Where Your Dreams Become Reality
PHUKET WATERSPORTS
Cable Skiing
Located near Kathu waterfall, surrounded by palm trees and lush vegetation, Phuket Cable Ski offers a place for absolute beginners right up to experienced skiers to learn wakeboarding and cable skiing, under theguidance of friendly and professional staff. First opened in 1997, Phuket Cable Ski has the benefit of being open all year round to practice your skills on the specially designed lake, which is 410 metres long, 110 metres wide and 2 metres deep. It is fed by the fresh water from the mountain streams of Kathu waterfall just up the valley.
The skiers are towed by a German-built ski-drag, an electric motor powered overhead tow cable stretching all the way round the course that has a pylon at each of the four corners and a cable speed of 28 kilometres per hour.
There is no charge for lessons, you purchase a ticket on the day required, for anything from 30 minutes to a full day, and the experienced staff are on hand to give you advice and encouragement, while maintaining your safety.
For the professional sportsmen's pleasure Phuket Cable Ski has built more than seven types of various funboxes, including kickers, slide rails and ramps.
Jet Skiing
Open the throttle and be in control of your own vehicle speeding across the waves. Jet skis are available for hire on most of the island's major beaches, but we strongly recommend looking for one of the 200+ licensed jet–ski operators located on Patong, Bangtao, Kamala, Karon and Kata beaches. Would–be riders should look for the 'insurance jet ski' sticker on the vehicle's side. Beware of the fact that a number of jet–ski operators operate their business without a proper license, not to mention taking out insurance. There is little regard for safety and – on Patong Beach in particular – speedboats and jet–skis can be seen navigating dangerously close to swimmers, so please ensure to take care whether riding or swimming.
As with any vehicle hire, make sure you agree on the price, the time and check the state of the vehicle before you use the machine. Most operators provide you with a life vest, which is recommended you wear, and please take notice of weather and wave conditions before and when you go out to sea.
Kayaking / Canoeing
For the best kayaking/canoeing, it is recommended that you book a trip to either Phang Nga Bay or Krabi, as the beaches in Phuket offer nothing in comparison. It is a completely different experience to canoe around the crystalline limestone caves of Hong Island, winding your way through the collapsed cave systems into the interior that can only be accessed in the purpose built canoes at low tide. Once inside the lagoons, which are open to the sky, the flora and fauna are abundant with exciting wildlife. A truly magical experience that can only be achieved by kayak.
Kite Surfing
Kiteboarding Asia have two schools in Phuket, one located near the airport in Nai Yang, and the other conveniently found about five minutes from "The Villas" on the road to Chalong. As Phuket gets the best wind in Thailand for kite surfing, all year round, and has the best wide, shallow, sandy beaches with no speedboats or other disturbing water sports, kite surfers have the perfect opportunity to learn, or to practice their skills.
The shops offer a full range of equipment, stocking many different kiteboarding brands, such as: Cabrinha, Airush, Ozone, North, F–one, Liquid force, Flexi foil, Mystic, Nobile and Naish, and experienced teachers only teach with new technology Cabrinha kites and nice harnesses and a board customized for each customers weight.
Sea Canoe
For the best kayaking/canoeing, it is recommended that you book a trip to either Phang Nga Bay or Krabi, as the beaches in Phuket offer nothing in comparison. It is a completely different experience to canoe around the crystalline limestone caves of Hong Island, winding your way through the collapsed cave systems into the interior that can only be accessed in the purpose built canoes at low tide. Once inside the lagoons, which are open to the sky, the flora and fauna are abundant with exciting wildlife. A truly magical experience that can only be achieved by kayak.
We recommend contacting John Gray's Sea Canoe, as this experienced and professional, world renowned company provides numerous canoeing trips to these beautiful islands. Accompanied by experienced guides, who provide advice and commentary about the area and each distinct character of the "hong" you are exploring , you will make the very most out of your day.
