Six Senses Yao Noi

A wonderful trip to celebrate my 40th birthday. Our 10-night stay at the Six Senses Yao Noi marked the end of our 3-week Asia trip celebrating my 40th Birthday. This was our first experience with a Six Senses property, although reminiscent of our stays at Gili Lankanfushi (which was previously a Soneva, and which we loved for its barefoot Robinson-Crusoe luxury). We were well taken care of throughout our stay, with staff warming to us day-by-day and gradually getting to know us by name which was lovely. We booked an Ocean Deluxe villa, which was as rustic as we had hoped yet offered all of the facilities that would be expected of an ultra-luxury hotel. The villa was spacious and homely, well cleaned (kudos to the incredible house-keeping staff!) and we were well-stocked with everything we could want. The views from the villa were lovely, although not quite so impressive as we had hoped for based on the website pictures, although I suppose that is the 'luck of the draw'. From the upper deck we had nice partial ocean views, as well as of the surrounding jungle, but from the main level and pool, the ocean could barely be seen which was a little bit of a shame, but did not adversely affect our overall experience as being surrounded by jungle felt like it added another level of privacy. The only negative aspect was that the air conditioning wasn't quite able to cool the room enough, but we did stay at the hottest and most humid time possible! Perhaps the most special element of the stay here is the surroundings. Nestled perfectly into the living woodland, this place simply comes alive in the evenings with a variety of interesting and amusing squeaks, honks and quacks, of the insects, frogs, and lizards, and the monkey-like-noises of the hornbills! The atmospheric lighting is simply stunning and we have, every day since our return, missed the nature walk down to the Den bar for evening drinks. The location is perfectly isolated and very quiet (apart from the frogs, lizards, hornbills and other wildlife!), which allows for a true away-from-it-all, rejuvenating and peaceful retreat. We loved the wildlife and the way the resort incorporates itself seamlessly and sympathetically into the forested hill. Despite the feeling of isolation, the local island villages of Yao Noi with their shops and cafes are only a 5-minute cycle away (bikes included as part of the stay) and it was great to engage with real island life. The infinity swimming pool at Hilltop was incredible with stretching views across the limestone karst islands of Phang Nga bay. We were well attended-to during our down-time. The bar here was the perfect place to relax, enjoy a drink and just gaze out across the ocean! The three restaurants (Living room, Nithan, Hilltop) were all outstanding, but Nithan was our favourite, with the focus on Thai food (we're in Thailand for a reason!) and it's jungle setting. The food is some of the best food we have ever had, at all three restaurants (we put on 5kg of weight) and the cocktails were incredible! We hope our 'Emwen 35' has made it to the new cocktail menu (thank you A!). There are so many activities that can be done here. We loved kayaking through the mangroves and at full moon (incredible experience!), and paddle boarding around to the local beaches was great. The spa was wonderful and we enjoyed possibly the best massages we have ever had here. The Sound Healing therapy was an incredible experience, and left us with a definite feeling of inner peace. We also enjoyed a local island excursion by longtail boat and had the opportunity to kayak around the karst islands, which again was such a memorable day. The staff throughout the hotel were wonderful, including the often forgotten housekeeping staff, our wonderful GEMs, the spa staff, all of those in the bars and restaurants, and of course the 'back of house' staff who keep this slice of paradise running smoothly. There are so many names that we want to give a special thanks to, (apologies as the spelling is most likely wrong and apologies if we missed someone who we probably have!) but here we go: Tarn and Zoe our GEMs; Yaya, Gook, Bang and Ton at Living Room; Sun, Rocky, and A at the bars; Fu, Opal, Bird, and Puii at Nithan; Kee who took us kayaking and on the island tour; Ha who accompanied us on our sunset castaway; and Knight who looked after us well for our special meals. We were also lucky enough to meet a couple of the managers, so a thanks to Braiden for all of the foodie recommendations, to Daniel for checking-in on us, and a very special thanks to Thong-Chi (Robert) who we met a couple of times when he was released for short periods from his finance office! Robert very kindly organised for a very special handmade photo frame to be made for us to celebrate and remember our trip, which is a lovely lasting memory, thank you so much! Overall this was an incredible trip. We are very happy to add Six Senses to our 'favourites' list and we look forward to many more experiences to come. Thank you to all :) Read less

My family and I had an exceptional stay at Six Senses Yao Noi. The staff, especially Host Napsip, Louise, and Chef Dawa, went above and beyond to accommodate our Jain dietary restrictions, even ensuring dinner was served before sunset. The infinity views and serene islands created a spiritual experience, instantly calming the mind. The personal touch and care from the team made our visit truly unforgettable. Read less

The location is stunning with amazing views (spend the extra for the sea view - we did not and regretted it). Cannot be beaten. The infinity pool at the Hilltop is incredible. The rooms are well appointed; great plunge pool and very private. Excellent spa. The hotel’s own beach is disappointing but there are plenty of beaches in the area. We went on the local island boat tour, which was not cheap but was truly spectacular. The guide, a local from the island, was excellent; a little shy to start with but very knowledgeable, kind and with a good sense of humour. Kayaking was good. Service standards generally excellent. Breakfast is very good indeed. Otherwise, the food does not quite hit the mark. The Thai restaurant is good but the Hilltop is disappointing and expensive (and the staff not knowing what things were on the menu when asked). The Living Room is good but overall the standards are not aligned with the price. Overall an excellent stay. And the private airport transfer - which we had to take given flight times - whilst expensive, is super slick and efficient. Read less

No wishes are left unfulfilled here! Dreams come true... In an absolute oasis of well-being in the middle of the jungle, we were able to experience the most wonderful views, the greatest food and the friendliest staff... The hotel is wonderfully integrated into nature. Everything is made of wood and natural materials. Each villa has its own pool and a wonderful view of the bay or the jungle. All the staff are extremely friendly. Our personal GEM Nyle was courteous and helped us in all situations and gave us excellent advice on excursions and activities. With Bank, Pim and Frame we had a great conversation about Thai cuisine during dinner and here too, nothing was left to be desired in terms of service and friendliness. This must be highlighted! Beam, who courteously took us through the complex in a buggy, always had a friendly word. The rooms were always clean and tidy. The island is also an absolute dream, as it is still very untouched and relatively untouristy. You can rent a bike or moped without hesitation and go on a little excursion. We would also recommend visiting the five offshore islands by boat... It's worth it! We also really enjoyed the daily yoga. We would also recommend a cooking class... Read less