Eleven hours from Gatwick, no connection, and you land in the Andaman Sea's biggest island just as the dry season settles in.
Norse Atlantic is flying non-stop from London to Phuket from £382 return in December. That is one of the lowest fares we have seen on this route, and the dates run straight into Christmas.
✈️ The deal
- From: London Gatwick, UK
- To: Phuket, Thailand
- Airline: Norse Atlantic
- Stops: Non-stop
- Price: £382 - £420 return
- When: December
Example dates:
07/12/2026 - 15/12/2026
07/12/2026 - 24/12/2026
💰 How far does your money go?
A pint in London sets you back around £6.75. In Phuket, a local beer at a bar is about 100 THB, roughly £2.30. A plate of street food costs 80 THB (£1.85), and an hour-long Thai massage starts at 300 THB, around £7. One round in Soho covers a full day of eating well here.
☀️ The weather
December marks the start of Phuket's dry season. Expect 27–32°C, clear mornings and very little rain. The sea sits at around 28°C and the west coast turns calm and glassy, ideal for snorkelling and boat trips. Evenings stay warm enough for dinner on the sand.
🏨 Where to stay
Old Town for character, Kata and Karon for the beach without Patong's noise.
Homa Phuket Town · 8.4/10 · From £18/night
A clean, well-run base in the Old Town with a pool. Good value for anyone planning to explore rather than lie by the water.
Chanalai Garden Resort Kata Beach · 8.6/10 · From £48/night
Tropical gardens a short walk from Kata Beach. Relaxed, leafy and quieter than the resorts further north.
Mandarava Resort and Spa Karon Beach · 9.2/10 · From £55/night
Five pools, a spa and a free shuttle to Karon Beach. One of the best-rated stays on the island for the price.
🎯 What to do
Phuket works as a beach break, but the best bits are often just offshore.
Phang Nga Bay by longtail or kayak: limestone karsts, hidden lagoons and James Bond Island. Nothing in Europe looks like it.
Phuket Old Town: Sino-Portuguese shophouses on Thalang Road, independent cafes and the Sunday walking street market.
Big Buddha: a 45-metre white marble statue on Nakkerd Hill with views over Chalong Bay. Go for sunset.
Thai cooking class: start at a local market, then cook four or five dishes from scratch. You go home with a proper green curry.
🗺️ Where to go from here
Phuket is the gateway to southern Thailand's islands, and the rest of the country is a short flight away.
Phi Phi Islands: white sand and limestone cliffs, around 1.5 hours by ferry or 45 minutes by speedboat.
Krabi and Railay Beach: sea cliffs and caves reachable only by longtail boat. About 2 hours by ferry.
Koh Yao Noi: rice paddies, fishing villages and no nightlife. 30 minutes by boat, a world away from Patong.
Koh Samui: palm-lined beaches on the Gulf of Thailand side, and the jumping-off point for Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Around 1 hour by domestic flight. Search flights
Chiang Mai: temples, night markets and mountain treks in the north. About 2 hours by domestic flight. Search flights
Non-stop to Phuket for under £400 return in December is rare. These seats will not last long.
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