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Phuket has an impressive portfolio of first class resorts and hotels
and serves as the perfect ‘home-base’ from which to explore
the other provinces and islands in the region. Benjarong has selected
some of the best tours and activities conducted throughout the South
and presents them to you as… Tropical Trails.
 Diving
The waters of Southern Thailand are internationally renowned for
their vitality of marine life, striking coral reefs and high visibility.
There are numerous dive companies conducting trips around the Phuket
and Andaman seas, especially the Similan Islands. Most of these
operators offer the full range of courses, in many different languages,
affiliated to the Professional Association of Diving Instructors
(PADI). Whether you are an absolute beginner or an experienced diver,
the Southern bounty of sea life will make your dive an event never
to be forgotten.
Warm Water Divers
offer a host of unique diving experiences including live-aboard
trips on the charming Chinese junk, the June Hong Chian Lee. Tel:
076 292 201, www.warmwaterdivers.com
Fantasea Divers
runs an array of diving excursions including a new adventure diving
and kayaking trip from Samui to Singapore aboard the Ocean Rover.
Tel: 076 281 387, www.fantaseadivers.com
Andaman Divers
offer a range of packages including live-aboards to the Similan
and Surin islands, day-trips and PADI diving courses from beginners
to advanced levels. Tel: 076 341 126, www.andamandivers.com
Fishing
Reel in a big barracuda, tuna or even a marlin from the waters of
the Andaman region. Catch and release fishing should be practised
to preserve the availability of this thrilling adventure sport in
this perfect location.
Phuket Game Fishing
Charter Tel: 076 283 270
Dorado Big Game Fishing
Charter Tel: 076 202 679
Thai Marine Leisure
Tel: 076 239 111, www.thaimarine.com
Island
Discovery
A day trip to the islands in the region can be one of the most visually
exciting experiences available. Turquoise waters and blue skies
border looming limestone karsts and cavernous caves. Island discovery
trips can be arranged through a vast number of operators. You can
choose your mode of transport; yacht, speedboat, longtail boat or
even sea canoe. You are generally given a number of exciting tour
options incorporating snorkelling, trekking and camping. Of considerable
popularity, are the sea canoe trips. Canoeing excursions allow you
to enjoy the sheer awe of Mother Nature in a noticeably silent and
more active environment.
Sea Canoe Adventures
P.P. Dream Canoe
has several eco-adventure tours by sea canoe, incorporating white
water rafting, elephant trekking and snorkelling. Tel: 01 958
7270.
Sea Canoe Thailand:
Award-winning, Eco-adventure tours with sit-on-top sea kayaks.
They present day trips, sunset paddles and overnight camping,
from Krabi, Phuket and Samui. Tel: 076 212 252, 076 212 172 www.seacanoethailand.com
Phuket Sea Land Co:
Offers a multitude of sightseeing and cultural tours by longtail
boat and sea canoe trips around James Bond Island, exploring pristine
lagoons and sea caves, with full lunch. Tel: 076 222 900-1 www.phuketsealand.com
John Gray’s Sea
Canoe offers overnight stays, day trips and mini
expeditions exploring the natural wonders of Phang-Nga Bay. John
Gray’s personal reputation, phenomenal knowledge and enthusiasm
give these tours a unique edge. Tel: 076 254 505 www.johngray-seacanoe.com
Snorkeling
and Island Discoveries
Phuket Island Hopper:
Half-day snorkelling tours aboard a speedboat to Phi Phi island,
including lunch. Tel: 076 252 606-8, www.phuket-islandhopper.com
Phuket Marine Wave:
The day trip includes kayaking, snorkelling and sightseeing around
Phi Phi Island by speedboat. Tel: 076 223 317
Coral Seekers:
Private snorkelling tours of the beautiful islands around Phuket.
