Roland Lefevre
Given the number of children that accompany parents on vacation, Phuket is offering a range of family centric and special activities focused on children of different age groups.
This activity is popular with everybody irrespective of age. Riding through a tropical jungle on the back of an elephant is a dream come true for many. This is also the best way to learn about the welfare, management and training of elephants in captivity and the conservation of Thai elephants.
This is a destination for the whole family. While the older children enjoy zipping down intricate arrangements of chutes and slides, kiddies can have fun in their own special area and adults can take a break at the onsite spa village. Anantara Phuket Layan Resort & Spa on the island's west coast offers easy access to fun activities for all age groups.
Zorbing or hill rolling in a large plastic ball may not be fun for everyone. However the more adventurous family members can try rolling down a 190 meter hill track in a three meter diameter flexible, transparent plastic ball.
This site offers a chance for the whole family to enjoy a dinosaur themed 18 hole golf course complete with a 12 meter waterfall under an erupting volcano, lava caves, a primeval swamp and a noisy T Rex. Evening is the best time to enjoy the sound and light effects here.
This attraction with thousands of freshwater and marine creatures in more than 30 giant fresh and salt water tanks will be a treat for the whole family. The aquarium also features an acrylic walk through tunnel and open air pools with endangered hawksbill and green turtles.
With its three cable options round a 50,000 sq metre lake, it is the haunt of adventure seekers and wake boarders of all skill levels. A 645 metre cable strung around the lake using six towers, offers challenging ramps and sliders for boarders of every skill level. Beginners can learn the ropes on a less challenging second cable system.
This site in Kata Beach offers the perfect waves for surfers throughout the year and is a popular destination of experienced and novice surfers from 8 years onwards. A four inch sheet of water is generated on a sloping pool and beginners get to hold a guiding rope until they are steady on their feet.
It combines a sound and light show with a cast of hundreds, shopping and dining. Trapeze artists, performing elephants and other animals act out fantastic storylines that is entertainment for the whole family.
This site in Phuket is another place where the whole family can have fun. The 750 metre track has sharp curves, bends and straight areas for acceleration to make the track interesting to drive on. Four types of karts that can reach different speeds ensure experienced and budding speedsters have a fun day out.
Such lessons are available for the whole family to enable the enjoyment of the undersea world around Phuket.