Snorkelling
Snorkeling can be done all year round in Phuket, but the best time of year is during the "High Season" from November to April, when the sea's at its most placid. Although it may be suitable for snorkeling throughout the May to October "Low Season", remember to take care as there can be an especially strong undertow that can become dangerous along the west coast beaches. Warm water temperatures of around 28°C mean that snorkelers don't need to wear wetsuits, but you are advised to wear a t–shirt to prevent sunburn.
Many beaches have stalls to rent snorkeling gear from for the day, but it may not be of great quality, so it is a good option to consider buying inexpensive masks, snorkels and even fins for yourself. Alternatively if you decide to join a boat tour or charter a boat of your own to snorkel in one of the beautiful snorkeling destination off the Island, then the quality of the gear is better, and included in the rental price.
Many of Phuket's beaches are too sandy to be good for snorkeling, as a good location needs rocks and corals to attract plenty of sea life, but you can try snorkeling at pretty much any beach, just some are obviously going to be better than others. The tsunami inflicted a lot of damage to Phuket's corals and you will see a lot of flattened dead coral at most of the snorkeling sites, but a great deal of corals survived and new corals are growing all the time, so there is still plenty to see.
Surfing
The west coast of Phuket not only has stunning sandy beaches, but is also the best place for surfing in Thailand. With many location to choose from, including our own Nai Harn beach, conditions are perfect for beginners to learn to surf or for experienced surfers to enjoy the large rolling waves. Further afield, surfers can travel up the coast heading north to Kata, Karon, Kalim, Kamala, Surin and Bang Tao beaches, but one of the best beaches to rent equipment is in Kata, about 10 minutes north from The Villas.
Water Park - Splash Jungle
One of Phuket's newest and most exciting attractions is "Splash Jungle", the Water Park located just north of the airport at Mai Khao Beach. With a eclectic design inspired by the Inca Mayas, Africa, Asia, Turkey, Northern Europe, North America and the North Pole the park offers fun for all the family in over six million litres of water. The park has a selection of exhilarating rides, a wave pool with six levels and a play pool for younger children, and a relaxing 335 metre lazy river to drift along before a dip in the hot spring pool. Spa treatments are offered in private salas, and the swim–up bar offers a perfect alternative for Mum and Dad.
Facilities include a free car park, toilets, lockers, showers and changing facilities, plus a sun deck, free single and double "tubes", free life jackets for children and a shop selling souvenirs and sun care and swimwear. There are a selection of restaurants to enjoy food and drinks in the park, or you can bring your own picnics, just remember no glass containers for food or drinks are permitted in the park at all. Guests are reminded to adhere to safety rules and height restrictions at all times.
White Water Rafting (Phang Nga)
For the adventurous guest who wants to challenge themselves,there is a selection of options at the river base camp that combine white water rafting with a number of other adrenaline based activities found throughout the natural jungle landscape. Options to participate in include Elephant Trekking, ATV quad biking, the 150 metre Flying fox, a 180 metre Rope bridge, Jungle net climbing, and Abseiling adventure.
Designed to be suitable for the beginner or expert, and also with younger children in mind, the white water rafting experience is satisfying for everyone as they enjoy the clean refreshing water, and the delightful natural surroundings of the jungles flora and fauna.
Each White Water Rafting Tour includes a complete safety and paddle briefing at the River Base, an experienced guide in each raft; supervisors in each dangerous point; life guards on stand by and insurance. Plus as the tours take a whole day you have the opportunity to enjoy a sumptuous Thai lunch after trekking to one of the province's beautiful waterfalls.
Wind Surfing
The best time of year for windsurfing in Phuket is from November to February, when the northeast monsoon means the winds are steady and the seas are flat. Outside of these months the weather and winds can be more unpredictable and squalls can mean the seas are not suitable for inexperienced wind surfers.
If you wish to learn Wind Surfing for the first time, and are visiting Phuket during the Peak Season months, there are windsurfing shops located on at least half of the west coast beaches in Phuket, with seven or eight being in Patong. If you are more experienced the larger operators are open all year round and still offer lessons and equipment rental.
