Beach hopping

The beaches at Cape Panwa are not ideal for swimming but are perfect for lazing about in the sun. The beach at Ao Yon has white sands and idyllic blue water and is home to fishermen and a number of yachts. Local restaurants offer boat trips if you fancy a spot of fishing.

The Falls

Phuket is justifiably famous for its beaches, but waterfalls are another real attraction of the island. One nearby is Ao Yon Waterfall. Situated 10 minutues from Cape Panwa, the place is rather difficult to find, situated right where Soi Ruam Jai Ao Yon ends. It also takes a little trekking to reach the spot but it’s worth it for its strong water flow, especially during rainy season. Sit right next to the fall or dangle your legs in to get massaged by nature.

Top of the Cape

Khao Khad Views Tower is located slightly out of the way, in Wichit District on Skdidej Road past through Mudong Canal, and requires you to climb a few steps or take the natural wooden bridge trail to reach the top for a 360-degree view of south Phuket and its nearby islands. But it’s more than worth it. Chalong Bay, Makham Bay, Cape Panwa and, at a distance, the Big Buddha are all visible. The best time to go is afternoon until sunset, too.

Island Day Trips

Island-hopping is a great option for visitors here for a long stay. There are two islands close to Panwa. Coral Island or Koh Hae, three kilometers southeast of Phuket, has two beaches, Banana Beach and Long Beach, where you can view the impressive coral reef with a bit of snorkeling. The island is also great for doing water sports like kayaking. Leaving from the aquarium, day trips by longtail boat take approximately 45 minutes each way and include lunch and light snacks at B1,200 ($46) roundtrip (bargain hard). Some 12 kilometers south of Phuket lies Racha Island or Koh Raya, famous for diving and snorkeling. The clear waters and white sands see day-trippers flock here, with some even staying on in the bungalows and resorts that have begun to spring up. Day trips by speedboat take around 30 minutes each way and cost B1,600 ($62) roundtrip inclusive of lunch and light snacks.

The Local Taste

When evening falls, the best choice to catch the sunset while sipping a few refreshing cocktails is Sri Panwa’s Baba Nest, an exclusive rooftop bar with a panoramic view of Phuket’s southeastern islands. Another restaurant with a similarly impressive view is The Grill at the newly-opened Regent Phuket Cape Panwa. Its rooftop dining lounge boasts an impressive wine list to match the setting, too. Craving some local food? Head to the last turn of the cape where the welcoming Keang Lay (33/1 Mu 8, Sakdidej Road, +66 76-391-103, open daily 11:30am-10pm) serves up tasty local bites. Try the gaeng kati pu mee hun (spicy crab red curry with rice noodles, THB150/$5.80) served with beansprout, boiled eggs, pineapple and basil leaves, the stir-fried smoked dried shrimp with pak miang (melinjo nuts, THB100/$3.90) or minced fried pork or beef with dry curry (THB120/$4.60). Follow up your heavy dinner with a stroll along the Panwa beachside to Kantary Café (owned by Cape Panwa) for a few sweets. This cozy café does some of the best coffee in the area and serves a variety of cheesecakes. Try the coffee frappe (THB75/$2.90) with a fresh fruits cheesecake (THB120/$4.60) and sit by the window for the calming ocean breeze.

Where to stay

For some of the best vistas in Phuket, book a stay at the ultra-luxe Sri Panwa. The resort, which is situated amidst 40 acres of lush, tropical surroundings, was awarded the title of “Best Resort in Thailand” at the Lonely Planet Traveller Destination Awards 2013. And it’s not difficult to see why—it’s absolutely stunning, and each of the villas and pool suites boast private infinity pools affording guests with gorgeous views of the sea. The interiors are also top-notch—think terra-cotta style furnishings, state of the art entertainment systems, ginormous jacuzzi tubs and more. Some of the resort’s facilities include the award-winning Cool Spa, in-house restaurant Baba Soul Food (serving up authentic Thai cuisine), Baba Poolclub (for more laid-back dining) and the breathtaking Baba Nest (a rooftop bar where you’ll get to enjoy cocktails with a glorious sunset view). Prices start from THB19,140 ($749) for a pool suite and THB29,260 ($1145) for a pool villa; they’re indubitably the high side, but we daresay that it’ll be worth every penny. 

Essentials

GETTING THERE

Air Asia, Jetstar, Tigerair, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines all fly to Phuket from Singapore so you can generally find a pretty affordable flight deal (from $150 return). Once at Phuket airport, the drive to Cape Panwa takes about an hour, easily arranged through your hotel or a taxi booked once you land.

VISA, CURRENCY AND TAX

Singapore citizens or passport holders do not require a visa for stays of up to one month in Thailand.

$1=THB 25

WHEN TO GO

Aim to visit from December through March, when the worst of the monsoon season has eased up and there are cool breezes to make things less humid.

