The Credentials:
Our cab driver struggled to find this hidden-away, 20-acre bamboo resort set on a rugged headland on the northern tip of Samui Island (aka Koh Samui). Made up of just 66 two-tier villas, all built from sustainable materials and reclaimed wood, surrounded by lush vegetation and with sweeping views over the bay, this five-star also boasts an award-winning restaurant, a signature spa offering tailored locally-inspired treatments, a secluded beach and the best infinity-edge pool I’ve swam in (it’s 35 metres long).
Dine:
Six Senses has a reputation on the island for its fresh, fine food – a lot of the herbs and vegetables used in the kitchen come from the resort’s own gardens. Breakfast at Dining on the Hill is a lavish affair with a huge buffet selection plus a daily changing option (think tuna niçoise or steak with poached eggs) which would make a hearty lunch.
Cool lemongrass-wrapped flannels and fruit skewers were brought to us as pre-starters at lunchtime – the menu offers healthy, balanced dishes such as vegetarian pad Thai with crispy egg’s nest (250THB), plus international favourites, including a club sandwich with small salad and fries (390THB). (The dinner menu is Thai.)
I embarrassed the boyf by wanting to take pics of each of the six exceptional courses (a vegetarian menu was created especially for me) on the degustation menu (2,400THB) with matching wines (2,000THB) on the architecturally-fab Dining on the Rocks – think 10 terraced decks of weathered teak and bamboo with 270° views of the Gulf of Thailand. To give you a flavour of the menu’s originality, the deconstructed tiramisu dessert consisted of ‘coffee cigarette, chocolate ash, amaretto, oatmeal cappuccino and almond biscotti’.
Sleep:
We were greeted by our designated butler Patrick, who buggied us to our villa (and swiftly returned with Tiger Balm to soothe my mosquito bites). Boasting floor-to-ceiling windows for the obligatory sea views, the amenities you’d expect from a luxury hotel (CD player, TV, DVD player, well-stocked mini bar etc), our villa had two possible trump cards – its oversized bathroom with two copper basins for sinks, a huge bath surrounded by slatted wooden shutters and double outdoor rain shower or its private infinity-edge pool with sundeck, two sunloungers and shaded area (with a fan).
Guests get to decide (subject to availability) whether they want to be on the sunrise or sunset side of the island…
Who Goes There?:
Mostly European couples. Madonna wanted to book the whole resort but was turned down because she didn’t give enough notice.
Out & About:
There’s a weekly newsletter listing daily on-site activities from Tai Chi to rock painting, varied dinner events such as Fisherman’s Catch Buffet (which was super fresh and big) as well as off-site suggested excursions from a four-hour temple tour to a visit to Angthong National Marine Park. We skipped a joint pick-up transfer trip by hiring a bike to visit Namuang waterfall.
The Worst Thing:
Our room was well equipped with mosquito coils to burn, lemongrass-filled (a natural repellent) toiletries, insect repellent and a mosquito net was lowered over our bed at turn-down service, plus the grounds were sprayed regularly. However, the jungle location and outdoor shower proved a magnet for mosquitoes. I was bitten a lot and provided a natural repellent for the boyf.
The Best Thing:
The spa treatments were a great example of the resort’s personal service – the boyf enjoyed a gentle Senses of Aroma massage from his therapist Jeab while I braved a deep Thai massage from my therapist Koy. I came away feeling loose-limbed and relaxed.
