Trekking in Phuket

To experience the wild side of Phuket's interior, try a rainforest trek through the Khao Phra Thaew Wildlife & Forest Reserve in northeast Phuket; it's still relatively rich with tropical trees and wildlife. The park trails were recently upgraded and the reserve also houses the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project.

Then there's elephant trekking, a perennial favorite for children and adults. Elephants are not indigenous to Phuket, so what you get here is more-or-less a pony ride, but arguments over captive elephant-tour programs aside, the elephants are reasonably well cared for here, and the tour cost goes toward their enormous feed bill. Siam Safari Nature Tours (45 Chaofa Rd., Chalong; tel. 07628-0116; www.siamsafari.com) offers a variety of tours. Their "four-in-one safari" lasts about 6 hours and includes an elephant trek through jungles to rubber estates, watching monkeys pick coconuts, a ride on a buffalo cart, and then a cruise on a junk in Chalong Bay. Prices are 2,250B for adults and 1,550B for children.

River Rovers (tel. 07628-0420; www.riverrovers.com) is a great way to see old Phuket and nature at its finest; this cruise takes in mangrove swamps with monkeys clambering in the branches, fish and mussel farms, and the chance to do a bit of exploring by kayak, with a fabulous fresh seafood lunch at a floating restaurant.