As much as we all love Phuket, there always comes a moment when you want to slip away – to a world of secluded luxury where nothing distracts you from the art of doing absolutely nothing. Phuket is full of temptations: even with your phone off, you know there’s a DJ spinning somewhere, and a new brunch opening tomorrow. But sometimes, what you really crave is the company of no one but yourself – and perhaps those closest to you.

Just an hour and a half north of Phuket lies JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa, and the feeling of escape begins before you even arrive. The moment you cross the bridge, the pace changes. The road unwinds through emerald plantations; the car fills with quiet music; and at the rare traffic lights, you count no more than a dozen cars.

Brochure designers love to draw endless jungles and untouched beaches around their dream hotels, but in Khao Lak, there’s no need for CGI. The white sand and lush green are the work of nature itself.

One of the resort’s defining marvels is its 2.4-kilometre lagoon pool, gracefully framed by tropical gardens and connecting the entire resort like a winding ribbon of turquoise. With around 424 rooms, at least a third offer direct pool access, while three private beachfront villas sit closest to the Andaman shore. If you are lucky enough to stay in one of them, don’t miss not only the fiery sunsets but also at least one quiet sunrise – in Khao Lak, it’s worth waking up for.

Early risers are rewarded with plenty of time to enjoy a plethora of unique experiences. Built on the principle of harmony with nature, JW Marriott Khao Lak houses a bamboo shark conservation center, where guests can take part in preserving the delicate ecosystem of the Andaman Sea. The young sharks, with their gentle movements and curious eyes, are utterly enchanting.

If your heart leans toward land rather than sea, visit the JW Marriott Garden, the resort’s own eco-farm project. Behind its modest name lies one of Thailand’s most ambitious sustainability programs – supplying the resort with organic produce and offering guests the chance to see where their food comes from. You can even join a farm-to-table cooking class, turning freshly harvested ingredients into wholesome dishes. JW Marriott’s eco-farm in Khao Lak is the largest of its kind outside the United States, and a source of genuine pride.

Beyond the resort, the Phang Nga province beckons with its wild beauty: endless beaches for horseback rides, seasonal rivers for rafting, and waterfalls hidden in tropical forests – perfect for cooling off after a trek or capturing that perfect, untouched moment on camera.

Not that you’ll need to leave the resort for stunning visuals. Every corner of JW Marriott Khao Lak is photogenic – from the serene views outside your window to the gastronomic theatre unfolding at lunch and dinner. With 10 restaurants and bars, the resort takes guests on a global culinary journey – from Mediterranean grill to Japanese-style seafood. And few places in Thailand can match its mastery of romantic beach dining, where candles meet ocean breeze.

If your stay allows, set aside a few hours for Quan Spa, where beauty and wellness are treated as high art. The word holistic here isn’t a marketing slogan – it’s a lived philosophy, recognized by the World Spa Awards.

And speaking of awards – JW Marriott Khao Lak was recently showered with praise in the Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2025. Readers of both the UK and US editions placed it among the finest resorts on Earth: No. 1 in Thailand and No. 7 worldwide in the US ranking, and a top-10 resort globally in the British list.

For Phuket residents, perhaps the greatest luxury is accessibility. Paradise doesn’t require a long-haul flight – just a tranquil 90-minute drive along the quiet roads of Phang Nga to reach one of the world’s best resorts, where silence itself becomes the ultimate indulgence.

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