We first visited the The Racha just after it opened and immediately fell in love with the place…
The Racha is a simply stunning boutique resort, with Moorish style whitewashed walls, clean simple lines and total elegance. Superb facilities. Located on Racha Yai, a small tropical island reached only by 35 minute speedboat ride from the southern ferry point at Chalong on Phuket (Chalong is about 60 minutes drive from Phuket Airport, traveling through the centre of the island from North to South).
The Racha has a total of 85 single storey Villas and Suites.
Spread over the extensive resort estate stretching up from the main beach front to the cusp of the hill. All are incredibly spacious, incredibly cool, both in the style and ambience.
You have a choice of :
44 Deluxe Villas which offer 43 sqm of total indoor and living space excluding terrace. They are spread over the estate, in semi-detached two villa units, with most at the hill top. Some are interconnecting, either through the terrace or interior door. Most have garden view.
11 Grand Deluxe Villas. Larger, with 53 sqm of total living space excluding terrace. They are free standing detached and located further forward.
6 Grand Deluxe Villas with Pool. As above, but with your own private pool located at the rear of the villa to ensure privacy and romance!
4 Junior Pool Suite. Some of the largest villas with 86 sqm of total living space, excluding pool, terrace and separated living area.
9 Spa Pool Villas. 72 sqm, excluding private pool and terrace. Located overlooking the spa.
4 Grand Pool Villa Suites . 93s qm, excluding private pool and terrace. Probably the most in demand villa, with panoramic views across the bay and huge 35 sqm infinity pool.
6 Two bedroom Grand Pool Suite. As above, but with two bedrooms.
The Lighthouse – Arguably the most unique accommodation in the region. Spread over 5 floors with two master bedrooms and own single bedrooms, living space and private pool.
Main swimming pool located close to the beach front plus additional pool at the hill top and another within the Club Del Mar
Several restaurant options
Spa
Tennis
Gym
Dive centre where snorkelling and boat excursions can also be arranged
Boutique and library
Island treks, cycle and quad bike hire
We first visited the The Racha just after it opened, about 12 years ago, and immediately fell in love with the place. We have visited frequently since and remain enchanted by the cool, simple elegance. It is instantly attractive, with the white walls a perfect contrast to the generally blue sky and turquoise waters.
It is romance focused, so whilst children are accepted, there are no specific facilities other than what nature provided.
Racha Yai is a small island that can be circumnavigated in about an hour, riding along dirt tracks. Apart from The Racha there is just a small dive focused guest house. If you are looking for shops and alternative dining options, think again. Here it is all about simple pleasures and relaxation. The island is only accessed by sea. Treat the journey as part of the experience, rather than a bore. The sea is generally calm November through to May. The summer and early autumn months can see higher sea swells.
All beaches in Thailand are public, for the use of travellers and locals alike. Those with the best conditions attract day visitors, eager to share your slice of paradise, if only for a few hours. This does apply to The Racha, so at times the bay in front of the hotel can appear busy. Day visitors can use the facilities of the separate Club Del Mare at a daily fee, but not other parts of the resort.
Something to Consider…
A holiday at The Racha can be easily combined with other areas in Thailand. We particularly like the idea of 3 nights in Bangkok staying at Chatrium Hotel Riverside, then 3 nights up in Chiang Mai at the boutique Na Nirand, followed by a direct flight down to Phuket and on to Racha for 6 nights. If you wanted to break your journey in Phuket we would suggest the unique Keemala Resort for 2/3 nights.
The Racha, Racha Yai Island, Off Phuket
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Supplements will probably apply at other times, particularly mid-summer in the Med, and for rooms and/or transfers arranged for single travellers.
For example, the Caribbean and Indian Ocean prices for winter can be approximately double the May – June level and about 50% more in Asia.
For the Mediterranean & Canary Islands, Caribbean, Arabia and the Indian Ocean (except Sri Lanka) price guides generally include airfare and transfers.
*For Sri Lanka and Far East we show a per person per night hotel guide, excluding airfare, as arrangements tend to be individually tailored multi-centre itineraries.
Please refer to Travel Advice on our home page or look at www.fco.gov.uk as the Foreign Office may have issued specific destination information on safety and terrorism.
Due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19, some hotels may have changed their facilities. Standard descriptions like distance from airport or town remain consistent as does the overall resort style. However, the number of restaurants, swimming pools, if more than one, are by example flexible and can change depending on occupancy and circumstances. Spa facilities, in particular, may be changed depending on local and international suggestions.
If your holiday decision is based on any specific facility please let us know at the time of booking so we can ascertain availability from the hotel. Please note, such information may be accurate at the time given but could be subject to change. In these times it would be prudent to be open-minded and flexible on such matters.
The situation on destination entry seems to vary month to month, or in some cases week to week or even day-to-day. For updated information please refer to the UK Government travel advice https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. This will provide you with information on entry requirements including COVID-19 testing and any quarantine stipulations, especially on return to the UK. As you will know this information is constantly changing, frequently at short notice as evidenced by our own Government actions.
