Set inside 10 acres of tropical gardens that open onto a secluded stretch of white-sand seaside, The Sarojin in Khao Lak gives a serene, extremely personalised escape that captures the essence of barefoot luxurious. Boutique in scale, with simply 56 residences housed in low-rise residential fashion buildings discreetly dotted round its lush gardens. Eating is central to the expertise, with two foremost eating places and imaginative non-public eating choices, together with candlelit meals beside a waterfall and castaway-style dinners on a secluded sandbank. Visitors can form their keep round their very own rhythm, whether or not that’s dawn yoga, unwinding within the open-air spa, or starting the day with a champagne breakfast served till 6pm. The Luxurious Editor returned (after a five-year absence!) and located it felt precisely like coming dwelling. Learn on to find why this stays our favorite luxurious resort in Thailand.
Opened in 2005, The Sarojin was the imaginative and prescient of British couple Kate and Andrew Kemp (learn interview right here), who got down to create a luxurious boutique residence that felt extra like a non-public dwelling than a standard resort. Their alternative of location, Khao Lak, then comparatively unknown, was intentional, drawn by the area’s unspoilt landscapes and wealthy native tradition. Ten days earlier than its deliberate opening, the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami devastated the realm, nevertheless, quite than abandon the challenge, Andrew and Kate rebuilt The Sarojin from the bottom up whereas additionally establishing the Sarojin Khao Lak Neighborhood Fund, which has helped restore infrastructure and livelihoods across the native space.
Examine-in & Foyer
Kate and Andrew’s imaginative and prescient of The Sarojin as a non-public residence involves life from the second you arrive. The open-air foyer pavilion, with its excessive gabled roof, feels extra like a welcoming courtyard than a resort reception. A staff of workers are available to greet you by title, relieve you of your baggage, and information you thru to the cushioned banquette and sofas overlooking the lotus pond. There isn’t a formal reception desk, as a substitute, check-in is dealt with as you compromise in with a calming drink and funky towel. Including a private contact to the arrival expertise, Khun Kade, the splendidly enthusiastic resident supervisor, typically seems to greet company herself.
Gardens
The resort is organized round one giant tropical backyard, with low-rise buildings positioned in order that no two residences overlook one another. Meandering pathways weave by way of coconut palms and lily ponds, making a quiet rhythm to the design. This format ensures that even when totally booked, the property by no means feels busy. As night falls, the gardens and buildings remodel into one thing really magical. Buildings are softly illuminated, mirroring themselves onto the ponds beneath them. Pathways glow underfoot whereas palm timber are gently lit from under, and the sound of cicadas and frogs mixes with the rustle of leaves within the night time breeze.
Location
Set alongside a peaceable stretch of Khao Lak’s shoreline in Phang Nga Province, the resort is bordered by the Andaman Sea on one facet and dense jungle on the opposite. It’s simply 10 minutes from the centre of Khao Lak city, with quick access to the Similan and Surin Islands for snorkelling and diving, or the close by Khao Sok Nationwide Park for rainforest hikes and wildlife encounters. The resort is an hour and 15-minute drive from Phuket Worldwide Airport, and personal transfers to and from the airport might be organized.
Residences
There are 56 residences in whole, unfold throughout eight low-rise buildings. Backyard Residences begin at (95 sqm) and embrace a non-public outside sala and an indoor spa-style toilet with a freestanding tub and a rainfall bathe. Pool Residences are available one-bed (120 sqm) or two-bed (215 sqm) configurations and provide their very own plunge swimming pools and solar terraces. Jacuzzi Pool Suites, situated on the higher flooring, are available at (150 sqm) and have a full-size jacuzzi, solar terrace, spacious residing areas, two bogs, an out of doors rainshower and a bed room with a four-poster mattress.
All residences embrace à la carte breakfast served till a calming 6pm in Ficus, freestanding bathtubs and rainshowers, king-size beds, a variety of facilities together with domestically made tub merchandise, and a seaside bag with flip-flops.
My Room Throughout My Keep
Throughout my keep, I used to be hosted in a Backyard Residence. Spacious and enjoyable, these suites are up to date in fashion with Thai design influences just like the carved wood screens between the bed room and loo and teak fashion flooring and an out of doors sala. Cleverly laid out with a raised work desk behind the king-sized mattress, which then flows into the toilet, and floor-to-ceiling glass doorways that open onto its non-public terrace.
The resort staff add personalised touches, like remembering I’ve stayed earlier than, as on arrival, a personalised floral message on the mattress welcomed me dwelling.
The lavatory is an indoor garden-style area with twin porcelain basins, a walk-in rain bathe, and a terrazzo tub set amongst white pebbles. Once I arrived, the tub was already drawn and scattered with petals, inviting me in for a soak (which I did).
The residence contains all the things you want to settle in, sustainable glass water bottles, a minibar, a Nespresso machine and a complimentary aluminium bottle per visitor. While ending touches just like the each day replenished ice bucket and recent fruit bowl don’t go unnoticed.
Home Maintaining
Housekeeping comes twice a day, as soon as within the morning and once more throughout flip down, with a separate workers member go to to refresh your fruit bowl every day. The staff are attentive with out being intrusive, and genuinely care about your wellbeing. Someday, I returned and housekeeping let me know I’d forgotten to lock my door. Later that night, they’d secured the room for me and left the important thing safely at reception.
