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Condé Nast Traveler
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Condé Nast Traveler
Jurassic World Rebirth Takes the Dinos to Thailand
On Location peels back the curtain on some of your favorite films, television shows, and more. Jurassic World Rebirth is set on the fictional Ile Saint-Hubert, a previously-unseen location in the iconic franchise, which gave the filmmakers the opportunity to reimagine the dinosaur-inhabited world. The producers looked at numerous locations, including the Dominican Republic, Mauritius, Panama, and Costa Rica, before settling on Krabi, Thailand, where director Gareth Edwards also shot 2023's The Creator. The team combined real-world locations in Thailand with sets in Malta, New York City, and London to create the world. Jurassic World Rebirth follows a team of operatives, including Zora Bennett (Scarlett Johansson), Dr. Henry Loomis (Jonathan Bailey), and Duncan Kincaid (Mahershala Ali), as they infiltrate the restricted Ile Saint-Hubert to acquire DNA samples from three dinosaur species. On the way, they encounter a shipwrecked family, led by single father Reuben Delgado (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), who get swept up in the action. Audiences get to see a significant portion of the island, which is home to a now-deserted InGen research facility that bred dinosaur hybrids. 'We wanted it to feel like the original film, but at the same time, we wanted to push the technology a little bit in this new facility,' production designer James Clyne says. 'This island is more advanced and ahead of its time than some of the other islands we've seen. InGen put all their resources into funding it, so you get a more futuristic sense of the world.'
CNA
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Jurassic World: Rebirth was filmed in Thailand. Here are the featured locations you can visit
If the sweeping landscapes in Jurassic World: Rebirth – the seventh and latest instalment in the Jurassic Park franchise – left you captivated, here's some good news: You can head to some of these places yourselves. Jurassic World: Rebirth was filmed at locations across three southern provinces in the country: Krabi, Phang Nga and Trang. Filming took place from Jun 13 to Jul 16, 2024, with a budget exceeding 650 million Thai baht (US$20 million), reported local newspaper The Nation. The making of the movie also involved over 500 Thai crew members and created jobs and income streams for 2,245 Thai individuals. Here are the key places you can visit to be transported right into the heart of the film: 1. HUAI TO WATERFALL AT KHAO PHANOM BENCHA NATIONAL PARK, KRABI The Khao Phanom Bencha National Park is a popular destination for its waterfalls, caves and trails through montane forests, according to the Thai National Parks website. Located in the park is Huai To Waterfall, a multi-tiered waterfall amidst the dense jungle. It is also one of the smallest parks in the country, covering around 50 sq km of area between Maung, Ao Luek and Khao Phanom districts of Krabi Province. 2. KO KRADAN, TRANG PROVINCE An island surrounded by white sandy beaches and crystal-clear water, Ko Kradan is situated to the west of Ko Muk and is the location of the Hat Chao Mai National Park Protection Unit, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. It is also a must visit for snorkelling to see the coral reefs around its coast and a popular venue for wedding ceremonies. 3. PHANG-NGA BAY (AO PHANG NGA NATIONAL PARK), PHANG NGA Ao Phang Nga National Park is a 400 sq km marine national park that features long beaches and houses the biggest native mangrove forests in Thailand along the mainland and many islands. Its compound frames about 40 islands on the east of Phuket Island, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. It is best known for the popular attraction, Khao Tapu, otherwise known as the James Bond Island, whose name stems from when it was used as a filming location for the 1974 Bond film The Man With the Golden Gun. There are also other limestone karst islands, a number of white sandy beaches and a few caves at the park, according to the Thai National Parks website. The turquoise waters surrounding the islands are also consistently calm, which makes it ideal for canoeing, especially to spots that are sea level caves, leading to inland lagoons. The nearest popular towns and tourist destinations are Phuket, Phi Phi Islands, Krabi, Khao Lak and Ko Lanta. 4. THAM MORAKOT (EMERALD CAVE), TRANG PROVINCE Located in the Hat Chao Mai National Park, Emerald Cave is a must visit in Thailand. From the cave mouth, tourists must float in groups passing through an 80m-long narrow tunnel. The name Emerald Cave is derived from when the sunlight reflects on the water of the cave, causing the water and the cave walls to appear emerald green. This can only be seen between 10am and 2pm. Jurassic World: Rebirth is out in cinemas from Thursday (Jul 3). The film follows Zora Bennett, played by Scarlett Johansson, who leads a team of skilled operatives to the dangerous island research facility for the original Jurassic Park to secure DNA from dinosaurs which can provide life-saving benefits to mankind. The movie also stars actors Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali and Rupert Friend. It is a sequel to the 2022 movie Jurassic World Dominion.
