Phuket is not only an island paradise, but also the site of a world-class sporting event, the annual Laguna Phuket Triathlon

The Island of Phuket, with its sparking turquoise water and lush jungle scenery, is known worldwide as one of Thailand’s most beguiling natural jewels. The “Pearl of the Andaman” draws scores of tourists each year to its sand-fringed shores, inviting them to bask in the tropical sun and revel in the island’s endless leisure and adventure activities. What many visitors don’t realize is that Phuket is not only an is land paradise, but also the site of a world-class sporting event, the annual Laguna Phuket Triathlon. Hosted each year by Laguna Resort, the triathlon covers a total distance of 68.8 kilometres, divided into a 1.8km swim, a 55km bike ride and 12km run. The triathlon draws along 1,400 entrants, including amateur competitors and professional athletes, who welcome the chance to race in Phuket’s stunning environment. “Our race is the race of legends”, says Debbie Dionysius, event director of the Laguna race, referring to the star-studded cast of previous years, including triathlon greats such as Mark Allen and Paula Newby Fraser. The triathlon kicks off with an ocean swim from the beach in front of Laguna Resort, followed by a swim in the tropical lagoon that separates the property’s five holiday resorts. The swim is followed by a strenuous bike ride that winds over steep mountain curves, along the Naithon beachfront and through Nai Yang National Park. The race ends with a run through Laguna’s expansive grounds, skirting the lagoon and looping around the resort’s world-class golf course.

In addition to the race itself, the Laguna Phuket Triathlon offers family members, friends and supporters of the athletes a chance to discover the sights and sounds of Phuket, a destination famous for its exceptional natural beauty. The island’s stunning white sand beaches area haven for sun worshippers, while the aquamarine coastal waters home to phenomenal sea life, including whale sharks, kaleidoscopic coral, seahorses, lionfish and rare ocean turtles, which return each year to Mai Khao beach on Phuket’s northern coast to lay their eggs. The Island’s scenic vistas include the long, empty stretched of its northern beaches and the dramatic landscape of Promthep Cape, a rocky promontory which juts out into the sea, forming Phuket’s southernmost point and offering breathtaking sunset views.

            Further inland, the island’s rainforests and waterfalls are interspersed with vibrant urban areas where visitors can enjoy fabulous restaurants, shopping and nightlife. Phuket’s Sino-colonial old town is one of the island’s trendiest areas, where the diverse cultural and architectural influences of the island’s tin mining heyday have been fused and immortalized. Indian roti restaurants and vivid red and gold Chinese temples stand side by side with antiquated colonial buildings built by European traders who lived on the island during the mining era. Close to the triathlon course, the 243-hectare grounds of Laguna Resort encompass five high-quality hotels.