From elephant sanctuaries up north in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai to the beautiful beaches of Phuket and Koh Samui, Thailand is a tropical vacation paradise, and has been long before White Lotus chose it as the location for Season Three.
Since then, however, the Land of Smiles has seen a sustained spike in tourism–especially among wellness-seekers. The new Destination Thailand visa, which allows visitors to remain for up to 180 consecutive days over a course of five years, is attracting a lot of newcomers, too.
But guests won’t find any crowds at Trisara, one of the most luxuriously understated, supremely relaxing spots on Phuket. Trisara translates to “garden in the third heaven,” and you will surely feel as though you’ve found your own slice of heaven right there. Set on a protected 17-acre nature preserve with lush gardens and a tropical rain forest, Trisara also hugs one of the most pristine horseshoe beaches on the island, facing the crystalline Adaman Sea–and it’s private. Surrounded by nature, embraced by warm hospitality, tranquility and well-being envelops you like a soft breeze as you settle in for a serenely restorative stay.
The breathtaking Thai-owned estate features 39 villas–each with its own infinity pool, along with jaw-dropping views of the Sea–and was designed by Mom Tri Davkul, an acclaimed Thai artist and architect, to include classic Thai elements (dramatic sloping roofs with terracotta tiles for the resort buildings, elegant minimalist interiors for the villas) that feel modern and timeless, “bringing Thai culture and the beauty of Thai artistry to the forefront,” says Claudia Schwarze, General Manager.
New Ecotherapy Initiatives
In addition to its beauty and authentic sense of place, there is a respect for nature at Trisara, reflected in a deeply rooted commitment to sustainability. For example, when the resort was built 15 years ago, rather than cutting down trees, the builders moved them, then moved back after construction.
Trisara recently brought on a new Director of Ecotherapy (ecotherapy is the idea that experiences in nature improve mental, physical, spiritual wellness) and is in the process of creating new wellness programs and nature therapies inspired by the extraordinary natural setting, especially the crystal clear water.
A massive coral reef, visible from the beach, is a protected part of Surinet National Park, which also features magnificent mangrove forests and beaches. Schwarze brought in a team of marine biologists for a reef audit. “We were amazed at the health of the reef,” she says, “and the incredible number–and variety—of fish. You don’t walk on the reef, because it damages the ecosystem. We are finding the right way to work with rangers and biologists to provide education and be socially responsible,” she continues.
In addition to snorkeling and diving programs already in place, there will free-diving at the reef, based on the Wim Hof breathing method. “Breath is related to mindfulness,” she says. “When you get anxious, you need to get back to breath.”
Thai Wellness Spa
The award-winning Juara Spa features six treatment rooms and a menu of Thai-inspired wellness treatments with some products, such as the heady lemongrass oil and balm, made on property from locally grown plants and Thai herbs. Natural light floods the spa cabines and if your eyes flutter open during a Thai Luk Pra Kob Massage (with herbal compresses drawn from Thai Medicine) and you peer down from the massage table, you’ll see beautiful white lotus flowers in a black lacquer bowl.
Michelin Green Cuisine
Trisara was recently awarded a Michelin Key and hosts two uniquely different Michelin-starred restaurants. The elegant PRU (Plant. Raise. Understand), the first Michelin-starred restaurant in Phuket, is helmed by Chef Jimmy Ophorst. And Jampa, a zero-waste, closed-loop Michelin Green Star restaurant run by Chef Rick Dingen, is surrounded by the idyllic Pru Jampa Farm, source of organic locally grown fruit, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers, grown and harvested for the restaurants by a team of local farmers. It is a short drive away, at Tri Vananda, an integrative residential wellness community connected to Trisara.
Ecotherapy offerings are expanding at Pru Jampa Farm, where free-roaming geese, ducks and chickens live surrounded by cacao trees and jasmine and pink ginger flowers, and bee-keeping provides a source of honey. Guests can enjoy a farm-to-table outdoor lunch and sign up their children for the Little Farmers program, where kids can help plant trees, and learn about sustainable agriculture and gastronomy. (There is also a Little Mariners program at Trisara, where kids explore marine life on the beach, and learn how to protect it.)
Coral Reef and Beach Bounty
If you want to spend low-key days lolling around on the beach or at the pool, fair enough. Activities in the water also include snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, sailing and stand-up paddle boarding, as well as fishing, private charters and diving out by the reef. There is a range of classes, for example, beach stretching, yoga, trail hikes, marine discovery, Muay Thai (Thai boxing). Take a nature walk before dinner and listen to the chatter of the birds. Sip a cocktail at the Thai Library, serving southern Thai cuisine, or the new open-air 7.8 N bar (reflecting the coordinates of Phuket) and watch the sunset stripe the sky in shades of lavender and rose.
For casual dining, the Cielo & Spice menu reflects the Silk Road, from Asia to Italy. It is the spot where guests enjoy a delicious breakfast. La Crique is a “reimaging of nouvelle cuisine,” with counter dining for solo guests. Menus change often, depending upon what is available at the Farm.
No matter how much you decide to dial it up or down, you cannot help but tap into the heart of a very soulful spot, where relaxation comes as naturally as breathing. At Trisara, even the plants are happy. You can read their body language as they stretch toward the sun. No doubt you will, too.
Getting There
I’ve traveled on Cathay Pacific since my very first trip to Thailand years ago. The hub is Hong Kong, which makes it easy to connect anywhere in Asia, including Phuket–and the airline just launched nonstop flights from Dallas to Hong Kong.
Cathay keeps elevating (no pun intended) and has recently partnered with two of Hong Kong’s top Michelin-starred restaurants, Duddell’s and Louise, to create delicious new dining options in business class. They started a recycling program back in 2001, and continue to set new and loftier goals each year. And they were the first airline to invest in sustainable biofuel research and development, with a goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“Our environmental focus continues to be on climate change and a circular economy,” says CEO Ronald Lam. “As a pioneer and early adopter of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), we continue to work towards fostering a local SAF ecosystem and expanding SAF usage globally, while acknowledging the challenges and opportunities ahead.”