Private excursions in Phuket or through Celebrity?

[zitsky]

We are in Phuket two days in mid January on Celebrity Millennium.  
 

I did a lot of research on a visit to a private elephant rescue but I’ve been disappointed with negative comments about even the best ones.  So that may be off the table.

 

On day 2 we’re doing a market visit with chef plus dinner.

 

On day 1 Celebrity seems to offer either 2 hour bus rides to a beach, speed boat rides to the same beach or simply trips to see temples.

 

I wonder if anyone has other suggestions?  Maybe a half day?  The one Celebrity option to visit a temple is 7 hours and I’m not sure why it’s that long.

 

I don’t want to just sit on a beach because I could just stay on board.