Six Senses - a pioneer of eco-luxury
Six Senses is a pioneer of eco-luxury and sustainable hospitality, creating luxury resorts in dreamy, remote places but doing so without diminishing the natural world. In fact, a Six Senses resort honours and preserves the distinctive ecosystem, culture and heritage of the location it inhabits and in doing so, connects the voyager with the vista in a harmonic dance of the ‘six senses’. This philosophy is exemplified in Six Senses Yao Noi, where my exquisite stay will no doubt linger in my memory for many years to come like an unforgettable work of art.
Secluded island paradise
If you want to see the picturesque beaches of Thailand but want to avoid crowds, Six Senses is the perfect option. It is set on the secluded Yao Noi island, which is located halfway between Phuket and Krabi and is surrounded by many other small, stunning islands. The beauty of this archipelago needs no introduction. When you think of the postcard image of Thai limestone karsts, white-sand beaches, clear water coves and spectacular seascape, you are thinking of this region of Thailand. Imbued with every shade of blue and green, these islands are remote and exotic - in fact, they provide the backdrop for the Bond film “The Man with the Golden Gun”.
With only around 50 villas nestled in lush, tropical vegetation, Six Senses Yao Noi is exclusive and quiet, beckoning guests into an intimate connection with the earth’s heartbeat.
How to get there: simply get yourself to Phuket or Krabi airport and Six Senses takes care of the rest. At the airport, a hotel driver welcomes you and takes you in a luxury car (equipped with welcome fruits, cold towels and drinks) to the marina pier, followed by a speed boat ride to the hotel with the most stunning views of the seascape.
Personalised butler service
The resort offers an impeccable standard of service, making it truly a “home away from home”. The gracious staff treat guests with the utmost care, genuine warmth and impress with their anticipatory gestures and incredible attention to detail. Moreover, each villa has a butler called “GEM” (Guest Experience Maker), who fulfills guests’ every need at the resort. Our GEM (the lovely Khun Ma) shared local insights with us and personalised tailor-made experiences for us, including epic boat trip excursions to the most gorgeous parts of Thailand as well as customised spa and wellness treatments.
The hilltop pool
Perched high on a cliffside with panoramic views of the awe-inspiring Phang Nga Bay, the resort’s infinity pool is elegant and mesmerising. It heals any stress in your heart and connects you with a sense of peace and purity that will stay in the memory.
The beach
The resort has its own private beach, where guests can enjoy swimming and water sports or simply chill out in the plush sun loungers. At night, the beach turns into an outdoor cinema, where films are shown under the star-filled canopy and popcorns and snacks are served.
Eco-luxury villas
There are no hotel ‘rooms’ at this resort, only villa houses cradled in nature. In line with Six Senses’ philosophy of honouring local cultures, authentic Thai village-house aesthetics are thoughtfully woven into the design of the villas - with bamboo and wooden structures raised on stilts and crowned with a gabled roof and natural thatching. Each villa blends into the contours of the surrounding green landscape. With the gigantic treehouse-like villas, the tropical flora imbuing the air with aromatic notes and the twittering of the birds, being here feels like a scene out of a Disney fairytale!
The villa interiors are thoughtfully designed to create generous amounts of space, balance and harmony. With floor-to-ceiling windows encompassing a full 360-degree view, the villa is basked in the natural light. It is impossible to not find your inner peace with a herbal bath or by simply relaxing on the balcony with the stunning view accompanied by a gentle breeze from the surrounding forest.
In line with the Six Senses innovative spirit in sustainability practices, the interior furnishings are made with sustainable, organic materials such as recycled wood and bamboo, with no plastic in sight of course. In the photos below you can see the ingenuity of the resort, for example, in making air conditioner covers using bamboo and mosquito net canopies using local recycled wood.
A private infinity pool in every villa
Each villa has its own infinity pool, surrounded by tropical oasis and the sound of birds tweeting, reinforcing the feeling of oneness with nature. Complete with sun loungers, sun beds and alfresco dining sets, your villa is a private mini-resort on its own.
Facilities cradled in nature
Feeling disconnected from nature? The lounging areas the resort are perfect for having your senses relaxed, rebalanced and elevated. Take a slow day by relaxing on suspended day beds, sampling delicious Thai food in treetop restaurants or curling up with a wide selection of books from the library, all the while surrounded by lotus ponds and lush vegetation.
Castaway excursions
No trip to southern Thailand is complete without boat trips to hidden beaches and unspoiled lagoons. Six Senses offers a full range of excursion adventures, on traditional long-tail boats or luxury yachts. Each boat has an English-speaking captain who knows all the secret beaches in the region by heart. Any trip can be customised to your preference - just point your finger to an island and the boat captain will take you there. He can also recommend secluded spots without tourist crowds, so that you can enjoy unspoiled serenity all to yourself.
