Thailand beach resort
| country: | Thailand |
| location: | 85 min by boat from Phuket, Southern Thailand |
| price: | From €75 - €150 per person per night, depending on the standard of accommodation chosen. We are closed from 1 June 2008 - 30 September 2008 |
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description
This is a remote eco-resort set in lush tropical forest on the edge of spectacular golden sands. Enjoy breathtaking seafront views and abundant wildlife (including turtles and rare hornbills) in one of the last unspoiled coastal areas of Thailand. We aim to provide a first class holiday experience in conjunction with the preservation of the natural environment.
The resort comprises beach front and forest dwellings, unique and stylish accommodations most individually designed. Services include first class dining, focusing on fresh local ingredients and quality drinks served at our bakery and pub.
Of course, no Thai experience is complete without enjoying the service provided by the legendary Land of Smiles' staff. Imagine the villas in Phuket without the crowds and you begin to get an idea of this amazing island getaway! We have been established for over 15 years, attracting a loyal following of discerning clients comprising families, groups and individuals that are looking for an experience that is unique, unsanitised and completely in touch with nature.
Find our about our Whale Shark exploration expedition here
Activities have been designed to benefit from the beautiful location and include land & sea safaris, scuba diving tours to both the Surin and Similan islands (one of the world's premier dive locations), sea kayaking, local community engagement, bird watching, Yoga, and Thai massage.
Scuba diving: Our Resort is just about the closest land fall point to the world famous Surin and Similan islands. The dive sites surrounding these islands offer one of the best opportunities in the world to dive with Whale Sharks. Diving and snorkeling is available November through April.
Yoga: Our Resort has long been a prime yoga retreat destination. The natural environment and tranquility offered by the location allow Yoga to be practiced in a setting rarely available elsewhere. A specially constructed platform will be available for those wishing to pursue this activity. We welcome inquiries from yoga, meditation, and other life-style instructors as well as participants.
Bird watching: Bird watching and nature treks can be enjoyed everyday, either in a group with trained guides or independently with the help of our specially prepared maps and printed guides. As well as the opportunity to see a rich variety of birdlife (Species identified on the island - Bird List ) we offer additional unusual experiences such as our beach combing tour. Another interesting opportunity for good bird watching is in the Surin Islands. A one hour boat ride takes you to this biological unique group of islands.
We have the pleasure of hosting a conservation group called Naucrates. During the high season, marine and botanical experts will be on hand working with volunteers from around the world. These experts are willing to make presentations to our guests about the sea turtles found on the island and restoration of the important mangrove forests of Koh Phra Thong and elsewhere in the tropics.
Cultural tours: The island has three villages populated by Thai, Moklen (the nomadic people of the Andaman coast of Thailand and southern Burma) and the Moken (the people commonly referred to as sea gypsies from the north Andaman coasts of Thailand and Burma.) Excursions to these villages can be arranged where you will meet families and see their age-old way of life. In addition, it is possible to visit local schools to meet children and teachers as well as a visit to the local public health centre. We can even arrange home stays with families where guests will enjoy their meals and experience the local sea community life. In some villages, guests can take Thai cooking courses and sample some of the traditional fruits of Thailand such as mangosteen, durian and jackfruit.
The resort comprises beach front and forest dwellings, unique and stylish accommodations most individually designed. Services include first class dining, focusing on fresh local ingredients and quality drinks served at our bakery and pub.
Of course, no Thai experience is complete without enjoying the service provided by the legendary Land of Smiles' staff. Imagine the villas in Phuket without the crowds and you begin to get an idea of this amazing island getaway! We have been established for over 15 years, attracting a loyal following of discerning clients comprising families, groups and individuals that are looking for an experience that is unique, unsanitised and completely in touch with nature.
Find our about our Whale Shark exploration expedition here
special things to do and see here
Activities have been designed to benefit from the beautiful location and include land & sea safaris, scuba diving tours to both the Surin and Similan islands (one of the world's premier dive locations), sea kayaking, local community engagement, bird watching, Yoga, and Thai massage. Scuba diving: Our Resort is just about the closest land fall point to the world famous Surin and Similan islands. The dive sites surrounding these islands offer one of the best opportunities in the world to dive with Whale Sharks. Diving and snorkeling is available November through April.
Yoga: Our Resort has long been a prime yoga retreat destination. The natural environment and tranquility offered by the location allow Yoga to be practiced in a setting rarely available elsewhere. A specially constructed platform will be available for those wishing to pursue this activity. We welcome inquiries from yoga, meditation, and other life-style instructors as well as participants.
