Soneva Kiri, Koh Kood, Thailand with the Thai girlfriend

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We’ll be on Koh Kood (Koh Kood - Thailand) for a week staying at the Sonvea Kiri by Six Senses (Soneva Kiri by Six Senses, Thailand). We were lucky choosing this week to visit Sonvea Kiri because of the special package that was offered. All meals (not at the tree pod restaurant) and alcohol (not top shelf) are free. Not that I eat so much but I hope their food is good.

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It will be the first time on the island; for the both of us, so we’ll have some discovering to do. It’s doesn’t look to be that large of an island and we should be able to get it covered in no time, provided we can rent a motorcycle while we’re there.

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We should be visiting the waterfalls, the different piers, a fishing village and some of the beaches (other resorts) on the island. We’ll also try some of the water activities while around the resort on our lazy days.

^ nice island, i usually drive down (1.5 hrs) and onto chang, leave the truck after an island crawl (few days) at the pier , speed boat to kood ,
destination is the peter pan resort
my own pool , own jacuzzi n a beach with nobody on!!!
i havent tried any of the other resorts ( i dont think there is many) apart from captain hook for xmas goose,,
which i had to kayak too,,

No Grungers , no hawkers , no jet ski's and ahhhhh Enjoy!!

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Originally Posted by adzt1

nice island

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What we have seen so far, it does seem like a nice island. There is so much vegetation and large areas that seem to be untouched. Even along the coastline from what I can tell (the plane ride in) seems to be left alone to its natural beauty.

It might be more difficult than I thought at first to get around the island. The staff here at the resort will not recommend any transportation due to safety concerns. They don’t want their guests getting hurt riding motorcycles up these steep wet inclines on the island. But they do offer excursions to different places on the island that we’ll start with as soon as weather permits.

When we arrived on the island there was a slight drizzle and on and off downpours. I tried to get some pictures between the downpours.

From the dock looking at the resort,…………

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Guest pool by one of the bars (picture was stitched together),……….

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Some pictures around the room,………

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Picture by our part of the beach looking out (picture was stitched together),……..

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The plane that took us from BKK to Koh Maisi Lek (and then a short boat ride to the resort),…..

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yeah ,, i was going to say before when you said " provided we can rent a motorcycle while we’re there".

i dont remember any motocye rental gaff's whilst ive been there,
i think there is a Navy base there ,
some roads with hotel owned bikes/transport,
push bikes(thats half the forum members put off )and walkers !!! (even more gone now),
Kho lek was sufferable for 1 night, but Khood is an improvement, but all nice poeple,

didnt know they had an airport, who fly's there?

Another fantastic looking place that I'll almost certainly never see for myself.
Thanks for sharing.

Today was a bit clearer and we were able to look around the resort. We found the main beach for the resort and the spa area. I was told the resort covers approximately 100 acres so they give the guests a golf cart to travel around with. Girlfriend loves it!

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Low tide behind the our villa

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The main resort beach (if you look at the panoramic picture below, you’ll see the small island just to the left of the island we’re on where the plane will land).

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Couple of pictures of some areas in the spa are below (small pool and exercise room). The spa seems to be built over (with walkways leading to different massage rooms/an office/bathrooms/pool/lounge/etc that are also built above ground) a mangrove swamp. They seemed to have done a good job at protecting the mangroves.

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This evening the resort asked us to eat over on the west side of the island for dinner to watch the sunset, because the weather was nice.

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And on our way back to the room we stopped by the movie area (large movie screen out on a pond) to see what was playing. They have an area where you can either sit on a step arrangement or sit at the bar.

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Originally Posted by adzt1

yeah ,, i was going to say before when you said " provided we can rent a motorcycle while we’re there".

i dont remember any motocye rental gaff's whilst ive been there

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Just found out today that the resort will rent us a car. We’ll see what; if anything else, where we might want to visit after we go on some little island tour with the resort tomorrow.

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Originally Posted by adzt1

didnt know they had an airport, who fly's there?

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It’s not an airline. The resort has its own plane that will take its guests to and from the island.

Girlfriend shot a few videos I put together of the plane ride over to the island. Takes a little more than an hour to get here from BKK, depending on how many storm clouds they have to travel around.

Bangkok to Soneva Kiri (Koh Mai Si Airport) -- Six Senses, Koh Kood Thailand - YouTube

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Originally Posted by Bangyai

Another fantastic looking place that I'll almost certainly never see for myself.

