The Thailand resorts everyone’s talking about this year

Set between Phang Nga Bay’s limestone karsts and a private stretch of powdery sand, The Paradise Koh Yao feels like a secret sanctuary. Villas and studios are carved into tropical greenery, with many featuring their own private outdoor showers, jacuzzis or direct beach access. The rhythm here is slow and sensorial. You can enjoy morning yoga looking out to the bay, long-tail boat trips to hidden coves, and massages in an open-air spa pavilion draped in palms. Dining leans into Thai flavours and organic produce, with cocktails sipped to sunset views. It’s luxury without pretension on one of Thailand’s most peaceful islands.

Key features:

• Beachfront villas
• Open-air spa
• Yoga deck
• Organic dining
• Boat tours
• Outdoor jacuzzis

Katathani is a Phuket classic: a sprawling beachfront resort on one of the island’s most beautiful, less crowded stretches of sand. It pairs family-friendly amenities with grown-up elegance across multiple pools, dining venues and accommodation wings. Picture swim-up bars, beachfront massages, cooking classes, kids’ clubs and sunset dining overlooking the Andaman Sea. Suites range from contemporary to coastal-chic, with some coming with sea views or pool access. The atmosphere brings together Thai hospitality with resort polish to give an overall impression that’s relaxed, sun-kissed and seamless. Whether you want barefoot family time or indulgent downtime, everything you need is within walking distance.

Key features:

• Six pools
• Multiple restaurants
• Kids’ club
• Spa
• Beach loungers
• Cooking classes
• Oceanfront rooms

Adults-only and wildly romantic, TreeHouse Villas is an opulent fantasy carved into the forest canopy. Each villa is a two-storey hideaway with a private plunge pool, swing daybeds, ocean views and outdoor bathtubs shaded by trees. Interiors mix Thai craft with bohemian textures; timber beams, woven accents and open-air lounges featuring throughout the resort. This is a property that feels isolated in the best way, hugged by jungle and fronted by dramatic bay views. Kayaking, spa rituals, boat excursions and in-villa dining round out the experience. If you want the drama of the tropics with five-star seclusion, this is your island prayers answered.

Key features:

• Private plunge pools
• Outdoor tubs
• Two-level villas
• Adults-only
• Beachfront access
• Spa
• Kayak tours

Hidden in 100 acres of jungle cascading toward the Andaman Sea, Pimalai Resort & Spa is the kind of Thai luxury that feels completely in tune with nature. Villas and suites are tucked into the hillside or set directly on the sand, many with private pools and wide verandas overlooking the water. The resort’s award-winning spa sits beneath the trees, offering treatments that borrow from Thai healing rituals. Days flow between boat trips to Koh Haa, beachside dining at sunset and quiet swims in the infinity pool perched above the canopy. It’s barefoot elegance wrapped in tropical calm.

Key features:

• Hilltop and beachfront villas
• Infinity pools
• Rainforest spa
• Private beach
• Diving and island excursions

Set in the heart of Bangkok’s Sukhumvit district, 137 Pillars delivers urban luxury with the soul of a boutique retreat. Suites come with butlers, oversized daybeds, marble bathrooms and skyline views, while residences add kitchens and private balconies for longer stays. The rooftop infinity pool (exclusive to suite guests) floats above the city, and the spa blends Thai wellness with contemporary therapies. Dining ranges from elegant Thai to stylish afternoon tea, and the Sky Bar is a sunset essential. It’s a haven of calm with five-star polish and easy access to Bangkok’s best shopping and dining.

Key features:

• Rooftop pool
• Butler service
• Suites and serviced apartments
• Spa
• Sky bar
• Central Sukhumvit location

Tucked into a private cove just south of Lamai Beach, Rocky’s Boutique Resort feels intimate and handcrafted. Villas and rooms sit amid lush gardens and boulders that spill into the sea, with decor that blends Thai warmth and island chic. Guests can spend the day kayaking, lounging by the pools, or dining at The Dining Room, the resort’s oceanfront restaurant known for its refined Thai and European dishes. With fewer than 50 rooms, service is personal and discreet. It’s a quieter, more romantic take on Samui, away from the bustle but close enough for island exploring.

Key features:

• Private cove location
• Ocean-view dining
• Kayaks
• Two pools
• Garden and beachfront villas

Set on a private palm-fringed hillside overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, Four Seasons Koh Samui is the epitome of island luxury. Each villa offers a private infinity pool, shaded daybeds and panoramic sea views wrapped in modern Thai design. The resort’s Beach House, Rum Vault and hilltop spa add layers of indulgence, while activities range from Muay Thai lessons and long-tail boat charters to reef snorkelling. 

The private beach is quiet and beautifully serviced, and families are just as welcome as honeymooners. Privacy, polish and postcard views unite in every corner, leaving no doubt why they chose this resort as one of the key filming locations for The White Lotus.

Key features:

• Private pool villas
• Private beach
• Hilltop spa
• Kids’ club
• Dining venues
• Curated excursions

Stretching along a wide, golden beachfront just north of Phuket, Mai Khao Lak Beach Resort & Spa is a crowd-pleaser with a relaxed, all-ages atmosphere. Rooms and villas cater to both couples and families, with swim-up options and direct beach access. Multiple pools, waterslides, a spa, kids’ club and beachfront dining mean no one runs out of things to do. Offshore adventures to the Similan or Surin Islands are easy to arrange, while sunsets here are among Thailand’s dreamiest. It’s approachable luxury with plenty of space to unwind.

Key features:

• Multiple pools
• Spa
• Kids’ club
• Beachfront dining
• Swim-up rooms
• Access to island excursions