Laguna Phuket Triathlon
Cherngtalay, Phuket, Thailand · November · Independent (Laguna Phuket)
Course: 1.8 km (1.1 mi) swim, 50 km (31 mi) bike, 12 km (7.5 mi) run. Olympic-plus (1.1 mi / 31 mi / 7.5 mi)
Why people love it
- Asia's longest-running triathlon, now in its 32nd edition.
- Sea start on Bang Tao Beach, then a 600 m (0.37 mi) lagoon leg.
- Bike passes pineapple plantations and rainforest, with children cheering.
- The 12 km (7.5 mi) run is almost flat.
- Sprint: 0.5 km (0.31 mi) swim, 20 km (12.4 mi) bike, 6 km (3.7 mi) run.
Watch out for
- The main race is longer than Olympic: 1.8 km (1.1 mi), 50 km (31 mi), 12 km (7.5 mi).
- Hot and humid, 25 to 33 °C (77 to 91 °F); heat index hit 47 °C (116 °F) once.
- Short climbs up to 18% and tight descents on the bike.
- Water is 28 to 30 °C (82 to 86 °F), so no wetsuit; the lagoon leg was reported murky.
- Few recent athlete reports; most evidence dates from 2013 to 2018.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Very tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.9
Long history and warm reports about the setting and volunteers, but most written evidence is from 2013 to 2018, with heat and hills noted. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run4.0
Marshals, mechanics and stocked aid stations were praised in older reports; no recent age-group reports were found. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDemanding2.4
1.8 km (1.1 mi) sea plus lagoon swim, steep hills and tropical heat make this a stretch for a first Olympic-plus race. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow2.4
Hilly 50 km (31 mi) bike and 28 to 35 °C (82 to 95 °F) run heat; pros still win in about 2:19 to 2:22. · Medium confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalRarely1.0
The sea is 28 to 30 °C (82 to 86 °F) in November, far above the 24.6 °C (76.3 °F) limit; no wetsuits. · Medium confidence
- Water temperatureUncomfortable1.8
Sea and lagoon around 28 to 30 °C (82 to 86 °F) in November; no race-day reading found. · Low confidence
- Calm waterSome chop3.3
One 2013 account says sea swells had calmed; late-November surf is usually modest but no recent data. · Low confidence
- Swim easeModerate2.9
Sea swim, a beach dash over a dune, then a lagoon leg; the exit was reported muddy. · Low confidence
- Swim experienceFine3.2
Sea start from beach is a plus; the lagoon leg was called murky, weedy and smelly in a 2013 report. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood3.8
Three-wave start and resort lifeguards likely; kayak count not found. Sprint pitched at beginners. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.2
Rubber plantation and village roads; surface quality not documented. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed3.4
Marshalled course on local roads; closures are not confirmed. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful4.2
Pineapple and rubber plantations, rainforest and villages, school children cheering. · Medium confidence
- WindMostly calm3.6
Sheltered by hills and forest; no wind complaints in reports. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedSlow2.3
Technical, hilly bike; pros ride about 1:09 for 50 km (31 mi), around 43 km (26.7 mi)/h (27 mph). · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessHilly2.2
Elevation gain not published; reports describe repeated short steep climbs (Naithon hills, up to 18%) on 50 km (31 mi). · Low confidence
- Bike simplicityTechnical2.0
Twisty plantation roads, hairpins, steep descent into a tight off-camber 90 degree turn, mandatory dismounts at a pedestrian bridge. · Medium confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportStrong3.5
Local children and spectators along the bike; run inside the resort is quieter. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsGood4.0
Well stocked stations with ice, cola, sponges and sports drink reported; heat makes this essential. · Medium confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.6
Resort grounds, golf course and lagoon; elephant greeting at the finish in some years. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsHard2.0
Hot, humid and largely exposed run after a hard bike; golf course and mixed surfaces in some years. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessMostly flat4.2
12 km (7.5 mi) run described as almost flat through the resort complex; elevation not published. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperatureHarsh1.7
Typical 25 to 33 °C (77 to 91 °F); heat index near 47 °C (116 °F) in 2017. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable3.0
Mid-November is the end of the rainy season; afternoon thunderstorms and wind were reported in the week before one race. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.2
Tropical beach resort, Andaman Sea, plantations and rainforest. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.4
Resort start and finish are easy to reach; bike loop in the hills is hard to watch. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeSea level5.0
