Best of Thailand | Why visit now? @ExploreCentara

Best of Thailand | Why visit now? @ExploreCentara

PIMALAI: Dive Like There’s Nobody Watching

Glide alongside whale sharks and manta rays with Pimalai Resort & Spa’s new scuba diving programme

Inviting guests to discover the magnificent marine life of the Andaman sea this November, Pimalai Resort and Spa has launched a thrilling new scuba diving programme where guests of the resort are able to get closer to nature and join the graceful giant of the ocean, the whale shark in its natural habitat. With the ability to grow up to 15 metres long and weigh over 40 tons – making it the largest fish that lives in the world – this unique coastal area is one of the first to welcome the whale shark each dive season, claiming the most frequent sightings throughout South East Asia. 

  

Thanks to Pimalai’s partnership with Scubafish, the PADI 5-Star, Gold Palm and IDC-certified dive centre, guests can choose from 12 tourist-free dive sites between November – December and February – May when whale shark sightings are most frequent.

 

The “Scuba Diving in Koh Haa” four-day, three-night package includes a choice of accommodation, daily breakfasts, one 3-course A La Carte dinner, two dives and all equipment as well as the National Marine Park entry fee within the price. Prices start at approx. £1,088.

 

SANTIBURI: Koh Samui’s Silent Sanctuary

Travellers are invited to bask in the quiet at Santiburi Koh Samui

 

Escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and head to Santiburi Koh Samui, boasting 300 metres of pristine private beach and arguably Thailand’s quietest coastline. Set amid 23 acres of botanical beauty, where tranquillity is treasured and privacy is valued, the luxury escape has taken a number of steps to ensure that each guest’s stay is as peaceful as possible, from the decision to only offer non-motorised water sports to the new collection of Grand Reserve Pool Villas.

  

This season guests are invited to take their pick of water-based activities powered purely by the wind and waves, with kayaking, windsurfing, paddle boarding, hobbie wave and hobbie cat sailing all found on the menu. Enrol in one of the resort’s dedicated Water Sport Camps or take a private lesson to learn the sport, then brave the waters solo to master and perfect it.

  

Water sports are complimentary for guests of the resort. To book or for more information visit: https://www.santiburisamui.com.

 

CENTARA GRAND HOTELS: Thailand’s 007 style escape

Discover your inner James Bond at Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi

 

Krabi’s iconic James Bond Island is one of Thailand’s most beautiful and striking destinations to visit, wrapped within the beauty of a protected national park it also includes its very own iconic ‘James Bond Island’ following a starring role in the movie ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’.

 

Set within the heart of this beautiful destination made up of verdant jungle and tropical islands is Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi. Encouraging guests to discover the culture and beauty of this exciting destination, the luxury hotel offers a James Bond Island tour either within a traditional Thai Longtail boat or by speedboat for some added adrenaline.

 

Offering a balance of adventure with local Thai culture, each of these tours offers the opportunity to not only visit the iconic James Bond Island but discover an inner 007 sea-canoeing around the island and into ‘The Monkey Temple’ where lies a 15-meter gold Buddha statue. This is followed by a ‘dine at sea’ experience at the local floating village Koh Panyee which was built by nomadic fishermen in the late 18th century where over 1,400 people call home at the base of the sheer limestone cliffs.

  

James Bond Island Tour starts from 1,700THB / £45 per person. For more information click HERE. To book the hotel visit www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/ckbr/.

 

CENTARA HUA HIN: Asia’s Best Heritage Hotel Launches Historical Tour That Lets You Go Back in Thai’m

 

The story of Hua Hin begins in the early 1900s, when the country’s southern railway route finally linked Bangkok and the west coast by train. Heading all the way down to Malaysia, the route granted easy access to the beautiful beaches and Hua Hin quickly became akin to Thailand’s Riviera – a seaside playground for the city’s elite.

 

The colonial-style building at Centara Grand Hua Hin has its own storied history. Amongst the first hotels in the area, it immediately set a luxurious tone with its European-style decor and wrap-around verandas perched above the Gulf of Thailand. Playing host to the Thai royal family for their summer holidays, Hua Hin caught on with the elite of Bangkok and later developed into an international hot spot destination for luxury travellers.

 

Centara’s Historical tour takes guests through several historical highlights including the train station, first built in 1910 and home to the Royal Waiting Room, all of which is still operational to this day.  The tour continues at Wat Hua Hin, also known as Wat Ampharam – a temple built during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (King Rama V) that remains a place of worship for locals and offers meditation sessions for guests in the afternoon.The heritage tour concludes with a visit to bustling Chat Chai market, built on the land of the King’s treasury with seven arched roofs.

 

The 60- minute heritage walking tour is complimentary to all hotel guests and takes place weekly. For more information on Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Hua Hin, visit  https://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/centaragrand/chbr/ and for the latest offers please click here.