Much talked about and rarely equalled among luxury Thai resorts, is Soneva Kiri on the island of Koh Kood in the Gulf of Thailand. Legendary for its irresistible blend of exquisite luxury, rare guest experiences and experiential dining concepts, it sits nestled on a beautiful shoreline and while not difficult to access, seems an entire world away.

As part of the Soneva collection of international resorts, Soneva Kiri welcomes guests with a barefoot luxury philosophy and a commitment to sustainable living. To experience Soneva Kiri is to experience exclusivity, luxury, eco-friendly and sustainable travel, and the rarity of big villas in Thailand – really big villas that are perfect for couples seeking spacious solitude to families and groups needing plenty of real estate.

And remarkable, ever-present yet unobtrusive bespoke service. Service that is delivered to perfection by the resort’s team of Barefoot Guardians and which – should guests desire it – begins well before they first set foot on Koh Kood. At Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, to be exact, where Soneva Kiri hosts will meet guests and escort them onto a private 90-minute flight, operated exclusively by the resort’s airline partner.

In the 2024 Michelin Guide, only a select few hotels in Thailand were honoured with the Three Key distinction – the guide’s highest rating. Certifying its position as one of the premier luxury Thai resorts, Soneva Kiri was one of those few.

Unique Pool Villas In A Class Of Their Own

The extraordinary villas at Soneva Kiri are an absolute dream to stay in, expansive and masterfully designed to seamlessly blend luxury with Koh Kood’s natural beauty. Ranging from one to five bedrooms and each with its own pool, they are a pivotal element of the Soneva Kiri experience and a major part of why many consider this property to be among the finest of all luxury Thai resorts.

These boast unique layouts and either beach, jungle or cliff-top settings, as they nestle harmoniously within the tropical landscape of Koh Kood. Guests will find an array of amenities within their chosen villa, including a flatscreen TV, Bose audio system, Wi-Fi, safe, Nespresso Coffee Machine, kettle, mini bar, hair dryer, vanity kit, work desk, yoga mats, robes, slippers and bathroom amenities.

An extensive choice of additional amenities is available on request, such as an alarm clock, ear plugs, eye mask, reading glasses, dental kit, shaving kit, nail clippers and pumice stone.

Complimentary activities and experiences that come with a villa are the dedicated service of a Barefoot Guardian, welcome drinks, fresh fruit and cold towels on arrival, access to the chocolate room, weekly sunset cocktails, children’s access to The Den and Eco Den, introduction to massage workshops, introductory Thai language classes, introduction to snorkelling with dive experts, movie screenings at Cinema Paradiso, regular yoga and meditation sessions, a dedicated electric buggy for use around the resort, and access to the gym and tennis courts.

The enticing choice of Soneva Kiri villas includes:

1 Bedroom Beach Pool Villa Suite     403 sqm

With direct beach access, this villa effortlessly lulls you into the blissful pace of island life. The cushioned daybeds and sun loungers beckon guests around the pool and beachside gardens, and the outdoor bathroom lends itself to bathing and showering under the enchanting starlight.

2 Bedroom Sunset Ocean View Pool Retreat     598 sqm

Resplendent with a master outdoor bathroom, sitting and dining areas, gym and entertainment area, guests staying in this villa can indulge in an intimate breakfast before enjoying a leisurely game or two. The half-moon pool is ideal for a refreshing dip after a treatment on the private spa deck.

3 Bedroom Beach Pool Reserve     641 sqm

This rustic-chic hideaway is perfect for families, with a large master bedroom, twin bed treehouse, water slide, separate living room and dining deck under the stars. The treehouse is the ideal spot for the kids, with its own shower, dressing area and private deck from where the slide makes its way to the pool.

4 Bedroom Sunset Ocean View Pool Reserve     1,211 sqm

At the jungle’s apex, this ultra spacious reserve features outdoor bathrooms, sitting and dining areas, steam rooms, a gym, spa suite and treehouse with a waterslide. Guests can gaze out from their cliff-top roost to the glimmering horizon, step from the master bedroom right into the pool, and work out and relax in privacy.

