As far as landmarks on Phuket go, the Giant Buddha is far above any other - quite literally. Perched atop the Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Karon Beach, the 45-meter-high Puttamingmongkol Akanakkiri Buddha (as it's formally known) lords over a huge swath of the island's southern extent, surveying all of Palai and Chalong bays, from Cape Panwa to Rawai Beach. Though under construction, the towering image Buddha is already a busy destination for day-trippers. In our inaugural Road Trip feature, the Phuket Post tells you how to get there - and how to find another of Phuket's amazing spiritual centres along the way.

Road-Trip: Chalong Temple and the Giant Buddha

Why to go: Chalong Temple and the Giant Buddha both represent spiritual centers of Phuket. The temple and the revered abbot Luang Poh Cham played a pivotal in settling fighting among Chinese secret societies that flared up on Phuket during the late 19th century. Cham is enshrined at Chalong along with fellow abbots Luang Poh Chuang and Luang Poh Gleum. To this day, the people of Phuket look to Cham as a protector.

Total time: 3-4 hours

Total distance: 18km

Costs: Just the price of motorbike or auto fuel, and maybe a breakfast or lunch to get you started. Donations are requested at Chalong Temple and the Giant Buddha, but they're not required.

Start: Central Festival

How to get there: Central Festival is a large shopping centre just east of Phuket City where highways 420 (also known as the bypass road) and 4020 meet.

What to do: If nothing else, pop in to buy some sunscreen and bottled water. Or, start your journey with breakfast or lunch at one of the restaurants on the third floor.

Suggested stay: 30 mins.

Go to: Chalong Temple

How to get there: Leave Central Festival via the main entrance, which drops traffic onto highway 4020 heading southeast. Change lanes quickly to get into the right-turn pocket for highway 420 toward Chalong. At the T-intersection where highway 4020 joins highway 4021, continue straight through on highway 4021. Start spotting signs for Chalong Temple at 9km, and turn left into the temple's driveway at about 9.7km. Drive onto the temple grounds and park.

What to do: The largest structure, the Grand Pagoda, contains many image Buddhas engaged in actions associated with days of the week. The walls are coloured with bright paintings depicting scenes from Buddha's life. The top of the Grand Pagoda showcases a piece of bone from Lord Buddha himself. The pagoda's top storey also has a great view of the meditation garden behind the temple and of the Giant Buddha on a hill to the west. Across the courtyard, the second largest building contains a shrine for the famed monk Luang Poh Cham, abbot of the temple until his death in 1908. Inside the temple, the devout rattle cylinders full of numbered sticks to cast fortunes. Once they have selected a correct numbered stick, the fortune is read from a nearby box of papers organized by corresponding numbers. Also see the nearby exhibition home of Luang Poh Cham.

Suggested stay: 90 mins.

Go to: The Giant Buddha

How to get there: Turn left from the Chalong Temple driveway to continue South along highway 4021. Look for red signs with a picture of the image Buddha on the left side and the words"The Mingmongkol Buddha image is 45 meters high." The arrows on these signs will point the way. Turn right onto the access road after about 2.7km. Follow the access road and the red signs to the top of the hill and the parking area for the Giant Buddha. Drive cautiously, though. The 5km-long access road has steep hills, sharp curves and unpaved patches. From the parking area, walk through the visitor's center to a covered stairway. Walk up 86 steps to reach the Giant Buddha and some of Phuket's best panoramic views.

What to do: Enjoy the drive up the access road, which rises up the hill through rubber tree plantations and hilltop jungle. Catch glimpses of the ocean along the eastern coast of Phuket as you near the top. Once parked, check out the visitor's centre, where you can buy small image Buddhas, pay respect to the Buddha in a small temple there or have a cold drink of water. At the top of the stairs, carefully walk around the back of the Giant Buddha to see more statues crafted into the base of the sculpture. To the left is a smaller Buddha made of brass. Out in front of the Giant Buddha, marvel at the incredible view.

Suggested stay: 45 mins.