THE ART OF ESCAPE

Sometimes a destination is so special, it's almost hard to describe. Ambika Muttoo feels that way about KRABI, and, luckily, snapped out of a holiday haze to write about it

- Ambika Muttoo

There are tropical escapes, and then there is Krabi, Thailand. Here, limestone karsts rise like ancient sentinels from emerald waters with cliffs softened by the golden light of the setting sun, and sugary beaches lace around coves. Krabi’s true allure is how it slows your pulse and quiets your mind. Time is not measured in hours but in moments – a paddle through mangroves, the silk-like touch of a Thai massage beneath an open-air pavilion, the taste of just-grilled seafood. For the adventurous, the waters of the Andaman Sea provide endless opportunities for sport. One way or another, you’ve got to surrender and dive in.

The district is just a hop away from the subcontinent. A flight from India to Bangkok, connecting to Phuket (and then a scenic drive for a few hours), or to slinky little Krabi Airport, makes it an easy journey. Yet, for all its accessibility, Krabi has its ways of making you unreachable to the outside world once you arrive. Much like the sirens, who we imagine perch over the waves of the adjacent sea, there is no other space as enchanting and as lushly private as the Ritz-Carlton Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve property nestled along the dramatic coastline of Krabi. This isn’t just a resort – it is a dreamscape. Reserve properties (this was the first one created) are a rare collection of ultra-luxurious, highly-personalised resorts designed to offer immersive and intimate experiences. Add to that, it has also been awarded the prestigious Three Michelin Keys.