Hidden away from the world and framed by nature, Karma Resort in Koh Samui, Thailand is the place where dreams really do come true. I fell in love with the resort the first time I visited it and I’ve been coming back again and again ever since.

When Karma Resort offered me a free one-night stay with some complimentary dining, I had to snap it up. But one night simply wasn’t enough. I ended up extending my visit so I could take full advantage of the paradise on Earth. And with international borders opening up, I figured now was an excellent time to share my experience with anyone planning a reclusive Thailand getaway.

About the Hotel

Karma Resort is a high-end boutique hotel enveloped by a natural backdrop of tropical gardens on one side and crystal blue water on the other. The decor throughout is a balanced blend of Thai and Balinese, brimming with green palm trees, tropical flowers, water elements and wooden features. Attention to detail is huge and makes the resort feel really well appointed and taken care of.

A place where passion truly overwhelms you, the resort features luxurious accommodation, modern restaurant, stunning infinity pool, calming spa, state-of-the-art gym, and a blissful beach, in addition to some of the friendliest hotel staff you’ll ever meet.

One of the best bits about Karma Resort is that you don’t have to stay at the hotel to enjoy everything it has to offer. If you’re in Koh Samui, you can spend the day at the resort, unwinding by the pool, splashing in the water at the beach and treating your taste buds in the restaurant.

First Impressions

As soon as I arrived at the hotel I received a friendly welcome from staff and the manager. Let me tell you, the staff is what true luxury is all about. From the moment I parked my scooter, the staff took care of my luggage and made sure I had everything I needed to be comfortable in the tropical heat.

The reception staff greeted me by name and handed me a cool towel to freshen up. But this wasn’t any ordinary cool towel. It was a tiny thing with a subtle floral fragrance that was laid delicately on an intricate wooden box. I picked up the mini towel and watched as it expanded when I dipped it into water. It’s the little things like this that really make a difference, don’t you think?

To complement the fresh, cooling towel, someone also handed me a delicious passion fruit welcome drink. After zipping along the island roads on my scooter, it was just what I needed to wake up my senses and get me in the mood for a vacation.

Accommodation

With just 20 rooms, Karma Resort is a really peaceful, intimate property. There are four different types of rooms to choose from, Karma Room Villa, Karma Room Terrace, Karma Room Gardena and the Karma Room Pool, which I stayed in.

As I walked to my room for the first time, I followed a gently winding path lined with tropical green plants that felt like they were welcoming me with a hug. There’s also a beautiful water feature framing the path, almost making the resort feel like a rainforest.

As I approached the beautiful wooden front door of my villa, I reached for the heavy metal key to open the large lock. I actually got excited at this stage. How many hotels use real skeleton keys now? It feels so much better than beeping your door open with a plastic card.

Karma Room Pool

The room I stayed in was beyond stunning. Surprisingly spacious for a small resort, the Karma Room Pool was beautifully appointed, with natural stone walls and very tasteful branding. From the fluffy bathrobes and the stylish glass bottles to the plump pillows on the bed and the handy umbrellas, everything was stamped with the Karma Resort’s classic logo.

There was also a welcome note in my room from the owner and a wooden bowl filled with fresh, local fruit. This wonderful gift really did make me feel at home and appreciated as a guest. The note inside from the resort owner, Laurent , saying “We hope you make Karma Resort your home-away-from home.” which I thought was a really caring touch.

As it was the Karma Room Pool, I was keen to get outside and see its namesake. I was quite shocked to see a large outside patio with a seating area big enough to comfortably seat 4-5 people and a small pool, perfect for cooling off with a little privacy. I spent so much time lounging on the outdoor sofa and reading. It was the perfect place for it, especially during a light rain shower when I could listen to the raindrops quietly falling on the bamboo roof.

I never truly switch off when I’m on vacation and I always end up doing a bit of work. That’s why having access to strong and reliable WiFi is always a must in any room I stay in. This was certainly the case for Karma Resort. There was an excellent signal throughout the entire resort, so I could work anywhere I liked. There were also plugs on both sides of the bed (perfect for couples who want to charge their devices up at the same time when sleeping) and throughout the room.

With the peaceful tranquility, great WiFi signal and easy access to electrical points, accommodation at Karma Resort is ideal for remote working.

You don’t even have to leave your room to get something to eat or drink. Complimentary water, tea and coffee is provided in each villa and room service with a complete menu is available for an extra charge. But you don’t need to worry about paying for breakfast — it’s included in your stay. There’s a full breakfast menu available at the onsite restaurant, in addition to the six complimentary a la carte options guests can choose from.

I’m very picky when it comes to beds and pillows, but the bed at Karma Resort was the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in. It was set low into the ground, which I absolutely loved. It takes a bit of getting used to at first — you can’t just throw your legs over the side of the bed and stand up like you probably do at home. But with all the plush pillows, super-soft sheets, and chunky throw blanket, it was the perfect place to drift off in.

My favorite part of the Karma Room Pool was the gorgeous bathroom with two showers. There was one indoor and one outdoor shower to suit your mood. I absolutely loved using the outdoor shower. The space was surrounded by palms and ferns, giving it a real jungle feel. With the open sky above, I could literally shower under the stars at night. It was simply incredible.

Food

Karma Beach Restaurant is next to the pool and beach, giving it a really relaxed, island vibe. Taking inspiration from exciting Thai cuisine and rich European flavors, the restaurant serves up a delectable eclectic mix for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Breakfast

Breakfast is served 8am-11am, giving you plenty of time for a lie-in. There’s a complete breakfast menu for people outside the hotel to try, plus a tasty selection of six a la carte dishes for hotel guests to order at no extra charge. The complimentary options cover everything, from classic American-style breakfasts and traditional Thai options to amazing pastries and healthy, nutritious choices.

