We are middle of the road travelers. By that I mean that our days of “shoestring backpacking” are on hold; indefinitely. However, we do travel enough to know just how expensive it can be. So, we shoot for the middle and know a great deal when we find one. Well, we’ve found one and here it is…
Arriving at “our paradise” is not particularly an easy task but that’s what makes it all worth it. Just below Krabi, Thailand sits the small island of Koh Lanta. At the end of this island, down a bumpy dirt road, just before the National Park lies Lalaanta Hideway Resort. It’s secluded, lush, and intensely chill.
It doesn’t really matter that you’re in the middle of nowhere, when there is nowhere else you’d rather be.
Let me walk you through a typical day at Lalaanta…
Roll out of your sleek, simple, yet sexy bungalow whenever the previous night’s activities have been rested away. Walk a minute from your front patio to the pristine beach, pause briefly to note that you are the only one currently standing in this secluded cove.
Submerse yourself in the temperate turquoise water for a morning swim. Upon exiting the water, notice that beyond the beach there isn’t a single concrete building, only green jungle.
Pass the gorgeous birds of paradise and elephant ears larger than a third grader up to the restaurant for breakfast; shirt and shoes optional. Use the free Wi-Fi to update your facebook status to something along the lines of “having a delicious breakfast; which almost never happens in Asia, while enjoying a serene sea view; which almost never happens anywhere…wish you were here suckers”.
Take your book and a fresh fruit smoothie down to the beach hammocks for an intense mid-morning chillout. Sometime before the rays of the Thai sun put a burn on, have a dip in the infinite pool staring straight into the sea.
After lunch is an ideal time to have a full body massage on the beach or go for a monkey scouting hike through the National Park. The guest/staff volleyball or soccer game begins in the last hours of daylight which should leave just enough time to shower to up before a cocktail while watching the sun set slowly over the water.
When the majestic bewitching hour has passed, curl your toes in the sand and ponder over the dinner menu choices; as they are all absolutely delicious. An after dinner drink on the beach lounge chairs compliments the starry sky melting into the vast deep blue. A night cap with Tony, or one of the other authentically wonderful owners, of Lalaanta is not to be missed. Pull up a stool, swap some stories, listen to some tunes, and let island time do its thing. Rinse, wash, and repeat until check-out.
The Great Escape 