Looking to read a detailed review of The Racha Resort before booking your next trip to southern Thailand? You’ve come to the right place!
Nestled on the soft powder sands of the Andaman Sea, The Racha is a jaw-dropping 5 star eco-friendly resort accessible via a short boat ride from Chalong Bay, Phuket.
Sleek and sophisticated, this postcard-perfect Thai beachside hideaway is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
I spent 3 nights in a luxurious pool villa at the resort. My Racha Island Resort review features info on the award-winning luxury hotels accommodation options, spa services, restaurants, and on-site amenities.
Book A Luxurious Holiday at The Racha
The Racha first opened its doors on Racha Island in 2004, conveniently located a short boat ride south of Phuket.
Guests arriving at Phuket airport are whisked away in a Mercedes limousine to the luxurious Racha Chalong Bay Lounge for check-in. The Lounge offers guests a comfy space to freshen up with complimentary amenities including welcome drinks, light snacks, Wi-Fi, and charging stations.
Once checked in, guests hop onboard one of the resort’s speedboats and enjoy a 30-minute ride to the tiny paradise island of Racha Yai.
The luxury resort near Phuket is spread over 20 acres of verdant tropical grounds. The rare Rak Talay tree, fronting the resort, are found only on a few islands in the Andaman Sea. The lush greenery provides a stable ecosystem for many of the island’s animal inhabitants, from the Green Tree Frog to the Giant Water Monitor Lizard, that feed on the insects that co-exist with the plants in harmony.
The Racha is one of southern Thailand’s most luxurious island resorts, praised for its sustainability efforts. The property features 85 villas, perfect for a romantic Phuket honeymoon or relaxing retreat.
Eco-Friendly Initiatives At The Racha
All the eco-friendly resort’s structures are built in harmony with the island’s natural topography. No land was cut or filled in the building process. The coconut tree, the symbol of The Racha, can be found in abundance as a parade of narrow trees swaying to and fro across the breezy resort. For every coconut tree that was cut, two were planted to replace it.
The resort takes pride in engaging in sustainable practices that conserve natural resources and reduce environmental impact. It was awarded EarthCheck’s Gold Certification and the Gold Award for Environmental Sustainability in Thailand’s Green Hotels and Resorts program.
Some of The Racha’s eco-friendly initiatives include:
- A half-acre 250 kWp Solar-Diesel Hybrid Station produces up to 50% of The Racha’s daily electricity requirements.
- Condensation water from air conditioning fills the foot bath outside every villa’s front door.
- The Racha’s Hydroponic Farm provides guests with the freshest, nutrient-rich, pesticide-free produce.
- Drinking bottles are eco-friendly, reusable glass.
- The Racha and The Racha Dive Center support The Reef Ball Foundation, a non-profit charity that protects and restores the world’s ocean ecosystems. Today, 250 reef balls form five man-made reefs around the island.
- A Charcoal Project reduces and recycles organic plant waste into charcoal tubes with a hollowed-out centre. This high-grade charcoal is used for cooking at the Sunset Beach Restaurant’s BBQ evenings.
- At the Racha’s Bio-Fuel Station, food waste is converted into Bio-Gas, which is used for cooking in the staff canteen.
The Racha Resort Activities
The luxurious eco-resort offers 85 villas of eight category types that provide for every creature comfort.
Balance Fitness and OM Studio offer a full-range of health club services that overlook the scenic waterfront. Life Fitness machines for cardio and resistance training are placed alongside rowing machines, free weights and physiotherapy fitness balls. Complimentary yoga classes are offered daily. Athletic guests can also play tennis and basketball.
The adults-only Ozonated Main Pool is 33 metres and the perfect place to swim on a hot day. The kid-friendly Garden Pool offers underwater music and hydro jets.
The Racha’s Anumba Spa, voted Best Luxury Island Resort Spa in 2022 at the World Luxury Spa Awards, pampers with a host of mind and body relaxation treatments in an amazing tropical setting.
Racha Dive Center provides personalized PADI scuba instruction and trips to the Andaman Sea’s most beautiful sites. Superb water clarity and abundant marine life make diving off Racha Yai one for the travel bucket list. Coral begins almost immediately at the water’s edge and starts to taper off around 20 meters.
