SHORE EXCURSIONS

Begin your day with a drive to the island's north end and then cross to the Thai mainland via the Thep Krasettree Causeway. Drive to Phang Nga National Park where you board a motorboat and begin your unforgettable cruise through the spectacular and seductive limestone scenery.

Established in 1981, the park lies in the sheltered pale milky-green waters northeast of Phuket Island and is the location of more than 80 awe-inspiring islands. These unique karst formations were created when a collision of great magnitude occurred over 300 million years ago between the Indian subcontinent and mainland Asia. The force of the tectonic plates pushed and rotated what is now Thailand and Malaysia, forcing the limestone above the surface. The resulting karst formations appear like fairy castles out of the sea and they come in all different shapes and sizes. Vegetation on the karsts has evolved to withstand long periods of dryness and an almost complete lack of soil. See spectacular flora hanging off the vertical rock faces and cascading down the cliffs including palm trees, bamboo, ferns and wild orchids.

During your cruise enjoy a photo opportunity at the small island of Kao Ping-Gan, where part of the James Bond adventure “The Man with the Golden Gun” was filmed. Visit Koh Panyee, a small island with a picturesque village extending out across the water, resting precariously on small pilings. It is inhabited chiefly by Muslim fishermen who originally migrated from Indonesia. Cut off from the mainland and most modern amenities, their unique culture has existed for more than a hundred years. Enjoy with buffet lunch at local restaurant at the village. After cruising through magnificent mangrove forests and small grottoes, your will back to the pier you will drive back to the ship. A short stop at a recommended shopping venue will be made en route.

OVERVIEW

Explore the sea caves in Phang Nga Bay by canoe and ride between the craggy limestone islands in a motorboat. The islands and monoliths that rise up out of the bay couldn’t be more gorgeous as their precipitous cliffs are covered with tropical vegetation. Many of them also feature sea caves that erosion from wind and water have carved out of the limestone. You will enter the caves on Panak Island in an inflatable canoe that a local guide will paddle. Inside, you will see spectacular rock formations and filtered sunlight from the openings above dancing across the water’s surface. Hong Island is equally impressive as it contains a turquoise lake-like lagoon that a sugar-white beach rims. You will also take in its natural beauty from the comfort of the canoe. To enhance the experience on the bay, you will enjoy free time to swim and relax on one of its most picturesque beaches.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride in a motorboat through breathtaking, island-dotted Phang Nga Bay.
• Cruise through the eerie sea caves on Panak Island in an inflatable canoe.
• Behold the stunning natural wonders of Hong Island and its turquoise lagoon.
• Relax however you please on one of the bay’s most dramatically beautiful beaches.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Delve into Thai farm life by watching demonstrations of traditional practices that offer a window into the rural world. The farmhouse is part of a cultural learning center where you will watch typical agricultural activities. Rice is a staple in Thailand so seeing it planted, milled to remove the unwanted outer layers and sifted for flour can be an eye-opening experience. You will also observe as rubber trees are tapped for their milky latex and as tin is panned in water to separate the metal. Although many farmers still perform these tasks by hand, in other areas of Thailand those jobs have been mechanized. Water buffaloes are used for certain farming chores, especially for plowing fields, and you can have your photo taken with one of these large but docile beasts. For a glimpse into the cuisine, you will watch curry paste being prepared from dried chili peppers. Free time for shopping will follow.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Watch traditional farming activities being performed at a cultural center.
• See how rice is grown, how rubber trees are tapped and how tin is panned.
• Observe curry paste being made and hear about its traditional uses.
• Discover how water buffaloes are used in farming and have your photo taken with one.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