The resort also pack luxurious picnics (complete with cold seafood platters, tropical fruits, charcoal barbecue, organic dishes and champagne), towels, kayak and snorkel gear into your boat, so that you can anchor anywhere, jump into the crystal-clear water and explore the marine life or enjoy a delicious meal on a paradise beach.
Hong Island (google map location link)
Hong Island is an enchanting oasis with secluded lagoons and pristine beaches. The sea water is gentle and clear and drifting through the island on a boat is a perfect idyllic dream.
Ko Poda Island (google map location link)
Ko Poda is an island jewel with sun-kisses beaches, turquoise waters and dramatic limestone formations. However, do note that it is a popular excursion destination - lots of boats take tourists here so it is crowded. However, the island is big, so you will be able to find a spot to enjoy the day. To avoid the crowd, try to go early in the morning. There are also facilities and food kiosks here.
Dining
The food at Six Senses is absolutely incredible - authentic, fresh and delicious. Every morning, we spent a good couple of hours indulging in the breakfast buffet and always found ourselves reluctant to leave the alfresco views and the super comfortable seats cradled by the lush foliage.
There are several dining venues at the resort, offering bounteous options including authentic Thai cuisine, western dishes, delis, patisseries, beach barbecues, private dining pavilions and chef’s tables. There is even an ice cream shop with delicious home-made ice cream from local fruits that are just bursting with flavour.
It was very difficult to exercise any self restraint, as the restaurants beguiled us with its lavishing array of dishes including fresh seafood, authentic Thai dishes packed with herbs and spices, comforting noodles, slow roasted meats, aromatic curries, sizzling stir fries, charcuterie boards, exotic tropical fruits and juices. The resort has officially ruined mangosteens, passionfruits and mangoes for me - once you have tasted the tropical fruits there, the same elsewhere simply don’t measure up.
Connect with nature
Flora, fauna and animal friends
Six Senses Yao Noi minimises its environmental footprint and makes up for the little space it takes up with diligent propagation. There is a little forest within the resort that is populated with flora, fauna and little animal friends. You can spend hours exploring the enormous grounds and meeting the acquaintance of a variety of unique native plants, flowers and tropical animal friends.
The resort is a sanctuary for hornbills, by growing fruits that help the dwindling population of hornbills survive and by installing artificial nests similar to their natural habitats where natural tree cavities occur in old trees. Guests can participate in these meaningful endeavours by helping to build a Hornbill’s nest that can become a home to the iconic feathered friend of the island.
The resort has an organic chicken farm, which avoids contributing to the intensive poultry farming industry that leads to emissions and waste. At this little chicken farm, the chickens receive luxurious treatment including soft jazz music being played for their relaxation…! Happy chickens lay tasty eggs.
Mangroves boardwalk
Mangroves are significant to the health of an ecosystem and the resort has weekly mangrove clean up and monthly propagation initiatives to help these beautiful trees thrive. The resort has its own mangroves forest, where you can do a 1-hour walk to observe the mudskipper fish, mangrove trees, plant a mangrove sprout or meet Jason, the resident monitor lizard.
Farm-to-table
Many of the ingredients used at the resort’s restaurants are sourced from its own organic gardens that grow herbs, fruits and vegetables - the resort even cultivates its own mushrooms! No wonder the food here is so delicious. Six Senses also favours local suppliers who live nearby and uphold the same sustainability standards.
If you are interested in the the agricultural aspects of Thailand or generally learning about nature, Six Senses has knowledgeable guides who can take you on a tour around the resort and Yao Noi island to learn more about the miraculous work that mother nature does. Pictured below is our guide telling us about how rubber is made in Thailand - did you know that Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of rubber?
Wellness Center - fitness, spa, alchemy pavilion
The resort’s Wellness Center is set in hillside tree-hut pavilions where you feel connected with nature. Here, you can enjoy detox facial treatments, spa sessions with natural products, antioxidant body wraps, coconut scrubs, yoga classes, guided meditation, the gym, sauna and steam rooms. Of course, there are the iconic Thai herbal massages with warm poultices that contain local ingredients that smell like heaven such as turmeric and lemongrass. The resort uses smart technology to personalise treatments and design tailored wellness programs for guests.
There is an alchemy bar where guests can participate in bees wax and coconut oil workshops, or make fresh juices, herbal elixirs and scrubs to take home. Thai cooking classes are also available in tree huts, where guests learn to cook Thai dishes using organic produce grown in the resort’s own garden.
Six Senses Yao Noi is truly a blissful paradise of eco-luxury. I will always cherish the magic that this place has cast on my ‘six senses’.
