Review: Six Senses Yao Noi – Eco-Friendly, Luxury Hideaway in Phang Nga Bay, Thailand

Nestled in beautiful Phang Nga Bay near Phuket is Six Senses Yao Noi, a crown jewel of luxury resort brand Six Senses. If perfection exists in the world of luxury travel, then Six Senses Yao Noi certainly comes very close to it. Seldom do we come across a resort that blends so many desirable elements together in one exclusive package. From sustainable luxury island living and dramatic land- and seascapes to superb dining, bespoke wine and luxurious spa treatment, Six Senses Yao Noi has it all.

We started our four-day trip with a pre-arranged transfer via the resort’s Mercedes Benz from our previous hotel (La Flora Patong, see my review here) to the Ao Po Grand Marina. We were then taken to Ko Yao Noi (island) via the resort’s private boat transfer.

Upon arrival, we were immediately greeted by staff members at the resort’s private pier. While personalized meet-and-greet is quite the norm for top-notch hotels now, the friendly welcome we received at Six Senses Yao Noi nonetheless created a positive first impression; apparently, they greet every guest on arrival and departure–rain or shine.

The place that we would call home for the next few days was an “Ocean Deluxe Pool Villa”—a split-level villa with an unobstructed sea view, private swimming pool and a large terrace. It was elegantly designed and eminently likable with the kind of rustic charm that instantly makes you feel relaxed.

The massive wooden deck overlooking Phang Nga Bay was a treat on a sunny day—of which we, fortunately, had plenty to enjoy during our stay. The private pool was another treat as it was not only comfortably sized but also seamlessly connected to indoors with large sliding glass doors.

Over the course of our stay, we were impressed by the multi-faceted nature of Six Senses Yao Noi. It was unmistakably a top-notch resort built perfectly for R&R. Our itinerary included a plethora of lifestyle activities: sumptuous spa treatments at the spa village, fine dining at the resort’s restaurants, a private island-hopping trip on the resort’s long boat, yoga session led by a yoga maestro on a spectacular hilltop overlooking the Andaman Sea, movie night (with complimentary popcorn) at the outdoor theater at the resort’s private beach and even a tour of the resort’s chicken farm, where it raises its own organic eggs.

While each of these activities was superbly crafted, together they offered a complete experience, which epitomises the Six Senses experience. Such experience was further enhanced by our own Guest Experience Manager (GEM) who managed our requests as well as made all itinerary arrangements.

Equally impressive to its luxurious offerings was Six Senses Yao Noi’s commitment to sustainable and healthy living. Apparently the resort goes to great lengths to ensure an eco-friendly operation. To name just a few: the resort sports its own water filtration plant, which produces revitalized water (with added mineral) for guests and, for packaging, it uses only recyclable glass bottles to minimize waste. In addition to the organic chicken farm, which produces all the eggs for daily consumption, the resort also grows its own vegetables in dedicated gardens scattered around the grounds.

It is this intriguing blend of an eco-friendly luxury lifestyle and a perfect hideaway location that makes Six Senses Yao Noi a 2015 Editor’s Choice. Kudos to the Six Senses team for a beautiful experience.