Guests checking in at the luxury beachfront resort of Banyan Tree Krabi are reducing their carbon footprint on southern Thailand’s marine environment from the moment they arrive. Instead of the usual hotel “welcome pack”, visitors are presented with a novel tote bag that was created by local artisans using upcycled waste washed up on local beaches.

All Souvenirs From The Sea tote bags are created using upcycled debris from the Andaman Sea

“There’s a fine difference between recycling and upcycling,” explained the hotel’s Sustainability Manager Thepsuda Loyjiw. “Recycling is when we save materials such as glass and plastic for general reuse; while upcycling is the art of taking waste products and reinventing them as something else.”

The “Souvenirs from the Sea” project is the brainchild of a local vendor who scours the shores around Krabi each morning, picking up debris and, with a keen artistic eye, selecting those items that can be cleaned, dried, and modified into safe, colourful, eco-friendly souvenirs for tourists. Her partnership with Banyan Tree Krabi is proving to be a win-win situation for everyone.

“Guests invariably do a double-take when they receive the pouch with its fish and sea motifs,” said Tipwimon Rattanawongwan, a marine scientist who is the new Sustainability Coordinator at the resort. “But this immediately gives their Banyan Tree Host an opportunity to explain about our sustainability programs and eco-friendly policies. Our guests feel they are doing their bit; that they too are invested in the protection and conservation of the local environment.”

Tote bag created using upcycled debris

The project comes at a time when southern Thailand’s coastal environment is under the spotlight. Several islands and beaches have been closed in recent years due to the impact of tourism on coral and marine life, most notably Maya Bay where the Hollywood movie The Beach, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, was filmed. In recent years, a series of laws has been passed to protect Thailand’s famed sapphire seas and palm-fringed beaches, including bans on smoking, the feeding of marine life, wastewater dumping, fishing or anchoring on coral reefs, and new seafront construction at several popular beach destinations.

Banyan Tree Krabi’s recent sustainability initiatives include an Earth Day beach clean-up with guests as volunteers, and the introduction of Forest Bathing, a nature-based educational tour for guests, including children, to help raise awareness about environmental conservation and protecting local flora and fauna.

Each guest at Banyan Tree Krabi receives a welcome bag created using upcycled materials washed up from the Andaman Sea

The 5-star property, located on tranquil Tubkaek Beach facing the uninhabited limestone islands of Than Bok Khorani Marine National Park, looks to follow in the gentle footprints of Banyan Tree Samui which in 2018 became the first hotel in Thailand to be awarded “Gold Certification” at a single-property level by EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking, certification and advisory group for travel and tourism.

The Banyan Tree brand is known worldwide for its green policies and sustainability goals, exemplified by the group’s “Stay for Good” framework which assures visitors that the hotels are contributing responsibly to practical environmental initiatives, and ethical engagement with locally-infused community projects.

The post From Trash to Tote: Thai Resort Welcomes Guests with green Offer appeared first on Asian Itinerary.

As part of the Krabi Dawn to Dusk series, in collaboration with Fantasia Asia, we went to have a drink at stunning Baan Tha Ley Café, located right on the beach at Ban Ko Kwang, Klong Muang, Krabi, Thailand. 

Retro corner

Baan Tha Ley Café has recently been transformed into a new modern, white and minimalistic look with lots of colourful decoration and a location that is enviable to say the least. Lots of people take advantage for a selfie to take back home as a memory of their time in Krabi. 

At Baan Tha Ley Café you are right on the beach, literally a step away

The shop is set in a way that every area and corner receives the blessing of the sea breeze. Ambient music fills the air at a gentle volume. Patrons sit and enjoy the views, both inside and outside, where a bright Andaman Sea serves as house for the several islands that dot the Krabi seas: Koh Hong, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Yao and so on. At Baan Tha Ley Café you are right on the beach, literally a step away, so you can actually walk down the stairs and take a stroll on the amazing beach. 

