Wa Ale Island Resort
Grade - Barefoot Luxury
Overview
There are very few places left in the world that offer splendid isolation and deliver everything you dream of when you read the words “barefoot luxury”. The Wa Ale Island Resort is an intimate resort that nestles in its own jungle clad cove a few steps from the crescent of white sand beach. Set in the Lampi Marine National Park this private eco-tourism project offers guests access to the abundant natural beauty of the indigenous flora and fauna above and below the waves from a position of extreme yet sustainable comfort. To get here does take time, but this is part of the reason why it remains so special.
Facilities
The main pavilion is the centrepiece of the loosely linked resort, a lofty teak structure covered in thatch and skinned with reclaimed decking. Dotted around are rattan armchairs and leather barstools that encourage you to linger for a drink or get stuck into that holiday read. This is also home to the Beach Restaurant & Bar that’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, while River Café & Bar is a more casual option offering light lunches and barbeque dinners.
Beyond the pavilion, there’s a jungle gym, sand bocce court, kitchen gardens, beanbags and beachside loungers. There’s also a resident yoga therapist to put you through your paces and you can book a private massage on your deck.
The resort encourages guests to explore the reserve, perhaps joining a kayaking expedition into the nearby mangrove or to visit local fishing villages, alternatively join the resident naturalist on a guided hike through the rainforest. The diving and snorkelling are world-class.
There’s no pool but there are two beautiful beaches and a freshwater lagoon!
Rooms
Choose from one of 11 beachside safari villas or 3 luxury tree houses that set amid the 9,000-acre wildlife reserve and surrounded by the Andaman Sea. As the naming suggests the beachside safari villas are designed around the look of luxury safari tents but the interior offers first class comfort, with low lying double beds draped in mosquito nets. Each has an offset seating area with sofa, plus outside decking that leads directly to the beach. Bathrooms are in a private outside space, so you can shower under the stars. Alternatively if you’d prefer to get more of a jungle feel, move slightly inland to one of the intimate treetop villas perched in a canopy of trees. Each has a king size bed, a private veranda and private outdoor shower.