Got a case of wanderlust? Then take a look at these super-luxe, off the beaten path stays sure to give you a holiday to remember 

You probably already love Thailand. But how about heading off the beaten path and venturing beyond Bangkok and Phuket? We asked the boutique-hotel experts at Mr & Mrs Smith for five of the best Thai retreats – the places where you’re guaranteed crystal-clear waters, jaw-dropping bays and some serious rejuvenation.


Soneva Kiri, Koh Kood, Thailand 

With its vast villas nestled in ocean-fringed jungle, boutique hotel Soneva Kiri on Koh Kood offers ultra-luxe living on a secluded Thai isle. Set amid palm-packed hills around a secluded bay on the unspoilt island’s north-west coast, this is just the spot for spending your days sunbathing by the beach or switching off in the spa. Soneva Kiri is where eco-chic meets complete luxury – there’s canopy-level dining, and even an out-of-this-world kid’s club if you’re travelling with the family.


Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, Chiang Rai, Thailand

Surrounded by fragrant gardens in the jungle hills of northern Thailand, elegantly rustic Chiang Rai hotel Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort has magical views of the Mekong River, Myanmar and Laos as well as – wait for it – an elephant camp on its doorstep. Interiors are chic and stylish, with a nod to the traditional. 


Phulay Bay, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Krabi, Thailand

First impressions count, and at Krabi hotel Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve on the spectacular Andaman Sea, initial expectations are well and truly met. Greeted by stunning views of Krabi’s limestone cliffs and extraordinary levels of service (24-hour butlers come as standard), your woes will fade into the ether. Every space here is exquisite: a stunning, aubergine-walled courtyard, for a start, and then the grand villas that are light, airy temples of indulgence with huge four-metre wide beds, outdoor bathing areas, plunge pools and Lanna art. 


Six Senses Yao Noi, Phang Nga, Thailand

Six Senses Yao Noi can’t help but appeal to your inner child. Staying in one of the island resort’s private pool villas feels like living in a plush tree house. But you’re surrounded by luxury everywhere, and the Six Senses Spa is the last word in decadent pampering. Perched on a cliffside, with jaw-dropping views over Phang Nga Bay's fantastical limestone pinnacles, villas are built from local teak, topped with a palm-leaf roof, and decked out in stylish bright linens and simple mango-wood accessories. 


Rayavadee, Krabi, Thailand

Nature gave this Krabi boutique hotel three white-sand beaches and cinematic limestone cliff-sides, but it’s the Rayavadee’s owners that have given it four gorgeous restaurants, lush landscaped gardens and a reputation for all-out tropical indulgence. At the heart of the gorgeous Phranang Peninsula on Thailand's Andaman Coast on the edge of the Krabi National Marine Park, there’s a pool that’s surrounded by cliffs that drop down into the ocean around it. Instagram away, then retreat to a private pavilion.