Thailand is blessed with some of the most breathtaking islands that the world has to offer but none really come close to Koh Kood. Located in the southern Gulf of Thailand just north of the Cambodian border, Koh Kood is a completely untouched paradise like nowhere we have been before. Blanketed in dense virgin rainforest, pristine white sand beaches and clear turquoise blue waters, you won’t find any high-rise hotels or gigantic mega resorts here, just small family operated homestays and rustic beach bungalows dotted along the beaches. But if you are anything like us, and looking for that touch of luxury and a little bit of pampering, then High Season Pool Villa & Spa is the place you need to be.
What makes the island so special is its remoteness, it is not easily reached like most other islands in Thailand. Considering it is an 8+hour trip from Bangkok just to reach the island, I must admit we almost thought the same, but glad we didn’t because we were rewarded with one of the most special experiences we have had in all of our travels around South East Asia.
Cruising along through the Gulf on the ferry from the quiet coastal town Laem Sok to Koh Kood we could feel the excitement growing inside of us as we passed some of the neighbouring islands and small fishing boats along the way. This part of Thailand is even more beautiful than we had imagined. After an hour, we arrive at Ao Salat Pier and are greeted by the smiling faces of the concierge and personal driver from High Season Pool Villa & Spa, and are quickly loaded into the resort’s private songthaew. Along the short scenic drive to the resort, Koh Kood is quite a mountainous island covered in dense rainforest; the cool moist air blowing in our faces as we weaved through the peaceful back roads of the island. Simply beautiful.
Arriving at High Season Pool Villa & Spa, we are welcomed by the lovely check-in staff and our beautiful host, Nicky. After check-in we are lead along the winding paths through the lush gardens to our villa. The Deluxe Pool Villa was more amazing than we had imagined, constructed entirely of natural materials but coupled with the utmost luxury in mind the villa offers up complete luxury with its beautifully designed interiors, double king sized bed, luxury bathroom with rain shower and a huge tub, complimentary mini bar and a sunken lounge that opens up onto the terrace with private plunge pool… just what we were looking for on our island getaway.
The resort is situated along a private stretch of the picturesque Klong Chao Beach, with its pure white sands and crystal clear waters that offers up some of the best swimming on the island. The waters are calm and peaceful, and if you have had enough of swimming, there is no shortage of comfortable sun lounges to laze away the day sipping a fresh coconut or one of High Season Pool Villa & Spa’s signature cocktails. If for some reason you are not in the mood for the beach but feel like a swim, a dip in the Galaxy Pool is nothing short of amazing. The Galaxy Pool is the largest pool on the Island and is the perfect place to soak up the sun or get in a few laps to burn off some calories from all of the delicious food you have been indulging in.
The resort is situated along a private stretch of the picturesque Klong Chao Beach, with its pure white sands and crystal clear waters that offers up some of the best swimming on the island. The waters are calm and peaceful, and if you have had enough of swimming, there is no shortage of comfortable sun lounges to laze away the day sipping a fresh coconut or one of High Season Pool Villa & Spa’s signature cocktails. If for some reason you are not in the mood for the beach but feel like a swim, a dip in the Galaxy Pool is nothing short of amazing. The Galaxy Pool is the largest pool on the Island and is the perfect place to soak up the sun or get in a few laps to burn off some calories from all of the delicious food you have been indulging in.
Speaking of food, High Season Pool Villa & Spa has two of the best restaurants on the island. Firstly there is the Beachfront Restaurant where breakfast is served with a sumptuous array of freshly made dishes that vary from day to day and coupled with complementary champagne, it’s the perfect start you blissful day. The Beachfront Restaurant is also open all day offering up delicious traditional Thai and international dishes, it is beautiful with its open-air design and fresh cooling ocean breeze blowing in from the sea. If for some reason you have had enough of Thai flavours the Italian restaurant has been awarded the best Italian food on the island, serving up authentic wood fired pizzas, pasta, mezze platters and salads as well as amazing desserts. Downstairs from the Italian restaurant is The Coffee Terrace, which has delicious freshly made barista style coffee and freshly made cakes.
And for that something a little extra special and romantic you can make a booking for a private dinner at the Birds Nest. The Birds Nest which is perched high up in the trees over looking the beach it is the perfect place to watch those unforgettable sunsets while enjoying one of the most delicious meals. We were lucky enough to enjoy a private dinner in the Birds Nest and it was such an amazing experience we will not soon forget.
Another unforgettable experience is a visit to the High Spa. High Spa takes a completely holistic approach to their treatments with completely organic products to promote inner and outer. Their focus is on complete wellness and relaxation during their treatments, entering into High Spa you are transported to a place of absolute calmness with the scent of essential oils, trickling waters and soft rhythmic music. With wide selection of treatments from Spa Wellness Packages, Signature Massages, Body and Facial Treatments you are sure to come out feeling relieved and completely relaxed after a visit. They also have available seaside massages at Sala Massage which we couldn’t pass up, there is nothing quite like being pampered whilst listening to the sounds of the ocean and the breeze rustling in the coconut trees.
High Season Pool Villa & Spa also have a wide variety of daily activities such as morning yoga sessions, Muay Thai boxing classes, traditional cooking classes, kayaking, paddle boarding, tours to various places around the island and they can also organise private day tours to some of the neighbouring islands and reefs for some of the best snorkelling is Thailand. Or you could do as we did and hire a scooter and explore the island at your own pace, in our opinion it is the best way to see Koh Kood. There are so many tiny back roads that wind their way through the rainforest and rubber plantations, amazing viewpoints and beautiful beaches and coves just waiting to be discovered.
High Season Pool Villa & Spa is one of those special places that you instantly fall in love with the minute you arrive, we cant quite put our finger on just what it was. We think it was just a complete combination of everything from the resort itself that feels like a tropical home away from home, the pristine untouched environment, the services on offer and also the outstanding care that all of the staff have towards their customers, everyone is treated like family. We are so grateful to have been able to spend time in this secret oasis and we already know that it will not be out last time.
High Season Pool Villa & Spa
17 Moo2 T.Ko Kut, A.Ko Kut, Trat 23000, Thailand
General Enquiries: (+66) 039 510 888
Reservations (+66) 02 416 8899
Email: info@highseasonresort.com