Bird watching: Bird watching and nature treks can be enjoyed everyday, either in a group with trained guides or independently with the help of our specially prepared maps and printed guides. As well as the opportunity to see a rich variety of birdlife (Species identified on the island - Bird List ) we offer additional unusual experiences such as our beach combing tour. Another interesting opportunity for good bird watching is in the Surin Islands. A one hour boat ride takes you to this biological unique group of islands. We have the pleasure of hosting a conservation group called Naucrates. During the high season, marine and botanical experts will be on hand working with volunteers from around the world. These experts are willing to make presentations to our guests about the sea turtles found on the island and restoration of the important mangrove forests of Koh Phra Thong and elsewhere in the tropics.
Cultural tours: The island has three villages populated by Thai, Moklen (the nomadic people of the Andaman coast of Thailand and southern Burma) and the Moken (the people commonly referred to as sea gypsies from the north Andaman coasts of Thailand and Burma.) Excursions to these villages can be arranged where you will meet families and see their age-old way of life. In addition, it is possible to visit local schools to meet children and teachers as well as a visit to the local public health centre. We can even arrange home stays with families where guests will enjoy their meals and experience the local sea community life. In some villages, guests can take Thai cooking courses and sample some of the traditional fruits of Thailand such as mangosteen, durian and jackfruit.
travellers' tales
Walking on a completely empty long golden beach, watching the monsoon rains from our windows and kayaking in the mangrove swamp and watching the monkeys were the highlights. (more)
rooms, food and facilities
Each house is unique and individually designed. Some are one-bedroom beachfront houses, while others are luxury lodges in the forest less than 75 meters from the Andaman Sea.
We have accommodation that is both suitable for families & groups and couples looking for privacy. Houses comfortably sleep between 2 and 4 people. All of the houses have open-air bathrooms and are supplied with fans and mosquito nets. (N.B. Water is not heated and there is no electricity after 11pm.)
Local facilities include laundry, shop, bar, internet, café, restaurant (buffet menu), snorkelling equipment, kayaks, tours to Surin, diving (with pick up at the resort), safaris, conservation projects (Turtles and Whale sharks), bird watching.
Family friendly: The site is great for kids who can enjoy all the activities listed above. They can also explore freely without traffic hazards and distractions from bars and TVs. Baby sitting is available.
From Phuket: Plan on 2.5 hours by private car travelling north from Phuket Airport to reach Kuraburi pier. It takes an additional 85 minutes by boat to reach the resort from the pier. Thus, the latest pickup time in Phuket is 4pm.
The cost for round trip private car transportation from Phuket to the resort is about Baht 9000. A mini-bus is slightly more expensive.
We have accommodation that is both suitable for families & groups and couples looking for privacy. Houses comfortably sleep between 2 and 4 people. All of the houses have open-air bathrooms and are supplied with fans and mosquito nets. (N.B. Water is not heated and there is no electricity after 11pm.)Local facilities include laundry, shop, bar, internet, café, restaurant (buffet menu), snorkelling equipment, kayaks, tours to Surin, diving (with pick up at the resort), safaris, conservation projects (Turtles and Whale sharks), bird watching.
Family friendly: The site is great for kids who can enjoy all the activities listed above. They can also explore freely without traffic hazards and distractions from bars and TVs. Baby sitting is available.
how to find us
From Phuket: Plan on 2.5 hours by private car travelling north from Phuket Airport to reach Kuraburi pier. It takes an additional 85 minutes by boat to reach the resort from the pier. Thus, the latest pickup time in Phuket is 4pm. The cost for round trip private car transportation from Phuket to the resort is about Baht 9000. A mini-bus is slightly more expensive.
how this holiday makes a difference
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We currently employ around 20 people, half from local villages and half from the mainland. Staff are paid a fair local wage and receive training in customer service skills. We use local resources to support much of our operation. e.g. village boats for guests transfers; local drivers and their vehicles for safaris and guest transfers on the mainland. We also buy local produce (fish) on the island and purchase furniture locally. We have commissioned work from local artisans.
The resort is set in natural forest. There is a policy to maintain all natural tree cover where practical and we have initiated a tree growing program over the last 12 months to replace trees lost as a result of the Tsunami. We have sponsored a Turtle conservation project for over 10 years on the island. Light pollution during the nesting season is restricted by the resort. We have also initiated a program to offer guests the opportunity to take part in a Whale Shark research project based out of the resort. Electricity is provided by a diesel generator, and is only available to guests between 6pm and 11pm. No hot water or air conditioning is available at the resort. Where possible waste is composted. In the interests of water conservation, sheets are only cleaned every three days and we limit towels to one a guest. We limit printing and re-use paper where we can.  Our tours revolve around sustainability so tourists are educated in this way. We are looking to develop “volunteer-tourist” products that will result in further engagement with the local communities. Although we don’t yet have a formal education programme, the locals are educated indirectly by helping them become stakeholders in our programmes (e.g. safaris and our own vegetable garden). Our tours visit both local villages and we do use the one local restaurant on the island. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |