Jungle book
Karla Courtney rounds up the best family-friendly resorts in Thailand.
For the coolest kids´ club SONEVA KIRI, KOH KOOD
As they say, good things don’t come easily. To reach this remote island resort, it’s a 90-minute private flight from Bangkok, followed by a speedboat transfer. But once you’re at Soneva Kiri (soneva.com), you’ll enjoy a pristine, crowdless version of Thailand in a unique setting and in absolute luxury. The kids’ club is housed in The Den, a giant bamboo hut with an interior that looks like a cross between Robinson Crusoe and Dr Seuss. The itinerary is packed with a mix of cultural and educational activities such as rainforest walks and local school visits. In the evening, the entire family can watch films in the open air on cushioned decks overlooking the lagoon or stargaze in the high-tech observatory. Oh, and we haven’t even mentioned the private-pool villas, round-the-clock butler service for all accommodation types and unlimited access to the chocolate room, which is exactly as it sounds: a room full of chocolates that you can eat at will.
For nature and wildlife ELEPHANT HILLS, KHAO SOK NATIONAL PARK
Fancy camping in a Thai tropical forest and getting close to majestic pachyderms? Elephant Hills’ luxury tented camps (elephanthills.com) in Khao Sok National Park, Southern Thailand, don’t offer elephant rides. Instead, you can watch the animals bathe and help scrub and feed them in their natural surroundings. The best option for families is the three-day Jungle Safari, which includes a light trek, boat rides and a visit to a local market.
For pure relaxation ANANTARA MAI KHAO PHUKET VILLAS
A 15-minute drive from the airport and a hop and a skip to Phuket’s longest beach, Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas (anantara. com) is the perfect five-star family holiday in a secluded yet convenient spot. Bliss out in the spa, where children over five can accompany you and have an aromatherapy massage. There’s a large resort pool, plus private villa pools. The Turtle Club is free for ages four to 12. Speaking of which, they can arrange for you to visit the marine turtle shelter next door at the Marriott. And if you’re lucky, you might even see a turtlereleasing ceremony by conservationists.