The best things to do in Phuket this weekend (April 2-5)

Calling the shade of Le Vele di Scampia home – a controversial, brutalist-inspired public housing complex in Naples – DJ-producer Deborah De Luca comes from a troubled, mafia-ridden past. But talent, luck and hard work have catapulted the Italian DJ-producer from rags to riches, starting out as a disco waitress and professionally dancing her way through the clubbing scene before discovering a passion for the decks. And in a way, Deborah’s birthplace embodies her music today: hard, intense techno. Mind, melodic minimal grooves break the monotony of rhythmic beats and bring experience from her own label and the Dutch techno brand Awakenings. Taking over Armania this Friday, she’s leaving a mark on Phuket’s notoriously loud and wild Bangla Road – a mark you don’t want to miss.

Apr 3. B300. Armania Phuket. 10pm-2am

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

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

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

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.

When you think of Phuket, it’s easy to dream about beaches and barbecues. Once you’re actually here, the relationship between people, art and nature becomes a lot more nuanced. In celebration of this (and because, where better?) Thailand Biennale Phuket has set up a secure spot along the beaches and backstreets of the island, showcasing the best art the region has to offer. And while the Biennale is the largest contemporary art event on the island, you don’t even need to cough up an entry fee. Exhibitions and artworks by over 60 international artists are spread across 20 locations, from ‘Silent Memories’, a burlap sack pavilion set up at Khao Rang viewpoint, to ‘The Labyrinth #2’, that blends with the landscape of Saphan Hin Park – there’s lots to be seen, touched and contemplated. Whether mangrove tunnels or street art murals are more your thing – use art as a compass and join this visual feast all the way ‘til April. 

Nov 29-April 30. Free. Locations across Phuket, details here at Thailand Biennale 2025-2026. Opening hours vary

 If you’re going to do a boat party in Phuket, you may as well do it properly. The VIP Sunset Catamaran Experience swaps cramped ferry decks for the pinewood levels of a luxury catamaran – five hours of island hopping, swim stops and rooftop-style dancing. Run with Shipfaced – the crew behind parties in Sydney and Zakynthos, plus collaborations with Cafe del Mar, Paradise Beach’s Full Moon Party, Circo Loco and even Tomorrowland – this is Phuket’s new premium take on the classic sea rave. The route cruises from Chalong Pier to Coral Island, with a swim stop at Banana Beach (yes, that postcard-perfect one), then on past Racha Island before parking up at Promthep Cape for a sunset session and final DJ set. Standard tickets include transfers from Chalong area hotels, welcome drink and full cruise access, while VIP upgrades score you priority boarding, a reserved top-deck table, bottle service and unlimited shots for you and your crew. Tickets are still available, but best sourced through third-party tour operators.

Every Thursday until April. From B1,800. Departs from Chalong Pier 2.15pm. Hotel pickup 1pm

Into spirits? The drinkable kind? Head to The Distillery Phuket for an insider look at how Chalong Bay Rum and other small-batch tipples are made, from raw sugarcane to snifter cup. This is no backstreet operation – this is a proper guided tour through the working distillery, with stops for tasting along the way. Sure, you can sip Chalong Bay at many bars along the beach, but sampling yet-to-be-bottled rums, gins and vodkas while learning the basics behind distilling and cocktail-making adds new ‘depth’ to the glass. Plenty of swirling and sipping happens here, and maybe a few ‘just one more’ moments to be found as well. 

 Daily. B1,290. The Distillery Phuket. 11am-10pm

Ladies, Thursdays in Bang Tao just got a little more glamorous. Dolly’s Night at Maya Beach Club is your weekly excuse to lean into refined beachside energy with a night dedicated to feminine vibes. Start off at sunset, with deep-house rhythms and an ultra-glam dress-code to match Phuket’s beautiful golden hour. By 7pm, things shift to smooth sophistication with DJ Marcella curating a soundtrack and a troupe of pink-cladded acrobats who take you from dinner to dancefloor in one fell swoop. If you’re skipping the food, get there before 9pm to make the most of free-flow Prosecco and catch up with those already a bottle or two deep. 

Every Thursday. Free for women, B1,000 for men. Maya Beach Club. 7pm-late