Elevator pitch
From Phuket, a 45-minute boat ride will get you to Koh Yao Yai, one of Thailand’s remaining untouched lands. In exchange of residing at an under-developed destination, you land in an island utterly devoid of mass tourism—the perfect place for an Anantara resort and a definitive escape for city-dwellers. Occupying what used to be a coconut palm plantation, its latest property sits on 17 acres of land, wedged between a wooded hill and a turquoise bay. Towering jungle-clad limestone islets make part of the everyday vistas here in the resort—a view I mindlessly sought out everyday.
Meant to recreate the resort living of a private island, Anantara Koh Yao Yai is ensconced in nature, while offering luxury and privacy simply from one of its 148 spacious abodes. If you’re up for it, there’s also the promise and access of an adventure.
The stay
A basic room category at Anantara Koh Yao Yai will already grant you a decently-sized pad but one will ascend to another state of awe in the Sea View Pool Penthouse. Yes, those were my exact sentiments when I walked up a hidden staircase as the door revealed the entry to my very own rooftop infinity pool. Replete with a sun deck, day beds, an outdoor shower and not forgetting, sweeping views of the ocean and those aforementioned islets, the top deck is optimal for catching breathtaking sunrises as orange beams languorously touch the island. A morning routine I dragged myself out of bed for at 6am and one that I didn’t regret. The rest of the action takes place downstairs—with the sizeable suite comprising a living and dining room, a kitchen, and a master bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe and an ensuite bathroom. Within, the oversized tub that oversees the deep blue ocean, stood as another highlight on its own, as it is also a jacuzzi that comfortably sits two. I spent most of my time in there with my companion, soothing our muscles and joints with pressure from the jets, all whilst rewatching Fleabag on the handy tray attached to the tub.
Beyond the spectacular amenities, the room also came with my personal butler. Hana, who I conversed with during most of my stay, updated our text chain daily with weather forecasts as well as itinerary plans. Life on the island might be best spent in solitude but it was nice and assuring to know I had someone I could call if I needed to move plans around or check for reservations at the spa.
The itinerary
While removed from the lively locales nearby like Phuket and Krabi, there is plenty to do in Koh Yao Yai. From sidecar drives and mountain climbing to tie-dye workshops and scuba diving, your time on Anantara can be easily spent venturing out of your comfort zone or discovering the land. On resort time, I naturally took things slow. But what I took urgency in was definitely visiting the Anantara Spa, a facility that houses its own hanmam and hydropool. Before my massage, I took a brief dip; the warm water to relieve muscle tension and aid in detoxification. Soon, it was time for my 60-minute Thai Herbal Compress Massage. Stemmed from an age-old Thai treatment, my muscles were first pressed with a warm poultice of therapeutic herbs and spices, before soothing strokes were applied strategically to pressure points on my entire body. Muscle tension was temporarily assuaged, mind and body in bliss—it was a treatment that I swore to return back for. Post-massage and still deeply in relaxation mode, I hopped from the steam room to the sauna before capping off my day at the resort spa.
Whilst on vacation, I strived to do at least one physical activity—between my indulgent meals that is—and settled on paddle boarding. A quick text to Hana and our boards accompanied with a guide were swiftly arranged. Taking advantage of the high tide just before lunch, we spent a good hour straddling atop the water and getting a good workout in. After all, when it came to post-recovery, the jacuzzi in my suite was always at the back of my mind.
The food
When in Thailand, no prizes for guessing which cuisine reigns. And Anantara Koh Yao Yai does it justice with Pakarang, an inviting space that churns out an international buffet breakfast come morning and transforms into a Thai restaurant for the rest of the day. Every morning, I looked forward to a particular boat noodle dish—think chewy rice noodles and meatballs steeped in a piquant broth. For lunch and dinner, Pakarang’s sizeable menu offers many tantalising options; there are the classics like the unfailing Pad Thai and the crispy fluffy omelette, and there are also the highlights of Phuket that came through. Gaeng Poo, which is a yellow curry with generous chunks of crab meat and rice noodles was a winning favourite throughout my stay at the resort. Of course, the merit of being by the sea was also the abundance of fresh seafood. At another one of their restaurants, The Beach, I tucked into the Catch of The Day, often a whole seabass steamed in a banana leaf with lime and an assortment of other chilli and spices. They also do a mean burger whenever I felt like I needed a switch up. To wash it all down, I relished a daily serving of a fresh coconut—sweet enough to qualify as dessert and a timely, blessed reminder that I was still on island time.
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