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The resort does have specials during certain times of the year to get people (some specials enticing Thai’s to visit, so if you have a Thai spouse it might be the time to come) to visit, during slower months. I put a video of the room together so that everyone can see the Beach Villa room at the resort. Please forgive the quality.

Beach Villa, Soneva Kiri - Six Senses, Koh Kood Thailand - YouTube

resort has its own plane?? hire car!! golf cart!!

now u really are "poshing" it up,

different league , enjoy your stay n i hope the weather clears for you

i love Kho Khood

I think the last time I checked that resort was about 48,000 bht a night, and the plane was about 32,000 bht. What kind of special did you get?

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Originally Posted by pickel

48,000 bht a night,

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they are taking the piss, aren't they ? can go to the Bahamas with a 5 stars for that price, even in Maldives

Just checked again. In Nov. this year, about 3500$ US a night. Over 100k bht a night. :o

Today we were taken by two guys (one was a local) to visit a few places on the island. First we were taken to the main fishing village (Ao Salad) on the island (we were told about 200 years ago+ pirates used to hide out in this area) then to Haat Khlongchoa (where a river from the waterfall meets the bay) then to the Khlongchoa Waterfall and then to the main pier on the west side of the island.

On our ride around the island I found a few obstacle’s and reasons why the resort doesn’t encourage motorcycle rental to their guests. Although I did see motorcycle rental signs around the island.

Steep wet curving slope (everywhere we turned),……

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Ao Salad fishing village (NE side of the island),………..

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Haat Khlongchoa beach,………

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Khlongchoa Waterfalls,…….

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The main pier on the west side of the island where most ferries drop off tourists,………….

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Originally Posted by pickel

I think the last time I checked that resort was about 48,000 bht a night, and the plane was about 32,000 bht. What kind of special did you get?

Just checked again. In Nov. this year, about 3500$ US a night. Over 100k bht a night.

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I don’t want to quote any prices here because these threads stand on this site for years! I don’t want to mislead anyone with prices that in time will change.

But I will tell you the prices you have posted are way out of line for this time of year.

If you look at the package deal they are offering (during off season) now you can see anyone can get a much cheaper rate than the ones you posted. Mine included airfare, free food/drinks and laundry service and I am paying even less than the amount shown at the resort special package site (maybe because we went to an agent the girlfriend knows): Soneva Kiri Packages & Special Offers

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Originally Posted by adzt1

i love Kho Khood

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The more I find out about the island, the more I like it also.

Nice waterfall, plenty of rain at this time I suppose. There doesn't seem to many tourists around though, which could be good or a little spooky.

Some pictures of the resorts grounds,…………

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Originally Posted by OhOh

Nice waterfall, plenty of rain at this time I suppose. There doesn't seem to many tourists around though, which could be good or a little spooky.

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Spooky, to swim in

There weren’t many people there the day we visited and the people that were there didn’t look like lifeguards (or lifeguard material) and I didn’t want to swim out towards the middle for a better shot for fear of being swept away by the strong current.

There’s another waterfall on the island closer to the resort which we didn’t visit. A picture of Khlongyaiki Waterfall I took from the net (and another shot I took of the stream from that waterfall) is below. There’s also a “secret” waterfall (pictured below) that is a little taller and has a deeper pool than the one we visited yesterday. It takes about an hour to walk to and the resort doesn’t like to guide people to this (Locals call it “Khao Din Daeng”) waterfall because they’re concerned about safety. The resorts question was,….What would they do if there was an accident in such a remote place?

Khlongyaiki Waterfall and stream,………

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Koh Kood’s secret (Khao Din Daeng) waterfall (stolen from the net),………

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A short video of the Khlongchao Waterfall taken yesterday.

Khlongchoa Waterfall, Koh Kood Thailand - YouTube



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Some interesting things learned about the island (what we were told from the staff/locals here). I don’t know how accurate it is.

The island has about 2,200 – 2,600 residents

The island has three lower schools and one high school

One police station

One hospital

The island is considered a district

There is a generating plant (fuel) with three engines that supply the entire island with electricity. This resort has its own plant.

Besides fishing the island also grows rubber trees and coconut trees.

In one area of the island (not along the water) 5 years ago one rai of land (along a main roadway) would cost you 80,000 baht. Today (2012) the same piece of property might cost you 800,000 baht.