This is indeed an amazing place for a romantic couple to spend some time together, or for a group of friends who want to have an informal conversation without compromising on good food and a drink or two. It is a fact that many local clients return over and over again after discovering the place.

Morning treats

But let’s talk about food. Dishes at Baan Tha Ley Café have nothing to envy to starred restaurants, and the options are many, from the usual suspect of foreign food like pasta and steaks, to classic Thai dishes and original signature options too. Delicious and outstanding cakes on display include strawberry shortcake, lemon meringue and cute valentine cupcakes

Coffee is taken seriously at Baan Tha Ley Café and it is served in various options, including 3 signature options. Baan Tha Ley Café offers a mix of Ethiopian, Brazilian coffee and Thai coffee, a unique blend of Baan Tha Ley Café. Cocktails are the speciality here. 

Smiling faces at Baan Tha Ley Café

Baan Tha Ley Café is popular with the Thai crowd especially over the weekends and at sunsets, as it is a place to sip a cocktail or a beer or a smoothie while the sun leaves for the day.

Khun Phet, the shop owner, is often there to welcome patrons and to collect personal reviews that would help him to further adjust his place. 

Thumbs up to Baan Tha Ley Café!

Baan Tha Ley Café is located on Koh Kwang beach .

Address: 299 Moo 3, Baan Koh Kwang, Klong Muang – Tubkaek Rd., Nong Thale, Krabi 81180 

Tel. +66 818914849

Opening times: 9 am to 9 pm

This review is part of the Youtube Video Krabi Dawn to Dusk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xgOYvlnMgs

INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/baanthaleycafe 

Map: https: //goo.gl/maps/deDKAx8XCmP2XMmD8 

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To my right Khun Cha, to my left Alis

Here we are still in Klong Muang, southern Thailand, and we are meeting up again with Khun Cha as she has promised to cook her specialty for us: Crab Curry, or Gaeng Poo in the Thai language. Of course, there are several Thai dishes that use crab as the main ingredient, but locals will tell you that no-one should neglect to include crab on the list of must-eat food in southern Thailand.

Our morning boat trip with the crab-catching family is finally paying off as it is the time for us to watch as Khun Cha, assisted by Alis, cooks the freshly-caught crabs collected.

CRAB CURRY RECIPE

Preparation time: 10 minutes  –   Cooking time: 10 minutes

INGREDIENTS 

The main ingredients are coconut milk, sugar cane, fish sauce, kaffir lime leaves and curry paste

Serves 4 people

• 300g vermicelli rice noodles (khanom jeen)
• 300ml/2 cups of coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons of yellow curry paste
• shrimp paste  to taste
• 1kg fresh crabs
• 1-2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 cubes of palm sugar
• few leaves of Kaffir Lime

METHOD

Time to add the coconut milk

Step 1 – Place a pot of water to boil and then cook the noodles (khanom jeen) until pliable and soft – around 5 minutes. Drain in a colander and set aside.

Step 2 – In the same pot, add the coconut milk and lower the heat until it boils and reduces to half. Add the curry paste and shrimp paste into the coconut milk and stir and press down until all the shrimp paste has dissolved. Season with fish sauce and sugar to taste (it depends on how salty or sweet you want it) and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add the crab meat and a few leaves of Kaffir lime, and lower the heat. Once the crab is done, transfer the curry to a serving bowl and serve it with the noodles (or with rice).

It only needs to be stirred once

Bear in mind this is a dish quite uncommon on many Thai restaurant menus. A Crab Curry, or Gaeng Poo, is basically mostly a yellow curry – the colour originating from turmeric – made with crab meat. It is typically served with fine rice noodles (khanom jeen) and vegetables, though you can use rice instead.

The final moment is here, and the curry is delicious!!

You can easily buy pre-cooked crab meat, in which case the preparation is next to nothing and the whole dish can be cooked in 20 minutes. If you, like us, use whole crabs then the time taken is a bit longer, but the pleasure of eating it will be more intense.