During my stay I tried the Superfood Breakfast and Green Life. Superfood started with a coffee, tea or hot chocolate followed by a bowl loaded up with organic coconut yogurt, granola, banana, mango, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds and goji berries, plus a glass of orange juice. Green Life consisted of the same hot drink followed by tartine avocado guacamole with poached eggs, plus either a glass of orange juice or fruit salad.

Lunch and dinner

The rest of the food was just as fantastic as breakfast. Here’s what I tried that I definitely recommend you have if you get the chance to dine at Karma Resort Restaurant.

Fresh Salad This light but filling salad is made of mixed green leaves topped with juicy tomatoes, sweet watermelon and smoked duck breast. It sounds like a strange flavor combination, but everything tastes amazing together. Especially when served with freshly baked bread.

Tuna Tartare I absolutely loved this dish — a simple tuna tartare brought to life with mango, watermelon, fresh salad leaves and a side of bread.

Grilled Fish with Pesto Sauce Everyday the restaurant has a new fish of the day, freshly caught that very morning. The day I tried it, the fish was served with mashed potatoes, crunchy vegetables and an amazing pesto sauce on the side. It’s the perfect thing to order when you’re really hungry.

Papaya Salad Papaya salad is the best thing to order if you’re craving something authentically Thai. This classic dish is made from green papaya, tomatoes, onions, chilies and peanuts in a rich but light sauce. Be warned: Karma Resort’s papaya salad has a serious kick to it. If you can’t handle a lot of heat, make sure to order it without spice.

Pad Thai Another dish to try if you’re in the mood for Thai cuisine, pad thai is an iconic stir fry dish of rice noodles in a peanut sauce served with chicken, shrimp, pork, beef, or squid, whichever you’d prefer.

Massaman Curry My new favorite Thai food, massaman curry is a Thai-Indian fusion dish bursting with flavor. It’s pretty mild and gets most of its delicious flavor from spices like cinnamon and cardamom.

Drinks and desserts

Drinks I don’t drink alcohol, so I didn’t try any of the cocktails. But I did try loads of fruit shakes. Mango, coconut, and watermelon stick out most in my mind. They were all incredible! And you can alter them to your taste. I always asked for mine without sugar.

Crepe When you’re in the mood for a sweet treat, there’s nothing like a freshly made crepe. My favorite was the crepe with Nutella and banana. I asked for a scoop of vanilla ice cream, too, to balance the flavors. Delicious!

Mango sticky rice Another must-try dish, the mango sticky rice is made from sticky rice topped with an amazing brown sugar-coconut sauce and generous chunks of fresh, juicy mango.

Mango passion ice cream A fantastic mid-day treat to enjoy by the pool, the mango passion ice cream sounds simple, but the presentation is out of this world. It’s served in a glass over ice and looks absolutely nothing like anything you’ve ever seen before.

The Spa

The Karma Resort spa is the perfect place to calm your senses and soothe your soul. The staff draw on ancient Thai healing methods and a powerful wellbeing philosophy that combines mind, body and spirit to create sensational treatments that impart a deep sense of relaxation, all the while surrounded by natural beauty.

Sadly, I didn’t get the chance to enjoy a spa treatment during my stay. But I did get time to browse all the amazing treatments on the spa menu. The two I fell in love with were the 4 Hand Massage Virgin Coconut Oil and the Herbal Ball Massage Luk Pra Kob. If you visit Karma Resort and try one of these massages, please let me know what it was like — in detail! I want to be able to imagine it for myself.

The spa is open from 9am until 8pm, so you’ve got plenty of time to fit a pampering session in. You’ve got to make a reservation for a treatment, but you only have to do it one hour in advance. It’s perfect for when you come back after a long day exploring. You can quickly make your booking, head back to your room for a shower, then take a stroll to the spa to unwind.

The Gym

Next to the spa you’ll find the onsite gym. It’s open 24/7, so you’ve got no excuse not to use it! It’s a bit on the small side. But since there are only 20 rooms at the hotel, that’s to be expected. And regardless, it’s still got everything you need to get in a solid workout and it was never crowded once during my stay.

Inside you’ll find:

● Free weights

● Medicine balls

● Kettlebells

● Swiss ball

● Bosu

● Cardio machines

● Box for box jumps

Now it’s Your Turn

If you’re looking for somewhere to base yourself while you explore Koh Samui’s breathtaking natural beauty, this is it. A true jewel of tranquility and wellbeing, this resort is made with style and comfort in mind, providing guests with a one-of-a-kind place to rest their mind, body and soul.

For a paradise within paradise where staff treat you like royalty, dining is taken to a whole new level and there’s beauty around every corner, choose Karma Resort.

Have you stayed at Karma Resort before? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Share your experience with me in the comments below. I’d be really interested to hear how people’s stays went before COVID-19.

If you’re daydreaming of staying at Karma Resort, what do you think your favorite part would be? Do you love the idea of showering outside in nature? Of enjoying a different fresh, tasty breakfast every morning? Of treating yourself to a luxurious spa treatment you definitely deserve? Tell me in the comments. I want to know!

Karma Resort
Address: 182/3 Moo 1, Bophut Beach, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320, Thailand
Website: https://www.karma-resort.com/
Click HERE to visit the Karma Resort Website

Blog

Lose Yourself in Beauty, Tranquility and Wellbeing at Karma Resort