Gorgeous beaches

Three tiny droplet-shaped islands off the northwest coast of Lombok offer solitude and unspoiled natural beauty; gorgeous beaches, with powdery sand and sparkling clear blue waters—and not much else. Here you can lounge the day away guilt- and itinerary-free in open-air beachfront huts called berugat, and maybe do a bit of sunbathing, snorkelling or diving.

Or take a stroll around—literally—one of the islands on one of the mostly sandy, sometimes concrete (and sometimes mud) roads that circumnavigate the islands. Gili Air and Gili Meno can be looped in an hour on foot, while Gili Trawangan, slightly larger and the most developed, takes a bit longer. Bicycles for rent are everywhere, cheap and allow for quicker travel—but note that pedalling through sand is way harder than it seems.

Bragging rights

The Gilis aren’t exactly a secret, but they exist in that sweet spot between backpacker paradise and mass tourism. There is still a fair amount of $50 accommodation, but it’s now sharing the space with more upscale resorts, some with roots in Bali (and comparable facilities and prices).What has slowed the pace of “progress” is a complete ban on motorized transport. So, for example, to get to your resort from the “harbor” the lone option for you and your bags is a cidomo, the two-wheeled cart pulled by horses so tiny you can’t help but feel sorry for them. True, the ride is so slow and uncomfortable you might find yourself wishing for a golf cart or a tuk-tuk. But then it hits you how quiet it is. You can hear the breeze and the boats and the waves and not much else. What the Gilis also don’t have: taxis, touts, banana boats, go-go bars, motorcycle rental, tour groups. It’s brilliant. Get there now before tourists mess it up!

Accommodation options

Our first stop was the middle island, Meno. Most of the resorts are small, family run affairs, with a handful of rooms each, often standalone bungalows with sea views. On Gili Meno, we opted for Seri Waters, which had seen better days. We liked the location, though, on the quiet Northeast side of the island, right in front of a reef. If we could do it again we’d try to stay next door at Shack 58, a cottage with a nifty beach-facing open-air gazebo (around 100 Euros/$165 per night). Or, on the other side of Seri Waters, the rooms at Ana Warung ([email protected], +62 819 1595-5234) don’t face the ocean but they’re Rp500,000 ($50) for an air-conditioned room (Rp300,000 with fan) and the owners’ extended family are onsite and a fun crowd.

Unlike Trawangan, where you’re advised to stay as far away from the harbor as possible, on Meno it’s not necessary to travel far from where you disembark. In fact the Southeast side has the best beaches for swimming. Mallias Villas is a solid choice for beachfront bungalow accommodation or just a place to hang out during the day (good food, cold Bintan and a reliable wifi signal). Rates are around $50-100 on Agoda. Higher-end places include The Reef, with modern lumbungs going for $200-250, while Villa Nautilus offers nice bungalows in garden settings starting at around $100.

Trawangan “town” could easily be in (the worst parts of) Samui or Bali with its concentration of alternating tour desks, dive shops, mini-marts, touristy beach restaurants and budget accommodation. It’s also where you’ll find the closest thing to a “nightlife” area (the occasional parties that pump EDM out into the wind until morning have pretty much moved to Gili Air, though). A bit of a dump, in other words. Fortunately the rest of the island is still beautiful.

Turtles (big ones)!

On Meno there is a turtle sanctuary, where babies are hatched and raised before being released into the ocean, so sightings of the big creatures are common. The guys that take you out for snorkeling “guarantee” that you’ll see a sea turtle (“this big!”), though that means you might need to follow your guide down a few meters to find one. Even more thrilling was the one we swam with in the shallow waters just. (Well, it swam past and we followed.)

Or go luxe

Standards (and prices) are rising in the Gilis, but if you really want to luxe it up, spend a couple nights at the Oberoi Lombok on your way out. To get there we chartered a speedboat to the Oberoi’s private jetty. The resort is on a hill overlooking the ocean, with a huge pool and over 20 acres of manicured gardens. Service, facilities and food are five-star—breakfasts are particularly awesome. If you don’t have your own villa, grab a poolside gazebo for the day, which might include afternoon tea served with local desserts and expertly mixed cocktails and those addictive Balinese peanuts at sunset. Rates start at around $400.

Essentials

GETTING THERE

There is a 7:50am flight on SQ or SilkAir (unfortunately Jetstar suspended Singapore-Lombok service earlier this year) for around $450 to Lombok and it’s possible to have your toes in the sand by 2pm or so. In high season you might want to book a private car plus “speedboat” package online, but otherwise it’s just as easy and often cheaper to stop at one of the four interchangeable tour desks at Lombok Airport. You shouldn’t have to pay more than Rp800,000 ($83).

VISA, CURRENCY AND TAX

Singaporeans can enter Indonesia visa-free for up to 30 days. Other nationalities can check requirements at www.visahq.com.

($1=IDR 9.5).

WHEN TO GO

Visit the Gilis in January, February, October and November for the best chance of clear skies, little fain and fewer crowds. 

