Thing To Do & See

Pum Thai Cooking School

Runs excellent Thai restaurants in Phuket, Ko Phi-Phi and France. At the Phuket branch you can learn easy haute cuisine the Thai way. They offer a one-dish class, a two-dish class, and an over-six-hour, five-dish class.

John Gray's Seacanoe

One of the oldest and most reputable companies on the island. Like any good brand in Thailand, his 'Seacanoe' name has been frequently copied.

Feed the Monkeys

Just after crossing over onto the island you’ll see a wooden platform with monkey carvings overlooking the mangroves. Inside those mangroves are hundreds of Macaque monkeys, and at sunset locals feed them from the platform. It is quite a scene – chaotic and exhilarating.

Aspasia

A brilliant day spa option is hidden away at this unique condo resort on the headland between Kata and Karon. The interior is cosy and very Zen with sliding rice-paper doors dividing the treatment rooms. Try the red sweet body scrub, a mixture of sesame, honey and fresh orange juice. Or maybe you’d rather the coconut and passionfruit exfoliation? It also has a full-service beauty salon and offers a variety of massage styles.

Kok Chang Safari

This well-run, attractive elephant camp is easily one of the best in Phuket – if not the best. (Most importantly, the animals here are healthy.) Tours last 30 minutes to an hour. If you do the full hour (1000B), you’ll have a magical view from the top of the mountain. Or you could always ditch the elephant trek and just hang with Charlie, a friendly and damn handsome monkey. He chills at the house.

Blue Elephant Restaurant & Cookery School

Phuket's newest cookery school is in the stunning restored 1903 Sino-Portuguese style Phra Phitak Chyn Pracha Mansion. There are a variety of options from short group lessons to five-day private training (78,000B). Morning classes take in a market visit.

Dino Park

Jurassic Park meets minigolf at this bizarre park on the southern edge of Hat Karon. It’s a maze of caves, lagoons, leafy gardens, dinosaur statues and, of course, putting greens. Kids will dig it the most.