Experiences
On the hill, and off it.
Thirteen things to do without leaving the property, and four of the best trips in Phuket that leave from our lobby. Reserve through reception — we know the operators.
Signature experiences.
The rituals guests come back for. All on the property, all run by people Max has trained himself.
Daily · 08:00 – 10:30
Floating breakfast on the pool.
A rattan tray floated on the top tier — tropical fruit, pastries, coffee, fresh coconut — delivered to you in the water. Our signature ritual, and the most-photographed moment on the property.
Twice weekly · by reservation
Cooking class at the Sala.
Market walk, five Southern Thai dishes, one bottle of riesling, and the kind of kitchen conversation that turns into an evening.
Daily · 09:00 – 21:00
A ninety-minute Boran massage.
Two therapists. One pressure map. A treatment carved out of twenty years of Thai bodywork. Book on arrival.
Nightly · reservation required
Private dinner above the pool.
A single table on the upper terrace. Candles, four courses from the kitchen, and the city lights doing their part.
Show + driver + dinner. One booking.
The big Phuket shows are worth seeing once. The transport, the ticket, and the meal around them are usually a hassle to assemble. Tina handles the whole evening — from a pre-show cocktail at RICE to a private car waiting at the door when the curtain drops.
Nightly · 18:00 / 19:30 / 21:00
Simon Cabaret
Phuket’s flagship cabaret since 1991 — eighty-five minutes of feathered, sequinned, very Phuket spectacle. The closest big show to the property.
- ·Pre-show cocktail at RICE
- ·Round-trip private car (~15 min each way)
- ·VIP-tier seats
- ·Late check-in at the desk
Daily except Tuesday · gates 17:30
Phuket FantaSea
Cultural theme park in Kamala — Thai elephant pageant, "Fantasy of a Kingdom" stage show, and a sprawling buffet hall. Half theme park, half Vegas. Good for families.
- ·Round-trip transfer (~30 min each way)
- ·Gold-tier ticket + buffet dinner
- ·Show-only option also available on request
- ·Driver waits with cold towels at the gate
Nightly · gates 17:00
Carnival Magic
FantaSea’s newer Kamala park — illuminated street parade, river show, and a 3,000-seat dinner theatre. Best photographed from the upper terrace.
- ·Round-trip transfer
- ·VIP gold ticket + Thai buffet
- ·Private car upgrade available
- ·Same booking line as FantaSea
Bangla Stadium · most evenings 21:00
Patong Muay Thai night
Real Muay Thai at Bangla Boxing Stadium, the proper one — not a tourist gym demo. Six fights, ringside seats, plus a driver who explains the betting cards if you ask.
- ·Round-trip transfer
- ·Ringside or VIP ticket
- ·Late dinner at RICE on return
Wednesdays + Sundays · 17:30
Old Phuket Town food walk
Three hours through the Sino-Portuguese old town with a local guide — Hokkien dumplings, mee Hokkien, kopi at a 70-year-old shop, and the night market on Thalang Road.
- ·Private car to old town and back
- ·Walking tour with English-speaking guide
- ·Six tasting stops
- ·Light dinner included
Daily · shows 10:30 / 14:00 / 17:00
Dolphins Bay Phuket
Chalong marine park with a dolphin, sea lion, and falcon show. Forty-minute drive from the property. Good for kids; mornings are quieter than evenings.
- ·Round-trip private car (~40 min each way)
- ·Bronze or VIP tickets
- ·Option to add a Tiger Kingdom combo
Quoted on enquiry — Tina holds the supplier rates and can package the driver, ticket, and meal as one bill.
Four trips we'd actually take.
Phuket has a hundred day trips. These four are the ones we book for ourselves when family visits. Reception handles the booking — you don't need to shop.
Daily · 08:00 return 17:00
Phi Phi Island day trip
Speedboat from Patong pier: Maya Bay, Bamboo Island, Monkey Bay, lunch on the boat. Reserve the day before at reception.
Daily · 07:30 return 17:30
James Bond Island & Phang Nga
Long-tail through the karsts, sea caves at Hong Island, a floating Muslim village for lunch. Lower altitudes, calmer water.
On demand · 4 hours
Big Buddha and old Phuket Town
45m Big Buddha, Wat Chalong, Sino-Portuguese old town, Jui Tui shrine, street food. We arrange a private car and driver.
Daily · half-day
Elephant sanctuary
Ethical sanctuary — no riding. Feed, bathe and walk with rescued elephants. We only work with sanctuaries we've personally visited.
Daily · 09:00 – 18:00
Tiger Kingdom
Photograph up close with adult and cub tigers in the Kathu enclosure. Twenty minutes from the property. Controversial — we also recommend the elephant sanctuary for an ethical alternative.
Daily · 10:00 – 22:00
Go-karting at Patong Kart
Proper outdoor 600m circuit ten minutes down the hill — adults and juniors, timed laps, and a clubhouse bar. Book the evening slot for cooler track temps.
Daily · 10:00 – 18:00
Phuket Shooting Range
Supervised indoor range in Chalong — handguns, rifles, shotguns. Staff instructors walk first-timers through safety. Not for everyone; flag it in the enquiry if interested.
Daily · 2-hour + 3-hour options
ATV jungle ride
Off-road quad circuit through the Kathu rubber plantations and up to the hillside viewpoint. Includes Big Buddha side trip on the 3-hour track. Helmet, gloves, boots provided.
Three additions to a stay.
Nightly · reservation required
Private in-room dining
A single table on the upper terrace. Candles, four courses from RICE, and the city lights doing their part.
4 nights · couples
Babymoon package
Pool Access suite, floating breakfast every morning, two prenatal massages, a private dinner at RICE, and late checkout.
On arrival · free for direct bookings
Honeymoon turndown
Rose petals, sparkling wine, a hand-written welcome. Add a private dinner for two for a full first evening.
Anything on this page can be booked by WhatsApp-ing Tina. She handles every experience personally — one message, one reply, one point of contact.
More on the hill.
- Rooms & suites above Patong →
Sea-view, pool-view and pool-access rooms, pool suites and a family suite.
- RICE restaurant & bar →
Southern Thai cooking on the sunset terrace, breakfast to late.
- Thai massage & spa →
Thai Boran, oil and herbal compress in the pavilion by the cascade.