Honest review
The choice between a pavilion and a villa is the main decision at booking, so let's start there. The pavilions are spacious homes with dressing rooms, living rooms and generous open spaces, looking onto the ocean or the garden. The villas stand apart, with private pools and furnished terraces, a maid and their own Thai chef; the interiors are calmer, with Buddhist philosophy at their core. For a long stay or a group the villa makes more sense; a couple will be happy in a pavilion.
The resort itself occupies a large hillside site among coconut palms, and the Andaman Sea is visible from every point of it. There are 81 rooms in all.
When planning your days, keep one morning for the four-hour guided walk through the national park — the rare white-backed palms and unusual birds are worth it — and an evening for Phuket's colourful markets with their street food and crafts. For golfers there are six excellent courses on the island.
The restaurants lead you through the cuisines of Thailand, Japan, Italy and the Mediterranean — a week is enough to try everything.
This is a resort for discerning travellers: a white-sand beach, serenity and restorative rest in one place.