Crab Curry, or Gaeng Poo, is indeed one of those amazing Thai curries that you need to have on hand. Thanks again Khun Cha for this fantastic treat. 

Thanks again to all our sponsors and in particular to tour agent Fantasia Asia – The team support was amazing as usual.

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Crabs: when you think of them, you think of food, or of running after them on the beach. There is actually more than that. In Asia, and in Thailand in particular, some species of crabs provide essential livelihood opportunities for local people who have little other options to earn money. 

Klong Muang coastline

The south of Thailand is predominantly a Sea Sun and Sand destination, with lots of local seafood delicacies to be enjoyed in the many restaurants scattered around the province. It is mainly for this reason that I have decided to spend a few hours with a family of local crab catcher in their quest to make and income and fill up their bellies, and hopefully mine too! Follow AsianItinerary on board of their longtail boat…

I start the day in Klong Muang, a rather peaceful tourist area located in the Thai province of Krabi. After meeting with our contact Khun Cha, her husband, her daughter and her father in law at 8am at the local pier, we board their longtail boat and set sail. The sea is calm and the sky is blue in this mid-January morning. Cha explains that most local fishermen go out quite early to haul traps and nets in and to collect the crabs. They often place their traps back in the water right after they have collected the previous day’s catch, which is what they are planning to do today. 

Our team on the longtail boat

As the sun rises higher in the sky and highlights the silhouettes of the several limestone islands that dot the Krabi sea, we slowly approach the first buoy that marks the start of the first set of traps – Cha’s family has 5 set of 50 traps each in place! Each line of traps is distinguished by the colour of the flag attached to the start and to the end buoy, for easy recognition. The traps are usually set down in circles, in order to cut each possible way out and catch crabs that are walking around foraging.

It is at this point that the collection begins. Cha’s husband and father in law skilfully lift trap after trap from the bottom of the sea: in this point the water is approximately 8 meters deep, Cha tells us. We are all pretty excited when they found one of the traps containing a decent-sized crab. Retrieving the crab needs skills: we observe how Cha’s husband quickly sorts through the crab, being careful not to break crab legs or get his fingers pinched. He is an experienced crab handler and he knows that the crab wants to get out but it does not like being forcefully grabbed. He gives the net a quick shake, grabs the crab from its back, takes it off the net, ties its spiked claws with two elastic bands and places it in a bucket filled with sea-water. 

A close-up of a fold-up net

These collapsible traps have an inner pouch that needs to be refilled with bait (small fish in tranches of bigger fish) before the trap can be folded up and placed on the boat floor together with the ones collected so far. 

We take advantage and ask Khun Cha a few questions, getting interesting answers on the crab subject. During the autumn months, the monsoon blows in the south of Thailand and the waters do feel the effects of the stormy weather. In that period, a warning of high waves often means fishermen cannot go out, especially those with small boats like the one we are on today. This means that not only will crabs be scarce in the markets, but also prawns and fish. Also, fishermen in this area have to deal with currents and tides: peak high or low tide are the best times to crab, as during swift tidal exchanges crab often bury themselves. It is when the water starts to flow again after low tide that fishermen place their traps to take advantage of the natural tendency of sea animals to swim with the current.

blue crabs

Back to our day, the operation continues until the whole 50 traps of the first set have been collected. While some traps contain one single crab, others give us occasional surprises with other edible sea animals such fish and shellfish and various shallow-water fish, an hermit crab with its massive shell, starfishes, a pufferfish and even a good-size octopus which devoured the crab that was in the trap leaving just the bones, and became trapped itself in the process.

We are told that most local crabs of any size are delicious, although there will be more meat in the claws and under the shell of larger ones. The shell of their claws and their back will be hard, however, making the meat difficult to remove. Some type of small crabs are quite heavy and have a lot of meat, but their shell is thinner, making it easier to remove. It is also amazing to learn that each female crab can carry between 30000 and one million eggs, and that no more than 30% of these will produce offspring. That is the reason why Cha’s family often releases ‘pregnant’ female crabs when they have darker eggs, a sign that they are near hatching time.  

