The Aava Resort - Khanom, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Thailand

The Aava Resort is situated in Khanom District within the province of Nakhon Sri Thammarat, but very close to the province of Suratthani. Khanom can be reached by Land Transfer from areas such as Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak and Khao Sok National Park (including Elephant Hills), but it is also close to Nakhon Sri Thammarat and Suratthani Airports, and only about 15 minutes from the pier at Donsak, where ferries can take you to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Thirty years ago, Khanom was a quiet little place that people normally drove past to get somewhere else, with maybe the odd Thai-style beach restaurant here and there. The Thais don't really go to the beach to sunbathe, but they will go as large family groups to eat and drink whilst the children play in the sand and water. In recent years hoteliers have been attracted by the 9km of pristine, unspoilt beach and so, resorts have started popping up. We stayed at Aava Resort, where we were greeted at reception by the owner Atte and his wonderful team. Atte found Khanom, pretty much by accident after only a short time in the country, bought the land and had a vision for a beautiful resort. Aava Resort is a fusion of architecture and influences from Thailand and Atte’s native Finland. The reception area is welcoming and comfortable and then you step through there to a wide, open square. In this space there are a few large Day Bed / Sofas surrounded above and around, like a four-poster bed, with soft, white linen which sways in the breeze. These are lovely relaxing areas and then in the centre of the square are some trees and shrubs and water features. Atte and his team could have used this space for quite a few more rooms and villas, but Atte said he likes the peacefulness and tranquillity that this space provides. The resort is divided into 4 accommodation categories, starting with the Deluxe Bungalows at 25sqm, each with their own terrace, which are situated along the sides of the resort. The Superior Bungalows are larger at 34sqm and feature a front and back terrace with a garden, and a larger bathroom with a bathtub as well as a walk-in shower. The bathrooms here are very Scandinavian in style. The Poolside Villas are larger again, at 38sqm with views of the sea, including from the bathtub, and also a 11sqm poolside terrace with steps into the infinity pool. I stayed in a Family Villa which had two bedrooms and was much bigger, at 70sqm and a private 17sqm balcony with a jacuzzi with views of the sea directly in front. The upstairs bedroom also benefitted from massive windows affording wonderful views out to sea, but there are blinds which can be lowered electronically if required at night or if you need privacy. The infinity pool is located right at the front of the resort, next to the beach, with the restaurant just to the right, as you look out to sea. The views here are stunning and the beach is long and clean. There are tables on the beach and some really comfortable beanbag-style seats, which can be a struggle to get out of after a few beers or cocktails, but they are a really nice feature. We also had dinner on the beach one night under a Gazebo and a full moon which was a really nice experience. The restaurant and is amazing and under the supervision of Atte’s fiancé’ Kob, the food is out of this world, whether you are eating western or Thai cuisine. There were many highlights, but the Massaman Curry was particularly awesome. As well as being a gateway to the well-known islands in the Gulf of Thailand or a stop-off enroute to Phuket, Krabi, Elephant Hills and the islands in the Andaman Sea, Khanom does also have a lot to offer in its own right. One of the biggest attractions are the Pink Dolphins that live in the waters there and Khanom is one of only a couple of places in the whole world where they can be seen. The best way to see them is by a long-tail boat trip, though if you are lucky, you may also see them from the shore. In the TV show ‘Race Across the World’ in the summer of 2024, the older couple took a detour away from the other contestants who were racing to Krabi, and went to Khanom, solely to see the pink dolphins and they were treated to a real ‘natural’ show with lots of dolphins swimming and jumping out of the water in front of them. Another popular attraction is Koh Nui, otherwise known as Monk Island, where centuries ago, a highly revered Monk called Luang Por Tuad, was said to have performed a miracle. There is now a temple on this small island devoted to this monk and many households, particularly in the South, will have a likeness of this monk in their homes. Also close by is a cave complex that can be explored, though there are a lot of fairly steep steps before you get to the entrance. There are also some waterfalls where you can have a refreshing swim. I also enjoyed a natural fish spa as opposed to the fish spas in small fish tanks that can sometimes be seen, they certainly do wonders for your feet. The Aava Resort is stunning and occupies an enviable position on a beautiful stretch of beach, looking straight out to the Gulf of Thailand. It is a great option for a short, relaxing stay and a natural stop-off between the islands in the Gulf and the resorts on the West Coast, as well as being included in Elephant Hills Transfers. I can see Khanom developing a lot more and becoming much better known in the near future. The owner, Atte, is very passionate about his resort and maintains the property continuously to a very high standard, with matching service levels provided by his fabulous team. I hope I can return to Aava Resort very soon.