BE ADVENTUROUS LIKE JAMES BOND

Whether you’re looking for hard or soft adventures, from sea kayaking to simply soaking up the sun on a sandy tropical beach, the islands of Krabi province (renowned as the setting for The Beach) and Phuket (close to where The Man with the Golden Gun was shot), are truly amazing destinations. The symbol of Krabi, which is the oldest continually inhabited province in Thailand is the limestone crag. Nature’s exclamation marks, these towering monoliths seaview sunsets. For water sports aficionados, there are lots of ways to get a light tide of adrenaline flowing, from jet-skis to banana boats, and parasailing to marine fishing. But softer tours of beauty are available in the area, too. One of the most scenic trips is visiting Phang-nga Bay, studded with limestone crags rising hundreds of meters out of the sea. Most of these tours throw in a stopover at James Bond Island, while “paddling guides” also take you in kayaks through sea caves that open up into lagoons, overflowing with placid aquamarine water that’s surrounded by limestone cliffs.

BEACHES & BAY IN PHUKET (2)

Hat Patong Phuket’s most developed beach offers numerous leisure, sporting, shopping and recreational options along its 3 km. crescent bay. In addition to its daytime attractions, Patong is also known for its vibrant nightlife among which seafood restaurants prominently feature.

Hat Karon & Kata Both beaches are impressive, peaceful and eminently suitable for swimming, snorkelling, windsurfing and sunbathing.

Hat Nai Han This white sandy beach fronts a shallow lagoon between rocky headlands. Conditions for swimming, windsurfing, sailing and sunbathing are all excellent. Hat Rawai The palm-fringed beach is best known for its village of “Sea Gypsies”, formerly a nomadic fishing minority believed to be of Melanesian descent.

BEACHES & BAY IN PHUKET (1)

Phuket’s glory is its magnificent coastline. Beaches ranges from gentle crescents of white sand to rocky headlands. Counter-clockwise, from the island’s northern tip, where the Sarasin Bridge connects with the mainland, the major beaches and bays are:

Hat Mai Khao

This pine-fringed stretch of sand is Phuket’s longest beach.Each year,from November through to February, giant sea turtles struggle ashore to lay their eggs here.

Hat Nai Yang

This forms part of the Sirinat National Park and is backed bycasuarina pines, as well as a mangrove forest. The tranquil surroundings are ideal for relaxation, picnics, swimming and snorkelling.

Hat Kamala

Another fine stretch of sand. The northern end, which is partly shaded by casuarinas, is suitable for swimming.

PHUKET ISLAND

Located 867 kilometres south of Bangkok, Phuket is Thailand’s largest island, shaped like an irregular pearl and measuring approximately 21 kilometres long. Connected to the mainland by a causeway, it has a coastline fringed with white sandy beaches and quiet coves, bathed by the clear blue waters of the Andaman Sea and set against a backdrop of green hills, coconut groves and rubber plantations.

Phuket formerly derived its wealth from tin and rubber, and has a rich and colourful history. The island was on one of the major trading routes between India and China, and was frequently mentioned in foreign ships’ logs. The Portuguese, Dutch, English and French came to trade during that time.

Phuket’s most famous monument is the memorial statue of the heroines Thao Thep Krasattri and Thao Sisunthon, who rallied the islanders in 1785 to repel Burmese invaders. Blessed by nature and the smiling hospitality of its people, and supported by superb tourism facilities, Phuket is today one of the world’s premier tropical resorts. Palm-fringed beaches, an island-studded sea, superb accommodation, delicious seafood, numerous sporting and leisure opportunities and, of course, year-round sunshine, to conclude the perfect recipe for a truly memorable holiday.

Climate Phuket has two main seasons: rainy from May through to October and hot from November to April. However, there are sunny days throughout the wet season, showers customarily lasting little more than 2-3 hours. The best months to visit are November to February. Average temperatures range between 22 and 34 degrees Celsius.