SUSTAINABILITY AHOY: STAY FOR GOOD IN THAILAND'S PHUKET

The Stay for Good programme aims to offer vacationers with genuine and immersive experiences that inspire a greater association with the destination while glorifying the legacy and ethnicities and contributing to generating more prospects for local communities.

- RUPALI DEAN

Once an uninhabited tin mine, the place was bought by Ho Kwon Ping in 1984 when he was looking for a dwelling to build a vacation home. The group capitalised deeply in uplifting the natural milieu, and today, the renewed lagoons are homes for marine flora and fauna. Situated on the peripheries of Bangtao Beach, the setting is about as benign as you can get. A navy of golf buggies knot guests between the villas, beach and restaurants, while hotel jeepneys can whiz you to the adjoining town, Cherngtalay, for a tariff.

This expansive jasmine-scented complex is trimmed within an edge of its life, and lift music plays from every corner. The wing-tipped open-air foyer watches a sizeable saltwater lagoon and is sprinkled with teak sofas, Thai artworks and beautiful reflective pools. From here, solid paths pass through stunning tropical gardens to a succession of Floridian-style buildings and Thai-style gazebos. Visitors can partake in the resort's sustainable creativities, such as a trip to the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, a stroll to contribute in sustainable beach clean-up, or the old-style tradition of almsgiving.

MINI KINGDOMS