Paradise found, in south Thailand

John Bonar reports on the treasure nestling within the JW Marriott portfolio in Southern Thailand’s Phang Nga Province, a short drive across the bridge from Phuket International Airport.

Quan Spa

By John Bonar

Close to the beach at JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort, you enter the luxurious Quan Spa through an archway into a cool garden with pools interspersed with massage treatment tables under canopies. Around the garden are 15 elegant treatment suites as well as a steam room, sauna, outdoor Jacuzzi and rain shower.

Elephant trekking

By John Bonar

Our trek started from the JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort and Spa aboard hotel mini-busses, and took us a short drive into the foothills beyond Ban Niang town to the Elephant camp. Tourists are bussed from as far away as Phuket just for the adventure of an elephant trek.

Ban Niang market

This bustling market just off the main highway through Ban Niang, just a short walk from the stranded police boat that is the Tsunami Memorial. It operates on Wednesday and Saturday from around 4 p.m. and although there are some shops near the highway, most of the market consists of stalls and is an eclectic mix of clothes, fruit, vegetables and fish and cooked food stalls. There are some souvenir handicraft stalls and a liquor stall or two selling bottles of Thai spirits. It is a great place for browsing.

The food stalls offer inexpensive tasty satay sticks and other local specialties, ideal for snacking while walking around.

On the edge of the market there are a local bar or two in enclosures with palm frond roofs  and a number of resident expats frequent both the market and the bars.