By Petro Kuiper

When your super sporty Triathlon friend, Petro returns to Phuket with the road bike she calls Carlotta, there really is only one choice. Thanyapura Health and Sports Resort.

I just love having friends returning to Thailand through the Phuket Sandbox. The Sandbox option offers vaccinated arrivals a quarantine-free entry into Thailand and gives this Little Wren the opportunity to catch up with some dear Bangkok friends not seen in a while.

Having stayed in over forty Phuket Sandbox SHA + hotels this year, it’s fun to see which hotels and resorts people choose. Phuket offers something for everyone in the way of hotel stays, but Thanypura Phuket is a renowned favourite for sports lovers and recognised as a leading sport, health, and wellness destination.

Thanyapura Sports Health & Wellness Resort.

Thanyapura offers one of the most impressive sports training facilities in Asia. It’s a perfect choice for those who want an active holiday. You couldn’t get further from the Bangkok option for international arrivals, where you are room bound for 14 days in an Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) hotel, even when fully vaccinated.

Phuket Sandbox or ASQ? What would you choose?

Those in the know that opt for ASQ in Bangkok, hire a static bike or cross-trainer to while away the days.

Here in Phuket, Petro notches up a cool 500km of freedom with Carlotta cycling around the island. Coffee, lunch, or whatever stops as she wishes. I have yet to meet anyone from Bangkok who does not love the Phuket Sandbox. It is a brilliant (albeit paperwork-heavy) way to arrive in Thailand.

Why Thanyapura?

Petro was clearly impressed by Thanyapura Resort and is happy to share her thoughts below:

‘Now, I am not your “lie the whole day by the beach and visiting the spa” kind of person, I need to MOVE.

Yes, move in capital letters. I like my rest (a bit of it) but when it came to choosing my ‘prison’ for the two weeks in Phuket I didn’t think twice, it was going to be Thanyapura.

Where else can you swim in the same pool as Olympians, run around the same track as Paralympians, and watch development swim squads go through their motions? 

The resort location

The only drawback is that it is not at the beach but it is so tranquil and peaceful in the hills that it doesn’t matter, and the beach is only 30 minutes away by motorbike. It is easy to rent a motorbike online and it was delivered to the resort at a time that suited me, and it was picked up again. You can also rent a car if needed.

The rooms

The rooms are huge, the bathroom is big and they even have a hook in the closet to hang your bike from, if you travel with your own bike. Which a lot of guests do.   

Photo credit Straker Conigglio

Working from the hotel

There is a desk and ergonomic chair for the working hours and also a bar counter at the common area where you can work from. I also saw quite a few guests working at the restaurant/coffee shop.

The staff

The staff are all amazing and it didn’t take them long to know me and nothing was too much trouble for them.

Meals

If you are there to get you back on track after your holiday – meaning you need to get fit and healthy again, the meals are just right. Breakfast is to die for – you can choose from fruit salad, acai bowls, yogurt bowls, bircher muesli, or coconut bowls. Then you can add your choice of eggs on toast and a continental breadbasket. The coffee is also pretty good.

Currently, they have only one café open but they serve very tasty food until 8 pm.

Photo credit Straker Conigglio

There are a few local eateries within walking distance, about 1km walk. I tried two of them and the food was fresh, tasty and cheap. 

 Enough healthy calories to keep your engine purring for all the exercise sessions which brings me to the important part for choosing this resort.

The sport facilities

While staying at the hotel you get complimentary access to the Thanyapura health and wellness facilities.

SWIMMING

Remember I mentioned the Olympians?  There are two 8 lane swimming pools for training; one  50 meters and another 25-meters, as well as a relaxing pool at the hotel. Some hours are not available due to squads using it but there are more than enough hours left over for us normal people to swim. There are some coached sessions that are complementary or you can pay for extra sessions or even one on one stroke correction sessions with a coach.

Photo credit Straker Conigglio

RUNNING

There is a 500-meter tartan running track which I shared with an amazing Paralympian one day. There are 2 complimentary coached running sessions a week – one is drills and the other one is track intervals. Again you can pay for one on one sessions with a coach if you wish.

There are lots of small local roads for those long runs, just be aware of the dogs when you go early morning, I encountered one or two but with enough yelling from my side, they were not too keen to take me on.

Petro & Carlotta complete 500 km in 14 days.

CYCLING

They have 2 group rides per week and if you choose not to bring your own bike they have good bikes to rent.

See Thanypura’s guide to Safe Cycling in Phuket: “Phuket is home to many kilometres of well-maintained roads, meandering in-between hills, lush green jungle, and sparkly lakes. The landscapes are simply stunning. And despite the notion of stereotypical dangerous Thai roads, you can stay safe on a bike in Phuket”

GROUP CLASSES & GYM

There are more than a hundred other group classes which you can choose from every week.

I tried my hand, or shall I say body, at

• TRX training: bodyweight exercises with a strap contraption hanging off a rack
• Core and functional movement class: which is nearly like a Bootcamp without the yelling and screaming and sprinting. The coach gives you options to suit your ability. This was a lot of fun and a new experience for me.
• Dancing yoga:  Yes! I know, I’ve never heard of it or tried it before but it was worth a try. You go through your yoga movements and poses and learn a sequence which you then do to music. Completely out of my comfort zone but I am hooked.
• Spinning: an indoor cycling class.
• Hips and shoulders yoga: to open all those pesky tight joints.
• Strength class: held in the outdoor gym with proper weight training but again, the coach was on hand to give us advice, correct our technique, and give us other options.

These were the only classes I could manage to get to but there are a lot more options to choose from. There is also a cardio gym as well as a weight training gym – all well equipped with quality equipment.

Original photo credit Straker Conigglio

TENNIS

The tennis program at Thanyapura is also top-notch with excellent coaches, one on one sessions as well as group sessions.

Four tennis courts are under a roof so tennis can carry on regardless of the weather and there are also two outdoor courts (all plexicushion if you are training for the Australian Open!)

Health Department 

There is also a health department with a doctor, physiotherapist, chiropractor, and nutritionist on hand. More you will have to check that out yourself on their website – I didn’t use it.

The Fitness Club

The fitness club has full locker room facilities with towels, showers, and lockers. There is also a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and ice bath to smooth those sore muscles. I tried that ice bath but only for a second or two, it is freezing.

Exploring Phuket Island

All the other Phuket experiences are a short motorbike ride away. It is easy to access the beaches, the waterfalls, the nail spas, and foot massages. 

If I have to do Sandbox again I will definitely choose Thanyapura again’,

Petro Kulper

I love the way people use their time in the Phuket Sandbox in many ways from relaxing and doing nothing through to non-stop sports and recreation.

Phuket is emerging as a global health and wellness destination and Thanyapura is a good choice for those looking for varied sports and fitness options. Petro’s 500 km on a road bike in two weeks certainly beats 2 weeks on a static gym bike in a Bangkok hotel quarantine to me!

Thanyapura suggests they are ‘an oasis for people who want an active holiday destination to rebalance and recharge using sustainable and holistic practices. The goal is to help guests feel and perform better for a healthier, happier lifestyle’.

I think I need to go and try this place out for a staycation myself!

With grateful thanks to Petro Kuiper for submitting this feature. Should others in the Phuket Sandbox like to guest post any fabulous stays, let me know!