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ISSUE 49 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017

THE MAGAZINE FOR CORPORATE AND LEISURE TRAVELLERS

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THE MAGAZINE FOR CORPORATE AND LEISURE TRAVELLERS

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ISSUE 49 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017

Let’s Travel

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Destination Phuket, Thailand

Phuket…Where the World Comes to Relax

By Roderick Eime The Bell Pool Villa Resort, Kamala Beach

The Bell Pool Villa Resort, Kamala Beach

T

Amatara Wellness Resort, Cape Panwa

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he balmy, breezy island of Phuket has become the epitome of the Thai beach holiday destination. Attracting visitors from all over the world, the 576 km2 island is much more than the rowdy and rambunctious Bangla Road on Patong Beach that seems to feature loud on many travel sites.

The international airport on the island (code: HKT) is a convenient gateway to not only the island itself, but to the neighbouring attractions and resorts located on the coastal strip of Khao Lak to the north and the delightful islands like Ko Yao Yai and Phi Phi to the east.

Virtually the entire coastline of the island is dotted with resorts and hotels, all strategically located to take advantage of the beaches and sweeping seascapes, and is now a far cry from the sleepy, remote locale that so attracted the early travellers when it was ‘discovered’ by the first backpackers and hippies nearly fifty years ago.

Further romanticised by movies like Leonardo DiCaprio’s ‘The Beach’ in 2000, filmed on Koh Phi Phi, the location gained an almost mythical status despite the tribulations endured by our cinematic heartthrob.

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Similan and Surin Islands, this luxurious haven is designed in a contemporary Asian style. The award-winning, five-star resort’s 56 deluxe residences are camouflaged within four hectares of tropical grounds leading directly to the beachfront. www.sarojin.com

4. Amatara Wellness Resort, Cape Panwa The idyllic Cape Panwa precinct to the south of downtown, is noted for several high-end resorts enjoying expansive views over the sea in a superb, breezy location overlooking the cruise port. Amatara Wellness Resort (formerly Regent Phuket Cape Panwa) bills itself as a ‘holistic wellness resort’ with 105 pavilions, suites and pool villas, all featuring scenic and expansive views of the Andaman Sea. Rooms start at a spacious 60sqm for pavilions, up to a generous 150sqm for pool villas. All are equipped with at-call butler service, extended sundeck areas and a private balcony. The signature spa has eight private treatment rooms, all overlooking the seascape, feature the signature Amatara Spa treatments.

The Sarojin - Khao Lak

Apart from these misty-eyed daydreams, Phuket and surrounds offer plenty for the earnest traveller to experience. Here’s a checklist to consider for your forthcoming visit: Old Phuket Town - with its enchanting amalgam of Thai, Chinese and Portuguese architecture, the old centre is a world away from the hustle of downtown. Enjoy the traditional shophouses, residences and preserved historic mansions The beaches - mostly found on the less populated western shore, you’ll find Surin, Mai Khao, Nai Harn and Laem Singh a more relaxing experience than those closer to town Phuket Thai Hua Museum contains an interesting photography display and recognises Phuket’s Chinese heritage Phuket Aquarium - makes education fun with its many different displays of marine life, habitats as well as local environmental and conservation issues The Phuket Art Gallery - a Sino-Portuguese style building where modern and fascinating arts are displayed as well as a wide range of temporary exhibits Phuket Silom Cabaret - highly

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regarded Broadway-standard stage shows featuring skillful dancers, stunning costumes and great music and light system

Shopping Tip: Phuket Weekend Market This thriving weekend market might remind you of Bangkok’s Chatuchak market - in miniature. It’s busiest in the late afternoon and, I hear you ask, “what can you buy there?” It›s easier to list what you can›t.

Staying there: With so many ideal locations all around the coast and inland, the choice of accommodation can be perplexing. We’ve tested numerous properties and these are some of our picks.

own meals or have them delivered from the kitchen. Perfect for couples, but expandable using the separate bedrooms, each villa can be configured to accommodate up to six persons, seven at a pinch.

www.amataraphuket.com

www.tourismthailand.org

Amatara Wellness Resort, Cape Panwa

www.thebellphuket.com

2. Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa, Karon Beach Set on a massive 75-acre plot, the 665-room Hilton is around 25 years old but has had numerous rooms upgraded as recently as 2011 in the Deluxe Plus category. Fine for families and groups, the resort comprises seven distinct buildings and includes The Spa, children’s club, tennis and squash courts (yes, remember them?), conference facilities, ballroom and a fitness centre.

1. The Bell Pool Villa Resort, Kamala Beach

phuketarcadia.hilton.com

These near-new villas are fully self-contained behind a high wall and gate with private (8x4m) infinity pool and cabana.

Separate bedrooms, living area and kitchen means you can blissfully enjoy your own company (or that of loved ones) while you make your

3. The Sarojin - Khao Lak The Sarojin is beautifully set on an 11-kilometre stretch of secluded white sand beach 55 minutes by private transfer north of Phuket International Airport. Surrounded by five spectacular national parks and the world-famous dive sites of the

Amatara Wellness Resort, Cape Panwa

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Ethical Elephant Encounters

By Deborah Dickson-Smith

Elephants are an integral part of Thailand’s history and culture, and a major drawcard for tourists. In fact, elephants have been employed in the tourism industry since the late 1980s, when logging was banned and mahouts and their families, elephants included, looked for new employment.

Attitudes towards training wild animals have changed considerably since the ‘80s, with animal welfare research highlighting that many of these activities are in fact cruel and demeaning to these intelligent creatures.

While the fascination with elephants still holds, in Thailand there is now a huge shift away from supporting elephant camps offering trekking and shows.

Thailand has a growing number of wildlife sanctuaries where you can observe these gentle giants without riding them. At these sanctuaries, you can learn about their history, their welfare and in some places, volunteer to care for them.

One of the newest of these is the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, Phuket.

for tourism entertainment or in the logging industry.”

Here, visitors can feed, walk with and observe the resident elephants as they roam throughout the sanctuary, socialise and bathe and cover themselves in lovely thick mud; as they would in the wild. www.phuketelephantsanctuary.org

This sanctuary was founded through a partnership with Mr. Montri Todtane, a Phuket elephant camp owner, conservationist Lek Chailert, founder of Save Elephant Foundation, and Louise Rogerson, founder of EARS Asia.

Lek Chailert also founded Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai. “We offer a retirement home for sick, injured, tired or old elephants who have previously worked hard

Nearby Phuket are two more great ethical elephant sanctuaries.

Phang Nga Elephant Park is run by a family that has looked after the elephants on their property for over 150 years. Here, visitors can bath, feed and ride the elephants bareback.

“We believe passionately in human-elephant interaction and educating of our visitors about the significance of the elephant in Thai culture. Many of our elephants were previously in the logging industry and they and their mahouts now enjoy a happy and fulfilling life with us.” www.phangngaelephantpark. com Elephant Hills is an eco-resort and elephant sanctuary within the Khao Sok National Park, and provides transfers from Phuket for two to three-day ‘safari’. Accommodation is in luxury safari-style tents, and the activities you can participate in here, which include cooking classes, rafting, hiking and learning how to prepare lunch for the resident elephants, will all teach you something about Thailand’s elephants, culture and ecology. www.elephanthills.com

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