A female crabs, notice the eggs are of a dark colour, which means they are near hatching.

An Internet research also tells me that the Thai Government has so far successfully established 320 blue crab banks across Thailand in an effort to raise the number of blue crabs in the sea, as the rising crab consumption in the country has led to a decline in their numbers in Thai waters.

And as our day leads to an end and our boat approaches the sandy shore, Cha prepares the catch of the day to be sold. Buying crabs directly from a boat when it comes in lets buyers see them at their freshest time, and also very active as they are recently freed from the traps. Price for local crabs can vary. On average, medium-sized crabs cost 200-250 baht a kilo, but larger ones can cost more.

Cha’s father in law. He has been fishing crabs all his life

We disembark and say goodbye to our lovely hosts. It is great to see that (at least in this area) locals have decided to both preserve the fishermen’s way of life and the traditional crab-catching methods.

IDENTIFY YOUR CRAB

In order to properly identify what crab you have caught, you need to look at it carefully. What colour is it? How big are its claws? How does its shell feel to the touch? The Marine Conservation Society and other associations have some great identification sheets that you can download and take with you when you go to the seaside, and they’re not just for crabs, but all sorts of other things you might find at the beach.

YOU MAY WANT TO KNOW

Blue swimming crabs have been increasingly threatened. If you find small and young crabs in a market or at a restaurant, treat it as a bad sign: if inconsiderate fishing practices continue, there will not be enough young crabs to replace the old crabs, which may have a severe effect on the future growth of the crab population.

MSC ecolabel

To take steps towards a solution, WWF invited an independent fisheries and aquatic resource consulting company to assess and evaluate the situation of the blue swimming crab fishing industry in Thailand using the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) standard. Seafood with the MSC label, gives assurances to consumers that the food comes from, and can be traced back to, a sustainable fishery that meets the highest benchmarks for credible certification and eco-labelling.

OUR SPONSOR

Asian Itinerary stayed at Nakamanda Resort, https://www.nakamanda.com 

For more information or direct bookings, take advantage of Fantasia Asia special rates: you can contact us on booking@fantasiaasia.com

Asian Itinerary was lucky enough to be invited to a crab curry cooking session at the crab-catching family home. READ ABOUT IT HERE!

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From the Banyan Tree Krabi lobby, a serpentine staircase leads through a curtain of water to a grotto-like relaxing area below

Banyan Tree Krabi, a 72-key luxury resort nestled on a verdant hillside with spectacular vistas of limestone cliffs rising from the sea, opened its doors on October 24 at little-known Tubkaek Beach, a 45-minute drive from Krabi International Airport. Launched by Banyan Tree Group, one of the world’s leading independent, multi-branded hospitality groups known for sustainability and wellbeing, this latest 5-star hotel is owned by Thailand-based Asset World Corporation (AWC).

The new resort backs onto a lush national park and Naga Crest Hill, granting three ultra-luxury beachfront pool villas, 10 beachfront pool villas, and 59 pool suites—each of which has its own private pool—a westward-facing view of sunset over the Andaman. A natural spring flows downhill into the property where it is transformed into a flower-fringed canal ferrying springwater to the sea.

Facilities at Banyan Tree Krabi include two restaurants and a beach bar, a kids’ club, a fitness centre, a meeting centre, and in keeping with Banyan Tree’s global wellbeing branding — a rainforest-themed spa.

The lobby at Banyan Tree Krabi, with the karst towers of Than Bok Korani National Marine Park in the background

The centerpiece of the resort, as guests walk through the naga legend-inspired entrance, is a circular water feature in the lobby that cascades into a cavernous meeting room area below. With a backdrop of emerald sea and karsts, the awe-inspiring spectacle is shaping up as one of the resort’s signature images.

“Water and nature are the predominant themes here at Banyan Tree Krabi,” said the resort’s new General Manager Robert Sexton. “You are never more than a few steps from a canal with quaint wooden bridges or within earshot of fountains and waterfalls among the gardens.

