Six Senses Yao Noi

We just had to include this resort in our last Thailand trip. Six Senses Yao Noi seduces with the brand’s well-rehearsed “rustic luxury chic” style and makes great use of its unique location. The pull was as irresistible as with other Six Senses hotels we wrote about.

A casual reader or a traveler less familiar with the style trends in the luxury hotels industry might be compelled to wonder why we are so fond of the Six Senses resorts. We are of course drawn to the Six Senses hallmark rustic style and a barefoot luxury vibe… But there is more.

Six Senses Chic

The 56 villas of Six Senses Yao Noi, all with private pools, are made from high-quality teak, bamboo, raw wood and are topped with palm-leaf thatching. The earthy tones are always punctured by splashes of color, sizzling oranges, reds or greens that bring vibrancy into the interiors.

The wood, the details, the fringy thatch, the sun-kissed decks blend together effortlessly and form a holistic design system that we’ve seen repeated in all Six Senses resorts—yet with a unique personality and character in each hotel.

The Six Senses design is an impressively style-conscious effort, resulting in interiors that are eminently liveable. It takes a great effort to do the “rustic chic” well—of which the Yao Noi is perhaps the best example yet.

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Eco Endeavours

The spacious villas of the Yao Noi resort are set among lush tropical greenery, some right by the beach, other high up the slopes, with views over rainforest and sea. The foliage provides privacy but is also part of a consistent “eco” theme.

The resort, built on a site of an old rubber palm plantation, took upon the stewardship of the forest, improving and regenerating the tropical flora, with heavy re-planing of local plants, fruit trees, and mangroves.

Today the reinvigorated forest and gardens are attracting wildlife and a large family of the rare Hornbill can be frequently seen.

Our favorite things

But is really the “eco-chic” we will remember the most from our Six Senses Yao Noi stay?

Or rather, maybe it will be the privacy of our beautiful Ocean Panorama Pool Villa? Spacious, with outdoor shower, sunken bath, and incredible views—they are among the best Six Senses villas we tried (rivaling our Water Villa at the Six Senses Ninh Van Bay).

Or will we remember the free home-made ice cream or the stupendous breakfasts? The phenomenal spa treatment? A place of tranquility, the spa is a perfect place for a blissful break from reality.

Actually, come to think of it, it will have to be the Hilltop Reserve. The views steal the show—surely this has to be the one thing defining Six Senses Yao Noi.

And yet, all the above wouldn’t work if not for the staff. Always smiling and courteous, providing the highest level of personalized service, in which nothing is too difficult a problem and where the greatest care is taken to make us, the guests, feel privileged.

Since visiting Six Senses Yao Noi we also had the pleasure of visiting Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives—and this resort just might be stealing the crown of our favorite Six Senses resort ever. Make sure to check our review!

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in our opinion

The eco-living is one thing, but making it work perfectly with an uncompromising luxury is another. That's what Six Senses Yao Noi does very well. Awarding with the Editor's Pick badge.

What we love

• Spectacular sea views over the Phang Nga Bay, with its iconic cluster of tall limestone islets;
• The Hilltop Reserve, a great-looking leisure complex with a beautiful pool and several restaurant areas—this is also from where the views are simply the best;
• Very spacious pool villas, built-in our favorite Six Senses rustic chic style—and with a high level of privacy between each villa, thanks to skillful landscaping and lush tropical vegetation;
• Free open-air cinema in the evenings (weather permitting), with popcorn provided;
• We tried the spa and the session was just heavenly!
• Delicious food overall—but especially breakfasts, with which it's difficult to get bored: there's everything from chili/ginger/pineapple jams, through a huge selection from the deli, to pastries from the hotel's own bakery, fresh vegetables from the resort's organic gardens—and eggs from an excellent chicken farm, run by Six Senses;
• Free ice-cream and sweets throughout the day;
• Hornbill spotting: a large family these amazing birds are daily visitors to the resort. The local variety of Hornbills are rare, so it's a particular privilege to see them aplenty on Yao Noi.

What you should know

• It takes a 20-minute drive from the Phuket airport to the coast, followed by some 45 minutes by boat to get to Yao Noi. The scheduled boat necessitates a sometimes long-ish wait in the marina, but the waiting lounge is pleasant enough;
• The resort has its own patch of a private sandy beach, but overall the Six Senses Yao Noi is a better fit for a private villa experience rather than the beach holiday;
• Watch out when getting off the boat—there isn't much of a jetty, instead, there are stairs. We witnessed an older guest tripping and almost falling down to the sea!
• Getting there: The flight-comparison sites such as Skyscanner (www.skyscanner.com) or Kayak (www.kayak.com) will help you find the best flights and deals.