Location

Things to do

While Phuket has roughly 45 beaches, there's a lot more to do on the island. Whether you're on a family holiday or travel with friends keen for shared experiences, Phuket delivers. From elephant walking tours and shopping sprees to beach massages and feathery cabaret shows with plenty of glitter, here are some trip ideas to add to your Phuket itinerary:

Go Shopping | Surin Beach has no shortage of souvenir and handicraft shops, and one that stands out within the immediate vicinity of the villa is the Lemongrass House. Specialising in handmade spa products, the store sells anything from shampoos and body lotions to essential oils. Street markets in the area sell anything from elephant pants to grilled octopus and coconut-based Thai desserts.

The market in front of the Bang Tao Mukaram Mosque happens every morning and late afternoon, while the Thursday night market behind Cherngtalay's Lotus Mall is a great way to end the day on a balmy evening. If you have a bit more cash to burn, check out The Plaza Surin, a shopping mall that houses upscale fashion brands from all corners of the world.

Dive into the Local Coffee Culture | Coffee is traditionally big in Thai culture, and Surin's best cafes offer some of the most popular places for travellers to soak up local Thai coffee culture. One street cafe, plain in sight on the main road from Cherngtalay to Surin, sells local dark-roast coffee and seasonal fruits such as litchi-like longan. And Nuatone Cafe, hidden in Bangtao's jungle next to a spurting waterfall, yet just a five-minute drive from the villa, is the perfect place to sip coffee in peace. You can lounge in a hammock or slump onto a beanbag on a suspended net 10 metres above the ground. The bubbling brook and calls of greater coucal birds add to the laid-back vibe.

Visit the Green Elephant Sanctuary Park | A 15-minute drive from the villa is this aptly named elephant sanctuary, which has saved elephants from terrible working conditions. Riding is a big no-no here, but you can feed the gentle giants, watching as they nab sugarcane off your hands. Riding- and bathing-free interactions also include walking tours in the elephants' natural habitat, as well as smearing mud on them and washing them off. Listening to the bellows of these pachyderms as they blow air from their trunks is an experience in itself.

Relax on Surin Beach | Visit this 800-metre stretch of white sand beach in the high season from December to April, and you can bathe in warm, calm, and incredibly clear water. Street vendors on the beach promenade offer creature comforts, selling anything from exotic fruits to stir-fried noodle dishes, so you'll never go hungry while working on your tan. If you're a fan of snorkelling, check out the rocks on the northern and southern end of Surin Beach.

Explore Phuket Old Town | Not exactly in the Surin Beach area yet well worth a visit, Phuket Old Town is well-known for its colourful row houses. Twenty-three kilometres from the villa, the Sino-colonial mansions that used to be the homes of tin barons have been turned into cafes, galleries, and clothes shops. Once twilight falls, the old city comes alive, even more so on Sundays when the Lard Yai Sunday Night Market happens.

Things to do in your villa:

Spa &  Beauty | There's little reason to leave the villa if you’re looking for spa indulgence. Tell your Villa Manager you want an in-villa massage, and a skilled therapist will show up. A Thai massage can beat the office syndrome, or an oil massage will make you drift into deep relaxation.

Movie Nights | Slump onto the couch in the open-plan living area and choose one of many films in the digital movie library. The gigantic Smart TV makes for a cinema-like experience - without the crowds.

Poolside Barbecues | Throw a poolside barbecue party with your family or friends at the rustic outdoor lounge with a couch and low-slung table. With a glass of bubbly in hand, you can tuck into grilled seafood or barbecued meats and chat with your friends, all while enjoying unforgettable sea views.