Activities
Phuket offers a good number of things to do besides walk between the hotel and the beach and back again.
Animal Adventures:
Elephant Riding is popular, and several elephant camps are found amongst the rubber plantations of Phuket's hills. Half an hour on an elephant costs around 20 US dollars. A few companies offer nature tours that include elephant rides with visits to rubber plantations, as well as to camps where trained animals such as water buffalo and monkeys demonstrate how their skills are put to use. Siam Safari, (66) 7628 0107, www.siamsafari.com, has been a pioneer in running such nature tours, and run jungle tours to destinations farther afield. Horse-riding is available in Bangthao and Chalong.
Cultural Tours:
A few companies offer local culture tours around the island. These visit places like a 'sea gypsy' village, Old Phuket, the National Museum, the Gibbon Project, a waterfall and, of course, side trips to a few souvenir shops.
Mechanical adventures:
Rides include parasailing, jet-ski riding (authorities are trying to phase this out), bungy jumping, cable water-ski, motorcross, ATV (all terrain vehicle) riding, and speedway (go-kart). This would all seem small beer compared to renting a 1200 cc motorcycle and dicing with death on Phuket's highways, which you can also do.
Sailing or Sea-Kayaking in Ao Phang Ngag Chartering a bare-boat or crewed yacht or taking a sea-kayak tour are the two most environmentally friendly ways of seeing Ao Phang Nga. Yacht charters are easily obtained, and many companies run organized sea-kayak tours into one of the most stunning marine landscapes in the world.
Snorkeling Tours:
Speedboat tours to popular snorkel sites off nearby islands are a favorite way to get off the island and enjoy tropical reef life in idyllic settings. That several companies operate tours results in crowding on some sites, but private speedboat charters are available.
Stormy days:
DO NOT ENTER THE SEA WHEN THE RED FLAGS ARE FLYING. All beaches on Phuket are subject to strong undertows during storms in the Southwest Monsoon (May-October), and swimming is very dangerous!
Ten-pin bowling (there are two alleys in Patong) can distract the energetic, but perhaps the best thing to do is to just cool out with a good book or a DVD movie. Many people like to go to the island's showcase shopping mall, Central Festival, where they can eat, shop, watch movies or get a massage at a spa. Spas are to be found all over the island, so there can be nothing better than having delicate but firm hands ease the back and shoulders to the pitter patter sound of rain outside.