Phuket has a lot of viewpoints and most of them show you one thing: the sea, in one direction, from a lay-by full of coaches. Khao Khad is the exception. It is a purpose-built tower on a hill that happens to sit exactly where the island narrows, so you can turn on the spot and see both coasts, the town, the bay and the mountains.
It costs nothing, and most visitors have never heard of it.
The essentials
| Khao Khad Views Tower | |
|---|---|
| Where | Cape Panwa hill, Wichit, south-eastern Phuket |
| Opening hours | Daily, 6:00 – 18:30 |
| Entry | Free |
| The climb | About 200 steps to the top level |
| At the base | Parking, cafés and shops |
| How long to allow | 45 minutes to an hour |
What you can actually see
- South and west — Chalong Bay spread out below, with Big Buddha on the ridge behind it.
- East — Koh Sirey and the channel, with the mainland mountains beyond on a clear day.
- North — Phuket Town, and Phang Nga Bay opening out past it.
- Directly below — the whole of Cape Panwa, the piers and the bays either side of it.
When to go
Early. It opens at six, and the first two hours are the best of the day here — the air is clear before the heat builds a haze over the bay, the steps are bearable, and you will often be alone at the top. This is the east side of the island, so morning is the light you want, not evening.
The climb
Around 200 steps, in stages, with landings on the way. It is not a hard climb and children manage it easily, but there is no lift and very little shade on the tower itself, so it is genuinely unpleasant in the middle of the afternoon. Bring water.
Getting there
Khao Khad is on Cape Panwa, past Phuket Town in the south-eastern corner of the island — about an hour from the airport with clear roads, 1.5–2 hours if you hit traffic, and a long way from Patong, Kata and Karon. There is no practical way to reach it on public transport, and the road up the hill is steep and narrow in places.
Most of our drivers live in this district, so if you want to be at the top for six in the morning, that is an easy thing for us to arrange rather than a heroic one.
What to pair it with
The tower is 45 minutes of your day, so it works best as the opening stop on a half-day around the cape: the tower first, the aquarium at the tip of Cape Panwa, a swim and lunch at Ao Yon, and the cafés at Ao Makham to finish.
Frequently asked
Is Khao Khad Views Tower free?＋
Yes, entry is free and there is no ticket office. The tower is open daily from 6:00 to 18:30, with free parking, cafés and shops at the base.
How many steps is Khao Khad tower?＋
About 200 steps to the top level, broken up by landings. It is manageable for most people including children, but there is no lift and little shade, so go early rather than in the afternoon heat.
What can you see from Khao Khad viewpoint?＋
A full 360° panorama: Chalong Bay and Big Buddha to the south and west, Koh Sirey and the channel to the east, Phuket Town and Phang Nga Bay to the north, and Cape Panwa directly below.
How do you get to Khao Khad Views Tower?＋
It is on the Cape Panwa hill in Wichit, past Phuket Town — about an hour from Phuket Airport with clear roads, up to 1.5–2 hours in heavy traffic, and a long drive from the west-coast beaches. There is no useful public transport, and the hill road is steep and narrow, so a car and driver is the practical option.
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Written by the IslandTransfer team in Phuket and last reviewed on 20 July 2026. Things change here — if you spot something out of date, tell us and we will fix it.