The first school holiday after we moved to Phuket with our kids was a mild panic. They were used to structured summer programs back home — tennis club, art camp, football academy. Phuket, I assumed, would be a complete blank. I was wrong. The island has a surprisingly robust holiday program scene, partly because international school campuses need to generate revenue during breaks, and partly because the expat community here expects it.
This guide covers the real options: where they run, what they cost, what age groups they suit, and the honest view on quality. We've vetted these programs ourselves or heard about them directly from parents in the expat community.
Phuket Holiday Camps: Quick Summary
- Main camp seasons: June–August (summer break), late December–early January, March–April (Thai school holidays)
- Best all-round provider: Thanyapura Sports & Health Resort, Thalang — multi-sport, excellent facilities
- International school camps: BISP (Koh Kaew), UWC Thailand (Phuket Town area), HeadStart International (Cherng Talay)
- Day camp prices: 3,500–8,500 THB per week
- Residential camps: 12,000–35,000 THB per week (accommodation included)
- Ages: Most programs from age 4–5 up to 17
- Language: Mostly English; some bilingual Thai/English programs available
Thanyapura: Phuket's Best All-Round Camp Option
Thanyapura Sports & Health Resort in Thalang (conveniently located between Bang Tao and the airport, off Route 4031) is the gold standard for structured holiday programs in Phuket. The facility is genuinely world-class: a 50-metre Olympic pool, full-size football pitch, tennis courts, triathlon training infrastructure, and a dedicated kids zone. Their holiday camp programs during June/July and December run from Monday to Friday, 8:00–17:00, with structured activities and supervision throughout.
Thanyapura's holiday programs are themed by sport and age group. A typical week might include swimming, cycling, tennis, football, yoga, and arts & crafts — the mix varies by program. The daily schedule is supervised by qualified coaches and the English proficiency of staff is high. This is where many Bang Tao, Surin, and Laguna expat families send their kids during the long breaks.
Cost: Day camps approximately 5,500–8,500 THB per week depending on the program. Multi-week discounts available. Breakfast and lunch included in most programs.
International School Holiday Programs
BISP (British International School Phuket) — Koh Kaew
BISP's campus in Koh Kaew (between Phuket Town and the airport) runs structured holiday programs for children aged 4–16 during the summer break (late June to mid-August) and at Christmas. Programs are English-medium with a British curriculum flavour. Activities include swimming, football, basketball, art, drama, and reading enrichment. Non-BISP students are welcome and the mix of nationalities reflects Phuket's expat community.
Cost: Approximately 4,500–6,500 THB per week for day programs. Registered BISP families often get priority booking and modest discounts.
UWC Thailand — Phuket Town
UWC Thailand's campus runs a holiday program with a notably international, multicultural approach — not surprising given the school's ethos. Programs during the Christmas holiday period and in July/August include English language intensives, environmental projects (there's a real focus on marine and reef awareness), creative arts, and STEM activities. Ages 5–18. Strongly recommended if you want your kids engaging with environmental issues and meeting children from genuinely diverse backgrounds.
Cost: Around 4,000–6,000 THB per week.
HeadStart International School — Cherng Talay
HeadStart on the Surin/Cherng Talay side of the island runs a compact but well-organised holiday program that's particularly convenient for families based in Bang Tao, Surin, and Kamala — you avoid the cross-island drive to Koh Kaew or Phuket Town. Programs include sport, creative arts, and English enrichment for ages 3–16.
Cost: Approximately 4,000–5,500 THB per week.
| Program | Location | Ages | Cost/Week (THB) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanyapura Holiday Camp | Thalang | 4–17 | 5,500–8,500 | Multi-sport, swimming focus |
| BISP Holiday Program | Koh Kaew | 4–16 | 4,500–6,500 | Academic enrichment + sport |
| UWC Holiday Camp | Phuket Town | 5–18 | 4,000–6,000 | Arts, environment, diversity |
| HeadStart Holiday Camp | Cherng Talay | 3–16 | 4,000–5,500 | West-coast families |
| Tiger Muay Thai Kids Camp | Chalong | 6–16 | 3,500–5,000 | Muay Thai + fitness culture |
| Rawai Muay Thai Kids | Rawai | 6–14 | 3,000–4,500 | Authentic Thai martial arts |
| Dive Supply Kids Dive Camp | Various | 10–17 | 6,000–12,000 | PADI Bubblemaker/Scuba Diver |
Sports-Specific Holiday Camps
Muay Thai Camps for Kids
Phuket is, of course, a world-renowned Muay Thai destination and several camps run child-friendly programs during school holidays. Tiger Muay Thai in Chalong has a structured kids program separate from the adult training environment — morning sessions include technique, pad work, and fitness conditioning. It's a genuinely authentic experience without being overly intense for beginners. Rawai Muay Thai near the Rawai seafood pier runs similar programs and several Rawai expat families are regulars.
