Our boat docks at low tide, which means a small tractor has to tow us the final few metres to shore. Embarking on the beach,
we’re swept through an overgrown arch of jungle vines to the ornately carved reception rooms at Rayavadee. As we check in and receive our map of the resort, we realise the sprawling scope of the property: four restaurants, bordered by three beaches and a spectacular and vast rice-paddy-style pool. As long as we don’t feed the crab-eating macaque monkeys and do wear mosquito repellent and stick to the paths, we’re told we should be fine! Guests reside in Smurf-style villas (there are 96): spacious, generous and too cute for words. Set over two levels, concealed by jungle, with thatched roofs and dollhouse-like windows and doors, the charming pavilions are unlike anything I’ve seen before. Interestingly, no trees were cut throughout the entire build of the resort, and all villas and buildings were worked around the existing structure of the jungle to reduce the resort’s impact. Much of the tropical vegetation that surrounds us is labelled – and edible. Tamarind, gooseberry, mango and coconut trees
provide ingredients for the Thai recipes on site, and a variety of medicinal plants are used in the spa. Fresh local fruit is
delivered daily to guests’ rooms, as is a different tea to try: whole dried orange slices were my aromatic favourite.