Koh Yao Yai: a secret island hideaway

Despite the captivating beauty of the jewel encrusted Andaman coast, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find an island retreat that ticks all the boxes.

The ideal getaway has vision beyond the ‘superior sea view’ and offers guests an all-encompassing experience, as opposed to simply exploiting the natural backdrop.

While neighbouring islands parted with their virginity long ago, Koh Yao Yai remains unhurried in the rush to grow-up.

Just 30 minutes by speedboat from Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga, Koh Yao Yai lies in the watery heart of one of the country’s most developed bays, yet the island remains pristine.

Approaching the island, visitors first catch sight of the vast quilt of forest green which covers the hillside without interruption. At the pier, a handful of thirty-something travellers eagerly eye up the verdant topography, their brows saluting the sky in praise.

Tucked away on a secluded bay, down a lane meandering through rice paddies and subtropical forestland, Koh Yao Yai Village Resort is the ultimate island hideaway.

If Mother Nature created an island resort, this is how it would look. All elements of design pay utmost respect to the natural landscape. From the layout to the materials used, the resort blends seamlessly with the surrounding environment.

Hidden under the dappled shade of the evergreen canopy, the tropical woodland village consists of 34 deluxe bungalows, generously spaced with more thought for guest experience than profit per square metre.

Despite their spacious 73 sq metre dimension, the tropical modern bungalows make no attempt to dominate the landscape; it is almost as if they sprang up from the forest floor with the rest of the abounding flora.

The interior features elegant wooden furniture, polished concrete floors and a spacious bathroom, complete with outdoor rain shower. Huge downy pillows, velvety bath towels and herbal toiletries add a luxurious feel, while the standard-size fridge and flat screen satellite TV are the perfect home comforts.

A myriad of local influences have been woven into the bungalow’s design, including splashes of rural-style sarong fabric in the soft furnishings.

The large terrace, with sunloungers and daybed, is the ideal place to spend balmy evenings listening to the soundtrack of the jungle.

Overlooking a 700 sq metre infinity pool, the resort’s thatched-roof restaurant enjoys a 180-degree panoramic vista of Phang Nga Bay. Sweeping from the curving sandbars on the west, across opaque islets silhouetted on the skyline, and to the forest-fringed shoreline on the east, the view showcases the region’s diverse landscape.

A selection of fresh and wholesome food is served, ranging from comfort fixes to healthy options, and everything in between. Themed barbeques have a regular slot and feature some of the island’s finest seafood.

Koh Yao Yai’s coast is adorned with gleaming-white, sandy beaches. Within the National Park area, Klong Son is widely considered the island’s most attractive beach. However, Laem Haad is the ultimate island paradise. Jutting into the sea, this narrow stretch of coconut grove is fringed with two shores that meet and merge into a perfect arc of sand.

Unlike the crowded beaches in Railay and Phuket, Koh Yao Yai’s shores are deserted and footprint free; visitors can have their own private beach for the day. In fact, the entire island is quiet and peaceful, which is a welcome escape from the pollution and overcrowding in neighbouring destinations.

The resort offers an array of tours which are personalized and casual, so despite delving deep into island culture, there is no intrusion on locals’ daily lives.

The village tour visits a rubber plantation, where visitors can view the various stages of rubber tapping, from its origin, as a milky, glue-like liquid dripping from the trees, to the pre-manufacture state, which, incidentally, resembles a bath mat.

Next stop is the fresh food market, to sample the rainbow of exotic fruits grown on the island. Markets are the social heart of any Thai village, so they are a great place to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy some friendly banter with locals

A visit to one of the rickety off shore fish farms is also part of the tour. These holding bays for lobster, snapper and shrimp, form the backbone of the island’s economy.

Although fresh flavoursome lobster isn’t a major feature in local diet; islanders enjoy the profit made from selling the coveted crustacean to mainland markets.

The last stop is at Fisherman’s Village, where a fresh catch of iridescent anchovies glint in the scorching midday rays as they are dried, in preparation for packaging and sale. Only the squeals of the local children break the peaceful silence, as they dash across the white-hot sand and dive into the sparkling sea.

It’s the simple encounters with nature, such as noticing a fruit-laden cashew nut tree or watching a hermit crab scampering across the shore under a beautiful shell, that enrich the experience of Koh Yao Yai.

Koh Yao Yai Village Resort is the epitome of ‘sabai’, which in Thai, means relaxing, comfortable and carefree. The resort doesn’t exploit the island’s beauty, but it enhances it by providing excellent service, facilities and a wide range of interesting activities. Few resorts score so highly in every area. This resort ticks all the boxes, and adds a few more that weren’t previously on the list.

Koh Yao Yai Village
Tel: +66 (0) 76 363700
E-mail: marketing@kohyaoyaivillage.com
www.kohyaoyaivillage.com

School holidays: allow nature to do the entertaining

School holidays have arrived, so the Lego-covered road of parenting is about to get rockier. It’s time to draw up a plan of action. Embarking on the two month period without innovative tactics could lead to a long and gruesome battle.

You don’t need regimental structure every single day, but organizing regular outings and activities will help keep the kids’ boredom at bay and your insanity, well, to a minimum.

Although Krabi lacks any major school holiday survival centres such as water parks, there are places where kids can expend that endless supply of energy, while gaining new skills or knowledge.

Krabi is a great place for explorer Dora and Diego wannabes. Horse riding, elephant trekking and rock climbing are all great ways to get active while learning new facts about animals and experiencing the area’s diverse wildlife at close range.

