Guide: Where to train Muay Thai in Phuket
Muay Thai gyms in Phuket
Travel restrictions are easing, international borders are reopening, and everyone’s got their holiday plans sorted. So you’ve just booked your ticket to Phuket. Now what?
Thailand recently announced that all fully vaccinated travellers will be exempted from the Test & Go and Sandbox programmes come 1 May 2022. Additionally, the Thailand Pass is set to be cancelled from 1 June 2022. Here’s what this means:
- Fully vaccinated travellers visiting from 1-31 May 2022 still have to apply for the Thailand Pass, but no longer need to stay in a SHA++ (aka SHA Extra Plus) hotel on their first night or complete a PCR test on arrival.
- No prerequisites for fully vaccinated travellers visiting Thailand from 1 June 2022.
Soi Tai-ed
Also known as Soi Tai-iad or Fitness Street, Soi Tai-ed is a hotspot for travellers seeking a healthy and active holiday. Located in southern Phuket, the 1.5km stretch of road houses some of the most famous Muay Thai and MMA gyms, including Tiger Muay Thai, Phuket Top Team, and Rattachai, which we had the pleasure of visiting.
If you prefer something different, you can also check out Unit 27, an all-in-one fitness gym spanning multiple properties along the street offering training for all sorts of goals: weight loss, strength and conditioning, flexibility, and more.
Accommodation around Soi Tai-ed
Staying along Soi Tai-ed is a no-brainer if your main goal is to get fit or level up your Muay Thai game. There’s a mix of boutique hotels, longer-term apartment rentals, and well-priced hostels.
We highly recommend Signature Phuket Resort. We stayed in the Studio Garden View King for three nights and were pleased with the clean and spacious room, which included an ensuite. What probably sets this resort apart from its counterparts on the same stretch is probably its pool – perfect for a refreshing post-training recovery dip. Most importantly, it’s right smack in the middle of the fitness street, with easy access to gyms, convenience stores, and cafes.
We paid S$218.95 for three nights, which works out to just S$73 per night. Booking was done via Agoda with free cancellation available.
Alternatively, Phuket Fight Club, which is a six- to nine-minute drive from the area, also offers on-site accommodation with pool access at affordable rates – a good option if you’re looking to train there exclusively. They have limited rooms though, and were completely booked out when we enquired two months before our trip.
Another nearby option is Hivetel, a container-style hotel just five minutes by foot to Phuket Fight Club. Rates are very affordable – we paid S$55 for two nights – and you have all the basic amenities you need.
Food in Soi Tai-ed
It’s easy to find healthy and nutritious food on Fitness Street, with multiple cafes serving protein-packed brunch fare, recovery smoothies and more. Do take note that prices aren’t cheap by Thai standards, with protein smoothies ranging from around 80-150 baht, depending on the type and quality. You can even opt to add extra protein or creatine powder into your smoothie.
Our experience with the food along this street has been largely positive. We loved Trooper Eats (owned by Unit 27) for their wholesome brunch dishes and casual cafe setting. Their Shakshuka (179 baht for two pax) was delicious! When we were there, there was also a free coffee promo with a minimum spend of 300 baht, so make sure you enquire about that before paying.
Another spot that stood out for us was Cafe Harlem for their massive brekkie plates and coconut coffee, which features espresso topped with the juice and flesh from a fresh Thai coconut.
If you prefer something more hearty, our friends recommend Ali’s BBQ for grilled meats, wraps, and salads in generous portions.
For a wider range of cheap, local fare, we turned to GrabFood and were not disappointed.
A special mention to the Michelin-approved Mor Mu Dong Restaurant. This Bib Gourmand local restaurant was easily our favourite find in the Chalong area. Do yourself a favour and order their famous stuffed mackerel (pla too yat sai).
Travelling around Phuket
It’s worth noting that the most common mode of transport around the island is the scooter. While multiple forums (and friends) claim that you don’t need a licence to rent one, you’d probably face a fine if you were to be stopped by the traffic police and don’t have an international driving permit.
Private hire drivers are on the pricier side, especially if you’re booking on the Grab app, but the great news is that you can easily find a driver stat! If you go with this option, we highly recommend Mr. Poo from Taxi Phuket Driver (+66 83 698 9005) for his competitive rates and timely service.
Muay Thai training in Phuket
We visited two Muay Thai gyms during our trip: the family-run Rattachai Muay Thai Gym along Soi Tai-ed; and the famous Phuket Fight Club, a short six to nine-minute drive away from the former.
Both gyms offered excellent (and intense) training, but differed in terms of structure and focus.
We loved Rattachai for their friendly, non-intimidating atmosphere – perfect for beginners – and solid padwork. It’s a cardio fest at every class, but you also get enough attention with the healthy coach to student ratio. Every session has a different theme, some of which include sparring, clinching, and even learning the wai kru.
Phuket Fight Club, on the other hand, appears to cater more to aspiring, up-and-coming fighters. As you may know, there’s a strong pool of talented pro fighters and dedicated coaches at the gym, so you’re training with only the best here. Standout athletes may even be invited to work with the pros!
The classes are less structured than what we experienced at Rattachai, as warm-up (typically a jog around the estate) is done at your own time. You can also expect lots of guided clinching and sparring as opposed to purely cardio-heavy padwork. It is also worth noting that the mats remain open after training. Many in the regular class choose to work on their own strength, conditioning and bagwork afterwards. You can definitely sense the drive and determination here.
For a deeper comparison of our experience at both gyms, here’s a table breaking down some key differences. Do note that Phuket Club offers a variety of different martial art and fitness classes (full schedule available on their website) and we're only focusing on their Muay Thai classes!
|
Gym |
Rattachai Muay Thai |
Phuket Fight Club (for Muay Thai) |
|
Price per class |
400 baht |
500 baht |
|
Training duration |
2 hours |
1.5 hours |
|
Timing |
Morning: 730am - 930am
|
Morning: 8am - 930am Afternoon: 3pm-5pm (pro fighters) 430pm - 6pm (all levels) |
|
Class Structure |
Highly structured and cardio-intensive throughout A different focus for each class (e.g. boxing, clinching, sparring, cardio, technique, wai kru, etc.) |
Loosely structured with intensity peaking at three rounds of padwork Sparring and/or clinching every class with guidance by trainers |
|
Warmup |
Skipping, running, stretching, shadowboxing |
Largely in your own time before class. Some students/fighters go off for a run along the nearby pier. Shadowboxing, no skipping |
|
Padwork |
3 rounds of 3 minutes |
3 rounds of 3 minutes (No padwork for morning classes) |
|
Difficulty |
Beginner - Professional Highly structured classes make Rattachai very beginner-friendly |
Beginner - Professional (Basic proficiency will help you get the most out of the regular clinching and sparring) |
|
Trainer to Student Ratio |
High (5-6 trainers on average per class) |
Low (3 trainers on average per class) |
|
Private/Personal Training |
Available with Kru Nai (3x Lumpinee Champion) |
Available with star head coach, Leo Elias as well as Phuket Fight Club’s professional fighters |
We thoroughly enjoyed both gyms and the different training styles they offered. At the end of the day, it all boils down to personal preference and the agenda you’ve set for your trip.
To make the most out of your time at any of these gyms, we highly recommend staying for at least a week. From our experience, it takes time to build rapport with the trainers and acclimatise to the training (and heat). A familiar face always gets a little more attention!
Featured image credit: @idk.justshootmyshot