Abu Dhabi Week ventures to southern Thailand to unwind and experience a taste of island life

A perfect way to explore Phuket is by renting a moped and trundling off along one of the mountain roads at a sedate pace.

With the sun beating down and a cool breeze on your face, the views from one of Thailand’s most famous islands are stunning with sweeping views of the coastline and beaches of the Andaman Sea on one side of the road and dense primal rainforests teeming with wildlife on the other.

There really is no need to rush, the winding and steep roads make speeding a reckless pastime, and there is so much to see and entertain you on your journey anyway. Don’t be surprised if you come across small families of working elephants tethered by the roadside rummaging through the undergrowth for food or troops of maraque monkeys chattering noisily as they play in the giant trees overhead.

There’s a real sense of freedom and peace as soon as you hit the inland roads networking the island and it can be a perfect remedy should you have enjoyed the frenetic chaos of the island’s nightlife the previous evening and be in need of some calm and quiet.

Small restaurants can be found every few kilometres as you traverse the island and the aroma of barbecuing meats and fish are often enough for you to apply full brakes and stop even when you didn’t realise you were hungry. Basic traditional meals at random places you just chance upon can be an incredible treat and is one of the great delights of exploring away from your hotel or resort. A simple pad thai – a dish of stir-fried rice noodles – expertly prepared in a sizzling wok with garlic, shallots, fish sauce, peanuts and lime.

Food in Thailand is unequivocally excellent and the choice and taste of seafood here rivals anywhere in the world.

Try a delicious red prawn curry or a Thai seafood soup bursting with flavour from the succulent pieces of fresh fish, lemongrass, coconut milk, and lime and you’re in for a gastronomic treat worthy of fine dining. Rarely, if ever, will you have a poor meal and the bill is always reassuringly cheap as long as you stay out of the uber chic resorts or top restaurants attached to five star hotels.

While holidaying in Phuket for many revolves around the idyllic beaches, superb food and sea-based activities for all the family; many come for the wild and hedonistic nightlife of Phuket Town and Patong. Clubs, bars and restaurants are normally bursting with people late into the night, every night, and although not to everyone’s taste – especially those with a sensitive disposition – there’s a great deal to see, hear and enjoy and it can be a full-on sensory overload.

Stroll through the heaving main streets of Patong as night falls and don’t be surprised to be accosted by Thais eager to have your photograph taken with their ‘pet’ gibbon, marmoset, chameleon or snake as music blasts from scores of bars competing for business.

While young European backpackers were long ago priced out of spending weeks on the island’s beaches, Phuket is still immensely popular with tourists from all over the world eager to enjoy the delights of southern Thailand at very reasonable prices.

While cheap accommodation can be found in abundance across the island, there are also some fantastically opulent resorts and smaller boutique hotels hidden away in secluded coves and fronted by glorious golden beaches.

Although an all-year destination, high season in Phuket is between October and March with the weather perfect for a beach holiday as the humidity has dropped from the height of summer and the rainy season has passed.

The island is renowned for water sports and has been a leading destination for the world’s yachting community for decades. Stop for lunch at the Royal Phuket Yacht Club at Nai Harn on the southern tip of the island for stunning views or for a real treat try a fabulous Thai massage – as authentic as you will ever get.

There’s a wide array of sporting activities across the island for those seeking a thrill, from kite surfing to excellent scuba diving, gun clubs, first class golfing to go-karting. If you can lure the children away from the beautiful beaches and idyllic sea, they’ll love a trip to a monkey school to watch the primates scurry up trees to throw coconuts down below to their handlers.

An elephant trek through the forests is great fun, and the butterfly and bird parks are well worth a visit and offer lasting memories of your island adventure in Thailand.

Less than seven hours away from Abu Dhabi, Etihad offers direct flights to Phuket with its Air Berlin codeshare with return flights available for under AED 3,000 depending on the time of the year you go. You can also head to Bangkok first for an adventure on one of three daily flights between the two capitals.

Visit www.etihad.com for more details.

A place to stay

The Phuket Novotel Resort

Enjoying stunning views across the Andaman Sea and set in beautifully landscaped gardens, the Phuket Novotel Resort in Patong offers an opulent retreat to rest and recuperate from the exertions of your day or evening.

Perched above Kalim Bay, the 215-room hotel is a combination of classical Thai style architecture with modern facilities that oozes style and class.

The resort is surrounded by eight acres of lush landscape and exotic gardens creating a serene and quiet environment and  it’s only a short walk to the hustle and bustle of downtown Patong.

There’s a three-tier swimming pool with connecting waterfalls cascading down one side to the resort which is a lovely and relaxed place to sunbathe or chill out for a few hours.

Fancy a massage after your swim? Then you’ll only have to walk a few yards to enjoy a traditional Thai massage from the inhouse masseuers.

The rooms are expansive and extremely comfortable and all come with their own private balcony. The sea views from the suites are simply breathtaking.

There’s a wide range of activities on offer at the resort including Thai cooking lessons, batik painting, fruit carving and discovering scuba diving. With welcoming and friendly staff, it’s a a perfect place to rest your body.

For reservations see: www.novotelphuket.com