# Where Are the Best Gyms and Muay Thai Camps in Phuket? Page URL: https://adadai.com/en/living/gyms-and-muay-thai Most Muay Thai camps in Phuket sit along the road from Chalong to Rawai, where fighters have lived for years and well-known names such as Tiger Muay Thai and Sinbi train; Sumalee is near Bang Tao, and there are big gyms in Patong and near Kata. Camps run 2 sessions a day, early morning and after 16:00, each about 2 hours, and beginners can drop in for a single class with gloves and wraps provided. For ordinary gym training you rarely need to travel: every large area has one, and many condos have their own. ## Key facts - 2 — sessions a day at a typical camp, morning and evening - ~2 hours — length of one Muay Thai session - 7:00–7:30 — usual start of the morning session - 4+ — age from which camps usually run kids' groups ## Where are Phuket's Muay Thai camps? Chalong and the road to Rawai, mainly. Fighters have settled there for years, so that's where you find the most gyms and the most people training seriously; Tiger Muay Thai and Sinbi are in Rawai. Sumalee sits near Bang Tao, and Patong and the Kata side have large gyms of their own. Which area suits you depends on why you're here. Come for the sport and Chalong–Rawai is the obvious base. On a beach holiday, Patong has gyms a walk from the hotels. Living in the north-west? Bang Tao and Laguna have quieter gyms with fewer tourists. Families tend to look at Kata and Karon, where several gyms run children's groups. | Area | Who it suits | What stands out | | --- | --- | --- | | Chalong – Rawai | people coming for the sport | most gyms and fighters; Tiger Muay Thai, Sinbi | | Patong | training on a beach holiday | gyms within walking distance of hotels | | Bang Tao – Laguna | people living in the north-west | calmer gyms, fewer tourists; Sumalee | | Kata – Karon | families | children's groups in several gyms | *From adadai's guides to Muay Thai and to fitness in Phuket. Prices are posted at each gym's entrance and vary several times over between tourist and local gyms, so we don't quote them.* ## How does a Muay Thai camp day work? Two sessions, both dodging the heat. The morning one usually starts at 7:00–7:30, the evening one after 16:00, and each lasts about 2 hours: 15–20 minutes of warm-up and skipping, pad work with a trainer, bag work, light sparring for those who are ready, then stretching. Who teaches? Mostly Thai trainers, many with 100–300 professional fights behind them (Thai fighters start competing at 8–10). Don't count on much English. You won't need it, honestly: technique is taught with hands, by showing and repeating until it sticks. If you'd rather hear Russian, a few gyms in Chalong have Russian-speaking coaches. ## Which Muay Thai camp is best for a complete beginner? Skip the most famous name, at least at first. Famous means a constant stream of visitors and groups of 30 or more, and a beginner there is the last person the trainer gets to. You'll learn faster in a gym near home with mid-sized groups and a coach who actually corrects newcomers. So book one class before any package, and watch. Does the trainer go round fixing stances, or does everyone just hit bags to loud music? Sparring is your call (and the trainer's), never compulsory; lots of amateurs train for years without ever doing it. As for who trains: women are up to half of many groups, and the big camps add women-only classes. ## What should you bring to your first session? Shorts, a T-shirt, a towel, and water, at least 1.5 litres. For the first sessions the gym lends gloves and wraps; buy your own later, if you get hooked. Shoes stay off, everyone trains barefoot. Food is the classic mistake. Eat no later than 1.5–2 hours before, because training in the heat on a full stomach ends the same way for everyone. And your muscles will ache for the first 3–5 days, which is about the only thing a camp can promise. ## Gyms, CrossFit and yoga: where to train if not Muay Thai? Gyms are in every large area, from compact rooms with basic weights to big centres with a pool, sauna and group classes. If you rent long-term, check the condo: many have their own gym. A single visit is usually possible, but a monthly pass works out much cheaper per session. CrossFit and functional boxes run international programmes in English with a mixed crowd of locals, expats and visiting athletes, which makes them a good way to meet people if you've come alone. Yoga studios cluster in Rawai, Kata and Bang Tao, with classes early in the morning and at sunset; some hold sessions on open-sided platforms. Running? Only early or late. The seafront paths of Bang Tao and Rawai and the stadium in Phuket Town are where people go. Cyclists stick to the flat roads in the north, since the hills are hard work. ## Questions people ask ### Where are the best gyms and Muay Thai camps in Phuket? The biggest cluster is along the road from Chalong to Rawai, home to Tiger Muay Thai and Sinbi. Sumalee is near Bang Tao, and Patong and the Kata side have large gyms too. ### Which Muay Thai camps in Phuket are best for complete beginners? A gym near where you live with mid-sized groups and a trainer who works with newcomers. Famous camps can mean groups of 30 or more, so try a single class before you pay for a package. ### Can I join a Muay Thai class without any experience? Yes. Camps split groups by level, beginners start from basics, and gloves and wraps are provided for the first sessions. ### Do I have to spar at a Muay Thai camp? No. Sparring is optional and only with the trainer's permission, and many amateurs train for years without it. ### Are there Muay Thai classes for children in Phuket? Yes, many gyms run them, usually from about 4 years old. Kids' sparring is either absent or done in full protection at a playful pace. ### Where can I do yoga in Phuket? Studios are concentrated in Rawai, Kata and Bang Tao, with classes early in the morning and at sunset. Drop-in classes are available without a membership. ## Read next - [Living in Rawai](https://adadai.com/en/district/rawai) - [Living in Chalong](https://adadai.com/en/district/chalong) - [Living in Kata](https://adadai.com/en/district/kata) - [Living in Bang Tao](https://adadai.com/en/district/bang-tao) - [Chalong or Rawai for a long stay](https://adadai.com/en/living/chalong-or-rawai) - [Rawai or Nai Harn for living](https://adadai.com/en/living/rawai-or-nai-harn) - [Working in Phuket as a foreigner](https://adadai.com/en/living/working-in-phuket) - [Which Phuket beach is best for what](https://adadai.com/en/places/beaches-by-area) - [Best cafés to work from in Phuket](https://adadai.com/en/living/work-from-cafes) - [Best day spas in Phuket by area](https://adadai.com/en/places/day-spas) --- Looking for a villa or condo in Phuket? Our housing partner on the island sends options for your area, dates and budget: https://t.me/PhuketDAexpert Written by the adadai.com editors. We are a guide, not an agency or a broker: we do not list properties or handle deals. Source: adadai.com, https://adadai.com/en/living/gyms-and-muay-thai. The canonical version of this page is the HTML at this address.