Hillside hideaway

Located on Kamala Bay's Millionaire's Mile, Ayara Kamala Resort & Spa marks its three-decade milestone with more focus on wellness.

With just 43 rooms and Thai-style ocean-facing villas, Ayara (a Thai word for elephants in royal or poetic contexts) is a place for travellers who seek respite and privacy from fast-paced life.

Upon arrival, you can't help but notice a beautiful view of a cluster of Thai villas hidden among lush surroundings on a hillside and a big pond at its base. From the main pavilion's terrace, you overlook the main infinity swimming pool and the vast bay view below.

Unlike international chain resorts, Ayara Kamala was born from one Thai family with more than 30 years of Thai villa craftsmanship and Thai architectural restoration. Every villa and pavilion features hand-finished woodwork and elephant-inspired artistic motifs that celebrate Thai culture. The accommodation range starts with a 42m² Deluxe Ocean View Room, which is grouped in one building, while the villa units are spread amidst lush tropical canopies.

My stay at Grand Thai Natural Ocean View felt very spacious. The low bed accentuates the high ceiling of the open-plan main room. My bedroom area with a platform bed is built on higher ground, while the living area and the adjacent private balcony are on the lower ground, accentuating the ceiling height further.

Out of 80m² of total space, a big chunk of it is dedicated to a bathroom which is big enough to fit a small city hotel room. The big bathtub sits next to a big window so you can luxuriate while enjoying the view outside. The sizeable roofed balcony fits a dining set and a sofa for two, but roofs of neighbouring units ding the beautiful bay view.

Ayara Kamala offers various ways to maintain your wellness journey. You can start your day early with yoga on open-air oceanfront pavilions or let yourself go during a contemplative sound therapy. Enjoy vegetarian or vegan bowls for breakfast at The Cradle, the resort's main dining venue, next to the main swimming pool. Order hearty — mee sapam, fried rice — or healthy choices — tofu satay, aubergine tartine — from the à la carte breakfast menu and help yourself to the buffet spread. Come back to The Cradle for Thai and southern flavours of Phuket for lunch or dinner. The food offering here is quite big and impressive for a resort this size.

Work out some real sweat with a pole dance class at the gym or try pickleball at the resort's private courts. Drift away in bliss at Ratana Spa, which combines ancient Thai healing philosophies, organic local botanicals and meditative breathwork for relaxation and restoration.

Come back to the spa for complimentary use of the sauna and steam room or sign up for a class to learn the basics of neck and shoulder massage. There are also other daily activities that you can sign up for.