Eco - tours  

Golden Buddha Beach Resort set on the island of Koh Phra Thong 150 km north of Phuket is the only resort located next to a spectacular uninhabited 10km private bay and sandy beach washed by the clear blue waters of the Andaman sea. The area which can only be accessed by boat remains one of the last unspoiled coastal areas in Thailand, affording guests an experience that is both unique and completely in touch with nature.

There is a selection of 25 uniquely designed wooden houses which comfortably sleep between 2 and 5 people spread along the beach front and interior mature wooded grounds. Crowds are nonexistent on the island while peace, privacy, and tranquillity are guaranteed. Both exotic and rare wildlife can often be viewed from the comfort of your own veranda, hornbills, monkeys and deer are all commonly seen. Also the pristine beach remains one of the few nesting sites left in Thailand for giant leatherback turtles.

Leisure activities include diving and snorkelling at some of the best locations in Thailand with both the stunning Surin Islands and Richelieu Rock a short sail away where whale sharks and many other exotic fish species can be spotted. The tropical island's unique ecosystems are also perfect for land based safaris and some of the best bird watching in the kingdom.

Yoga vacations continue to draw guests from Thailand and all over the world to Golden Buddha Beach Resorts remote tropical island . Yoga retreats and resident teachers are scheduled throughout the November to April season., whilst the "jungle" spa allows guests to enjoy treatments in the comfort of their own private beach houses.

Featured Accommodation
Baan Bourgainvilla (Sleeps 5 adults)
Bedroom accommodation: Master bedroom - King size double bed Loft - Double bed
Living room - Sleeper sofa
Electricity - Generated by the resort and available 8 am to 10 pm
Cooling - Fans and sea breezes
Location: Beach front, approx 14 minutes walk to the resort clubhouse.

Overview
Baan Bourgainvilla enjoys the space of its own one acre unfenced grounds, and extensive beachfront. The house is constructed from dark stained natural timber with liberal use of large floor to ceiling windows to provide maximum natural light whilst taking in the stunning views. The wide beach front veranda stretches the width of the house is ideal for relaxing and enjoying the cooling sea breezes.

Inside the spacious interior is both luxurious and well appointed, white walls with authentic Thai art are matched with hardwood floors to provide a homely feel and relaxed ambience, complemented by hand crafted furniture from Chiang Mai including the king size bed. The accommodation living area includes a lounge, master bedroom, sleeping loft, and two full bathroom suites.

Baan Bourgainvilla provides the ultimate tropical island hideaway with world class beach for discerning travellers who want to escape the madding crowds and who enjoy being close to nature.

Golden Buddha Beach Resort Facilities and Services
Whether enjoying the sunrise with a cup of coffee or watching the sunset at the Sea Breeze bar with a tropical drink, Golden Buddha offers friendly and attentive service in all of its facilities. Some of the best authentic Thai cuisine is served in the restaurant and for those who can't resist an extra portion, the calories can burned away at the beach front yoga sala. Wrapping up the day there is the opportunity to take a therapeutic Thai massage in the privacy of your beach home.

Jungle Spa
The Jungle Spa offers an extensive assortment of over 18 massage and Spa treatments, including Thai massage, head massage, aromatherapy, facials, body scrubs & cleansers. The treatments are provided by professionally trained massage therapists.

Dining
Dining is a very important element of the experience at Golden Buddha Beach and every effort is made to ensure that the quality of food is set at a high level with the focus on Thai dishes and locally sourced natural ingredients. Breakfast is a la carte with a selection of Thai and Western choices. Lunch and dinner are arranged as a buffet, offering a variety of dishes that include both fresh fish and vegetarian dishes. (In addition to home grown coconuts and papayas, Golden Buddha Beach Resort works with the local community to both grow and source organic produce from the island.)

Special Dinners
If guests have a special occasion to celebrate dinner can be served in the privacy of their own home by prior arrangement.

Sea Breeze bar & internet café
The open-air Sea Breeze bar blends perfectly with the remote island location with panoramic views of the Andaman Sea looking directly west toward the setting sun. The bar menu includes a wide range of local and international cocktails, beers and spirits. A small selection of quality new world wines are also available. The bar staff specialise in preparing fresh fruitbased drinks with or without spirits. The selection varies with the season, but fresh pineapple, coconuts and watermelon are available throughout the year. Late on in the dry season those long, yellow, intensely sweet mangoes are available and combine with Thai rum for delicious refreshment after a day in the sun!

Bakery and Internet Café
Freshly baked cookies, and an assortment of locally produced coffees and teas are served at the cafe throughout the day, complemented by a small selection of imported brands. To provide an internet service on the island for guests a satellite link has been organized but the speed and reliability of the connection varies at times with the prevailing weather conditions. A computer is also provided for shared use by guests.

Leisure Activities
(If planned day or night-time leisure activities do not occupy all family members then a child minding service can be provided by the resort staff by prearrangement.)

Golden Buddha Beach Resort provides a very special and ideal location for all ages and fitness levels to explore. Treks can range from a simple walk down the beach to an all day guided hike into the interior savannah. Guides can be provided to take guests through mangrove forests, across deserted tracks of land, and up and over Monkey Mountain to reach secret unexplored beaches!

