Leisure Pursuits For Phuket:

Phuket Island is the pearl of the Andaman coast. One of the most prestigious resorts in the world is famous for its luxurious hotels and magnificent beaches. Translated from Malay, “Phuket” means mountain. The island really does resemble a mountain that rises from the depths of the sea.

Phuket enchants tourists with its ancient architecture, which mixes Indian, Portuguese and Chinese styles, as well as pristine nature. Nightclubs, restaurants and shopping and entertainment centers await lovers of noisy entertainment.

1. SPLASH JUNGLE WATER PARK:

What kind of vacation with a child would it be without a trip to a water park? If you are planning a trip with your son or daughter to the resorts of Thailand and have settled on Phuket, we recommend that you take note of the Splash Jungle Waterpark. So far, this is the only water attraction in the region, so be sure to add it to your vacation plan.

Phuket Water Park is located in the northern part of the island. In fact, it is located practically on Mai Khao Beach, which is in close proximity to Phuket Airport. You can get here, including by the water park’s own transfer, which is much cheaper than a taxi ride. The small, but neat and well-maintained territory of the water park is divided into zones, each of which is stylized as a certain historical period of time. Here you will see slides in African, Asian, American styles.

There are also attractions in the water park that imitate ancient times, as well as a panorama of Antarctica. Like any other water park in the world, Splash Jungle Waterpark has its own “lazy” river 335 meters long, which runs along the perimeter of the entire territory. Its leisurely and smooth flow carries large and small guests of the park along all continents. Exactly 15 water slides of varying difficulty levels: from the simplest children’s to adults’, breathtaking, are waiting for you in Splash Jungle.

The most unusual local attraction is the large “Superbowl”, which is a giant bowl. People rush into its belly through a pipe at great speed on inflatable rings, after which they fly out into the pool with almost a whistle. The dashing “Boomerango” slide, very similar to a skateboarding area, deserves special attention. Thrill-seekers rush from side to side until the speed of the circle slows down. Of course, there are also many children’s slides on the territory of the Phuket water park. They are located in a special zone (town) for the little ones. A child without adult supervision can slide down the slides only under one condition – if his height exceeds 122 cm.

There are two pools in Splash Jungle: with hydromassage and artificial wave, three cafes, each of which serves delicious cocktails for children. At the entrance, visitors are given a special watch with a key and a number. Any cash spent on the territory of the water park is recorded on the number on the clock. It is very convenient: you do not need to carry a wallet with cash – all purchases can be paid for at the exit. Vacationers at the hotel “Centara Grand West Sands Resort and Villas” can visit Splash Jungle Waterpark for free.

2. PHUKET ZOO:

The Phuket Animal House opened in 1997, and since then hundreds of thousands of families with children from all over the world have visited this interesting place. The zoo, located in the Chalong area, occupies a relatively small area – 5 hectares. There are not many animals here either. All kinds of exotic vegetation blooms and smells fragrantly on the territory of the park. Ficus trees and bright tropical flowers create a wonderful mood for all visitors, regardless of age. Animals and birds live in enclosures, but you can not only watch the process of their rest, walks or eating, but also watch a show with the participation of animals. By the way, the show is the main highlight of the Phuket zoo.

But first things first. First of all, we want to focus your attention on the giant crocodile show. Dexterous and courageous trainers will show you what tamed predatory reptiles are capable of. You and your child will watch with horror and delight as Thais stick their heads into the mouths of crocodiles, pull their tails without fear and ride on their rough backs. Of course, trainers choose the least aggressive individuals for the show, so you can not worry about the lives and health of people. And although the tamers take a little risk, in general, the show is safe and at the same time very spectacular and emotional. By the way, at the end of it, you can also take a photo on the crocodile’s back. The show with elephants is no less interesting.

