Neighborhood

The resort is located in Na Thai, inland from Ao Nang beach. Totally different zone to the coastal strip and its mass of tourists, here the area is defined by farmlands, local villages, and those same impressive limestone cliffs that stand vertically out from the ground. Immediate surroundings are totally Thai; more likely to see locals on motorbikes going to the market, chickens near the road, than tourists with beer coolers. This location provides a sense of place that is often lost in the hyper-commercialized zones of Ao Nang.

You are five to ten minutes away from the ocean by car, but what you get as a trade-off is pure visual splendor. Cliff views from the pool deck at golden hour—sunset—are spectacular; and there are no high rises blocking them either. This area happens to host quite a large local Muslim community so it’s here that several great Halal restaurants fly under the radar serving real Southern Thai food (like Massaman curry and Roti) better and cheaper than watered-down versions found on beach road.

But guests must also accept its ‘rural’ aspect. There are no shopping malls or nightclubs next door. Even the nearest 7-Eleven involves a bit of a walk or quick ride. The call to prayer from mosques, whose locations can be identified as it echoes off the cliffs, adds to the cultural atmosphere but is an early wake-up call for light sleepers. This place is for those who want to look at the mountains while they swim and don’t mind a short commute to reach the sand.