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Islands Boat Tours
Phuket Island itself has beautiful beaches and a huge range of activities and entertainment, however, what really makes Phuket a special holiday destination is the fact that it is the gateway to the islands in the Andaman Sea and Phang Nga Bay. Many of the idyllic picture-postcard scenes are taken on these small islands. Most of these are uninhabited and you have to take a tour or charter a boat to get there.
For the best experience, take an overnight cruise which allows you to enjoy the most enchanting parts of the day; early morning and sunset. Charter boats are available with captain, crew, and meals including fresh local seafood.
Scuba Diving
Phuket ranks as one of the world's top ten dive destinations, and with good reason. The water is warm and teeming with marine life; the Andaman being one of the most diverse seas on the planet. If you are lucky you might see whale sharks and manta rays. There are literally hundreds of islands and reefs to be explored by day trips or liveaboard cruises from Phuket, and a wealth of sites providing a wide range of diving opportunities.
Phuket possesses an abundance of dive companies, all ready to give you accredited instruction, provide equipment for hire, and take you on day trips or extended trips to more distant dive spots. The competition this has created among dive operators means a very high standard of safety, training, quality equipment and facilities. At the same time, prices remain very reasonable.
Traditional Thai Massage
Just about every massage establishment in Phuket offers traditional Thai massage. If you are looking for something relaxing then you might want to opt for something else, Thai massage is more of a workout to release tension than a relaxing massage. As anyone who has ever experienced it will tell you, Thai massage can be quite painful but incredibly rejuvenating.
Known in Thai as nuad pan boran, literally "ancient massage method", Thai massage can trace its history back to India and the time of the Buddha. The core of Thai massage technique is derived from yoga and reflexology, with emphasis on applying pressure to the meridians and the stretching and compressing of the muscles.
Sailing & Yachting
Thailand's very long coastline and the large number of islands make the region one of the best oceanic playgrounds in South East Asia. This is especially true on Phuket, with its constantly growing marina industry making it one of the most popular destinations for boat owners and sailing enthusiasts.
Fascinating sights and rock formations turned Phuket province into one of the major sailing grounds in South East Asia offering spectacular sailing and boating all year round. Phang Nga Bay on the east coast is a well sheltered sailing ground, which enables cruising and sailing the whole year, even during the monsoon season when other parts around the island are suffering from too much rain and wind. The sea on the west coast is usually very rough during the rainy season, when the southwest monsoon pours enormous amounts of rain across the region for one or two weeks. These periods alternate with lighter spells where the weather is beautiful and the sea is rather calm and therefore perfect for sailing and boating.
The region offers beautiful islands on which one will find enchanting rivers and waterfalls. Especially on the east coast, where beautiful limestone rock formations protrude out of the water, some of which are as high as 350 metres from the seabed. The very warm temperatures all year around as well as the regular winds make sailing and cruising around Phuket an absolute pleasure.
Shows & Performances in Phuket
Animal Shows
These shows usually involve trained animals, such as monkeys and elephants, performing tricks. Snake and crocodile shows feature brave handlers who perform stunts with the animals.
Phuket Fantasea
Phuket FantaSea is a huge cultural theme-park located in Kamala, packed with loads of activities and entertainment. The park's theme is inspired by Thailand's rich and exotic heritage.
Simon Cabaret
Simon Cabaret is Phuket's famous transvestite cabaret. Stunning costumes, bright lights, an excellent sound system and expensive sets are all part of this theatrical extravaganza.
Phuket Zoo
Phuket's only zoo is fairly small but still provides an enjoyable day out, especially for families with younger children. It has the feel of a home zoo, which is how it began. The zoo covers an area of 10 hectares and is a fun place to see a large collection of animal and reptiles. There are more than 600 species of birds, 100 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 45 species of mammals.
The zoo is famous for its daily animal shows which feature performances by elephants, crocodiles, birds and monkeys. The zoo also features a "nocturnal house" containing hard-to-find creatures of the night, an aquarium, an orchid garden, and a butterfly garden.
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