“One water-related concept we have adopted is that of the ‘Naga’, a sea creature from Hindu mythology that is popular among local legends in Krabi. Long ago, people believed that the Great Naga lived here in the four mountains behind us. From sea, you can see the rollercoaster-shape of the range, somewhat like a slithering serpent. It stretches from Naga Crest Hill, just 500 metres behind the hotel, to Laem Hang Nak Mountain, which represents the tip of the Naga’s tail.

“From the lobby, an eye-catching naga staircase leads downstairs to a shaded ‘grotto’, and you’ll see naga-themed design inspirations throughout the hotel, including wavy artwork on the walls and amenities in all the rooms. The designers have clearly applied elements of the natural landscape to create a unique ambience and a sense of place.”

Accommodation

Banyan Tree Krabi offers eight suite and villa types. The most modest accommodation type, coming in at 99 sq.m, is the Deluxe Pool Suite. Highlight of the room is a sumptuous double bed, situated beneath a pitched hardwood ceiling and fan. A private terrace, plunge pool and jet pool surround the bedroom, giving guests the feeling of being on a small island.

The largest is the majestic seven-bedroom Presidential Villa, which sits directly in front of the beach. Guests can reserve the villa as a three-bedroom unit or take an option to combine the three-bedroom with the two adjoining 2-bedroom beachfront villas, transforming it into a seven-bedroom wonderland of saltwater pools, canals, and myriad balconies and terraces. Designed as a retreat for multi-generational family vacations and intimate wedding celebrations, the Presidential Villa commands a palatial 1,335 sq.m as a seven-bedroom arrangement.

The Two-Bedroom Ocean Pool Suite has its own private swimming pool and a spectacular view of the Andaman Sea

All suites and villas have private saltwater pools and water features. Each is modern and bright with gentle tones of wood, stone and sand. Decor is modern chic, while bathrooms are resplendent with sandy beige marble tiles, a double sink, and decorated with naga art. Mod-cons include a lavish bathtub and jet pool, high-speed Internet, IPTV with multiple-device connectivity, a full range of multi-lingual channels on state-of-the-art flat screen TVs, and a premium coffee machine.

In keeping with Banyan Tree Group’s “Safe Sanctuary” programme rolled out during the Covid pandemic, guests at the new resort will be assured of enhanced safety and hygiene protocols with emphasis on wellbeing and nature-focused offerings. Among them is a personalised check-in and check-out service in their rooms. Prior to arrival, each guest is assigned a Banyan Tree Host – similar to a dedicated butler. Upon checking in, guests receive a Portier Smartphone with unlimited international calls and data – to contact their Banyan Tree Host at the touch of a button and enjoy personalised service, ranging from in-room dining to arranging tours, as well as room service and housekeeping requests.

Dining

One of the most dramatic features at Banyan Tree Krabi will be the three “Bird’s Nest” tables perched precariously among the trees around the resort’s highly-elevated signature restaurant, Saffron. With a lush jungle scene as backdrop, and a sea vista of Krabi’s world-famous limestone wonders at sunset, this romantic dining spot will make for some memorable Instagram moments.

Saffron Restaurant and its accompanying Sunset Wedding Deck can be accessed by a quaint electric funicular, large enough for eight persons, which will ascend and descend the hillside throughout the evening.

The Naga Kitchen is the resort’s all-day dining venue with menus offering international and Southern Thai cuisines

The resort’s all-day dining destination will be called The Naga Kitchen, catering breakfasts, lunches and dinner with a plethora of international choices. Executive Chef Jakkrit Traibun, who was the sous-chef at Banyan Tree Samui for seven years, is a southern Thai and specialises in the aromatic and spicy flavours of that culinary style.

Always popular at Banyan Tree is its in-room dining. Exuding romance and relaxation, novelties include a floating breakfast, floating sunset tapas set or a sizzling poolside barbecue prepared by a personal chef.

