Phromthep Cape is the headland at the southern end of Phuket’s west coast, reaching out into the Andaman Sea. From the viewpoint on land you look out over the water. From a helicopter you see the cape itself, with the bays of the coast behind it and the open sea in front. One route on the Phuket hub ends its run down the west coast here.
That route is the Phuket West Coast 30-Minute Helicopter Tour. In about 30 minutes, the route passes Surin, Kamala and Bang Tao Beach, circles the Big Buddha, and follows the coast past Patong Bay, Freedom Beach, Karon, Kata Noi, Kata and Nai Harn to Phromthep Cape, before returning inland. A seat costs from THB 18,900.
It is the fullest tour of the west coast in this collection. The first part covers the long beaches of the north-west; the middle is the circle around the statue on its hill; the last part is the smaller bays of the south, with the cape as the final sight before the helicopter turns for home.
The route is fixed, but weather or air traffic control can change it, and the pilot makes the final call on weather and safety, with a final weather check 2 to 3 hours before departure. The cape comes at the far end of the flight, so keep your camera ready for the last part of the route, when the headland and the sea beyond it fill the window.
Every tour starts and ends at the helipad near Phuket airport, where guests can use the helipad lounge, and your check-in time is confirmed after booking. Arrive at least 20 minutes before that time for the mandatory safety briefing. Hotel transfers are included only if listed in your booking confirmation. Tours allow no luggage beyond small personal items such as a handbag, and only bottled water is allowed on board; phones and cameras are welcome.
Each tour is sold by the seat, in a six-passenger helicopter with emergency floats and noise-cancelling headsets. On a shared flight you may fly with other guests, and the crew assigns the seats. To fly private, you book all 6 seats, and the whole helicopter is yours.
No minimum age is stated; children under 2 sit on a parent’s lap, children under 12 must fly with an adult, and pregnant passengers need a medical certificate. There is no free cancellation: cancelling more than 3 days before departure costs 25% of the fare, from 3 days to 3 hours before costs 50%, and later cancellations or no-shows pay the full fare. Rebooking is free more than 24 hours before departure. If the flight is cancelled for weather or safety, you can rebook free of charge or get a full refund (bank fees may be deducted).
Flights run all year, during daylight hours. In the rainy green season from about May, showers usually come in short bursts in the late afternoon, so morning flights are best, and the rain clears the haze for sharp views. To fly the length of the west coast to the cape, book the 30-minute west coast tour.
Phromthep Cape aus der Luft: Phuket · Phuket West Coast 30-Minute Helicopter Tour.