Keemala Phuket

A hillside rainforest resort of 38 private pool villas above Kamala, built around wellness and storybook design.

Keemala is a small hillside resort of 38 private pool villas set in the rainforest above Kamala, on Phuket's west coast, with views over the village towards the Andaman Sea. Its design follows a storyline of four fictional clans who settled the land, and each clan lends its look to a villa type: clay cottages, canvas tents, two-storey tree houses and woven bird's nest villas, all linked by jungle walkways. It is listed in the Michelin Guide's Key selection of Thai hotels, and the architecture alone is reason enough to stay.

Every villa has its own pool. Clay Pool Cottages (from 126 sqm) are the entry point, earthy and set beside a stream with partial forest views. Tent Pool Villas (from 140 sqm) sit under a full canvas awning with a 30 sqm pool. Tree Pool Houses (169 sqm) spread over two floors, and Bird's Nest Pool Villas (185 sqm) are the largest, with a woven shell, mosaic shower and stone tub. Spa Sanctuary Villas (from 180 sqm) use soil and clay in an organic design. For the full Keemala effect, pick a Bird's Nest or Tree Pool House; choose a Clay Pool Cottage if you would rather avoid stairs.

Dining centres on Mala Restaurant, open all day from 06:30 to 23:00 with southern Thai, Western, Indian and lighter healthy dishes. Mala Bar next door handles cocktails, wine and coffee, while Cha-La Pool Bar serves drinks and light meals by the main pool during the day. Beyond that there is in-villa dining, private destination dining set-ups, a Pure Cuisine wellness menu and Culinary Academy cooking classes held in the resort's Enchanted Garden.

Wellness is the other half of the story. Mala Spa has eight couples' treatment rooms, each with its own sauna, steam room, aromatherapy bath and outdoor rain shower, and its signature rituals draw on the clan stories using plant-based products such as Siam Botanicals and VOYA. Holistic retreat packages, yoga, guided meditation, aqua fitness, Muay Thai and personal training are on the activity list, and there is a fitness room.

The flip side of the hillside setting is that you cannot walk to the sand. Kamala Beach is about 2 km away and the resort runs a complimentary shuttle there between 11:00 and 16:00; Surin and Patong are a short drive. Phuket International Airport is roughly 28 km north, usually 40 to 45 minutes by car, and airport transfers are charged extra.

Keemala suits couples, honeymooners and wellness travellers who want privacy and something out of the ordinary. It is less suited to families with young children: there is no kids' club or children's pool, and not all villa types are suitable for little ones. Nightlife seekers will be heading down to Patong by car.

A few practical notes: the paths are steep, so guests with limited mobility should contact the resort before booking about the villas designed with wheelchair access. Book spa treatments and destination dinners ahead in high season, and check the resort's own website, which lists extras such as fitness room use for direct bookings.