Spa & Otherwise

 Renowned as a global wellbeing brand, Banyan Tree has an avalanche of awards mirroring this acclaim. In Banyan Tree Krabi, the spa will build upon the reputation, maintaining its sense of “Thai-ness” with local treatments and ingredients such as coconut potions and pearl powder massage.

Fully supervised while mum and dad enjoy some alone time, the Kids’ Club is centered around a small waterpark with a slide and shallow saltwater pools – all of which are treated and sanitized by UV lights. The play area also includes a rope bridge, a naga-themed cave, and a climbing wall.

Banyan Tree has been recognised worldwide for its sustainability stewardship. Sister resort Banyan Tree Samui was lauded by global organisation EarthCheck in 2018 as the first hotel in Thailand to receive its highest certification. Banyan Tree Area General Manager Remko Kroesen, who will oversee both southern Thai resorts, aims to maintain the same high standards at Banyan Tree Krabi.

“We feel we have all the magical elements at Banyan Tree Krabi that a discerning and well-travelled visitor is looking for,” said Kroesen. “As an industry leader, we aim to elevate aspirational travel – catering with a difference to weddings and honeymoons; multi-generational families and couples seeking relaxation; and even the combination of nature-lovers and business conferences.

“Our owners have held onto this piece of land since 2006, waiting for the right time to open the resort,” he added. “Now, with so many areas in Phuket and Koh Phi Phi perceived as overcrowded and undoubtedly impacted from an environmental point of view, the time is right to make this stunning resort at Tubkaek Beach a sustainable reality.”

Banyan Tree Krabi becomes the Group’s fourth Banyan Tree resort in Thailand, following Banyan Tree Phuket, Banyan Tree Bangkok, and Banyan Tree Samui.

For reservations and enquiries, go to: https://www.banyantree.com/booking

The post Banyan Tree unveils new resort in Krabi appeared first on Asian Itinerary.

What do I want more?

Usually when talking about Krabi, Thailand, people refer to Ao Nang as the recommended must-visit destination, together with Krabi Town itself. However, Krabi is a beautiful province with plenty of undiscovered places to visit. Today, let me introduce you to Klong Muang. This is another hidden Krabi gem that is only beautiful, but also tranquil and peaceful, the perfect location for honeymoons, family trips and for those who seek for a luxury break in tranquillity.

Facing the Andaman Sea, with stunning views over Koh Hong Island archipelago, this area has two sides: the southern side comprises of wide sand and an area where fishermen anchored their boats, while the northern side is home to an industrial pier.

Me buying souvenir

If compared to Ao Nang, the unrivalled and famous tourist area which has already been established for over 20-years, Klong Muang is still a baby that has only developed in recent years. Nevertheless, this doesn’t make it any less attractive.

But let me share my experience of Klong Muang attractions which I managed to experience at first hand in recent times. As I mentioned in my previous articles, Thailand, Malaysia’s neighbouring country, is like a second home to me as I have been there for more than 5-times in the past 4 years.

The restaurant at evening time

Like Ao Nang, Klong Muang is also renowned for its restaurant that not only offer and serve local food but also Western food. The difference is that in Klong Muang, unlike Ao Nang, some of the restaurants are right on the beach itself, presenting scenic views of the Andaman Sea and enjoying the warm breezes that come from the ocean. Trust me, sitting in one of this sea-fronting restaurants during sunset will sweep away all your problems. Not only that: for those who want to experience an Hawaiian atmosphere, this place is highly recommended.  “Eat Bar” is one of the restaurants that I liked most as Jaja, the owner, was so friendly. I nearly forgot: no worries for Muslim travellers as this area also serves halal food.

My evening performance at the bar

Apart from its restaurants, Klong Muang beach also offers plenty of bars to sit and enjoy an evening with live music. One of those is called “Freedom Bar”. The owner was so friendly and I did really enjoy myself singing there, even though I have to admit I was a bit out of tune. This bar has a snooker table and playing cards to fill up your evenings.

For those who bring kids, no worries at all: most beach front locales at Klong Muang beach provide toys, which means you and your kids will not be bored.

