We have been lucky enough to stay at Thavorn Beach on two separate occasions since arriving in Thailand. It is a truly magical place, with the most enchanting gardens, spectacular views and a beautiful history. It’s a very special hotel and we would love to share our experience with you.

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THAVORN BEACH – A LIVING HISTORY

The below text is taken from an engraving at the property and details the history of the land & gardens at the hotel.  

‘More than a hundred years ago, this historic site of Phuket was the home of Uncle Lor and Auntie Prik. They grew rubbers, fruits, rice and vegetables for a living. The two told us the story of The Myth of Nakalay bay (The love story of the Dragon Snake and Marisa, the beautiful mermaid.) After world war two, the land was passed onto Mr Tilok Thavornwongwongse, the founder of the resort. 

Nowadays, the trees that grew before the 1,400s and those of the resort’s founder still remain. Every year, we replant trees and shrubs propagated from the founder’s original trees. We expanded his glorious Songs of India trees collection, Vanda Miss Joaquim, and the lovely smelling Champaka flower. Despite our instinct to change, we have not stopped loving our old trees, some dating back as far as the late 1,200s – The time of Naka & Marisa.’

LOCATION

Just a 10-minute drive from the village of Kamala and just. 7-minutes from the vibrant and lively Patong, the Thavorn Beach Village is perfectly located for you to enjoy a restful retreat but equally close enough to all the action so you never have to miss out on a party.

ROOM

We opted for the hillside rooms on both of our stays as the panoramic views are just completely breathtaking – even on a rainy day, but it’s the private terrace with a bathtub that makes these rooms just that extra bit special.

All the rooms are furnished in a traditional Thai style with lots of marble and dark wood and the en-suite bathrooms are spacious with another bathtub & separate shower.

There really is no better feeling than enjoying a bubble bath on the terrace, listening to the sounds of nature with these spectacular views and then when you’re done being wrapped up in a fluffy towel & complimentary robe. Such a wonderful and unique experience.

FUNICULAR

So how do I access these hillside rooms you ask, well by funicular of course! Just ring the bell and you can hop on board where you can take in the beautiful forest scenery and then on the way down you’ll get to enjoy views of the Andaman Sea through the ornate rooftops. A brilliant addition to an already incredible hotel.

GARDENS

Get lost in the maze of tropical gardens, with intricate stone statues, an array of orchids, century-old bonsais and endless species of colourful blooms and woodland. No doubt you’ll spot some fluttery, fluffy and maybe even scaly creatures hiding in the trees and swimming in the ponds. It’s a truly magical place.

LAGOON POOL

Would you just look at this pool?! It is one of the largest free-form lagoon pools in the whole of SE Asia, yes, you read that right. With over 4,000 square metres of swimming space there is plenty to explore, with cascading waterfalls, bridges, Thai sculptures and many exotic plants and flowers.

As with everything else in the Thavorn hotel you truly feel at one with nature, being surrounded by so much beauty you can’t help but feel totally relaxed. And I’m sure those cheeky cocktails from the pool bar helped.

ANIMALS

Thavorn is also home to several resident animal friends, including two adorable pygmy pigs, parrots, rabbits, doves and even two wonderful tortoises, aged 85 and 75 who love nothing more than chomping through the lawn.

You have two opportunities each day at 10am & 4pm where you are able to meet these happy little chappies and you also get to feed them some of their favourite snacks.

MARISA TERRACE RESTAURANT

Thavorn has three onsite restaurants, which includes a small bakery but sadly since reopening late-2021 the Old Siam Thai Beachfront restaurant is still closed. During both our stays we ate in the Marisa Terrace restaurant for lunch and dinner, where you can choose from both Thai & Western dishes.

They also have something a bit different on the menu – steak or salmon served on Himalayan salt blocks which adds extra flavour to the already delicious food.

And if you’re feeling all romantic they also offer a private dining experience on the beach with seafood BBQ and your very own cabana filled with twinkling fairy lights.

NAKALAY BEACH

But of course, your stay here wouldn’t be complete without your very own private beach. Nakalay Beach has the most beautiful sunset views and is perfect for a spot of sunbathing, grabbing a cocktail at the bar or even a romantic stroll but it’s Nakalay Reef which is the real star of the show.

Only accessible via the pier is a thriving coral reef which has been protected by the secluded nature of Nakalay – and if you want to visit this underwater palace you can choose a variety of underwater diving activities directly from the hotel. Sadly we didn’t have time to explore this hidden gem but check out the hotel’s website here to check out some beautiful photographs.

SUMMARY

Thavorn Beach Village is truly one of a kind and we would highly recommend a visit to anyone thinking about travelling to Phuket, even if it’s just for one night. From the traditional design of the buildings to the historic gardens and spectacular lagoon pool, it really is a very, very special hotel.

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Until next time,

Check out some of our previous posts for some travel tips & inspiration