From afternoon tea within the treetops to swimming in waterfalls, having fun with out of doors showers, indulging in massages and having fun with some scrumptious Thai delicacies, Soneva Kiri gives an Asian escape that’s barefoot luxurious at its best. James Wilkinson checks-in.

In essentially the most South-Jap pocket of Thailand the place the nation connects to Cambodia on the sea, one resort stands tall because the nation’s most original island escape the place sustainability meets luxurious within the best means.

That resort is Soneva Kiri and shortly after strolling off the non-public flight from Bangkok on the distant Ko Mai Si Airport, the place you could possibly be forgiven for considering you’ve landed in the course of the jungle, you shortly get a way of what you’re in for.

From the distant airstrip. you head on a ship throughout to the island of Koh Kood, dwelling to Soneva Kiri and identified for its waterfalls, historical rainforest and an absence of huge model resorts.

Right here, it’s like heading again 40 years earlier than tourism began booming in Thailand and as quickly as you hop off the boat, you shortly get a really feel for the distinctive type of the resort, which looks like a treehouse with delicate however lovely tropical luxurious touches proper throughout the property from the villas, that are the scale of homes, by way of to the out of doors cinema, myriad of eating places, studying rooms and the spa.

On the subject of lodging, the 32 non-public villas are all distinctive of their design and interiors and vary in measurement from one to 5 bedrooms. They’re discovered throughout the resort, from beachside to hidden within the jungle, on the hillsides and the clifftops, the place you’ll be able to count on spectacular views throughout the Gulf of Thailand.

Every is extremely spacious and have a personal pool – some which can be nearly larger than the villa interiors – alongside outsized indoor and out of doors dwelling areas and impeccable verdant gardens. Count on out of doors showers, stress-free areas, snug outsized beds and loads of house to unwind.

The villas come full with an electrical buggy and bicycles to cruise across the property’s winding paths, discover the seashores and take in the jungle ambiance the resort gives.

As a part of the ‘barefoot luxurious’ this resort and all Soneva properties are identified for, there’s additionally a butler – right here generally known as a Barefoot Guardian – and you may count on wonderful hospitality that’s accessible any time of the day or night time.

One of many first issues it is best to get the Barefoot Guardian to do is organize afternoon tea excessive within the jungle as a part of the resort’s Treepod Eating Expertise. You’ll stroll by way of the timber after which sit down on the banquette in a bamboo pod, which is then raised excessive up into the tropical foliage of Koh Kood’s historical rainforest.

As you gaze out throughout the timber and boulder-covered shoreline into the ocean, you’ll take pleasure in small plates of tasty Thai treats and matching recent mocktails, all delivered to you on a zipline by your waiter.

Whereas a number of instances of the day are on supply for the expertise, afternoon tea with the waves crashing onto the shore beneath is when this eating providing is at its finest.

One other distinctive eating expertise that can also be unbelievable right here is discovered by reserving a desk at native restaurant Kruua Mae Tuk, also referred to as Tuk’s Kitchen, the place you’ll be able to count on the very best Conventional Thai meals on Koh Kood.

Now this isn’t any unusual restaurant as a result of it’s not one that may be booked for anybody else on Koh Kood because it’s solely accessible for friends of Soneva.

First, you’ll take a ship journey from the resort alongside the island’s seashores after which head up a river to a shack that sits on stilts.

It has a singular fashionable tropical rustic really feel which you shortly sink in to, however the actual winner right here is the ‘no-menu’ eating idea, which gives an enormous choice of dishes which can be impressed by components grown on Koh Kood, Koh Chang and seafood caught by native fishermen.

Again over at Soneva Kiri, rating a desk on the out of doors, open-air terrace amongst the timber at The View, the place one can find a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian delicacies, generally known as Nikkei, alongside a unbelievable wine record and beautiful views out throughout the Gulf of Thailand.

If the views and setting don’t win you over, the menu will and highlights embrace the Koh Kood spicy crab roll, pork stomach and the salmon salad, finest matched with a malbec from Mendoza after a calming glass of Champagne.

What additionally impresses is the wine record and Soneva’s cellar options greater than 350 labels in a climate-controlled cave, with natural and biodynamic wines making up greater than 50 per cent of the gathering.

When you’re after lunch on the seaside or dinner below the celebs, Coconut Grove is the place you’ll discover native and worldwide delights, equivalent to tandoori fish, Meen Moilee and unbelievable native prawns.

Nonetheless on the eating experiences, with regards to breakfast, the resort additionally impresses effectively with Thai and western cooked and chilled dishes alongside among the most scrumptious recent juices you’ll strive in Thailand.

Given Soneva Kiri is a real vacation spot resort, having this high quality of meals and beverage choices actually makes this property stand out and you already know you are able to do per week right here and have a unbelievable array of cuisines to take pleasure in.

You’ll discover wellness choices within the menus throughout the property and the inspiration comes from the Soneva Kiri Spa, one other standout providing on the resort.

The Soneva Kiri Spa is hidden away inside Koh Kood’s pristine rainforest and it’s an idyllic setting infused with conventional Thai appeal.

Discover eight {couples}’ therapy rooms, 4 embrace non-public steam rooms and a yoga pavilion that features aerial yoga tools. The spa additionally has three therapy spots by the seaside, plus the boys’s and ladies’s rest areas additionally embrace steam rooms and infrared saunas, whereas outdoors there’s a tranquil natural spa backyard, with 4 stone beds and a bamboo mist bathe.

Consistent with the wellness and energetic theme there’s additionally lots to discover on the island, from Koh Kood’s hidden waterfalls to strolling on white sandy seashores and snorkelling within the marine park.

At night time, head to the resort’s personal state-of-the-art observatory, which gives 360-degree views of the star-strewn heaven, figuring out constellations with the property’s resident astronomer.

Given the resort’s distant location, you’ll have an unbelievable stargazing expertise when the sky is evident and much from the sunshine air pollution of the mainland.

With a lot supply, you’ll be able to definitely have a fun-filled escape on Koh Kood. However then, you may as well have the last word rest as a result of that’s what Soneva Kiri is all about.

ESSENTIALS: GETTING TO KOH KOOD

One of the best ways of attending to Koh Kood in consolation and elegance.

Soneva Kiri gives direct flights for friends from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Worldwide Airport to airport island of Koh Mai Si, a five-minute boat trip from Koh Kood. Flights take round 90 minutes and round-trip journeys are priced at US$750 per grownup and US$375 per baby.

Singapore Airlines can get you to Bangkok in type from throughout the globe by way of the provider’s hub at Changi Airport. Flights are often operated by the provider’s Airbus A350 plane, which supply among the best Enterprise Class cabins in Asia, full with a ‘E-book the Cook dinner’ service.