What started on 20 October
A new double-decker hop-on, hop-off sightseeing service started in Phuket on 20 October 2026, according to a launch-day report by The Phuket News. City Sightseeing Phuket is operated by Elephant GoGo Phuket with City Sightseeing and Central Phuket. It gives visitors a loop they can leave at designated stops and rejoin on a later bus during the period covered by their ticket.
The service should be understood as a commercial sightseeing tour, not a replacement for Phuket's ordinary buses or other local transport. Its published prices are closer to a tour pass than a single local journey. That distinction matters for residents and visitors comparing it with airport buses, songthaews, taxis, app-based rides or the separate Old Town electric sightseeing service.
Route, stops and advertised timetable
The launch information describes an 11-stop circuit beginning at Central Phuket Floresta. The named stops include two Old Town locations, Saphan Hin Park, Kiew Thien Keng Shrine, Muay Thai Street on Soi Ta-iad, Chalong Temple, Robinson Lifestyle Chalong, Hanuman World Phuket and King Power Phuket, before the route returns to the Central Phuket area. This mixes historic, religious, retail and activity stops rather than following a direct commuter corridor.
Radio Thailand Phuket, part of Thailand's Public Relations Department, reported ahead of the launch that buses were planned to leave Central Phuket Floresta every hour from 10am until 4pm. It put a complete loop at about two to two and a half hours and said real-time GPS tracking would help passengers check the vehicle's position. The Phuket News repeated those operating details on launch day.
Those times describe the published service plan, not a guarantee for every date. Weather, traffic, maintenance and operator changes can affect a sightseeing timetable. Travellers with a fixed connection or timed attraction booking should confirm the day's departures and allow extra time rather than relying on the nominal loop duration.
Tickets and audio guide details
At our 24 October check, the operator's Phuket booking page was advertising a 24-hour package for THB1,200 and a 48-hour package for THB1,500, with booking links and GPS bus tracking. Launch information also listed child prices of THB600 for 24 hours and THB750 for 48 hours, applying to children aged six to 12 or below 150 centimetres, subject to the operator's conditions. Check the checkout terms, validity period and child eligibility before purchase.
There is one detail to verify directly. Government and launch-day reports listed recorded commentary in eight languages: Thai, English, Chinese, Russian, German, French, Spanish and Korean. The current operator page now advertises nine languages without naming the additional option in the text we reviewed. Ask the operator which languages are available on the vehicle you plan to use.
Evidence that the service moved beyond the announcement
The earlier government notice and operator release described a planned 20 October start. A separate report published by The Phuket News on 20 October said the service began operating that day. Four days later, the operator's own Phuket page remained live with one-day and two-day products, prices and booking links. Together, that supports reporting the launch and the continuing offer of tickets as of 24 October. It does not prove that every scheduled departure ran, so this article does not make that broader claim.
What to check before travelling
Before buying, compare the stop list with the places you actually want to visit and confirm the last bus you can use after getting off. A full loop of up to two and a half hours means an hourly service can require careful planning if you want to visit several stops in one day. Also confirm accessibility, luggage rules, refund terms and the effect of bad weather directly with the operator; the sources reviewed for this article did not provide enough detail to state those conditions.