Full and half-day packages are fully catered and include insurance
and even beach towels. Tel: 076 354 074 www.coralseekers.com
June Bahtra:
Full day tours of Phang-Nga bay are conducted in authentic junks
of Malay and Dutch influence. A delicious buffet of Thai food
is provided. Tel: 076 340 912, www.east-west.com
Cruising
the Region
Watching the sunset over the sea can be a moving experience. The
mountainous terrain in the Andaman region yields many spectacular
vantagepoints for romantic sunset viewing. There are a few companies
based in Phuket that offer elegant sunset cruises that include sumptuous
a la carte or buffet dining, often accompanied by an entertaining
show. For people who wish for added cultural ambience, romantic
sunset dinner cruises can be enjoyed aboard authentic junks that
have been gracefully restored and remain loaded with character,
June Bahtra:
Romantic sunset dinner cruise includes a 5-course buffet dinner
including four drinks. The cruise winds around Phang-Nga Bay for
a magical sunset amid the dramatic seascape. Tel: 076 340 912,
www.east-west.com
Nakalay Junk:
A century-old Chinese junk provides a charming vessel for an intimate
sunset cruise, accompanied by an enticing buffet. Tel: 076 290
341-2, www.nakalayjunk.com
Phuket Queen Star sunset
cruises depart from Chalong Bay and journey around
the southern tip of Phuket for an enchanting sunset. The cruise
includes Royal Thai cuisine and a colourful cabaret show. Tel:
076 289 177-8 www.phuket-sunsetcruise.com
Amarin Andaman Cruise:
Sunset dining cruise incorporates buffet dinner during the sunset
followed by a cabaret show, games and a disco. Tel: 076 213 297
www.amarindinnercruise.com
Sailing
The Andaman region holds a treasure-trove of lagoons and bays perfect
for sailing and stands as a gateway to prime sailing spots such
as Langkawi, the Mergui Archipelago and the Similan Islands. Yachts
and motor boats may be chartered from the Phuket Yacht Haven Marina
or the Boat Lagoon for day trips, overnight excursions and live-aboard
adventure tours. A number of companies also conduct accredited sailing
and dive courses.
Yachtpro:
Sailing courses, day excursions and live-aboard trips Tel: 076
348 117-8.
Sunsail Yacht Charters:
Yacht charters, five day RYA sailing courses and corporate regattas.
Tel: 076 239 057 www.sunsail.com
Thai Marine Leisure:
The largest professional charter agency in Thailand, can arrange
yacht charters, dive cruises and a number of other water-based
activities including yacht racing. Tel: 076 239 111 www.thaimarine.com
Panwa Princess II:
A luxury wooden yacht with a freshwater jacuzzi perfectly located
on-deck. Tel: 076 391 123-5 www.capepanwa.com
Golf
Dotted throughout the southern provinces are a number of golf courses
of international standard. Phuket Island alone boasts four prestigious
courses, Phang-Nga and Surat-Thani are also home to some stunning
greens.
Banyan Tree Golf Course
Tel: 076 324 374 www.banyantree.com
Blue Canyon Country
Club Tel: 076 327440 www.bluecanyonclub.com
Phuket Country Club
Tel: 076 321 039
Loch Palm Golf Course
Tel: 076 321 930
Thai Muang Golf Course
Phang-Nga Tel: 076 571 533-4
Rajjaprabha Golf Club,
Surat Thani Tel: 077 240 740-5
Trekking
the South
Thick tropical jungle, fresh crystal streams, spectacular waterfalls
and the timid creatures of the forest, leave visitors enchanted
with a memory to last a lifetime. When exploring the jungles of
southern Thailand, it is recommended that you employ a guide to
have expert advice on how best to see all the features of the forest
without leaving too large an ecological footprint. National Parks
such as Khao Sok, in Surat-Thani, Khao Lak in Phang-Nga and Khao
Panom Benja in Krabi, delight visitors with dense jungle trails,
exciting white-water rafting routes and pristine waterfalls perfect
for a refreshing dip. As the popularity of these areas increases,
eco-adventure tour companies continue to invent new and exhilarative
adventures to suit everyone; from bird watching to abseiling.
Phuket Sea Land
offers combination trips with trekking and rafting in Phang-Nga.
