Marine conservation makes a difference for Thai resort on Phi Phi Don island

Built in 1986 and refurbished, then rebranded in 2021, SAii Phi Phi Island Village Resort is described as “a dreamy tropical resort” on its own website.

A 90-minute speedboat ride from the Royal Phuket Marina will take you away from the hustle and bustle of the world's most crowded tourist destination. At the Saii Phi Phi Island Village Resort, you can see swarms of pink jellyfish as you pass by, and many islands of different shapes and sizes.

Catching the eye as the boat enters Loh Ba Gao Bay are many traditional long-tail boats, decorated with bright flowers, anchored close to the shore.

At SAii Phi Phi Island Village Resort, staff will personally escort guests onto wooden decks above the emerald waters of the Andaman Sea. A Filipino band, which has been with the resort since the 2000s, will serenade guests as they check in.

Past the cabanas along the bay is the open-air lounge, where welcome drinks include pineapple and coconut water. Jars of Thai snacks – dried papaya and pineapple crackers – can be found in the middle of the lounge, ready to be served at any time of the day or night.

Although Loh Ba Gao Bay is quiet and not as long as the beaches in Phuket, it offers a quiet atmosphere of being one with nature. For example, the black spots near the shore have dense schools of small fish and birds naturally swooping down on the sand.

Tourists participate in marine environmental conservation

The resort has been promoting marine conservation awareness activities through the establishment of an on-site educational facility in 2018 with a series of environmental initiatives over the years.

The SAii Phi Phi Island Village Resort has contributed to the revival of Maya Bay, part of Phi Phi Leh Island in Thailand’s Andaman Sea, after the bay was closed for four years to restore its damaged ecosystem and marine life. The resort’s Marine Discovery Center, run by Thai marine biologists, will enhance the bay’s ability to breed, care for and release bamboo sharks and clownfish.

Currently, 30 bamboo sharks have been released by the resort since 2021 and 149 clownfish will continue to be released in 2024.

According to Mr. Bart Callens, General Manager of SAii Phi Phi Island Village Resort, other resorts in the area are so impressive that SAii Phi Phi Island Village Resort also wants to start different initiatives.

The resort has been actively restoring coral, specifically the total coral area in the surrounding waters has increased by 37% between August 2022 and September 2023.

In addition, marine biologists are happy to share their knowledge and passion with tourists at the resort. Guests can also be more proactive in kayaking into the mangrove forest next to their accommodation, enthusiastically participating in planting mangrove trees with name tags.

Mangroves are common on the islands, the Thai name for mangrove trees is pokok api-api. During kayaking trips, visitors can participate in trash collection activities from the forest, a total of 1,984kg was recovered in this way.

The Phi Phi Islands are part of the 388-square-kilometer Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park and the resort has worked with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries (DNP) under the Thai Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to ensure that initiatives undertaken by Saii Phi Phi Island Village Resort are compatible with the marine ecosystem.

Many other activities

Saii Phi Phi Island Village Resort now has up to 5 restaurants, 3 bars, spa, gift shop, PADI dive center, gym, 2 swimming pools and tennis courts to ensure plenty of activities for visitors who do not choose to go out to participate in environmental protection activities.

The main Api restaurant is located on the beach and offers a relaxed and breezy dining experience. Unsurprisingly, seafood is a highlight in the restaurant and the main ingredients are sourced from local fishermen.

Or Len Forest Spa is located on a small, secluded hill, with sea views from the massage rooms also an option for guests. The chirping of birds in the trees surrounding the spa creates an attractive natural soundtrack.

A short boat ride with a resort guide will lead to Phi Phi Leh - the smallest island in the Phi Phi archipelago and one of the best diving sites in the world with a wide variety of fish of all sizes and colours./.

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