Beachfront resort at about 5 m (16 ft) elevation. · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.0
Phuket has abundant beach lodging; race hotels offer a discount code on the official site. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.4
Resort pricing, but race-hotel discount codes and many options nearby. · Low confidence
- WalkabilityWalkable4.0
Race is based at Laguna Phuket resort complex so on-site guests walk to everything; exact transition layout not confirmed. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.2
Phuket airport about 15 km (9 mi) away, but most athletes fly long-haul with a connection. · Medium confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.6
Single resort venue, wave start from the beach; bike check-in described as quick. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.3
Bang Tao and Phuket have abundant restaurants and nightlife. · Medium confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Cherngtalay, Phuket, Phuket, Thailand
- Typical month
- November
- Latest or next date
- 15 November 2026
- Organiser
- Independent (Laguna Phuket)
- Field size
- About 1,000 athletes
- First held
- 1994
- Distances (non-standard)
- 1.8 km (1.1 mi) swim, 50 km (31 mi) bike, 12 km (7.5 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Bang Tao Beach (Andaman Sea) then Laguna freshwater lagoon (Olympic-plus); sprint venue not confirmed (sea)
- Water temperature
- 28–30 °C (82–86 °F)
- Wetsuit
- Banned
- Swim start
- wave
- Key climbs
- Naithon hills (early on the bike); repeated short steep climbs up to about 18%
- Run shade
- largely exposed
- Air temperature
- 25–33 °C (77–91 °F)
- Humidity
- very high
- Altitude
- 5 m (16 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Phuket International (HKT), 15 km (9 mi) away
- Where to stay
- Laguna Phuket resorts, Bang Tao
- Booking
- Race hotels offer a discount code via the official site.
What racers and reviewers say
- Bobby Go, Spin.phRaced 2013 · blog · Mixed
First-person account from the 2013 Laguna Phuket week. Calm sea start, then a murky, weedy lagoon leg with a muddy exit. Brutal short climbs on twisty plantation roads forced walking, and the heat sapped the run. He called it his most satisfying race and praised the volunteers. His 21 km (13 mi) run suggests the half-distance race.
“slowest finish but most satisfying”
- Triathlete, Holly Bennett dispatchRaced 2013 · article · Positive
A pro-style dispatch from the Challenge half the week after the Laguna race. Heat near 90 °F (32 °C) and high humidity, steep hairpin climbs where many walked, an exposed run. Local volunteers and schoolchildren were warm and welcoming. She called it her favourite half and described the course as merciless.
- Slowtwitch forum: Laguna Phuket TriathlonRaced 2005 · forum · Positive
A 2005 thread of pre-race tips. The bike has a few short sharp climbs soon after the resort exit and a steep descent into an off-camber 90 degree turn. The run past the golf course is very hot. Aid stations were well stocked, the setting praised. Old, but the layout character still matches later reports.
- TriZone Australia: Laguna Phuket Friday updateRaced 2016 · article · Positive
Race-eve preview with a coach's advice. Three-wave start on Bang Tao Beach, 1,200 m (0.75 mi) sea, a 100 m (110 yd) dune sprint and 600 m (0.37 mi) lagoon. The bike is technical but scenic with early hills to pace carefully; the run is nearly flat. Expect hot, humid conditions and ice-cold bottles on course. Called manageable with good pacing.
“a very manageable course”
- Slowtwitch: Raelert, Watkinson win 24th Laguna PhuketRaced 2017 · article · Mixed
Race report on the 2017 edition. Heat at the resort peaked at a reported 116 °F (47 °C) heat index. Winners went 2:19:32 (men) and 2:35:01 (women) on the 1.8 km (1.1 mi) / 50 km (31.1 mi) / 12 km (7.5 mi) course. Useful for conditions and pro times, nothing on age-group experience.
Show 3 more
- Slowtwitch: Croneborg, Luxford win 25th Laguna PhuketRaced 2018 · article · Mixed
2018 results report: winners 2:21:39 and 2:39:50, men's bike about 1:09 for 50 km (31 mi). Confirms the course is a fast-for-pros but hard middle distance. No conditions or age-group comments.
- Triathlon Magazine Canada: Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-FestRaced 2015 · article · Positive
2015 preview presenting the race as a late-season destination and a step up from Olympic. Field around 1,300 to 1,500 across the week, with a big prize purse. Used only for scale.
- Wikipedia: Laguna Phuket TriathlonRaced 2026 · aggregator · Positive
Overview: created 1994, partnered with IRONMAN 2010 to 2012 and Challenge 2013 to 2015, independent since 2016. Bike shortened from 55 km (34.2 mi) to 50 km (34 to 31 mi) and reversed in 2016. Lists a long roll of champions.
Raced Laguna Phuket Triathlon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
Training for Laguna Phuket Triathlon? Moku Coach builds your plan around race day.