By Phuket News Property Editorial Team · January 20, 2026
The slopes and foothills surrounding Phuket’s Big Buddha road offer a rhythm of life that feels distinct from the island’s beaches and urban centres. While the iconic statue atop Nakkerd Hill remains closed to the public following safety and legal reviews after the 2024 landslide, the wider hillside continues to provide breathtaking panoramas, quiet mornings, and a lifestyle shaped by nature, community, and dramatic scenery.
For residents who live along or below the mountain’s winding roads, daily life begins early. Before sunrise, the air is cool and still, and the ascent toward the hilltop viewpoints becomes a peaceful ritual. From elevated lookouts, the first light spreads across Chalong Bay and the east coast of Rawai, creating a daily spectacle that feels far removed from the bustle of the west coast beaches below.
Morning routines and mountain tranquillity
The early hours around Big Buddha Road have a calm rarely found elsewhere on the island. Locals walk or jog the gentle mountain gradients, photographers set up for sunrise shots, and neighbours exchange quiet greetings along the roadside. The landscape transitions from residential pockets and roadside eateries on the lower slopes to fruit farms, orchards, and dense rainforest higher up, punctuated by occasional viewpoints where residents pause to take in the scenery.
Even without entering the closed statue grounds, panoramic views remain one of the defining features of the area. The sense of elevation, open sky, and sweeping coastline gives daily life here a distinctly different rhythm from low-lying residential districts.
Nearby attractions and outdoor activity
The foothills surrounding Big Buddha have developed into a small hub of outdoor and leisure activity. Hiking trails, elephant care centres, and ATV tracks are scattered through the forested slopes, drawing both residents and visitors seeking fresh air and adventure. Along the winding road, a small collection of hillside cafés and restaurants has emerged over time, including an unexpected authentic Greek eatery, adding to the area’s quietly eclectic character.
Macaques are also part of the local landscape, often seen moving through the trees or crossing quiet sections of road. Observing them has become part of the experience for many residents, although feeding them is strictly prohibited for safety and wildlife protection reasons.
Sunset over the west coast
As the day draws on, the hillside transforms again. In the late afternoon, roadside pull-offs become informal gathering points as residents and visitors watch the sun descend over the Andaman Sea. The view toward Karon Beach and beyond is particularly striking, with changing light reflecting across the coastline far below.
These evening moments, combined with cooler mountain air and uninterrupted views, form part of the daily lifestyle for those who live in this elevated pocket of Phuket.
A community shaped by landscape
Life around Big Buddha Road is defined by nature and neighbourhood. Small hillside communities, local eateries, family-run guesthouses, and quiet residential lanes create a lived-in environment rather than a resort zone. People know their neighbours, share familiar routines, and enjoy a balance between privacy, scenery, and proximity to the rest of southern Phuket.
Even while the official Big Buddha site remains closed, the surrounding landscape continues to attract those who value panoramic views, early mornings viewing the sunrise, forested surroundings, and a slower, more connected way of living on the island.