As a Pioneer

Pretty much every Maldivian resort claims to be the first to do something. But while others compete to add more and more shiny new amenities, Maalifushi by COMO really has gone out on a limb: earlier this year, it became the first luxury resort to open in the remote Thaa Atoll, meaning you can be among the first to explore the pristine waters stretching off in all directions. Hardcore surfers have long known that the nearby Farms break is world-class (the season runs from April to October), but the resident marine biologist and dive masters are still discovering new spots to explore every day. We finished our PADI at Maalifushi and such was the diversity of sealife that it basically ruined diving for us forever. The resort itself features 50 rooms and suites, 15 villas on land and over water, as well as three restaurants, including sunset views from Japanese fine-dining spot Tai. It’s stylish without being overbearing, and its sheer remoteness makes the whole thing feel like the best of adventures. Rates start from US$650/night ($820), including transfer by domestic airline (it’s an additional US$550 ($700) per person for the seaplane)—the airport is a 25 minute speedboat ride away, from where it’s 35 minutes back to Male. Find more info here. 

Like Royalty

If uncomplicated luxe is what you’re after (and let’s face it, most visitors to the Maldives are) then Huvafen Fushi is hard to beat. Just 30 minutes by private speedboat transfer from Male, it’s even feasible as a weekend break from Singapore. It’s smaller (just 43 bungalows) than many of the bigger name resorts, meaning more personalized service and few people around to interrupt your tropical daydreaming (unsurprisingly, it’s a celebrity favorite). The big draw here is LIME, the world’s first underwater spa: both it and the resort have won their share of design awards, and Huvafen frequently tops the glossy magazine best-of lists. But it’s not all glitz and glamour—one of our most memorable experiences was feeding stingrays by hand as the sun went down. We also saw more sharks here than anywhere else (in the diving world that’s apparently a good thing). Rates start from $1,048 for a double room, including breakfast for two. Book through Mr and Mrs Smith and you’ll also get Champagne and fruit on arrival. Find out more here. 

On a Budget

Don’t be fooled by the Maldives’ reputation as a once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon destination—thanks to Tigerair (see below) it’s cheaper than ever to get there, and there are a growing number of affordable accommodation options if you’re willing to forego extreme luxury (and, on the local islands, alcohol). Since 2009, locals have been allowed to open their own guesthouses, and now beach houses and homestays go for as little as $50/night through Airbnb. We’ve heard good things about the Amazing Noovilu Guesthouse ($163/night, including three meals), which offers excursions like manta watching and dolphin spotting from $50 and is accessible via a 1h20min public speedboat ride ($25) from Male to Mahibadoo (find the schedule here). Another option is to book with Secret Paradise who also offer local island-hopping packages (using public ferries) from US$450 ($570) for three days to US$1,099 ($1,390) for eight days.

Essentials

GETTING THERE

The cheapest direct flights to the Maldivian capital Male are with Tigerair. Fares vary depending on the season but expect to pay around $400. You can also get there with Singapore Airlines, from $780 return.

Once you’re there, most of the top-end resorts will help with transfer to and from Male. To travel between resorts you’ll typically need to go back through Male.

VISA, CURRENCY AND TAX

Free visa permits are issued on arrival. US dollars and credit cards are used at all resorts. In local islands you’ll want rufiyaa ($1=12MVR). Note that most room rates do not include tax, which from Nov 1 increases to 22.4%.

WHEN TO GO

Temperatures are usually 26-30°C, with the high season from January to March. Mid-May to November is monsoon season, so you can expect some rain.

Fall Hornin' Pumpkin Ale

Anderson Valley Brewing Company's seasonal beer has delicious aromas of baked bread with hints of cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin and spices. With a creamy mouthfeel and sweet caramel flavors, it's got a smooth and round finish.
Get it: $10 at The Good Beer Company

2014 Classic Release Stone Old Guardian

Stone Brewing Co.'s limited release is actually an English ale called barleywine. This hefty brew is big on malt and hops, creating a rich and slightly sweet ale with bright hop notes. It's got bready and banana-like aromas combined with toffee malt flavors and a citrus finish.
Get it: $28 at Brewers' Craft

XIPA

Brewerkz's newest addition is their World Beer Cup gold medal winner, XIPA. It's a bigger, bolder and brawnier version of their house IPA with even more malt, hops and alcohol, so expect really punchy and slightly more bitter flavors.
Get it: $11/pint or $7.50/bottle at Brewerkz

Sansho Ale

A little known Japanese craft beer from Iwate Kura Brewery, this deep golden seasonal brew has strong notes of green or Sichuan peppercorn. For something peppery, it's actually got delicate flavors that are balanced by the herbal and spicy notes similar to those found in wine. It has maltier backbone but the aromas and flavors of peppercorn, ginger and citrus follow.
Get it: $17 at Restaurant Sela

Dead Guy Ale

Rogue Brewery's seasonal release has no pumpkins in sight, but it does have a nice glow: this German-style Maibock has a hazy, deep golden color with aromas of sweet honey and citrus. True to the autumn season, it is reminiscent of honey graham crackers with toasted malt and gives way to hoppy and slightly creamy flavors.
Get it: $20 at Thirsty The Beer Shop