Koh Sirey Temple

Wat Koh Sirey sits on a low hill at the southern end of Koh Sirey, a small island connected to eastern Phuket by a short bridge near Phuket Town. The temple commands fine views over the strait and houses a large reclining Buddha image visible from the water. The temple grounds are home to a community of long-tail macaques that have become accustomed to visitors. Koh Sirey is also the location of one of Phuket's largest Moken — or Chao Le Sea Gypsy — villages, a community of Austronesian seafaring people with a distinct language and animist tradition. The village maintains shrines associated with their maritime ancestral beliefs, particularly the spirit boat ceremony performed twice a year. The area offers a quietly absorbing alternative to Phuket's tourist circuit, combining religious heritage with insight into one of the island's oldest indigenous communities.