The Big Buddha is the one landmark you can see from half of southern Phuket before you ever ride up to it — a 45-metre white statue sitting on top of Nakkerd Hill, visible from Karon Beach, Kata, and Phuket Town on a clear day. Getting up close is a short, steep scooter ride from Chalong, and it's one of the easiest "big" sights on the island to combine with lunch, a temple stop, and a beach afternoon. Here's what the statue actually is, how to ride there, what to expect at the top, and a few things worth knowing before you go — including the site's 2026 reopening after a period of closure.
What the Big Buddha Actually Is
Its full name is Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Eknakakiri, roughly translated as "the auspicious Buddha on top of Naga Hill." Locals and every map just call it the Big Buddha. The statue is 45 metres tall and 25.45 metres wide at the base, built from reinforced concrete and clad in white Burmese marble — a stone called Suriyakanta, shipped in from Myanmar in slabs and fitted over the concrete frame. It depicts the Buddha seated in the Maravijaya ("victory over Mara") pose and ranks as the third-tallest Buddha statue in Thailand.
The statue sits within the grounds of Wat Kitthi Sangkharam, on Nakkerd Hill, roughly 400 metres above sea level, in the hills between Chalong and Kata. It's a donation-funded project that's been under construction in phases since the early 2000s — the marble cladding work is still ongoing in places, which is normal and doesn't affect visiting. Thailand's Supreme Patriarch declared it a "Buddhist Treasure of Phuket" in 2008.
Riding There by Scooter from Chalong
From Chalong, head out on Chao Fa West Road and watch for the turn onto Soi Yot Sane 1 — it's signposted for the Big Buddha and it's a turn you'll see plenty of other scooters and taxis making, so it's hard to miss. From that turn, the access road climbs roughly 6 kilometres up the hill to the car park near the summit. All told, budget somewhere around 15 to 20 minutes on a scooter from central Chalong, more if you stop for photos on the switchbacks or get stuck behind a tour van.
The road itself is paved the whole way, but it's genuinely steep and winding in the upper sections, with tight hairpin curves as you get close to the top. This isn't a road to rush. Go up in a low gear, keep your speed down through the bends, and give way on the blind corners — tour buses and songthaews use the same road and take up most of the lane on the switchbacks. If you're new to riding in Thailand, this is a good stretch to take slowly rather than a good stretch to test yourself on.
Hours, Entry, and Dress Code
The site is open daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, with last entry at 5:30 pm. Entry is free, though there's a donation box at the base — the statue's ongoing construction and upkeep are funded entirely by visitor donations, so it's a reasonable place to leave some small change if you're able to.
Because it's an active Buddhist temple site and not just a viewpoint, the dress code is enforced: shoulders and knees need to be covered for everyone, so no sleeveless tops and no shorts or skirts above the knee. If you turn up underdressed, there are free sarongs and shawls available to borrow at the entrance, so it's not a reason to turn back — just plan for a few extra minutes at the gate if you need one.
- Shoulders and knees covered (sarongs available free at the entrance if needed)
- Remove shoes before entering the shrine platforms around the statue base
- Keep voices down near the statue — it's an active place of worship, not just a photo stop
- Bring cash for the donation box; card machines aren't reliable up there
Current Status: Reopened in 2026
Worth knowing before you plan the ride: the Big Buddha site was closed from August 2024 after a landslide damaged the access road on Nakkerd Hill. It briefly reopened for a few days at the start of January 2026 before closing again, and has been open continuously since it fully reopened on 3 March 2026 for Makha Bucha Day. The statue, the staircase, the temple area, and the viewing terraces are all accessible again. Given the site's recent history, it's worth a quick check that it's open as normal before you ride up, particularly during the rainy season (roughly May to October) when heavy rain is the same kind of weather that caused problems before.
What You'll See at the Top
From the car park, a staircase of roughly 94 steps takes you up to the statue platform. It's a bit of a climb in Phuket's heat, so pace yourself and bring water. Once you're up there, the payoff is the view: a 360-degree panorama that takes in Chalong Bay and its scattered longtail and yacht anchorages directly below, Kata and Karon beaches to the west, and on a clear day, Phuket Town to the east. It's one of the few spots on the island where you can see both coastlines from the same point, which is really the reason to make the ride up rather than just admiring the statue from a distance.
Morning and late afternoon are the best times to go, both for the light and for the heat — midday sun on that staircase and the open viewing platform gets intense. Late afternoon also tends to be quieter than the mid-morning tour bus rush.
Pair It With Wat Chalong
If you're already riding up to the Big Buddha, it's worth combining the trip with Wat Chalong, officially Wat Chaiyathararam — Phuket's largest and most visited Buddhist temple. It sits back down near the Chalong roundabout, about 8 kilometres from the Big Buddha by road, roughly a 15-minute ride. The temple is known for its 60-metre golden chedi, which holds a fragment of what's believed to be a bone relic of the Buddha, and for the statues of three revered monks inside the main hall who are still central to local worship today. Built in the 1830s, it's a working temple with a very different feel from the hilltop statue — ground-level, shaded, and usually busy with local visitors as well as tourists.
Doing both in one loop makes sense logistically too: Wat Chalong sits right on the way back down toward Chalong itself, so you're not doubling back across the island to fit it in.
Practical Tips for the Ride
Fill up before you leave Chalong — there's nothing resembling a petrol station on the hill itself, just the climb, the car park, and the temple grounds. Wear proper shoes rather than flip-flops for the ride up; the switchbacks call for real grip on the pegs and the ability to put a foot down firmly if traffic bunches up on a bend. The car park at the top has shade but fills up around mid-morning with tour vehicles, so a scooter's main advantage here is being able to park close and leave whenever you're ready, rather than waiting on a tour schedule.
There are small stalls and a few simple food and drink vendors near the car park and along the approach, useful for water or a coconut before the ride back down. And on the way down, use engine braking on the steep sections rather than riding the front brake the whole way — it's a long, warm descent and overheated brakes on a rented scooter are an easily avoidable problem.
Starting the Ride from Chalong
Because the Big Buddha turn-off is just a few minutes up Chao Fa West Road from central Chalong, it fits naturally at either end of a day of riding. Chang Thai Motorbike Rental's main branch is based in Chalong, so picking up a scooter there puts you on the road to the Big Buddha almost immediately — useful whether you want it as your first stop on a longer loop south toward Rawai and Nai Harn, or as a last stop before returning the bike at the end of the day. You can check bikes and availability at the Chalong branch, or reach the team directly on WhatsApp at +66936871999 if you've got questions about the ride up before you book.
Full details on bikes, rates, and all five Chang Thai branches — Chalong, Mai Khao, Phuket Airport, Bangtao, and Phuket Old Town — are on the rent a bike in Phuket page.