ABC News
01-07-2025
- ABC News
Australia issues Thailand terrorism travel warning after explosives allegedly seized
The Australian government has warned travellers of an "ongoing risk of terrorism" across Thailand after police reported finding improvised explosives in tourist areas around Phuket and Krabi. "Popular tourist areas may be the target of terrorist attacks anywhere across Thailand, including Bangkok and Phuket," said a statement posted to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Smartraveller website. "Phuket International Airport has increased security measures and passengers should arrive early for their flight. This follows the recent discovery of an explosive device near the airport. "Thai authorities also defused devices in Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga and made arrests." Thai officials said on Friday they had arrested two suspects allegedly connected to the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), the leading group in a decades-long separatist movement which seeks independence for Thailand's southernmost provinces which are majority ethnic Malay and Muslim. In comments carried by Thai PBS, a spokesperson for the Thai military said two men in their 20s were alleged to have planted some 11 improvised explosive devices in Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga. Army commander Lieutenant General Paisal Nusang said the devices were not powerful enough to cause serious damage or kill, but rather appeared intended to disrupt economic activity in tourist-heavy areas. Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat last week sought to downplay the threat to tourists in his province. "Based on current evidence, none of the suspicious items found so far are explosive or destructive," he said as quoted by the Bangkok Post. BRN's attacks have historically been focused in Thailand's deep southern provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narthiwat — not tourist areas further north like Phuket. Greg Raymond, an expert on Thailand at the Australian National University Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, was sceptical that BRN would be behind an explosives plot so far north. "There hasn't been any real evidence of movement of the insurgency outside the three border provinces for quite some years," he said. "This looks like perhaps a couple of amateurs [who] don't seem to have the skills that the Barisan Revolusi Nasional, the main insurgency group, have down in those three border provinces." Deep South Watch, a non-profit organisation which monitors the conflict in Thailand's south, says more than 7,700 people have died as a result since 2004. DFAT has long warned against travel to the southern three provinces, which border Malaysia, "due to ongoing risks of low-level insurgent activity, including terrorism". The alleged bomb plot against tourism sites in Phuket and Krabi comes after BRN in May publicly disavowed violence against civilian targets. "We insist that we will conduct our activities under the framework of international human rights principles and laws," the militant group said a statement in Malay translated by Thai PBS. Human Rights Watch's Asia director Elaine Pearson said the public pledge not to target civilians was an "unprecedented step ... after terrorising people in Thailand's deep south for more than two decades". Deep South Watch reports at least 245 people have been injured in violent incidents involving insurgents this year. Thai Police did not respond to ABC questions on the nature of the devices or the ongoing risk posed to tourists. Pravit Rojanaphruk, a prominent Thai journalist with Khaosod English, said little was known about the devices or the suspects. "Since the case has yet to be brought up before a court of law, all we have at the moment is what the police said was a confession," he told the ABC. In its travel warning, DFAT added that the "security situation in Thailand can be unpredictable". "Large protests have occurred in Bangkok and other areas," they said. "In previous years, large political protests and government crowd control operations have resulted in violence." Thousands of protesters last weekend gathered in Bangkok to call for the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, whose government is at risk of collapse over a border dispute with Cambodia. Rojanaphruk said Australians who were worried could postpone their trip to Phuket by a week or two "just to see how things pan out." "I do not think that it's as dangerous as some countries in South-East Asia, but it's good to be vigilant," he said. "I would be more concerned about swimming on the beach and being sucked down by a rip curl, which has actually killed a few people over the past month or two in Phuket alone."
Daily Mail
28-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Airport bomb threat sparks warning for Aussies travelling to popular holiday destination
Aussies heading to Thailand have been issued an urgent travel warning after a bomb was found near Phuket International Airport this week. 'There's an ongoing risk of terrorism in Thailand,' Australia's official travel advice service, Smartraveller, said in a statement on Saturday morning. 'Popular tourist areas may be the target of terrorist attacks anywhere across Thailand, including Bangkok and Phuket. 'This follows discovery of an explosive device near the airport this week. 'Thai authorities defused devices in Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga this week and have made related arrests in recent days.' The service added that Phuket International Airport has increased security measures and that passengers flying out of the airport should arrive well ahead of their flights. 'The security situation in Thailand can be unpredictable,' the advice continued. 'Large protests have occurred in Bangkok and other areas. In previous years, large political protests and government crowd control operations have resulted in violence.' The service also urged Aussies in Thailand to be alert to risks around drink spiking, and to never leave food or drinks unattended. Holidaymakers should stay with people they trust at bars, nightclubs and in taxis. Travellers were told to exercise a high degree of caution in Thailand overall due to security and safety risks, while they should 'reconsider the need to travel' to Yala province, Pattani province, and Narathiwat province due to ongoing risks of insurgent activity, including terrorism. Thailand is a major destination for Australians, with about 800,000 Aussies visiting the country each year before Covid.