These good-natured big-eared giants only seem slow and clumsy. In fact, elephants are capable of a lot. You can see for yourself what complex tricks they do. Animals can draw on an easel, play football and even dance! And what do you say about Thai massage, which is skillfully done by an elephant? After the show, you can treat these big sweet tooths to bananas, take some original photos with them as a keepsake, and buy a painting painted by this amazing animal during the show. The monkey show always attracts a lot of young guests, because these nimble and funny animals are so funny. Before the show starts, the kids and their parents are greeted at the entrance by a large orangutan named Billy and his owner. He will greet you and wish you a pleasant viewing.

By the way, Billy himself is the main character of the monkey show. Together with his colleagues – trained macaques – he will show you what monkeys are capable of. These agile and very cunning animals will ride bicycles, solve math problems, perform as models at a fashion show, and do many other unusual and funny things. Don’t forget to take a photo with the monkey as a keepsake!

3. PHUKET OCEANARIUM:

If you have decided to take a trip with your young traveler to one of the countries of the distant Asian region, then, of course, you have questions about cultural and entertainment holidays with a child. Thailand has a lot of interesting things for adults, but there are also many entertainments for children. So, if you are on holiday in Phuket, then be sure to set aside one day for a trip to the local aquarium, which is the only state institution of its kind in the region.

Every year, the oceanarium is visited by about 300 thousand tourists from all over the world. For children, a trip to the home of ocean inhabitants will bring special joy. Here, the kids will get acquainted with the local underwater fauna, and all this will happen in a truly magical atmosphere. It is worth noting that the Phuket Oceanarium was founded in 1983, becoming part of the Marine Biological Research Center and the Ocean and Coastal Resources Monitoring Station (Marine Biological Research Center). Visitors who come to this ocean museum for the first time are a little confused by the size of the establishment. The aquarium has a rather modest territory.

However, it houses a lot of educational and interesting things. Within the walls of the museum, you can observe the life of such inhabitants as seahorses, rays, sharks, groupers, brabus, lionfish, knifefish, catfish, cowfish, surgeonfish, cardinalfish, colorful clownfish, dangerous golden piranhas and many others – more than a hundred species of various ocean inhabitants.Children will certainly be interested in watching catfish that swim belly up or, for example, an electric eel that can produce discharges of 600 volts. Well, the highlight of the Aquarium is the Leopard ray and the Leopard shark family. In addition, the Phuket Aquarium has interactive displays that make the process of getting to know marine and freshwater inhabitants much more interesting: you will take a fascinating excursion into the world of mangroves and corals (there is a button next to each species, by pressing it, a light comes on in those places of the installation where these corals are presented), you will be shown rare species of fish.

The only thing is that all the information in the aquariums is presented in Thai and English.Children are especially impressed by the unique tunnel, which is a glass tube with a moving path in it. Calm, soothing music plays here, and the transparent walls of the tunnel allow you to see all the fish. Visitors have a complete feeling of being in the depths of the sea. In the glass tube, guests of the aquarium often linger for a long time to watch the spectacle of divers feeding the fish. It’s an incredible show to watch the underwater museum staff hand-feed the menacing, toothy sharks like pigeons. \Turtles live in the open pools in the courtyard of the oceanarium, and some are truly gigantic. If you’re tired, you can relax with your child after visiting the museum in a small but very cozy botanical garden with a variety of tropical vegetation. There’s also a nice cafe where you can have a hearty snack.

4. SEA SHELL MUSEUM (PHUKET):

All children simply adore collecting shells and stones on the beaches of southern resorts. And if you are lucky enough to find a particularly rare and unique specimen, then the joy of young archaeologists knows no bounds! Are you indulging in bliss on the hot sands of Phuket, and your child is looking for another treasure nearby? Oh, then you are exactly the family that is eagerly awaited within the walls of the Sea Shell Museum. After all, the most interesting and rare finds are collected here! The unique collection of the museum was formed thanks to the efforts of the traveling brothers named Patamakarthin, who for more than 40 years searched for rare fossils and shells in the most remote corners of the globe. The brothers bought, exchanged, received stones as gifts on the Mexican coast, in the Mediterranean and Andaman Seas, in Africa and other places.

