Philipp Meier

Songkran may be over, but Phuket isn’t easing off just yet. Beach clubs are firing up again with a mix of high-energy and laid-back events across the island. DJ heavyweights like Cash Only and Bonobo fly in from the UK to take over Armania and Café del Mar Phuket. Over on Koh Sirey, the Phuket 420 Island Fest taps into Thailand’s growing cannabis culture, bringing together growers, dispensaries and curious fans. Prefer something slower? Think a long Sunday brunch at InterContinental Phuket by Kamala Beach. Or swap the coast for the jungle at Hanuman World, where ziplines and looping rides cut through dense rainforest. However you play it, you’re spoilt for choice.    Did you know Julian Marleylands in Phuket in May?  There’s also a gamified scavenger hunt doing the round – one of the island’s quieter surprises.

What is it? A late-night DJ set from Cash Only, aka Matt Wilcox, a UK producer rooted in garage, jungle and house. Why we love it This isn’t about payment methods – entry’s free – but about sound. Cash Only’s style draws on classic UK garage and jungle, with syncopated two-step beats, heavy sub-basslines and pitched-up vocals. These days, he leans into house with Afro influences, keeping things around a steady 130 BPM. Think energetic, rhythmic and easy to settle into. Time Out tip Entry’s free, but tables go fast. Book ahead if you want space to stay a while. Apr 17. Free entry (minimum spend B3,000 for two people). Armania Phuket. 10pm-4am.  

What is it? A jungle adventure park packed with ziplines, sky bridges and a high-speed ‘roller coaster’ ride. Why we love it April heat in Thailand can feel relentless – so why not lean into it? At Hanuman World, you’re strapped into a harness and sent flying through dense rainforest, cooling off as you go. Expect loops, spirals and sudden drops at speed, plus extras like abseiling, sky bridges and a luge run. It’s loud, fast and a proper adrenaline hit. Time Out tip Go early to beat the heat, then work your way up to the slingshot if you’re feeling brave. Apr 16-19 (daily). From B350 (slingshot only). Hanuman World. 8am-6pm.

What is it? A beachfront brunch at Pine Beach Bar, with seafood, wood-fired pizzas and optional free-flow drinks. Why we love it Need a reset after Songkran? This is it. Come for the food, stay for the setting – sharing platters served Thai-style, a resident DJ on chill-out duty and a saxophonist drifting through the background. Waves roll in just metres away, doing their part to slow things down. Perfect after a slightly heavier Saturday night. Time Out tip Book a table close to the sand. The sea breeze makes all the difference in April heat. Apr 19 (weekly). From B2,990++. InterContinental Phuket Resort. noon-3pm at Pine Beach Bar

What is it? A beachside cannabis festival on Sunrise Beach, bringing together growers, brands and the wider community. Why we love it Like that sweet scent of left-handed cigarettes? This one leans into the culture. The ‘420’ code traces back to a long-standing legend – five students meeting after school on April 20, 1971 – but here in Phuket, the vibe is more about community than mythology. Expect reggae beats, sea air and a relaxed crowd browsing stalls and chatting with local producers. It’s lively, but never overwhelming. Time Out tip Head over before sunset, then stay as the music picks up. A good call if you want something social without the full beach club intensity.Apr 18. B420. Phuket 420 Island Fest. 3pm-midnight

What is it? A live set from Bonobo, the British DJ-producer known for blending trip-hop, downtempo and nu-jazz with organic textures. Why we love it Bonobo might be an unusual name, but it fits. Simon Greene borrows from natural soundscapes as much as club culture, shaping sets that shift with the crowd. His background – from a rural upbringing (‘a farm pretty much’) to global stages like Glastonbury, Coachella and the Sydney Opera House – feeds into a sound that moves between worlds. Expect something immersive and layered rather than full-throttle chaos. Time Out tip Arrive early and ease into it. The build-up is part of the experience – perfect after a long, humid Phuket afternoon. Apr 18. B700. Café del Mar Phuket. 11am-late

Not into morning runs? No sweat; we’ve heard your vote. Sleep in and look after your work-health balance well after the midday heat. Designed with late-risers in mind, the Laguna Phuket Sunset Beach Run swaps sunrise for a much more pleasant golden hour moment when the sun sinks orange. That’s not to say you can lose kilos for free (B500 to join, officially), but hear us out. Imagine that runner’s high when the sky turns from tangerine to purple etched with an inky blue, the beach waves hushing as they meet the sand before retracting back into the Andaman Sea. The fun run starts and ends at XANA Beach Club, blending sport and nature with lifestyle. And that translates into professional massages and beachside tipples after the 3- or 6km-run, followed by a full-blown afterparty that surely undoes all the calorie burning you’ve just undertaken. But who’s complaining?  Apr 11. B500. Laguna Phuket Sunset Beach Run 2026 at XANA Beach Club (inside Angsana Laguna Phuket). 5-9pm

