A vague location on Google Maps, no roadside sign… To get the exact location of the SOWK Resort (SOWK stands for “somewhere only we know”), on the island of Koh Phangan in the Gulf of Thailand, there’s only one solution: book one of the three villas perched on the hillside, between the jungle and the sea below, accessible by a winding path. These ultra-comfortable retreats, for just two people, were designed from scratch, from the foundations to the furniture, by a Frenchman, Guillaume Brachet, who had fun filling them with unusual details: a slide down to the beach, a swing in the bathroom, a huge net to lie on among the trees to admire the bay or the stars, an extra-large round bed… He also invented a natural air conditioning system and created a chemical-free swimming pool.
Its promise can be summed up in three words: intimacy, nature, and immersion. Weeks before their arrival, during discussions with the concierges, guests are invited to create their own personalized program with activities included, along with transfers and full board, in the price of their stay. These include a forest hike with a medicinal plant expert, a nighttime boat trip with local fishermen, a visit to the local market and a cooking class with the ecolodge's private chef, an introduction to Thai boxing or ThetaHealing (a personal development technique), a meeting with a monk, a reptile master, or a musician, workshops on making coconut oil, jewelry, or leather shoes… There are over 80 customizable experiences to choose from, most of them exclusive.