See the island’s immense natural beauty on a panoramic drive through the countryside with occasional stops at attractions that reflect the culture. Few settings are quite so inspiring as Promthep Cape, the southernmost point on Phuket, from which you will gaze out over the island-dotted Andaman Sea. Continuing on, you'll next drive to the Chalong Temple. A gilt statue of a heroic monk that helped quell the Chinese Coolie Rebellion in 1876 is on display inside. To further enhance your understanding of the local religious beliefs, you will browse JuiTui Chinese shrine, a shrine decorated with statutes of Chinese gods. Its red and gold colors are meant to bring good luck and joy. Free time will also be allotted for shopping at a high-end store that carries exquisite jewelry, Thai silk clothing and fine porcelain.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Behold the island’s natural beauty, especially from atop Promthep Cape at the southern tip.
• Visit one Buddhist temples and a Chinese shrine where Taoism is practiced.
• Shop for luxury goods such as Thai silk, cultured pearls and porcelain.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Pitch in to help conserve the crabs, mangroves and sea grasses that are essential to Phuket’s marine ecosystem. Transfer to the mangrove nursery and take part in a hands-on mangrove planting activity to help restore these vital ecosystems. Then, enjoy a fun demonstration on making EM Balls (effective microorganisms) and try your hand at molding them yourself! Hop aboard a traditional long-tail boat for a scenic ride to the Bank Crab, which is a project committed to educating the locals so they don’t eat egg-bearing female crabs. Instead, those crabs are kept in nurseries until the eggs are hatched, a practice that keeps the ecosystem in balance. After watching how it’s done, continue your journey through the beautiful mangrove forest. The trees stabilize the coast, purify the water and provide shelter for birds and marine life. Mangroves are among the most valuable species for maintaining the coastal environment, and to keep it thriving you will plant a mangrove sapling within the forest. Then, throwing EM Balls to enrich the ecosystem and support nature’s balance. Wrap up this rewarding day with refreshments at the meeting point before returning to the pier with unforgettable memories of conservation in action.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See how Phuket protects its egg-bearing female crab population.
• Gain insight into the multiple benefits of mangrove forests and plant a mangrove sapling.
• Create an Effective Micro-organism ball that can purify wastewater.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Be awed by the natural beauty of Phang Nga Bay while riding in a speedboat to a particularly photogenic island and a unique floating village. The bay’s bizarrely shaped monolithic islands were created millions of years ago when shifting tectonic plates pushed underwater limestone to the surface. The sheer-faced islands are now covered with mangroves and draped with orchids and ferns that give them a primeval appearance. The setting is so dramatic that it has been a backdrop for numerous movies, including two James Bond films. One of them was shot at Khao Phing Kan, better known as James Bond Island, where you will stop to admire the scenic beauty. You will also visit Ko Panyi, a water village on stilts that Javanese fisherman founded more than a century ago. After a classic Thai lunch there, you will enjoy free time on one of the bay’s most extraordinary beaches.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Zip through gorgeous Phang Nga Bay in a speedboat.
• Admire the natural beauty that has been featured in numerous Hollywood movies.
• Visit James Bond Island, where parts of “The Man with the Golden Gun” were shot.
• Dine on Thai cuisine at a restaurant in a floating village on the bay.
• Spend free time relaxing on a pristine beach that rims the bay.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Learn some of the ways that Phuket protects sea turtles and gibbons to conserve its most vulnerable marine life and wildlife. At the Sireetarn Marine Endangered Animals Rescue Center, offers an unforgettable experience where you can get up close with rescued marine animals, hear their inspiring stories, and see conservation in action. It's a great opportunity for you to connect with the ocean while also making a difference. You will have the chance to feed them and join a beach clean-up where you can help protect marine life, restore natural beauty, and make a positive impact on our oceans—one piece of trash at a time! It will be a fulfilling experience, as will be visiting the Phuket Gibbon Rehabilitation Project. Loss of habitat, the illegal wildlife trade and poaching gibbons for food have gravely threatened the species. The foundation rescues as many gibbons as possible, rehabilitates them and eventually releases these arboreal apes into a national park that is Phuket’s last remaining tropical rainforest. There they can thrive once again in a wonderfully biodiverse landscape.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Gain insight into the environmental challenges that Phuket’s sea turtles and gibbons face.
• Feed sea turtle hatchlings and join a beach clean-up to help protect marine life.
• Watch gibbons being rehabilitated for release into Phuket’s only remaining rainforest.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Enjoy a visit to an elephant camp, a cashew nut factory, and the Chalong Buddhist Temple, along with island scenes.

At the cashew nut factory, curiously named Sri Bhurapa Orchid Company, you’ll see how mouth-watering cashew nut products are made as skilled workers create a variety of snacks and sweets.

A visit to the Chalong Temple brings you to what is considered the most beautiful and ornate temple on the island, Wat Chalong. Here you’ll find a statue of Luang Por Cham, the monk who became a hero when he helped the people of Phuket put down the Chinese Coolie Rebellion in 1876.

Elephants are an important part of Thai history and culture, regularly featured in Buddhist art and architecture. Arriving at the elephant camp, you will have a chance to observe how the elephants bathe and feed; this will be a great photo opportunity.

You’ll also stop at a local products shop where you’ll have a chance to get that last minute souvenir.

Thailand's only island province, Phuket, is a world-famous tourist destination renowned for its magnificent mountains covered with lush tropical vegetation, its surrounding azure blue sea and stretches of powder-white sandy beaches fringed with coral reefs. Once renowned for its tin mines and rubber plantations, visitors now arrive looking for a place to relax and explore the incredible scenery. Your island drive takes you to the Buddhist temple, Wat Chalong, considered the most beautiful and ornate temple on the island. Visit a cashew nut factory, curiously named the Sri Bhurapa Orchid Company. There you’ll see how delectable cashew nut products are made as skilled workers create a mouthwatering variety of snacks and sweets. Stop for a great view at Promthep Cape. Located at the extreme south end of the island, Promthep Cape appears to be a simple rocky hill with no immediate interest. However, once you climb the steps to the top, experience a stunning view of the perfect half-moon bay of Nai Harn Beach and the scattered islands dotting the Andaman Sea. Drive to Phuket Town for a short sightseeing tour around the old part of town with its old Sino –Portuguese Buildings. You'll see some splendid examples of European-Sino-Thai architecture. Visit the Chinese Shrine facing the sea at Sapan Hin, which is a large recreational area, largely built on reclaimed land in the south of Phuket Town, right by the sea. There are often festivals and fairs held here, and its always popular with locals to take a walk, go jogging and sit by the sea. Final stop at local rubber plantation before returning back to pier.

Enjoy an exciting and comprehensive taste of the rich and colorful culture of Phuket.

Your first stop will be at Promthep Cape. Experience a stunning view of the perfect half-moon bay of Nai Harn Beach and the scattered islands dotting the Andaman Sea once you’ve climbed the steps through the rocky hill. Then start your scenic drive to Wat Chalong, the largest and the most strikingly ornamented of Phuket's 29 Buddhist temples. Its intriguing history features a monk believed to have formidable healing powers. To this day, Thais from all over the country flock to Wat Chalong to pay homage to the monk and regain their physical and spiritual powers.

Visit the Phuket Thai Village located on an old tin mine site with a tranquil lakeside setting. During an elaborate performance, you will be charmed by Thai Classical Dances, with performers dressed in opulent costumes and intricate head pieces made of sparkling gold and colored stones. The drumming of the thaporn or Thai drum, and the sweet melodies of the Phee, a Thai flute, will carry you further into the past. Enjoy a thrill to the complex style of Thai boxing. You will also stop at a souvenir shop before return to the ship.