The selection of outdoor leisure activities include:-

Andaman Safaris
The Safaris have been designed to create a sense of adventure, optimise guests appreciation of the natural world and provide memorable moments. No specialist equipment is required, but guests are advised to bring their own binoculars if available and certainly a camera. A hat and sun protection are also a must.

Island Exploration Safari (4 or more hours)
Itinerary: Trek to the east of the island, while exploring the mangrove forests and wooded estuaries that line the route. Arrive at the Sea Gypsy village and enjoy the friendly locals and some freshly prepared snacks. Trek back to Golden Buddha Beach Resort, enjoying the early evening sounds and sites of local birds and animals.

Night Safari (2 hours)
Itinerary: Trek to the hide, and settle in to wait, watch and listen for the creatures of the night! Suggested accompaniments include a hot cup of cocoa and cookies from the bakery or maybe even a cold beer.

Bird Watching
The bird watching on Golden Buddha Island must rate as possibly the best in Thailand and can be enjoyed either in a group with trained guides or independently with the help of specially prepared maps and printed guides. Wide expanses of savannah dotted with trees, lined by tropical forest and tidal rivers and of course bordered by the ocean makes for a superb bird habitat. Over 100 different species were recorded by a single pair of guests a few years ago and includes many rare species such as the Asian open-billed stork, lesser adjutant, Indian roller and brown fish owl.

Diving, Snorkelling and Sea Kayaking
Set 1.5 hour along the sail route from mainland Kuraburi pier to the world renown dive site Richelieu Rock famous for whale sharks and the stunning Surin islands national park, Golden Buddha's remote location in the Andaman Sea provides an opportunity for some of the best snorkelling and scuba diving in Thailand. If staying above the water is preferred, then there is some great kayaking around the island and through many small tidal rivers that cut inland.

Koh Phra Thong location
Golden Buddha Island (around 100 sq km in area) is approx 500 km southwest of Bangkok and 150 km north of Phuket's international airport on the southwest coast of Thailand. Accessed only by boat and set between neighbouring Koh Kor Kao and Ra islands off the coast of Takua Pa district, it's about 9 degrees north of the equator with ideal holiday weather expected from November to the end of April.

Getting to Koh Phra Thong
Travelling to Golden Buddha Island is a pleasure and adventure at the same time, and provides the opportunity to see many of Thailand's natural wonders. Estimated journey time from Bangkok to Golden Buddha Beach Resort is between 3 and 6 hours depending on transportation method and route chosen.

Transfer options:-

• Fly from Bangkok to Phuket Thai Airways, Bangkok Air, Nok Air or Air Asia (transfer time to Kuraburi pier 2.5 hrs)
• Fly from Bangkok to Ranong Air Asia (transfer time to Kuraburi pier 1.5 hrs)
• Boat from Kuraburi pier to Koh Phra Thong ( Golden Buddha Island ). There is no scheduled ferry boat service. A private boat will be arranged by the resort; either a classic Thai long tail boat (90 minute transfer) or a speedboat (30 minute transfer)
• Seaplane from Phuket to Koh Phra Thong (Golden Buddha Island). A seaplane transfer can be chartered from Phuket by prearrangement. (40 minute transfer)

History and Local Culture
Set in Thailand 's Andaman Sea, just a few kilometres from Burmese waters, there is a small coastal archipelago. The largest of these tropical islands is Koh Phra Thong, which translates to English as Golden Buddha Island. As the story goes according to local legend the name originates from buried treasure..., many years ago a band of pirates attracted by the island's isolation or perhaps ship wrecked by rough seas, buried a golden Buddha at an undisclosed location on the island and to this day there is no record of it ever being discovered!

In modern times the island supports three villages populated by Thai, Moklen (the nomadic people of the Andaman coast of Thailand and southern Burma) and the Moken (the people commonly referred to as sea gypsies from the north Andaman coasts of Thailand and Burma). This was comprehensively described in Jacques Invanoff's book, Turbulence: Ko Phra Thong (2006, Ketos).

Excursions to these villages (Baan Thang Dap, Baan Tapayoi and Baan Bak Jok) can be arranged so that guests meet families and see their age-old way of life. In addition, it is possible to visit local schools to meet children and teachers as well as a visit to the local public health centre.

Home stays with families can also be arranged where guests can enjoy eating together and experience the local sea community life. In some villages, guests can take Thai cooking lessons and sample some of the traditional fruits of Thailand such as mangosteen, durian and jackfruit. Fortunately communities on the island have prospered in recent years. The local government has enlarged the schools in each village and every year volunteers conduct conservation classes in the schools, sponsored by Golden Buddha Beach Resort. This ensures that outsiders' influence and impact is as positive as possible.

Unfortunately, much of the improving prosperity vanished following the tsunami of 2004 that devastated Phuket and surrounding islands. However, due to the generous support of the Swiss government and a number of relief agencies, they have made a remarkable recovery. Golden Buddha Beach Resort seeks to continue to support the island citizens through volunteer programs and extensively training and hiring local residents.

See the map of Golden Buddha Beach Resort Location