⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A sustainable luxury resort on Koh Racha Yai island
The
Racha is a 5-star sustainable beachfront resort set on Koh Racha Yai, a
small paradise island located 15 km south of Phuket Island. The 85
beautiful white villas are surrounded by immense palm trees that were
here before the hotel even existed. From your villa, you just need to
walk a few meters walk through a manicured garden to reach the
stunningly white sand and clear blue water of Patok Bay.
Going
to The Racha is an unforgettable experience; even the comfortable ride
on the hotel own speedboat across the south bay of Phuket prepare your
mind for your island holiday. As soon as you step out of the boat and
walk across the iconic pier floating above the incredibly clear water of
the bay, your mind is transported to a dream place where time slows
down. You are now on a tropical island away from another tropical
island, where every detail and the whole team makes sure you are having
the time of your life.
There
are 85 villas divided into eight types: Deluxe, Grand Deluxe, Grand
Deluxe Pool Villa, Spa Pool Suite, Junior Pool Suite, Grand Pool Suite
and the Lighthouse.
Of
course, the villas with a private pool are the most attractive and the
ones with an infinity pool at the front are the most beautiful, but they
are rather big and the most expensive. While the villas with infinity
pools placed at the front are great for families or friends travelling
together, the villas with the pool in the back may appear more to
couples.
We
selected a Junior Pool Suite, with a private pool in the back of the
villa, are very spacious, with a high ceiling. The lighting is
skillfully designed with just the right amount of light to create a
relaxing atmosphere, by day and by night. The living room is huge with
two comfortable sofas facing an immense TV with Bose sound system. The
best feature is, of course, the very private swimming pool directly
attached to the living room.
The
bedroom is large and bright, with another oversized TV, a sofa, a
working station and a vast terrace with day beds in front. You will find
all the amenities you need for your stay, plus those you may have
forgotten at home. The mini bar is well supplied, and there is even an
espresso machine.
The
bathroom is spacious and bright, equipped with a large bathtub with
water jets, plus indoor and outdoor showers. On arrival, you are invited
to select the scent of your shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and body
lotion among three choices, jasmine, lemongrass, etc; a nice touch.
The Racha offers many dining options.
Earth Cafe
is the main restaurant where guests mainly enjoy a vast international
breakfast buffet every morning. Most visitors prefer to sit al fresco
near the beach, under tall palm trees, but if rain shows up, the indoor
restaurant is large but cosy, designed with plenty of space between
tables.
Sunset Beach is an attractive wooden restaurant
with a thatched roof and a vast terrace over the beach, a great spot for
a casual lunch after swimming or a cocktail and dinner at the end of
the day.
The
Lobby Bar is another superb shaded terrace by the beach, great to enjoy
coffee breaks or casual drinks at any time of the day. The sofas are
comfortable, with a nice sea breeze and the shade of beautiful trees;
the view over the blue water of the bay is breathtaking. All around you,
the beautiful round-shaped tree called ‘Rak Talay’ (meaning Love the
Sea) not only provide shade and a great background for your photos, but
the flower also attracts plenty of butterflies, adding a magical
atmosphere.
Anumba spa is without a
doubt the best way to relieve the stress of work on your arrival day,
soothe eventual sunburns on your second day and spend an occasional
rainy day. The list of treatments is varied, and everyone will find the
right massage. Once you select your treatment, the therapists are
skilled and ask what part of your body you would prefer to concentrate
on, then how much pressure would you like. Each room is beautifully
decorated, with a calm and soft atmosphere that instantly relaxes you.
Choose
among many types of massages: Oriental oil massage, Anumba aromatherapy
massage, massage with herbal compresses, sanctuary sports massage,
traditional Thai massage etc. Body scrubs: Andaman seas salt scrub,
cleansing tamarin scrub, orange citrus scrub, honey seed body scrub,
etc. Body Wraps: Post sun aloe body wrap, Moor mud body wrap etc. The
list goes on with facials and Signature Packages up to 4 hours, perfect
for couples.
Patok
Beach and the bay’s clear waters are without a doubt the main reason
why this island became so popular. All the loungers had to be removed by
law in event years, and the beach has since retrieved its natural
beauty. The hotel greatly benefited from this removal since guests of
The Racha can now enjoy an unobstructed sea view from the hotel
loungers.
Part
of the wellness centre and within the spa, the fitness is small but
well equipped with high-end treadmills, rowing and cycling machines, a
few fitness machines and free weights. It opens until 10 pm, but at
night the lighting is minimal, which might surprise you if you are used
to bright fitness centres.
The
Racha can be praised to be very proactive on many fronts to be
environmentally friendly, to be as self-sufficient as possible with as
little impact as possible on the island by hugely reducing electric
consumption and many other ways.
Rainwater is collected and kept to irrigate the huge garden.
Zero-energy hot water heat exchangers supply the hot water in each villa.
A solar-diesel hybrid station produces 50% of the resort’s daily electricity needs.
The hotel also grows many kinds of salads in hydroponic pesticide-free farms.
Food waste is converted into biogas at the biofuel station, then
used for cooking in the staff canteen. Collected wood and vegetation
debris and scraps are converted into charcoal briquettes and used in the
BBQ grills.
All plastics, glass, paper are recycled.
Since
the transfer is included in your stay, the hotel speedboat makes it a
breeze to go from Phuket to Koh Racha. The hotel has a comfortable
reception building near the Chalong Pier in the south of Phuket where
you will be welcomed and checked in. The office is on the right-hand
side of the road, opposite the 7-11, before the large parking of the
pier. (It’s within walking distance from the pier). The boat departs at 1
pm every day from Chalong and returns to it at 11.30 am.
Tel : 076-355-018