Thailand (Lonely Planet, 13th Edition) - China Williams [556]
Phuket Boat Lagoon ( Map; 0 7623 9055; fax 0 7623 9056) Located at Ao Sapam, about 10km north of Phuket Town on the east coast. It has an enclosed marina with tidal channel access, serviced pontoon berths, 60- and 120-tonne travel lifts, hard stand area, plus a resort hotel, laundry, coffee shop, fuel, water, repairs and maintenance services.
Rolly Tasker Sailmakers (0 7628 0347; www.rollytasker.com; 26/2 Th Chaofa, Ao Chalong) If you need sails, Rolly Tasker can outfit you. Riggings, spars and hardware are also available.
Royal Phuket Marina ( Map; 0 7623 9762; www.royalphuketmarina.com) This US$25 million marina is located just south of Phuket Boat Lagoon. Luxury villas, town houses and a hotel join 190 berths and a spa here.
Yacht Haven Phuket Marina ( Map; 0 7620 6705; www.yacht-haven-phuket.com) At Laem Phrao on the northeastern tip of the island. The Yacht Haven boasts 130 berths and a scenic restaurant, and also does yacht maintenance.
The TAT office ( Map; 0 7621 2213; www.tat.or.th; 73-65 Th Phuket, Phuket Town; 8.30am-4.30pm) in Phuket Town has an extensive list of yacht charters and brokers. For insurance purposes, it’s a good idea to see if the boat you want to charter is registered in Thailand. Expect to pay from 20,000B per day for a high-season, bareboat charter. The following companies can help with information on yacht charters (both bareboat and crewed), yacht sales and yacht deliveries:
Dream Yacht Charter (0 7620 6492; www.dreamyachtcharter.com; Yacht Haven Phuket Marina) This French-run company charters large bare-boat catamarans with and without crews. They aren’t cheap, but sailing between limestone karsts in Ao Phang-Nga is the type of moment worth paying for.
Faraway Sail & Dive Expeditions (0 7628 0701; www.far-away.net; 112/8 Moo 4, Th Taina, Hat Karon)
Sunsail Yacht Charters (0 7623 9057; www.sunsailthailand.com; Phuket Boat Lagoon)
Thai Marine Leisure (0 7623 9111; www.thaimarine.com; Phuket Boat Lagoon)
Yachtpro International (0 7623 2960; www.sailing-thailand.com; Yacht Haven Phuket Marina)
GOLF
Blue Canyon Country Club ( Map; 0 7632 8088; www.bluecanyonclub.com; 165 Moo 1, Th Thepkasatri; 18 holes 5300B) A luxury country club with two championship golf courses that have hosted two dramatic (and one record setting) Tiger Woods tournament wins. There is also a full-service spa, two restaurants and luxury apartments on the property. The facilities are showing their age, but you’ll come for the golf course. It’s a good one. Club hire and lessons are available.
Dino Park ( Map; 0 7633 0625; www.dinopark.com; Th Patak West, Karon; adult/child 240/180B; 10am-midnight) 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.
Mission Hills Golf Club ( Map; 0 7631 0888; www.missionhillsphuket.com; 195 Moo 4, Pla Khlok; 18 holes 3800B) Twenty-seven more holes of tournament-calibre golf can be found at this Jack Nicklaus–designed course near the east coast. It, too, has a spa and hotel rooms and two swimming pools.
Thailand Tours & Paradise Golf (084 8433677; www.golfinphuket.com; Centara Mall, Th Patak East) Swedish owned and operated, it arranges custom-golf trips (and deep-sea fishing trips) for independent travellers. If you are into golf, these guys are the island’s authority.
HORSE RIDING
Bangthao Beach Riding Club ( Map; 0 7632 4199; 394 Moo 1, Th Hat Bang Thao; horseback rides from 1000B, elephant rides from 350B) Aptly named, this club offers everything from half-day horseback rides through forest, marsh and along virgin beach to serious riding