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Travel + Leisure
25-05-2025
- Travel + Leisure
This Tiny Island Is One of Thailand's Best Hidden Gems—With Crowd-free Beaches, Luxury Hotels, and Fruit-loving Monkeys
Koh Lanta is a small island located in southern Thailand—and it's one of the country's most underrated destinations. Although it flies under the radar of most American travelers, it's home to luxury resorts such as Rawi Warin Resort & Spa and Pimalai Resort & Spa. The island is also great for snorkelers and has healthy reefs that teem with marine life. Koh Lanta, an island in the southern Andaman Sea off Thailand's west coast, is one of the country's true hidden gems. There are no Western chains here. No bar girls. There is still unbuilt beachfront, although in five years it may be gone. There are plans to build a bridge that will soon connect Koh Lanta to the mainland. Once it's done, it'll be an easy 45 minutes to Krabi International Airport (KBV). But that's a travel writer's worry for another day. For now, Koh Lanta remains relatively undiscovered, especially by Americans. During my second consecutive January visit—November to March are the best months to come to the island in terms of the weather—I didn't meet another American. Scandinavians, however, are a different story. There are nonstop flights from Stockholm to Krabi International Airport, and I spoke to quite a few Swedes and Norwegians who were eager to escape the winter darkness. I found plenty of those snowbirds at both Rawi Warin Resort & Spa, a kid-friendly luxury hotel, and at Pimalai Resort & Spa, one of the island's top properties (it has two Michelin Keys)—my wife and I spent a nearly perfect week there this year. A colorful longtail boat on the sandy shore of Ko 22 years ago on 100 unspoiled acres, Pimalai boasts 3,000 feet of prime Kantiang beachfront. Most mornings, I slow-jogged its entire length, which verges on the Platonic ideal of a tropical beach: mostly empty, with soft sand that can be found both in and out of the gentle water. Pimalai is luxury done right, with more beach and poolside lounges than hotel guests. While there are small resorts at both ends of Kantiang, in the morning, I saw almost no one. Because of the terrain, Pimalai feels like two resorts, each with an infinity pool and restaurants. There are only 121 total accommodations. Deluxe rooms are located near the beach, while pool villas are tucked into the terraced hillside. All guests get access to round-trip van service to the Krabi Airport and a speedboat transfer to Pimalai's pier—this cuts 45 minutes off travel time. Again, real luxury. Rustic beach bars and restaurant along the Long Beach in Koh Lanta Island, Krabi province. Tuomas A. Lehtinen/Getty Images One memorable morning, my wife and I were picked up at Pimalai to begin a day-long snorkeling charter to Koh Haa and Koh Rak. Because we're old and crafty, we sat up front beside the driver, Jaroon, while other passengers crammed into uncomfortable bench seats in the bed of the pickup. After 40 years of chasing the sun on unspoiled (and then only slightly spoiled) Thai beaches, we've learned that the best part of travel is the people you meet and talk to. Like most Thai people, Jaroon was gentle, affable, and warmly friendly to tourists. He apologized for his English (which was quite good) and laughed when I told him my name was 'Khun Khon-di,' which roughly translates to "Mister Goodman ." Because Koh Lanta is in the far south of Thailand—near Malaysia—90 percent of its inhabitants are Muslim, including Jaroon. He admitted that many of his friends drank alcohol, although he didn't, perhaps because he had 500 rubber trees on his property, from which he gathered latex each morning starting at 3:30 am, before going to work. Income from his rubber trees doubled his monthly salary as a driver, which had enabled Jaroon to send his daughter to college in Bangkok, a fact of which he was justifiably proud. The snorkeling that day on Koh Rak was spectacular. I saw lots of healthy soft and hard coral. There were fish everywhere, large and small, and though I've been diving and snorkeling in Thai waters for quite some time, I saw something I'd never seen before: a 15-legged crown-of-thorns starfish. It was an electric blue mammoth with black thorns peppering its surface. One of the many Longtail Macaque monkeys in the nature of Thailand's Koh Lanta island. On the boat back from Koh Rak to the pier, our captain made a detour past a mangrove forest inhabited by a large band of swimming, fruit-loving monkeys. I'd never seen monkeys in the water before, but I got the idea these monkeys eagerly awaited our boat's arrival for their daily treat of leftover watermelon and pineapple. One evening later in the week, we hired Jaroon to drive us to Old Town, on the east side of Koh Lanta. This coast fronts the Straits of Malacca, rather than the Andaman Sea, and lies along a traditional trade route to Malaysia. The east coast of the island doesn't have sandy beaches or upscale resorts, but it does have Moken (a group of Indigenous sea nomads) communities. The other big attraction of this unique place is the simple restaurants that are built on wooden pilings—we listened to the waves break as we feasted on squid and grouper. We loved our time on Koh Lanta and at Pimalai, which was incredibly well-run; our room was serviced, unobtrusively, three times a day. The international breakfast buffet included obscure regional specialties, Thai noodle soup, an array of tropical fruit, and organic juices. The food at Rak Talay, the beachside seafood restaurant where we often ate dinner, was not only sumptuous, but for a five-star, surprisingly affordable. If you visit, try the soft-shell crabs. You'll be amazed by the flavor and by how many crabs comprise a single order. I can still taste them—and hope to again.
