Soneva Kiri

A little ways from the resort in a seaside cove, the Benz's restaurant is set on stilts over the water and the make-your-own menu offers a mix of Thai and European. Out in the garden, tuck into a seven-course organic dinner using local ingredients and Nordic techniques. Enjoy themed nights like an Asian Street Buffet on the clifftop deck of The Dining Room or grab an island-inspired tipple at the So Spirited bar in a canvas-topped setting by the pool. The spa is a lovely spot with a range of stress-relieving treatments and there's yoga with a view every morning.

Beneath thatched roofs, there are villas of every size from intimate 1-bedrooms to six-bedroom residences (with some only steps from the beach). Each opens with a curved pool and expansive deck that leads to open-sided rooms. Large beds sit beneath a swathe of netting and the outdoor spaces are dotted with couches in bright colours. The rustic bathrooms are made private by bamboo walls with a sunken outdoor bath. The sprawling reserves have a rooftop treehouse, dining area, spa, games room and plenty of places to recline on cushy daybeds.

Learn the ways of the kitchen with a cooking lesson, catch a film at the over-water cinema or watch the stars at the observatory. Boat to the local fishing village of Ao Salad or dine on the sands of North Beach where there's swimming, snorkelling and kayaking galore. Journey to the Ya Ki Waterfall for a swim and a pedicure from the garra rufa fish. There is a national park in every direction where the sea life is epic and diving is unforgettable.