Oceanfront resort in Thailand brings Jurassic World magic to the senses

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We pulled up to the Banyan Tree Krabi lobby at night, exhausted and jet-lagged after days of flights from Toronto to Hong Kong and then to Phuket. 

Half-asleep, half-humming, I could hardly believe I had actually arrived. It was my first time visiting Thailand and all I had to go on were the movies and shows I’d seen: The Beach, White Lotus and Jurassic World Rebirth, which I learned was filmed at several surrounding spots nearby. (Krabi’s coastal rainforests and dramatic limestone cliffs helped create the perfect prehistoric backdrop for the 2025 blockbuster hit, starring Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey.)

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Even in the dark, after a two-and-half-hour drive to the resort, the lobby felt cinematic: open to the humid, salty night air, jade stones glowing softly in the evening light, an infinity pool spilling into a gentle waterfall and the ocean a dark, mysterious shadow beyond it all. 

The resort bills itself as a “sanctuary for the senses,” — and even in my sleep-deprived haze, I understood why. 

Set along the Andaman coastline, Banyan Tree Krabi features 72 pool suites and villas, including seven two-bedroom options, a sprawling three-bedroom villa and an opulent seven-bedroom Presidential Beachfront Pool Villa.  

Recently awarded two Michelin Keys — the hotel equivalent of the restaurant guide’s prestigious Michelin stars — Banyan Tree Krabi has been recognized for its exceptional design, service and overall guest experience. Facilities include two restaurants, among them the resort’s signature Thai dining venue Saffron, alongside a beach bar, beach club, kids’ club, fitness centre and meeting spaces. A standout is the rainforest-inspired spa — a lush wellness sanctuary hidden among tropical greenery and softly trickling water features. 

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Island oasis

Morning arrived and a buggy picked me up from my villa. Winding through paths of lush tropical greenery, we soon reached the breakfast buffet and the view I had been waiting for.  

The Andaman Sea stretched endless and impossibly blue, framed by towering limestone cliffs in the horizon. Some views, you simply aren’t prepared for until you see them in person. I paused, letting the warm sun wash over me and a few tears slipped quietly down my cheeks. This was the beginning of my wellness journey. 

Soon it was time to walk over to the beach and get on the boat — like something out of the opening scene of White Lotus season three. We waded through the shallow water to climb aboard the wooden vessel they call The White Pearl. Cushions lined the benches, a shaded canopy offered relief from the sun and we set off toward the surrounding islands. 

Koh Hong (Hong Island) was our first stop and I couldn’t believe my eyes. Turquoise waters, white powdery sands, limestone cliffs rising dramatically from the sea. There were a few other wooden boats around, but we arrived early enough that it didn’t feel crowded or touristy. 

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Some members of our group opted for a hike along the island’s trails, winding up through jungle paths and limestone cliffs. I couldn’t resist the pristine waters calling my name so I slipped off my sandals and walked in. 

Floating there, I started to feel weightless, like time had slowed just for me. The surrounding jungle hummed with cicadas and birds and for a moment, it truly felt like stepping into my own private paradise — exactly the way my inner child had always imagined it. This was far more spectacular than the movies. 

Lunch and Thai boxing 

After exploring the surrounding islands by boat, we returned to the resort for lunch at Naga Kitchen. I enjoyed a perfectly cooked local seabass with vegetables and polenta — simple, fresh and utterly satisfying — before stepping completely out of my comfort zone with a Thai boxing class. My teacher Lucky was patient and kind, guiding me to focus on technique rather than my own imposter syndrome. By the end, I left energized, empowered and oddly proud of myself. 

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Back at my villa, I slipped into my private pool to cool down, letting the water wash away the heat and exertion. My room was a sanctuary in itself: all-white interiors, a spacious bathtub and shower, overlooking a patio with doors that opened directly onto tropical surroundings. 

A quick shower, a moment to breathe and suddenly it was time for the sunset.  

Dining with a view

For dinner, we took a carriage up to Saffron, Banyan Tree Krabi’s award-winning Thai restaurant perched next to the untouched jungle of Khao Ngon Nak National Park.

First, our hands were bathed in a lotus flower ritual — warm water, petals floating — a quiet moment to pause and take it all in. Then the food began to arrive. Every dish felt deliberate, a balance of authentic Thai flavours with a subtle modern twist. The Jurassic Laab salad I’d heard Scarlett Johansson loved was tossed tableside, perfectly spiced, generous with chicken and indulgent in the best way. I sipped a signature cocktail and enjoyed some mango sticky rice for dessert. 

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Sleepy, relaxed and ready to take on the next day, I felt more at peace than I had in years.

Meditation and a Bird’s Nest tea party 

Morning began with a one-hour guided meditation and sound bath with the resort’s well-being director, Subhash Shanbhag. As someone who has never successfully meditated, this felt like a small miracle. He guided me to focus on my breathing, and when stress crept in, he said: “Treat your mind like a puppy — with patience, not punishment, with love, not scolding.” 

Afterward, we moved through the spa’s 60-minute hydrothermal circuit, featuring a rain walk, steam room, sauna, ice fountain and hot and cold pools. Between this and meditation, something in me began to soften. The Banyan Tree wellness experience is rooted in the resort’s 8 Pillars of Wellbeing, a signature approach offering simple, intentional practices designed to foster balance, presence and meaning — both during your stay and beyond. 

By late afternoon, we made our way to the Bird’s Nest, a treetop lounge perched above the resort with sweeping views of the Andaman Sea and the surrounding jungle. The wooden latticework felt like a cozy nest suspended in the trees, the perfect spot to pause and breathe. We sipped fragrant teas and nibbled on local fish and delicate pastries, letting the quiet of the treetops settle over us.  

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A true wellness sanctuary 

As the final day drew to a close, I sat on my villa patio, listening to the jungle hum and the distant waves. Every moment — the boat rides, the meditation, the spa rituals, the cinematic meals — had played a role in getting my nervous system back on track. I realized that this was what a sanctuary for the senses truly feels like: a place that slows time, grounds you in the present and reminds you how deeply restorative travel can be. 

As I packed up my suitcase reflecting on everything I had experienced in the last 48 hours, I promised myself I wouldn’t wait years to feel this unburdened again.  

Victoria Surla was a guest of Banyan Tree Krabi, which did not preview this story before publication.

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