Laugh if you find yourself in the crossfire of water blasters! This is the official start to the annual, three-day water festival that marks the Thai New Year. As can be expected, Phuket’s chaotic water fights start ahead of time, bringing out the buckets and hosepipes as early as Saturday (April 11). Take to the messy Bangla Square on April 12 – foam vibes prevail here, covering what little clothing they’re likely wearing. More into the cultural side? Head to the Charter Walking Street for the Mon Rak Songkran tradition, also on April 12 from 4-9pm, where locals spruce themselves up in flashy luk thung outfits complete with sparkling sequins and all. Other key splash zones include the Songkran No Alcohol Festival on April 13 at Limelight Phuket, so named because boozy matters are virtually everywhere on the island. Of if you’re more of a nighttime splasher, head to Koh Sirey’s Dark Soul of Paradise EDM Festival, or Sad Roi Lhaow concerts at the NAKA Market. No matter the venue, this is Phuket’s Songkran and it’s so ready. April 11-15. Free and paid events. Songkran in Phuket. 10am-late

Patong and its sleep-deprived Soi Bangla are generally loud, but wait till you visit during the annual Phuket Bike Week. Packs of long-haired riders announce their arrival with epic roars from the hills and highways. It’s an insane sight to behold (in a good way, of course), this year themed on ‘ASEAN Ride Together – We love the world’ – which, if we’re honest, sounds less wild than it actually is. Given it’s their 30th anniversary of the event, over 10,000 motorcyclists and 50,000 onlookers are expected, flying in (or more likely rolling in) from every imaginable corner of the world. With custom bike shows and exhibitions, concerts and beach parties and the crowning of the Miss Phuket Bike Week, this big-bike gathering is one of the largest in Asia. Whether you’re a biker yourself or want photos of two-wheeled babies, now is the chance to talk shop and snap pictures of big, shiny bikes and choppers, including BMW, Harley Davidson, Yamaha and Kawasaki, to name just a few.  Apr 12-14. Free entry. Phuket Bike Week, Loma Park, Patong Beach. 6-11.30pm

Can’t get a proper shut-eye? Tossing and turning? Feeling blue? Then this one is for you. Amatara Welleisure Resort has planned a wellness afternoon with women’s vitality in mind, although men, children and non-binary guests are all welcome too. After all, the event is all about getting some well-earned rest and relaxation, and who says gender has to define how well-rested you are? Whatever the issue, wellness experts help you get back on your feet through breathwork and sound healing, as well as a doctor’s speech on sleep and how to understand your own nervous system better. The specialists also introduce Transcranial Pulse Stimulation (TPS) – a technology that uses low-intensity shock waves to target and stimulate deep brain tissue without surgery. Interested? Seats are limited and the atmosphere is intimate.Apr 3. Free. Amatara Welleisure Resort. 3.-6.30pm.

South Africa has been producing quality wines since the 1650s, yet it’s only recently made waves on a global scale. That’s not to say you need to reach the high altitudes of Stellenbosch to find notes of black fruits and berries right here in Phuket. Trisara is hosting an evening with Oldenburg Wines, a boutique winery based in the Banghoek Valley of Stellenbosch, South Africa, at the forefront. Adrian Vanderspuy, the estate owner, walks you through South Africa’s Oldenburg Vineyards as the evening unfolds through a six-course menu. While you tickle your taste buds, he serves up drops of the Rondekop hill, encouraging you to swirl Cabernet Sauvignon around your mouth as though it were creamy chocolate. The intimate journey is capped at 10 guests, so book your spot fast.Apr 3. B4,900. The Wine Cellar at Trisara Phuket. 7pm-late

Got a spare kilogram to dump? Need to blow out some cobwebs from dancing the previous night? Whatever your motivation, now is the chance to lace up and take off on an annual fun run that’s all about the colour. With an explosion of powder, it brings the spirit of India’s Holi Festival to Phuket through the medium of exercise. Besides signifying the triumph of good over evil, the Hindu festival marks the end of winter and the start of spring, so to celebrate, all along the 1.5km and 5km routes, runners pass through activity stations, including a climbing zone, hill challenge, puzzle-style maze adventure and aptly named splash tunnels and zones (yes, do prepare to be showered with coloured powder). The colourful fun doesn’t end at the finishing line – inflatable playgrounds and face paintings await at the post-run colour party, complete with live music. Apr 4. Late-bird tickets B1,000 per person. Thanyapura Health & Sports Resort. 9am-noon

Whether you’d rather brunch indoors or outdoors isn’t quite that relevant at The Slate, as every corner is giving the best industrial-chic on the island. Slump into cylindrical chairs at the neon-lit Rivet & Rebar, where exotic metal formations frame equally lavish accoutrements – from an interactive buffet brunch to breezy alfresco atmospheres. But homely, sun-dappled settings aside, the Easter Sunday brunch leans into all things seafood, serving up a spread of international crowd-pleasers and classic Phuket seafood. Itching for a taste? Well, reboot your systems with Phuket lobster, French oysters, Wagyu beef or pan-fried foie gras, while condensation drips down the side of a tall glass of bubbly. Brunch packages start at B3,250, but splash out on the special, and the champagne flows freely. Apr 5. Brunch packages from B3,250. The Slate. Noon-3pm