The island has a small network of dirt paths that link all the beaches. A great way to explore Racha Yai is by hiking, mountain biking or by ATV. Trekking the whole island takes no more than half a day. For sweeping views of the island, head to the hilltop left of Batok Bay.
The best snorkelling on the island is at Ter Bay. A short walk across the island, you’ll discover Lah Bay and Kon Kare Bay, where often you have the entire beach to yourself!
The hotel’s 3 restaurants offer a diversity of dining options, from authentic Thai to a romanic seafood restaurant on the beach.
The Racha Resort Phuket Review Highlights
Phuket is a tropical paradise island similar to Hawaii and Bali, offering an endless array of jaw-dropping accommodations. The island is a very popular destination for freshly married couples looking to book a romantic honeymoon package.
Before booking your trip, here are a list of highlights that make the The Racha Phuket Resort stand out from the rest.
- The Racha is one of the most luxurious 5 star resorts in Southern Thailand. It’s the perfect romantic resort for eco-friendly travelers.
- The all-villa resort offers 8 room categories, from the intimate Deluxe Villa to the jaw-dropping Lighthouse.
- Friendly staff make the short 30 minute boat journey a breeze thanks to the luxurious lounge that greets you in Chalong Bay.
- The hotel pools never feel overly busy as so many of the villas feature their own private plunge pools.
- The fitness centre and OM Studio offer wellness travelers a daily opportunity to keep fit.
- Scuba and snorkel fans delight in the quality of marine life along the island’s eye-popping coral reef.
- Guests are encouraged to explore the island by going on a hike, visiting secluded beaches and and ATVing.
- The resort is ideal for couples but also accommodates families with children as they have plenty of fun activities for all ages.
- The resort offers 3 restaurant concepts, from a decadent breakfast buffet to the romantic Italian steakhouse vibe at Fire Grill.
- The service is top drawer, from pool and beachside servers to attentive spa therapists, and restaurant menus that are best described as exquisite!
The Racha Hotel Accommodation
The most important question you have to ask yourself when reading a The Racha Resort review is, “what type of accommodation would I like to book for my holiday.”
The all-villa boutique resort is a eco-friendly travellers dream. The well-appointed 85 villas are offered in 8 categories. No matter one’s villa selection, all accommodations feature private terraces, spacious bathrooms with tubs, enclosed and open-air rain showers, and indoor and outdoor lounging daybeds. All villas have double thick exterior walls, reducing the energy load on air conditioning.
Living spaces are appointed with complimentary Wi-Fi and in-villa movie library LCD TV with satellite feed, Sound Dock, minibar with espresso machine & tea, electronic safe, individual air conditioning and IDD telephone.
Shower and bath toiletries are contained in ceramic vessels instead of plastic. All bath products are made from the highest-quality locally sourced organic products. Tiny bars of soap are handmade on the island and scented with lemongrass.
Anumba Spa
At The Racha’s serene Anumba Spa, expert therapists restore and rejuvenate mind and body with signature natural treatments and oils.
Within the lush spa grounds, an ocean-facing balance-fitness gym and OM studio offers guided holistic movement classes.
The expansive 2,320 sqm spa has 9 treatment rooms, including four spacious couples suites. Four open-air Thai and aroma massage pavilions are interspersed amidst coconut and frangipani trees and soothing water features, offering the ultimate in tropical garden surroundings.
The four couples’ suites each feature a pool, dressing rooms with spa showers and amenities, plush robes and all-cotton slippers. Shared saunas can also be used by spa guests after their treatments.
Wag your finger down the Anumba Spa menu and you’ll find massages, body scrubs, wraps, facials, and mani pedi services.
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The Racha Restaurants
No Racha Island Phuket Resort review is complete until you’ve had an opportunity to wag your finger down each of the hotel’s marvellous menus.
The luxury hotel in Phuket offers guests 5 restaurants, from all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet to elegant Italian-inspired steakhouse.
A separate menu is available for those feeling peckish while tanning at the beach or pool. Quench your thirst on tropical cocktails like a Tequila Sunrise or Pina Colada, while noshing on pizza, pasta or fresh salads.
Earth Cafe
With spectacular views of Batok Bay, Earth Cafe is the place to start off your day.
The resort’s all-day-dining restaurant puts on a sumptuous sparkling wine breakfast, which offers choices from hearty to healthy: pan-fried dishes, grilled and deli meats, garden-fresh vegetables, cereals and crepes, freshly squeezed island fruit, homemade pastries and a la minute eggs.
