Soneva Kiri

Character and identity

Reached by light aircraft to a private strip on neighbouring Koh Mai Si and then a short boat transfer, Soneva Kiri sprawls across the northern tip of Koh Kood, one of Thailand's least developed islands. The 36 villas are timber and bamboo compounds rather than rooms, each with a dressing area, separate dining deck, indoor and outdoor showers, and a private infinity pool, set either on the beach or up in the hillside. Butlers ferry guests around by electric buggy. Chef Khun Benz's kitchens range across Thai, Mediterranean and continental European cooking, with theatrical set-pieces including the bamboo Treepod served by zipline waiter, plus the open-air Cinema Paradiso with dinner.

Who's it for

Bottom line

What you're paying for is the combination of Koh Kood's untouched setting, villa compounds large enough to disappear into for a week, and a dining programme that genuinely commits to spectacle. Best for families and honeymooners with at least five nights to spare; book a beachfront villa if swimming straight from the sand matters, a hillside one for privacy and views.