Thailand captured my heart instantly when I first set foot there in 2014. I was utterly enchanted by the locals, the pristine beaches, the accommodations & service… I mean ‘WOW’… and let’s not overlook the food – some of the most delectable produce I have ever savored, especially in the form of Thai cuisine. Someone once mentioned that Thailand is deemed a ‘budget’ getaway, not a genuine luxury experience like Dubai or the Maldives, and I couldn’t help but laugh, as only someone who hasn’t yet discovered the enchantment of Thailand would say that. What better motivation to revisit one of the most awe-inspiring places in the World than to demonstrate to that certain someone just how mistaken they were. And, mistaken they were…
Fast forward 8 years, as I was organizing our Easter holiday – I take charge of travel in our family, and sometimes my husband jokes: “do you already know what you’ll be eating upon arrival?”, because I conduct thorough research before selecting a holiday destination. However, I wasn’t in search of a new location; actually, my first choice was the stunning Four Seasons, Koh Samui, but the lack of available flights and connections (after all, it was Easter and a very sought-after spot) prompted me to rethink my plans. I sifted through my travel bucket list, and there it was… one of the dream destinations I had longed for… how could I have overlooked it before??
Everyone knows the iconic name Soneva, the brand that encompasses Soneva Fushi, Soneva Jani, Soneva Aqua, and of course Soneva Kiri. Soneva is a 5-star luxury ECO-friendly hospitality group established by Sonu Shivdasani and his model fiancée Eva Shivdasani; Sonu is also the mind behind the Six Senses resorts.
Soneva Kiri, being the only resort of the Soneva brand not located in the Maldives, was my ultimate dream destination to visit, so I immediately contacted my travel agent, who is THE PERSON to consult for travel to and within Asia, Shanoon at Adore Maldives is the one to reach out to. To my delight, Soneva Kiri had availability and thus our Easter escapade began.
Firstly, Koh Kood is a secluded island in Thailand (when I mention remote, I don’t mean the usual kind, it’s nearly deserted), situated near the Cambodian border, in the Thai province of Trat. Now, if someone were to visit Koh Kood independently, the only way to reach the island is by flying from Bangkok to Koh Chang and then embarking on a 6-hour ferry journey to Koh Kood Island. By independently, I mean not to Soneva Kiri, as Soneva resorts provide transportation to and from their hotels on charter flights. After confirming our flights, which included traveling from Dubai to Bangkok and then a domestic flight to Koh Kood on the charming little Soneva Kiri plane, all that remained was the excitement and anticipation of the thrilling adventure ahead.
The day had come: we were on the 7-hour Emirates Airlines overnight flight, one of the best airlines in first class, enjoying ultimate comfort in our private suites, with delicious snacks and meals available to us throughout the journey. Upon arrival, a Soneva Kiri representative guided us directly off the plane into the domestic flights area for our little private Soneva Kiri flight, but… little did we know that as we approached passport control our luxurious journey took an unexpected turn. We were informed that our passports required a visa for entry into Thailand – at that moment, my heart sank, yes, we were turned away from passport control and directed towards the visa upon arrival section (WHAAAAAAT). Visa upon arrival didn’t involve just a simple sticker in our passport; we endured an unimaginable process of filling out forms, taking passport photographs, queuing in line, and waiting for our number to be called – the bottom line is, if you’re planning to visit Thailand and your passport mandates a visa upon arrival, obtain it in your country of residence beforehand – I assure you, the experience will be significantly more enjoyable. Fortunately, they provided a fast-track service option, which we gladly opted for and managed to exit within an hour, not missing our Soneva Kiri flight to Koh Kood. Finally, onboard the cozy little aircraft, I could exhale and soak it all in… After all, I was embarking on the adventure of a lifetime.
Koh Kood is perhaps one of the most isolated islands I’ve ever traveled to, and with the added bonus of staying at an eco-friendly hotel, you’ve transformed into a true explorer in the making. Just kidding! Upon arriving at our “room” (
