Aava Resort & Spa, Khanom, Thailand

Location: Khanom
Price: ££
Value for Money: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
Perfect for: Undiscovered Thailand, quiet beaches, fantastic food, magical sunrises

For those looking for a corner of Thai paradise that hasn’t yet been overrun with tourists, Khanom is the place and Aava Resort & Spa is the must-visit hotel.

Location

Aava Resort & Spa is located on the breath-takingly beautiful Nadan beach. This 9km of pristine golden sands and shallow clear blue water is surprisingly quiet and mostly empty, despite being quite easy to get to.

Khanom is about a half-hour drive from the ferry piers to Koh Samui and Koh Phangan - we stopped here for a few days in between travelling from the two islands. We booked our transfers from the ferry piers with the hotel and found the process and journey very easy and smooth.

Although Khanom isn’t as developed as other popular Thai towns, there is a range of restaurants, bars and shops in the centre and the staff are happy to point guests in the right direction.

Style & Decor

Aava is an independent hotel designed by its Finnish owners to reflect a contemporary and minimalist Scandinavian charm. This aesthetic works very well in the often stark sunlight of Khamon which is reflected by the white walls, black wooden walkways and softening plants, giving the resort an edgy and interesting vibe.

Born off the back of a back-packing trip, it was great hearing the story of Aava Resort and its creation from owner Atte, who shared a drink and a few fabulous stories with us.

Being an independent hotel, it is Atte’s passion and drive which has brought Aava to where it is, and it is clear to see how much pride and joy he takes from it.

Accommodation

There are 28 bungalows and villas on Aava Resort, the best of which are 6 pool-side villas which line the main pool and have views of the beach and beautiful sunrises.

We stayed in a pool side villa with a deck, loungers and a very convenient ladder access directly into the main pool.

The rooms are very well designed, leading into the bedroom with a large comfortable bed with views out onto the pool and beach. Behind this is the spacious bathroom, complete with impressive large bathtub, walk-in rain-shower and full size mirror.

The room was comfortable and airy, and included a minibar, free water, and daily treats from the on-site balcony too. It fit my partner and I, and all our luggage, with plenty of space to spare, which is always a plus!

Dining

Aava has an on-site restaurant, Aalto, located right by the beach where breakfast, lunch and dinner is served.

The food here is a combination of local Thai dishes and Mediterranean inspired food. The menu is vast and has something for everyone, even if you dine here a few days in a row.

Grab a table by the sea and enjoy cocktails, mocktails and delicious food with the incredible views. We enjoyed a few meals here and were really impressed both by the Thai dishes, which oozed fresh local flavours, as well as the more Western selection which was crafted with skill and talent.

Must-try Thai dishes include the creamy Tom Kha Gai (Thai coconut soup), flavourful Massaman Curry, and a fantastic Prawn Pad Thai.

The Western selection includes dishes such as grilled seafood platter, pork chop and highly rated pasta dishes including Pappardelle lamb ragu and pesto with juicy tiger prawns.

There is also an onsite bakery which creates fresh pizzas, and a pastry selection too.

What I particularly liked about the menu at Aalto is the choice to easily make dishes vegetarian, or change the meat option. This means many of the dishes are accessible to different dietary requirements and there is a strong selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes too. This is great for those who don’t want to indulge in a lavish meal every day and can conveniently choose lighter options such as salads.

During high season Aalto will host themed nights, including Thai Evening, Beach BBQ and a Wine Dinner too.

The chefs here are certainly talented and have created a fantastic menu for guests to choose from.

Breakfast

Breakfast at Aava is a delight. It is served at Aalto and so guests can enjoy a beachside breakfast if they can brave the sunshine. The offering includes a small buffet of fruits, pastries and some hot Thai dishes. There is also a menu to choose dishes from, which include egg based dishes such as eggs benedict, as well as Thai favourites and sweet treats too. There is a selection of fruit juices and coffees on the menu which I recommend ordering.

I enjoyed having a leisurely breakfast each morning, trying a few dishes, sipping my iced latte in the morning sun and speaking to the friendly staff about the day ahead.

Facilities

As well as the main pool, where many of the guests gather in the late afternoon/early evening, there are also plenty of large white loungers, beach bags and a beautiful daybed to relax in. Of course the beach is directly in front of the hotel and guests can easily enjoy a swim in the sea or sunbathe on the white sands.

Aava offers complimentary yoga and tai chi sessions in the mornings whilst watching the magical sunrise. There is also a spa with a variety of treatments which can be booked in advance.

Guests can also book excursions, including a boat trip to see Khanoms rare pink Irawaddy dolphins. We tried a morning tour of Khanom which included a cave visit and trip to the local mountain river which also happens to be the world’s only natural fish spa!

Overall

One thing that stands out to me about my stay at Aava is the hospitality and friendliness of all the staff. It was great to speak with and get to know them, and it was evident they took pride in looking after us and making sure we had an amazing time in Khanom.

Of course the stunning beach is breath-taking and having inhibited access to it gives Aava a fantastic advantage. This combined with the stylish and comfortable accommodation and fantastic food offering means that a stay at Aava Resort and Spa will be unforgettable for all the right reasons.