Native Luxury

Throughout the region, resorts are providing guests with creature comforts without compromising on nature's wonders.

- KAREN TEE

At Koh Haa, a snorkelers’ paradise in a cluster of islands surrounding a calm lagoon off Krabi, Thailand, I gently slip into the crystal-clear turquoise sea so as not to spook the fish.

It is an unforgettable experience to be swimming with such an abundance of marine life, especially in pristine waters where I can simply look down and see the thriving, vibrant corals in shades of green, yellow, and orange. In addition to scuba diving sites, the area is also home to rare whale sharks, the largest fish species alive today.

PRESERVED TROPICAL PARADISE 

To experience this bounty of nature, stay on the relatively secluded island of Koh Lanta, accessible by diving boats from Krabi. Pimalai Resort & Spa, one of 53 properties around the world that are part of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World’s Considerate Collection, is just 16km from these sites.

The family-owned Thai resort sits on 40ha of lush tropical rainforest and boasts a picture-perfect, 900m powdery white sand beach (this is not an exaggeration). Former lawyer Anurat Tiyaphorn and a group of investors purchased the plot of land 21 years ago to preserve this piece of practically untouched paradise.

Tiyaphorn’s family has taken on stewardship of the island’s natural environment to maintain Koh Lanta’s tourism industry.

“Koh Lanta relies very heavily on tourism — even the fishermen sell more of their fish to hotels and restaurants than they consume themselves,” says Charintip Tiyaphorn, Anurat’s daughter and Pimalai’s owner representative.