These camps welcome children with zero prior experience. The Thai trainers are patient with beginners and the culture is very different from the hard-sparring atmosphere you see in movies.
Tennis Holiday Programs
Thanyapura has the best tennis facilities on the island and their junior holiday tennis intensive (available June/July and December) is popular among expat families. Court fees plus coaching typically cost 500–900 THB per day. Kata Tennis Club in Kata/Karon and the tennis courts at several Laguna resorts also offer holiday coaching programs.
Scuba & Ocean Camps
Children aged 8+ can participate in PADI Bubblemaker programs (supervised pool diving) run by dive shops island-wide. For ages 10+ with 2+ hours in open water, the PADI Scuba Diver junior certification is achievable in a week-long holiday program. Dive Supply Phuket (with bases in Rawai and Patong) runs structured kids dive camps at 6,000–12,000 THB depending on certification level.
Creative & Arts Holiday Programs
If sport isn't your child's thing, Phuket has a growing creative arts camp scene. Several studios in Phuket Town's Old Town area (around Thalang Road and Dibuk Road) run art workshops for children during school holidays — painting, batik fabric printing, and pottery. The Phuket Art Centre near Patong organises structured holiday programs mixing visual arts, drama, and film-making for children aged 7–15.
Cooking classes designed for children are available at several venues in Rawai and Karon — Thai cooking tailored to young audiences, where they learn to make pad Thai, tom kha gai, and mango sticky rice. Most sessions run 2–3 hours and cost 800–1,500 THB per child including ingredients.
Residential / Overnight Camps
Overnight or residential camps are less common in Phuket than in Western countries, but they do exist. Thanyapura can arrange on-site accommodation for residential programs at an additional cost. Some outdoor education operators around Phang Nga (easily accessible from northern Phuket) run residential adventure camps — kayaking, zip-lining, jungle trekking, camp cooking — over 3–5 nights at around 12,000–22,000 THB per child including full board.
Protect Your Family in Phuket
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Get a Free Family Health Insurance Quote →Holiday Program Logistics: What Expat Parents Need to Know
Transport: Most international school programs include a school bus option for an additional fee (typically 1,500–3,000 THB per week depending on pickup location). Thanyapura is accessible by Grab car if you don't have a vehicle.
Language: If your child speaks limited English, the French, German, and Scandinavian communities in Phuket have informal parent networks that organise language-specific holiday activities — check in the Facebook groups "Phuket Expats" and "Phuket Expats Families" for seasonal announcements.
What to bring: Most camps require sun cream (provided or parent-supplied), a water bottle (fills provided), rash guard for water activities, and closed-toe shoes for sports. Read the packing list carefully — several programs have no-flip-flops policies.
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Book a Free Consultation →Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time for kids' summer camps in Phuket?
The main camp season follows the international school calendar. The biggest programs run during the long summer break (late June to mid-August) and at Christmas/New Year (late December to early January). Thai school holiday camps run in March–April.
How much do holiday camps in Phuket cost?
Day camp programs typically cost 3,500–8,500 THB per week depending on provider and activity type. Residential/overnight camps range from 12,000–35,000 THB per week. Sports academies like Thanyapura offer structured programs from around 5,500 THB per week.
Do Phuket summer camps accept non-English speaking children?
Most international school camps (BISP, UWC, HeadStart) are English-medium. Thai sport academies such as Tiger Muay Thai in Chalong and Rawai Muay Thai have multilingual staff and welcome non-English speakers.
Are there camps specifically for expat families in Phuket?
Yes — BISP in Koh Kaew and UWC Thailand both run holiday programs designed for the international expat community with English instruction and diverse nationality mixes.
Can local Thai children join international holiday programs?
Absolutely. Most programs are open to all children and the mix of Thai and international kids is often considered a feature. Some Thai families specifically seek out English-medium camps for language development.
What's the minimum age for most Phuket holiday camps?
Most structured camp programs accept children from age 4–5 upward. Sports-focused programs often have a minimum age of 6. Overnight residential camps typically start at age 8 or 10.