There is one military base on the south end of the island.

Most of the resorts are on the west side of the island because the east side is mountain slope.

Resort info

Staffed with 400 people (during high season), 100 are local island people.

During high season (November, December, January, February, March and tapering off in April) the resort is occupied at 80 – 100%.

Most of the staff lives on the resort grounds and are taken well care of, they even have nice living quarters and their own weight/exercise room.

I had mentioned earlier in this thread while here at the resort the food was free, but I had hoped it would be good. The food here is fantastic!

Some dinners are set menus but for the most part the meals are buffet. The selections are wonderful at breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you want a piece of fruit during breakfast it will be cut fresh for you. If would like a burger for lunch, they are made fresh and brought to you while you sit at your table.

They even have a chocolate room that is open all day filled with a variety of chocolates and sweets. Their large selection of ice-creams can be requested all day long. I can’t say enough good things about the service and the food you get here.

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They also have a different way of dining here if you don’t have a fear of heights. The restaurant is called the Tree Pod where we ate dinner this evening. Some pictures are below. You’re hoisted up into the tree canopy in a pod and are served dinner by a waiter who uses a zip line to bring you your food. During high season they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner here.

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At US$1,300 a night one would expect little else.

Past couple of days we went out kayaking (and found reason not to go snorkeling). The first afternoon we went over to a private island (the locals call it Koh Raed) to get some pictures but were put off by a couple of dogs on the dock.

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The next morning we went out to a stream (from one of the waterfalls close to the resort) which was lined with mangroves. Traveling to the stream from the sea we lost our kayak in the breakers (seas were about 3 foot) and recovered it close to the stream. There’s a Thai restaurant (that belongs to the resort) that you’ll see along the stream called The Benz.

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Captain and crew lost at sea,....

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When we returned to the resorts beach, they were preparing lunch for the guests.

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Here’s a short video of the Tree Pod Restaurant (shows the waiter traveling back and forth, hoisting up and the descent after dinner).

Tree Pod Restaurant, Soneva Kiri by Six Senses, Koh Kood Thailand - YouTube

We left the island late this afternoon and I have to say this resort is the nicest place we have ever stayed at in Thailand (so far).

Just a few more picture taken while at the resort.

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Their mascot (the gecko, his spouse and kids),………..

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The tennis court which we didn’t find until a few days ago,……..

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They make their own chocolate here,………

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The staff here is a cut above the rest and as I understand (was told) when they staff a new resort they will staff it with 10 to 15% of staff from other Six Senses Resorts (other six senses resorts: Luxury Accommodation & Resort - Six Senses Resorts & Spas).

The resort manager (Mr. Alex Jureeratana) here is very personable. It seems he’ll go out of his way to greet/meet with you and even spend time with you.

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Resort is nice but for this price I prefer to go to Maldives, at least beaches are nice there...

I think Koh Chang area beaches are not nice compared to southern Thailand.

love koh kood, nice in the low season, easy to get around on a bike if you can ride. stayed at a place, cant rememeber the name, pretty sure there was a boat unload ganja bales in the bay one evening at sunset, damn forget the name of the place, got a sister resort on koh chang....was perfect, loads of geckos, snakes, perfect water.........

Nice thread. Great pics.

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Originally Posted by sunsetter

pretty sure there was a boat unload ganja bales in the bay one evening at sunset, damn forget the name of the place, got a sister resort on koh chang

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Probably Siam Hut or Siam Beach. Most likely Siam Hut if ganja was involved. :)

I was involved in the building stage and to see the final product is really pleasing. This project was actually long overdue in construction as the main contractor changed hands. The original contractor was K-Tech which went into trouble (still owes me money) and RITTA took over.

The structural timber (piles, beams) were CCA treated Radiata Pine from New Zealand while the non-structural timber were a mix of local species and bamboo.

Anyway, totally agreed that the place is beautifully done and the surrounding is so pristine. Thanks for the a wonderful pixs.:bananaman:

Very well photographed!

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Originally Posted by pickel

Siam Beach

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thats the one mate, cheers :)

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Originally Posted by stickmansucks

Resort is nice but for this price I prefer to go to Maldives, at least beaches are nice there...

I think Koh Chang area beaches are not nice compared to southern Thailand.

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That is not so. There are some lovely beaches on Koh Kood. Siam Beach Resort for one has a stunning beach.