Tel: 076 222 900-1 www.phuketsealand.com
Khao Sok Evergreen
Forest Adventure Tel: 076 241 272
Vacation Village
– Krabi Tel: 075 637 136
Janpen Tours
– Krabi Tel: 075 612004
Khao Sok Discovery
Tel: 076 340 900, 01- 8922812
Phuket-Safari Travel
organizes small personalized tours amongst the wonders of Khao
Sok, Krabi and Phang-Nga provinces as well as Phi Phi and James
Bond islands. Tel: 076 340 906 www.phuket-safari-travel.com
Rock
Climbing
The strange and beautiful limestone cliffs in Krabi and Phang-Nga
provinces have become popular attractions for rock and mountain
climbers from around the globe. Local companies provide expert instruction
for inexperienced climbers and provide challenges for people of
all levels. In Krabi, Rai Ley and Nam Mao beaches are hugged by
awesome cliffs and the sea view from the top is well worth the strenuous
effort required to reach the top.
Krabi Cliff Man
Tel: 01 230 4619
King Climbers
Tel: 014 760270
Pra Nang Rock Climbers
Tel: 01 464 6358
TexRock Climbing
runs rock climbing and abseiling courses as well as family oriented
activities including canyon canoeing, flying fox rides and the
skyslider. Tel: 01 607 4882, www.texrockclimbing.com
Spa-ecial
Treatment
If all the jungle and salt water gets to be a little too much, take
refuge and relax while enjoying a pampering spa treatment. Phuket
has a number of first-rate spas and neighbouring provinces of Phang-Nga
and Krabi have seen more and more spa centres opening during recent
months.
Ylang Spa:
Elegantly decorated, this spa offers nineteen specialty massages,
body and facial treatments and is one of the very best spas in
Phuket. Tel: 076 316300/17ext 803.
Mandara Spa:
Located on the northern end of Phuket Island, the Mandara Spa
has two outlets in Phuket, offering massage therapy and herbal
body treatments in supreme comfort. Mandara Spa at the JW Marriott
Resort Tel: 076 338 000, Pearl Village, Tel: 076 327 006.
Angsana Spa:
With five outlets in Phuket this chain of luxury spas delivers
a refreshing blend of treatments based on the use of natural ingredients
such as native flowers, fruits, herbs, spices and plants. Located
at the Allamanda, Tel: 076 324 359, Laguna Beach Resort, Tel:
076 325 405, Dusit Laguna, Tel: 076 324 324, Sheraton Grande Laguna,
Tel: 076 324 101-7, The Panwaburi, Tel: 076 200 800
Dusit Hotspring
: Natural hot spring mineral water is piped directly from the
source into outdoor pools surrounded by gardens. Dusit Hotspring
offers massage, body treatments and beauty therapy. Tel: 076 580
000, www.dusithotspring.com
The Rayavadee:
This Luxury Collection resort features a deluxe spa set in the
tranquility of famous Cape Phranang in Krabi. Tel: 075 620 740.
Pimalai Resort &
Spa: Located on glorious Lanta Yai Island, the spa
at the Pimalai resort is a great place for a relaxing day, away
from the blistering sun. Tel: 075 629 054-7, www.pimalai.com
Tasty
Thai
For a nice change of pace from all the energetic activities, a number
of high-end restaurants offer Thai cooking classes. Most of these
courses ‘make a day of it’ by starting with a shopping
expedition to the local fresh market for ingredients, before preparing
the meal. Most importantly, all courses end with a tantalizing meal
of the food you learned to cook.
Old Siam Restaurant,
Thavorn Beach Village Tel: 076 290 340-42
Mom Tri’s Boathouse,
Tel: 076 330015
Rim Talay Restaurant,
Laguna Beach Resort, Tel: 076 324 352
Ruen Thai Restaurant,
Dusit Laguna Resort, Tel: 076 324 324
Culture
and Cabaret
To see a cultural show of international appeal, head for Phuket
Fantasea, an award-winning spectacle for the senses, or try the
Phuket Thai Village for a comprehensive demonstration of Thai cultural
arts. Simon Cabaret dazzles thousands of tourists every year and
provides an interesting night out in Patong.
Phuket Fantasea:
www.phuket-fantasea.com
Phuket Orchid Garden
& Thai Village: Tel: 076 214 860-61
Simon Cabaret
in Patong Beach: Tel:076-342 011/5
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