Khao Kad Viewpoint stands on the hills between Phuket Town and Cape Panwa, overlooking a part of the island that many visitors pass without properly seeing. From the viewing tower, the landscape opens across bays, coastal communities, forested ridges and the smaller islands off Phuket’s south-eastern coast.
Unlike the better-known viewpoints along the west coast, Khao Kad is not focused on a single beach or sunset scene. Its value lies in the breadth of the view. From here, southern Phuket can be understood as a connected landscape rather than a collection of separate destinations.
Phuket from the Eastern Hills
The viewpoint is located in Wichit, close to Ao Makham and the road towards Cape Panwa. A staircase leads from the lower level through the hillside to the open viewing tower above.
At the top, visitors can walk around the tower and look in every direction. The panorama includes the coast around Cape Panwa, Chalong Bay, Koh Sirey and several islands surrounding southern Phuket. The exact view changes with the weather, cloud cover and visibility, but the tower provides one of the island’s broadest geographical perspectives.
The setting also explains why eastern Phuket feels so different from the main resort areas. This coastline is shaped by sheltered bays, working piers, residential communities and quieter stretches of development rather than long tourist beaches.
What You Can See from the Tower
Looking east and south-east, the view extends towards Ao Makham, Cape Panwa and the islands beyond the coast. The shoreline curves around small bays and wooded headlands, with boats and harbour activity visible below when conditions are clear.
To the west, Chalong Bay occupies much of the horizon. Its waters are often marked by yachts, tour boats and local vessels travelling between Phuket and nearby islands.
Looking north, parts of Phuket Town and its surrounding districts appear between the hills, while Koh Sirey and the eastern coastline sit further towards the sea.
The contrast is one of the viewpoint’s most interesting features. Residential areas, forested slopes, working waterfronts and open water all occupy the same panorama, offering a broader picture of Phuket than the familiar image of beaches and resorts alone.
A Quieter Side of Phuket
Khao Kad Viewpoint is a simple attraction centred on the tower and the surrounding landscape. There is no elaborate visitor experience. The main reason to come is the view itself and the opportunity to understand how Phuket’s eastern and southern districts fit together.
The viewpoint is particularly worthwhile for visitors exploring Cape Panwa or the quieter roads south of Phuket Town. It reveals the bays, hills and islands that are often difficult to understand from ground level.
It may not provide the classic west-coast beach panorama associated with Phuket, but that is precisely what makes it interesting. Khao Kad shows another side of the island: varied, inhabited and closely connected to the sea.