Topic : Phuket FantaSea

Costing 3,500 million Baht, Phuket FantaSea is certainly one of Phuket’s most interesting theme parks and has quickly become a tourist destination in its own right. Promising to be the ‘ultimate in nighttime entertainment on Phuket’, Phuket FantaSea is a ‘Las Vegas-style’ show ‘inspired by Thailand’s rich and exotic heritage’. A curious combination of high-technology, pyrotechnics, and tales of times gone by, the 140-acre site houses a number of attractions exploring Thailand’s myths, legends and history. Visitors are treated to battle reenactments, magicians who make elephants fly and disappear, ‘big show’ song and dance numbers, and aerial ballet. The Palace of the Elephants, 3000-seat theatre is of particular interest.

Turing Thai history and culture into a show of such a grand scale was an ambitious project that could have easily turned into historical ‘kitsch’. However, they have done well in making the whole thing credible. The site also offers handicrafts and shopping alongside a number of first rate restaurants. If you are in Phuket, it is well worth spending an evening here.

Details: Admission with dinner – 1,900 Baht (1,700 Baht for children); without dinner – 1,500 Baht (same for children). A 'Gold Seat' upgrade is 250 Baht, whatever your age, and a round pickup service from hotels in the area is 300 Baht.