Life.Culture.Discovery.

Marine conservation sets apart Thai resort on Phi Phi Don island that played a role in the revival of Maya Bay

Among the species to have benefited from the SAii Phi Phi Island Village Resort’s marine biologists are bamboo sharks and clownfish

When not enjoying the white-sand beach, guests can play their part by planting mangrove saplings and collecting rubbish

4-MIN READ4-MIN

The bungalows at SAii Phi Phi Island Village Resort are designed after the traditional houses of fishermen in Southern Thailand. The resort places strong emphasis on marine conservation and played a part in the revival of Maya Bay. Photo: SAii Phi Phi Island Village Resort

Published: 4:15pm, 1 Mar 2024Updated: 7:57pm, 1 Mar 2024

Laid out behind a secluded 800-metre (2,600-foot) beach, amid 325 hectares (800 acres) of coconut plantations, the SAii Phi Phi Island Village Resort is in Loh Ba Gao Bay, on the peaceful northeast coast of Thailand’s Phi Phi Don island.

Built in 1986 and refurbished and rebranded in 2021, it is described as “a dreamlike tropical resort” on its website.

They would say that, wouldn’t they. What were your first impressions?

The ride by resort speedboat from the Royal Phuket Marina (some guests travel from Krabi instead) takes 90 minutes, a time to begin decompressing from the hustle and bustle of the world’s most overcrowded tourist destination (as MoneyTransfers.com dubbed Phuket, with 118 tourists visiting for every local resident in 2023) and watch the pink jellyfish as they pass by, along with many islands of various shapes and sizes.

Drawing the eye as the boat enters Loh Ba Gao Bay are the many traditional long-tail boats, decorated with colourful flowers, anchored near the shore. Owned by independent tour operators, they are waiting to take resort guests out on excursions.

Long-tail boats take resort guests out on excursions. Photo: SAii Phi Phi Island Village Resort

Staff lead arriving guests by the hand as they step onto wooden decking above the clear, emerald-green water of the Andaman Sea. A Filipino band, who have been with the resort since the 2000s, serenade arrivals as they prepare to check in.