At lunch and dinner Earth Cafe offers a bible-sized menu of Western fare and classic Thai cuisine. Highlights from the Earth Cafe a la carte menu include Tom Yum Goong Prawn Soup, Spaghetti Carbonara, Hawaiian Pizza, Herb Crust Salmond Fillet, Hainanese Chicken Rice, and Chicken Schnitzel.
Sunset Restaurant
Sunset Restaurant is a casual beachside eatery where you can dine al fresco on an ocean deck or under a thatched roof pavilion.
The restaurant menu offers a wide selection of Thai dishes and mouth-watering surf & turf barbecue.
If you’re a seafood fan head to Sunset Restaurant and wag your finger down the BBQ list, which features local delicacies like Phuket lobster, Tiger Prawn, Rock Lobster, White Snapper, Whole Groper, Blue Crab and Squid.
Meat lovers also have plenty of options on the grill such as Australian Rib Eye Steak and New Zealand Lamb Chops.
The Fire Grill
Skip through The Racha’s Italian restaurant and you’ll hear the snap-crackle of a wood fire pizza oven and the caress of warm sea breeze.
Watch chefs cooking in an open kitchen as they expertly prepare pasta, steak, seafood and other drool-worthy Mediterranean recipes.
The Fire Grill is located beside the resort’s infinity pool, offering guests a choice of indoor or outdoor seating.
Highlights from The Fire Grill menu include Spanish-style Garlic Shrimp, White Gazpacho Soup, Lobster Linguini, and Pork Chop Parmigiana.
Lobby Bar
The Racha Resort’s open-air Lobby Bar is located beside the reception desk, offering pretty views over Batok Bay. The deck sits perched over the beach and features plenty of pillow topped loungers and sofas so guests can sit back and relax.
Vacationers like to gather here during sunset between 5:30pm and 6:30pm for Happy Hour when you can enjoy 2 for 1 drinks and complimentary canapés. Watch eye-popping hues of red, orange and yellow splash across the ocean while sipping champagne or a tropical juice muddled rum cocktail.
Fun Things To Do In Phuket
It’s important to take a break from sunbathing on the beach to explore all that Phuket has to offer! Book a fun tour or authentic Thai experience to make your visit to Phuket unforgettable!
- Private Airport Transfer in Phuket: start your Phuket honeymoon with ease by booking a private airport transfer.
- James Bond Island Luxury Catamaran Tour: enjoy an 8 hour day trip to the famous James Bond Island including a buffet lunch, swimming, snorkeling and kayaking. Enjoy sunset during dinner on your return journey.
- Small-Group Jungle Hiking Excursion in Khao Phra Teaw Park: join a small group of active travelers on a 6 hour tour to hike the beautiful jungle at Khao Phra Teaw Park.
- Simon Cabaret Drag Show: is one of Thailand’s most famous drag show cabarets. Enjoy a musical spectacular featuring glamorous costumes and hilarious skits.
- Horse Riding On the Beach At Sunset: book a romantic hour-long horseback riding experience on the beach at sunset.
- Phuket Jet Ski Tour: cruise through turquoise waters on a jet ski on this island-hopping day tour from Phuket.
- Phuket City Tour: enjoy a 5 hour tour of Phuket featuring stops at top attractions like the Big Buddha statue, sacred Wat Chalong temple, a cashew nut factory, and Windmill Viewpoint.
- Phuket Elephant Sanctuary: enjoy an unforgettable encounter with elephants on this 3 hour tour. Located on 30 acres of lush, tropical land bordering the Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, this sanctuary focusses on compassionate and ethical elephant tourism.
- Phuket Old Town Food Tour: foodies will love this 4 hour food tour of Phuket Old Town. Taste authentic Burmese curries, Hokkien noodles, and locally grown tropical fruits.
- Thai Cooking Class: enjoy a 3 hour cooking class to learn traditional Thai cuisine techniques.
- Muay Thai Boxing at Patong Boxing Stadium: sports fans enjoy a 3 hour Muay Thai boxing match, one of the most popular sports in Thailand.
- ATV And Zipline Experience: enjoy an exhilarating 3 hours exploring lush jungle by ATV then fly through the treetops on a zipline.
The Racha Hotel Contact
Batok Bay, Koh Racha Yai, 44, 66-76-355-455
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