10 Souvenirs You Can’t Leave Phuket Without

“Been there, done that, got the T-shirt,” as the saying goes – and a lot of people have indeed got the T-shirt. Among the popular proofs of having visited Thailand are the glow-in-the-dark ‘Full Moon Party’ shirts, Chang Beer singlets, ‘Same Same But Different’ shirts and dodgy copies of famous soccer kits. There's a very wide range of designs available, with many of them being extremely popular right across the country. Look around long enough and you can find something a little different, too. The quality varies a lot, but the prices are universally low – generally not much more than 200 baht each.

Elephants are synonymous with the Land of Smiles. Likenesses of these majestic creatures are available to adorn your house in a great range of sizes and materials, including lacquered wood, metal and stone. When you get them home, they should ideally be placed facing a doorway (it’s a Feng Shui/tradition thing). If elephants aren't your thing, little wooden frogs which make a "ribbit" noise when you rake the stick across their ridged backs are also popular. Both start from as little as 50 baht for small ones.

Probably Thailand’s most famous export is its first-class silk. It’s not just any old silk – it’s Thai silk! Thai cotton is also rising in popularity and batik is especially popular in Phuket. The quality is often extremely good for the price, with beautiful intricate designs. You can very easily find Thai silk scarves, ties, saris, shirts, shorts, tablecloths, cushion covers and more on market stalls or in dedicated stores, or you can go to one of the countless tailor shops and get a suit or dress made up. Beware of cheap imitations (made of polyester or nylon), which are usually identified by their unfeasibly low prices. You should be paying about 500 baht upwards for a good scarf.

As with the local silk, Thai massages are so renowned that they are considered to be in a class of their own, separate from any other kind. As a result, spa treatments are extremely popular, as are massage classes. Relive that sensation of total relaxation (or practice your newfound skills on your friends) with the genuine article – Thai spa products. You can generally pick up anything from massage oils to bath foam, with cheap options found at most of the markets and high-quality products often sold by the spas which use them. The higher the quality, the higher the price tag, but why not spoil yourself – you’re on vacation!

A notable symbol of Thailand is its beautiful flowers. You might have received a garland of orchids when you arrived at your hotel, but they won’t last long before they begin to wither. They certainly won’t survive the journey home. Fortunately, there's a way you can take home an example both of Thailand glorious horticulture and its amazing craftsmanship – soap flowers. As the name suggests, they are intricately carved from a small block of fragrant soap and are quite amazingly realistic in appearance. Prices are pretty reasonable, too – usually not more than 100 baht.