 2024
- WanderLuxe · June 2025
- Phuket Travel Blog · May 2024
How the points work
We read every independent published best-of list we can find for the question. Each list gives 10 points for first place, 9 for second, down to 1 for tenth, and 5 points to each place on a list with no order. Points are added up. A business must be in the top 10 of at least two lists to be ranked. Rankings are never sold. Full method.
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