Lanta Sand Resort & Spa ★★★★

With miles upon miles of gorgeous and uncrowded beaches and the warm azure sea, it’s difficult to even contemplate leaving your hammock and stepping off the sands for even a moment. But turn your back on the ocean for just a second, and guests to Koh Lanta will discover a world beyond the beach that’s every bit as beautiful. There’s the natural beauty of the National Park, of course, and the sleepy, mellow Old Town – but before you reach any of that, from the beach, you’ll find the Lanta Sand Resort & Spa ****.

Everything you could possibly want from a Koh Lanta holiday, the Lanta Sand Resort & Spa**** effortlessly provides. Immediate beachside access is just one of its many draws. The verdant tropical gardens filling the hotel grounds recall the most beautiful walks around the National Park. Meander through the gardens at your leisure, and there’s plenty to find. The Rabeang Restaurant, serving a mixture of local Thai and international dishes from an open-air terrace overlooking the sea, is open all day, so there’s no rush – you can return here for lunch after spending a few hours on the beach, or in between dips in each of the three hotel pools. Through the gardens as well, you’ll find the Leelavadee Spa. Thai massage technique has made its way around the world, but until you’ve received one while lying under the canopies in the Leelavadee Spa’s garden, you haven’t experienced true relaxation. After enjoying the pure bliss at the hands of the Spa masseuse, moving at all seems like an impossibly arduous task, but don’t worry. The beach is only a few steps away.