Baba Ecolodge

Ko Phra Thong's interior is grassy savanna rather than jungle, unique in Thailand. The island has not been overdeveloped either. Here you'll find a couple of small fishing villages, fewer than 300 residents in total, and only narrow, unpaved tracks rather than proper roads. Baba Ecolodge's 27 wooden villas sit along a sheltered sandy bay or within the trees. There’s no air-conditioning or television. Instead there is open architecture, outdoor showers, and decks that catch the sea breeze. Endangered lesser adjutant storks, pangolins and slow loris live in the surrounding forest and savanna, and green turtles still nest on the emptier stretches of sand.

The resort runs on zero single-use plastic, draft beer instead of bottled drinks, and a kitchen that works only with fresh, daily-bought produce. Other than enjoying a more peaceful, unspoilt Thailand life, choose to venture out to kayak through mangrove forest, safari through the savanna interior or visit the Moken sea-nomad communities on the Surin Islands to dive and snorkel the world class coral reefs there. Ninety per cent of staff come from the island itself, and the resort has been working with local authorities on micro-loans to help farmers raise organic eggs and chickens.