5 Bedroom Beach Pool Reserve     1,845 sqm

A most luxurious ‘castle in the sand’, this magnificent reserve includes a master bedroom and three additional bedrooms all with outdoor bathrooms, and a fifth bedroom in a treehouse with bunk beds and a slide into the pool. There’s also a TV lounge, dedicated spa area, gym and steam rooms.

Experiential Dining

Dining at Soneva Kiri is an unforgettable, unique and simply irresistible affair. More than just an occasion, it is an experience in itself. The scintillating options include Colours of the Garden, a delightful dinner that takes place in the resort’s Organic Gardens and features a menu of plant-based dishes along with an informative journey through the gardens and a Medicinal Mixology cocktail class; the Coconut Grove where lunch takes place beneath palm trees with toes in the silky sand from a menu that’s ever changing; Kruua Mae Tuk (Tuk’s Kitchen) where there’s a ‘no-menu’ concept and a vast selection of dinner dishes inspired by ingredients grown on Koh Kood and Koh Chang and seafood caught by local fishermen; and Treepod Dining which takes place in a bamboo pod raised high up into the tropical foliage of the rainforest.

The View affords dinner guests stunning views out across the Gulf of Thailand as they savour Nikkei cuisine, a tantalising fusion of flavours from Japan and Peru. The poolside restaurant perched on a cliff, So Spirited serves Thai fruit juices, late afternoon bites and a wide range of cocktails and mocktails. The restaurant sitting atop a cliff, The Dining Room beckons diners to an ambiance-filled breakfast and later, to dinner chosen from global dishes and specialties.

The chocolate room at Soneva Kiri  is – needless to say – a chocolate lover’s paradise where the mousses, cookies, drinks, bonbons and truffles feature up to 95 percent cocoa goodness. The ice cream parlour boasts a chilled wall of more than 60 flavours of ice creams and sorbets that can be paired with baked sweet and savoury treats, coffee and tea. Cheese lovers will adore the circular glass vault holding the finest cheeses and cold cuts from around the world. The wine cellar offers over 350 labels in a climate-controlled cave, and the resident master Sommelier holds regular wine tasting evenings.

Stargazing And Other Exceptional Experiences

Driven by an understanding of what true luxury is for its guests, Soneva Kiri offers a range of experiences it describes as both ‘new’ – in that they are rare, unusual and exceptional, and ‘true’ – in that they are highly desired and cherished. These include:

Stargazing

Koh Kood’s remoteness has blessed the island with wonderfully clear skies, far from the light pollution of the mainland. Soneva Kiri is certified as a DarkSky resort, and offers a magical stargazing experience in which guests can marvel at the star-strewn heavens from a state-of-the-art observatory together with the resort’s resident astronomer.

Mushroom Cave Lunch

This five course vegetarian Thai or non-vegetarian Western menu is made with mushrooms grown in the resort’s Mushroom Hut. The main dish is prepared live, with the chef explaining the nutritional benefits of mushrooms.

Cinema Paradiso

Giving movie watching an island-going twist, classic films are screened three times a week under the stars in a jungle auditorium at the centre of a tropical lagoon. Private screenings can also be arranged on other evenings.

Koh Raet Snorkelling & Solar Reef

Soneva Kiri’s man-made eco-solar powered solar reef garden attracts numerous species of fish and makes for great snorkelling. Koh Raet, just five minutes by boat, with its sunken sculpture garden is one of the area’s most unique dive and snorkelling sites.

Barefoot Retreat Package

Available at Soneva Kiri exclusively to Thai residents and expatriates residing in Thailand, is the Barefoot Retreat Package. The perfect opportunity to embrace the tranquility and natural beauty of Koh Kood, it includes a one night stay for two in the chosen villa type, breakfast for two, non-alcoholic beverages during mealtimes, the service of a Barefoot Guardian, private buggy for use around the resort, complimentary chocolate, ice cream and deli items, and a 10 percent reduction on food and beverages at resort outlets and in-villa dining.

The Barefoot Retreat Package is available for stays until 30 April 2025, except for the blackout period of 22 December 2024 to 11 January 2025. Rates start from Bt 26,500 in a 1 Bedroom Bayview Pool Villa Suite.

Book your Barefoot Retreat Package now and discover why Soneva Kiri is renowned as one of the finest of all luxury Thai resorts. Visit the hotel’s website or call +660 82 208 8888.