Things To Do in Mai Khao

Nights are lazy in Mai Khao. The nightlife at the J W Marriott is as colourful as it gets. Most evenings there’s a sunset ceremony in the lobby bar, which overlooks the pool. Later, cocktails and fine wines are served as chasers to tapas in Out of the Blue.

Two floors and 3,000 square metres of retail space lure holidaymakers through the gates of Turtle Village. The shops here are high end compared to what you’ll find in the other shopping areas of Phuket. Bespoke Thai silk shops sell luxury neckties and scarves, jewellers specialise in pearls and red coral, and galleries stock art and Oriental carpets.

Printing Kin Dee’s menu in the colours of the national flag is the only thing that could make it more Thai. The ingredients at this restaurant, near Sarasin Bridge, are all locally sourced and seasonal. And the list of dishes includes things that are unique to Thailand, like mango sticky rice, tom yum and jungle curry.

Those on the lookout for gifts can stock up at Turtle Village shopping mall. A short walk from Centara Grand West Sands Resort, it’s home to clothes boutique PIK LIK, whose creations got a nod from the Telegraph’s fashion column. Other shops are filled with pearl and shell jewellery, antiques from all over Asia, and luxury beachwear.

Splash Jungle is a little bit of Florida flotsam in Thailand. This 4-billion-dollar waterpark was built by the people responsible for some of the water rides at Disney World and SeaWorld Orlando. Within the 6,400-square-metre grounds you’ll find slides that look like novelty drinking straws, a wave pool, and a 335-metre lazy river.

There’s plenty of room here to lie back and perfect the art of doing nothing. The view’s enough to keep you entertained – shadowy mountains to the south, rainbow boats cutting across the waves, and a backdrop of palm fronds. Swimmers who fancy a dip should head for the hotels or the Splash Jungle Water Park – the rip tides around Mai Khao Beach can be pretty strong.

Ring in Songkran, the Thai New Year, at a Buddha-washing party in Mai Khao Beach that’s designed to sweep away the old year. Or help villagers release scores of baby turtles into the water. This annual tradition was kick-started by a massive conservation project – and just happens to coincide with Songkran. Further afield, New Year celebrations include sand pagoda competitions, parades, and a mega island-wide water fight.

Footfall is light on Mai Khao Beach. This stretch of sand is 11 kilometres long, so it’s possible to get in an entire day’s sunbathing without bumping into another person. The busiest section is by Sarasin Bridge, where there’s a cluster of bamboo restaurants, which serve up traditional Thai food.

The variety of events on offer at this festival reads like the National Curriculum. Sports come in the form of a mini marathon and traditional takraw. Drama is laid on during an open-air play with a cast of 700. Art can be seen in shadow puppet shows. And a lesson in religious education can be taken from the Buddhist ordination ceremonies. All this action takes place around the Thalang Victory Field, 25 minutes from Mai Khao.

Mai Khao Beach is a world away from the hectic nightlife that some parts of Phuket are famous for. Instead, evenings are a relaxed affair, just right for having a chat over a curry. A few European-style bars gather near Centara Grand West Sands Resort in the shape of open-air lounges with cosy sofas and tropical cocktail lists. Livelier entertainment is more likely to be found at the hotels backing the beach.

This place is the Alton Towers of the waterpark world. Adrenalin-pumpers like Boomerango shoot riders up vertical walls and back down steep drops. Kids will love the 6-level wave pool and aquarium. The more fainthearted can float along the 335-metre-long Lazy River. Queues tend to be short all over the park, plus it’s right on the doorstep of those staying at Centara Grand West Sands Resort.