At Nosey Parkers Elephant Camp in Ao Nang, kids can sit on top of the gentle giants as they plod through the leafy wilderness, upstream to the enchanting caves. They will catch sight of monkeys, birds and an array of colourful insects along the way, so their imaginations will be ticking away as the adventure unfolds.

The Giant Catfish Farm provides another fantastic opportunity to observe animals. Aside from the huge hungry catfish, there are rabbits, turtles, crocodiles and a very cute and playful baby parrot (sun conure). Hundreds of huge, wide-mouthed, whiskered catfish squirming and splashing will have little ones squealing with excitement and joy.

Care needs to be taken while exploring the site, but the rickety wooden walkways and meandering paths leading through the rampant jungle will bring all their favourite storybooks to life.

If your little Spiderman is climbing the walls just two days into his holiday, sign him up for a kid’s climbing course. Hot Rock Climbing School on Railay Beach has special routes for junior climbers and provides English-speaking instructors who are experienced in teaching children.

Aside from increasing their level of fitness, rock climbing helps children develop teamwork skills, trust, self-confidence and motivation. The school has equipment for children of ages, so even kids as young as three can find their inner monkey – as if it was ever lost.

If you’re not a crag addict yourself and have concerns for your child’s safety, talk to the friendly owner, Saralisa, who will explain the ‘top rope’ method, which is the very safest way to climb.

Klong Thom Museum does little to defy the stereotypical image of a dusty museum, but it does contain a good collection of ancient artefacts and fossils. The whale spine and fossilized turtles will catch children’s attention straight away, while a selection of ancient stone tools, ornaments and beads provide insight into life in Krabi 5000 years ago.

The museum is located inside Wat Klong Thom (temple) compound. The temple itself is a striking structure with intimidating nagas guarding the entrance from evil spirits. Here, children can learn about Buddhist worship and temple etiquette.

A WWII Navy ship docked in Krabi last month is currently being converted into a museum. Soon visitors will be able to board the imposing battlecruiser and experience the big guns and armoury first hand.

Tara Park is a welcome escape from the stifling heat during this excessively sultry season. The shady forested area overlooking the river is the ideal setting for a leisurely picnic lunch and fun art class. Stalls sell little white cartoon statues and paint palettes, so kids can get creative while parents kick back and enjoy some spicy som tam (papaya salad).

Children can gain a lot from yoga; aside from the obvious physical benefits, it improves their concentration and calmness. So perhaps it’s fair to say parents also enjoy the benefits. The new ‘Soul of Yoga’ studio in Krabi holds kid’s yoga classes every Saturday.

Although Krabi lacks a commercial fun outlet, there are still ways to entertain little ones. The surrounding nature provides the ultimate adventure playground, as well as an ideal backdrop for creative, spiritual and play-based learning.

Child experts believe exposure to nature stimulates all aspects of children’s development, in particular their observation, creativity and imagination. So there’s another good reason to leave the Lego on the floor and take today’s play outdoors.

Eco-plan sustained for Krabi

Sustainable tourism has been the buzz phrase in the tourist industry for a while now, but a recent event in Krabi proved that both tourist operators and travellers consider it more than just a passing trend.

Rayavadee Resort hosted the Phranang - Railay Sustainable Tourism Development Project on March 9 and 10. The event's aim was not only to promote conservation and protection of the local surroundings and culture from the detrimental effects of tourism, but develop a model which can be used. throughout the Kingdom.

Having learnt from neighbouring Phuket's misguided moves early on in the game, Krabi is aware of the importance of guarding its rich heritage, deep rooted culture and outstanding natural beauty from mismanaged tourism.

Rayavadee Resort has been instrumental in developing and promoting sustainable tourism on the Phranang - Railay peninsula. The premier five star resort, which occupies 26 acres of lush vegetation set against sheer cliffs and the sparkling Andaman Sea, recycles both waste water and garbage.

Rayavadee's Chief Designer, Khun Garnchai explained, "The water recycling system ensures that waste water does not contaminate the sea. The recycled water is used for flushing toilets and watering the plants, which reduces the resort's overall water usage."

He explained how the resort also recycles waste materials from the kitchen and garden, to produce an organic fertilizer. This system addresses the urgent need to convert steep consumption gradients into cycles, where the output of one process becomes a useful input for another. By recycling waste, Rayavadee not only reduces the amount of rubbish disposed, but creates an effective soil regenerative.

The resort's annual mangrove planting involves schoolchildren, visitors and local government representatives anchoring new plant life in this important ecosystem. Aside from restoring nature, this initiative cultivates an environmental consciousness in the local community. By donating floating buoys, the resort also hopes to prevent further damage to the sea bed due to longtail anchors.

A final presentation on Phranang Beach, explained the social, economic and environmental benefits to the community. A signing board inviting tourists to comment on the initiative illustrated the growing demand for responsible ecotourism, as many visitors expressed their sincere hope for the programme's success and left email addresses to receive updates.

As tourism in Thailand relies so heavily on the appreciation of the country's thriving nature and vibrant culture, sustainable ecotourism needs to be recognized on a national level.

Few places on this earth combine the vast range of natural habitats and ecosystems to form the diverse landscape and marine environment of Krabi. Mangroves, beaches, islands, forests, karst caves and shallow reefs are so closely juxtaposed. Not to mention the myriad of cultures residing in the region.

The Railay Sustainable Tourism Development Project aims to protect Railay's many natural treasures and maintain the indigenous culture of the local communities. All efforts work towards ensuring the survival of the natural environment; the livelihood of the local community; and the dreams of those who hope to experience its exceptional beauty.