When a significant number of exhibits were collected, the museum was opened. It has been operating since 1997 and is currently the largest in Thailand. Its collection includes about 2,000 species of various shells and rocks. You will be able to see with your own eyes shells shaped like hearts, porcelain cowries and the legendary branched murex.

By the way, the collection of the Phuket Seashell Museum is valued by experts at 300 thousand dollars. Be sure to bring your young lover of underwater gifts to the museum so that he can admire the bright kingdom of sea shells that have ended up in the local exposition from various countries of the world. Their unusual variegated colors, impressive sizes and bizarre shapes will amaze your imagination. It seems that some talented artist put his hand to the design of the exhibits – they are so bright and beautiful. In fact, emerald, lemon yellow, red, orange and other colors were given to the shells by nature itself. At the Sea Shell Museum, your child will see how miniature and how gigantic the houses of underwater mollusks can be. Just look at the giant tridacna – its weight reaches 250 kilograms! No less interesting for children will be the exhibits presenting to the museum visitors rock fossils and sedimentary rocks. These finds are recognized by scientists as real remains of organisms that lived on our planet hundreds of millions of years ago. Such an ancient age of some fossils brings big and small visitors of the museum into sacred awe.

The main highlight of the museum collection is the only shell in the world twisted to the left side. Once upon a time, this unique thing was the home of a giant mollusk. Do not pass by another unique exhibit – the so-called “golden pearl” of 140 carats, which rests in the mouth of an elegant crystal dragon. By the way, be sure to visit the souvenir shop located at the entrance to the museum. Here you can buy beautiful sea shells and various crafts with them for your friends and family: beads, paintings, earrings, rings, keychains, cutlery and much more.

5. PHUKET BOTANICAL GARDEN:

The first Phuket Botanical Garden should be a must-see on your cultural program during your vacation with a child in Thailand. This place will surely appeal to those who love nature and its generous gifts. The special charm of the Botanical Garden is the huge variety of its landscape design. You and your child will not only get acquainted with the exotic Thai nature, but will also enjoy strolling through small gardens designed in the style of a particular country in the world. The Phuket Botanical Garden, which is located in Muang, consists of 30 different thematic zones. Each of them contains a huge number of tropical plants per square meter.

Here you will find palm trees, fragrant plants and exotic herbs, gorgeous orchids, fruit trees and much more. The vast territory of the garden (about 1 hectare) requires at least a couple of hours to walk around it completely and get acquainted with all the representatives of the flora. The Phuket Botanical Garden is designed in a rather original way, and it is also perfectly maintained. The cleanest territory, smooth pedestrian paths, perfectly trimmed lawn, skillfully carved animal figures from the hedges of bushes, unusual flower beds blooming in riotous colors – all this speaks not only of the excellent imagination of the creators, but also of their responsible approach to business. Along the colorful alleys, there are rows of garden figures of various animals and insects, as well as classic statues made in European and Asian styles.

Having reached the very center of the botanical garden, you will find a beautiful lake in the shade of trees – a habitat for a large number of fish, including rare golden carp. You can feed them special food, which is sold here for only 20 baht. Thematic zones, into which the entire territory of the garden is divided, are of particular interest to young guests. Your child will see Japanese, Balinese, English, Chinese, French and a number of other gardens, made in the best geographical traditions. It is very curious and entertaining, just imagine that the English garden is classic British fountains and sculptures, the Japanese is buried in pagodas and decorated with recognizable red torii gates, and the Thai corner will allow you to see with your own eyes how a local family lives in an ordinary bamboo house with exactly the same furniture.

Even groups of plants are collected by species: in one garden you will get acquainted with traditional medicinal herbs used in ancient Asian medicine, in another – with carnivorous plants feeding on insects, and the garden of orchids and cacti will delight the youngest visitors to the Botanical Garden. Adults will enjoy visiting this place. Do not pass by the unusual tunnel in which trees with so-called “weeping” roots grow. Behind them, a waterfall roars and roars. In general, in the Phuket Botanical Garden you will find a lot of mysteries, intrigues and curious things.