And for a little bit of enjoyable, the housekeeping staff clearly get pleasure from flexing their towel-folding abilities, every day a brand new creation appeared, from elephants with orchids to playful animals perched on the top of the mattress.
Throughout flip down every night, the lights are dimmed and the mattress refreshed, with a brand new palm-leaf creation left on the pillow every night time instead of the standard chocolate, while the sala outdoors is subtly lit and softly glowing.
Pool Residence
The Sarojin’s 14 Pool Residences provide a villa-like expertise with every one-bedroom suite positioned on the bottom ground corners of the buildings and spanning (120 sqm), full with a shaded outside sala, non-public 5.5m x 3.5m pool and enclosed backyard, whereas inside following the identical format because the Backyard Residences.
Jacuzzi Pool Suite
Positioned on the higher flooring of every constructing, the 14 Jacuzzi Pool Suites provide (150 sqm) of indoor and outside residing area. Every suite contains a big outside solar terrace that includes a heated jacuzzi pavilion (2.2m x 2.2m) that comfortably suits 4. Contained in the bed room a four-poster king-size mattress stands proud and there’s a spacious ensuite {couples}’ toilet with a rainfall bathe, double vanities and tub. A separate lounge space, which features a four-poster daybed. This space features a second toilet and an out of doors rainshower and may sleep as much as 4 company.
Ficus
One in all two eating places on the resort, Ficus is their refined eating area overlooking the central lotus pond, shaded by the sweeping branches of a century-old Ficus tree. The menu leans Mediterranean, with seasonal produce and polished presentation led by Govt Chef Gogh, who has been with The Sarojin since 2006.
Throughout our keep, we have been handled to a tasting menu that showcased the breadth of the kitchen’s ability.
Breakfast
À la carte breakfast is served in Ficus and obtainable till a really beneficiant 6pm, making The Sarojin ideally suited for (very) late risers or these eager to ease into the day at their very own tempo. Combine and match from its wide-ranging menu, freshly pressed tropical juices, acai bowls, chia seed pudding, native fruits, European pastries made recent on sight every morning, eggs any fashion, and Thai-style congee. And if the temper strikes, you possibly can order a glass of glowing wine with breakfast, which I most actually did!
Edge
The Edge is the resort’s relaxed beachfront restaurant and bar serving vibrant Thai favourites, wood-fired seafood, and worldwide classics, together with being an incredible spot for a sundown cocktail every night.
Non-public Eating
Non-public eating is a signature expertise at The Sarojin, providing some unforgettable settings. Be whisked away by non-public yacht to a abandoned sand isle for a candlelit dinner below the celebrities, have a barefoot BBQ on the seaside together with your private chef or go for their candlelit waterfall expertise, which is really transportive: a single desk for 2 set beside a jungle cascade, lit by a whole bunch of flickering candles.
We started our non-public eating expertise with champagne on the seaside earlier than being guided to a non-public pavilion, dressed with candlelights suspended from hand-cut palm leaf stalks and flowers, to take pleasure in a multi-course Thai tasting menu.
Spa and Wellness
The Pathways Spa is made up of stilted open-sided pavilions linked by wood walkways by way of the mangroves. Remedies incorporate native herbs and oils, with choices for each people and {couples}. Every day yoga, meditation and bespoke wellness packages are additionally obtainable.
Pool
On the coronary heart of the gardens is its palm-fringed infinity pool, the place three shaded cabanas stand guard over the water like sentinels of serenity. A relaxed night swim earlier than mattress grew to become my nightly ritual, accompanied by the rhythmic refrain of cicadas clicking and frogs croaking within the background.
Health club & Library
Positioned within the entrance pavilion constructing, The Sarojin’s health club is compact but well-equipped, providing a collection of fashionable cardio machines, free weights and resistance gear which I did check out! Simply subsequent door, the library offers a quiet spot to browse or borrow from a broad collection of books.
Experiences
Consistent with Kate and Andrew’s founding ethos of giving again to the area people, The Sarojin gives a curated assortment of personal experiences that immerses company within the tradition and nature of the area. From snorkelling journeys to the Similan Islands and jungle treks by way of Khao Sok to Thai cooking lessons that start within the native Khao Lak market and heading out with a neighborhood fisherman.
Throughout our keep, we tried the Thai wine tasting expertise, the Thai cookery course and market go to and a palm leaf folding class, which rapidly highlighted the intricacy and ability wanted to fold even the only of turn-down ornamental shapes.
Wine Tasting
Market & Cooking
Leaf Folding
Water Sports activities & Bikes
The Sarojin gives a variety of complimentary watersports and land-based actions. Take to the water with a 16ft Hobie Cat, Omega Topaz dinghy, stand-up paddle boards, sea kayaks or windsurfers all obtainable at no further value. Whereas on land, complimentary mountain bikes provide an eco-friendly approach to discover the encircling space.
Last Ideas
You don’t simply keep at The Sarojin, The Sarojin stays with you. Maybe it’s the stillness of the gardens at night time, the real heat of the staff, or the sensation of being sorted with out ever being intruded upon. Regardless of the purpose, it’s someplace that quietly works its approach into your reminiscence and makes you yearn to return.
We now have included the resort in our information to one of the best luxurious lodges in Khao Lak
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