Getting ready for kayaking

For those adventurous like me, do not worry, one of the restaurants there, if I’m not my mistaken it’s Saing, have a kayak that you can rent for just 200 Thai Baht for an hour. My advice is, do this activity when the tide is in your favour. I say this because my best friend, Zaphne and I kayaked in the late afternoon, with the high tide, and believe me, it was bad. The waves were rough and our kayak was really wobbling.

Room view

Klong Muang is as you can guess home to hotels located just steps away from the beach. There are plenty of 4 and 5 star choices like Sheraton, Ritz-Carlton, Klong Muang Sunset Hotel, Dusit Thani Krabi Beach Resort and more. There are also more affordable hotels and residences. We picked Klong Muang Dream House, owned and managed by one of our Asianitinerary writer Pluto together with friendly Alice and Claudio.  https://klongmuangdreamhouse.com 

Another reason for loving Klong Muang is its vicinity to Tup Kaek National Park with its hilled called Hang Nak, the Dragon’s Crest. I will tell you about my trek in another article. 

Wrapping the sun at sunset

Klong Muang is right by the sea, a 20 minutes drive north of Ao Nang, 30 minutes from Krabi Town and 40 minutes from Krabi International Airport.

To get to Klong Muang from the airport, you can either take a taxi, which costs you about 700 Thai Baht per person, or a shared minivan at 200 Thai Baht per person. The ticket counter is just opposite of the arrival entrance, so no worries there.

Overall, Klong Muang for me has been just like a miniatures Hawaii. Take a trip there and I can assure you, you won’t regret it. After all, sometimes you just need a few days on the beach…

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Klong Muang Dream House exterior

Klong Muang Dream House is an amazing little corner of paradise set in the Koh Kwang area of Klong Muang beach, in the Southern Thai province of Krabi, 10km from Ao Nang Beach and 20km from Krabi Town. It consists of a great range of 10 self-contained apartments in two-stories houses distributed around a small garden bordering the beach.

The structure is minutes away from all amenities and facilities in the area, namely health saloons and massage parlors, restaurants and pubs, minimarkets and more.

Klong Muang Dream House living room

The apartments are spacious, a generous 50mt2 each, and comprise living room equipped with a sofa bed for the extra guest, flat-screen TV, air conditioning, a kitchenette with coffee and tea facilities, and a good sized fridge. All the necessary for that snack or take away meal at home when you do not feel like going out at all.

Klong Muang Dream House bedroom

The bedrooms feature a great wooden set with king-sized bed, and are air-conditioned as well. The whole apartment is tastefully decorated in local style, with designer’s lamps and sized photo prints on the walls by the owners themselves.

The apartments have either balconies (on 1st floor) or verandahs (ground floor) that are both spacious and airy, and feature garden table and chair. Some sport a stunning sea-view!

Saing restaurant where breakfast is served

Breakfast is optional but advised, since it is served at the beach shack restaurant directly on the sand, for that tropical feeling you have dreamed of. The feeling you get is well-worth the few extra thb. The breakfast set is American. Should you have vegetarian or other kind of special requirement, do not forget to mention it when you do the booking.

Alis at her desk

But the best feature of Klong Muang Dream House has to be the service. Owner Alis is an excellent host, she tells guests all necessary notions for a fun and trouble-free stay, ensures all is well in the assigned apartment, then leaves you at peace for the duration of your stay. She is always on stand-by at the front office, ready to please you with information, to book a tour or a taxi when needed, and she goes the extra mile to make clients comfortable. Alis and her partner speak several languages, so communication is never a problem there.

The garden area

Klong Muang Dream House facilities include free parking on site, tour booking, airport transfer, speedboat and longtail boat reservation, car hire and bus and plane ticket service.

I really had a wonderful stay at Klong Muang, and this was especially thanks to Dream House. It was a fantastic way to spend my well-deserved holiday.

To book a room at Klong Muang Dream House, click HERE!

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