A giant, black-and-white speckled butterfly, the size of a small bird, is flirting with me. It swoops around my head as I mooch along the stone path. The air is scented with jasmine and, through the bird’s-nest ferns and towering palm trees, I can see a glimpse of the turquoise Andaman Sea beckoning me. I’ve arrived at Trisara, a family-owned resort carved into a lush hilltop on the north-west coast of Phuket.
It might seem daft to travel 15 hours for a wellness break, but I am curious about the traditional Thai, immersive therapies this resort offers and hoping for a break from the hubbub of urban life. Arriving in Thailand has been a sensory delight: I’ve been greeted with a frangipani floral garland (so White Lotus), an iced towel to cool my skin and a zingy drink made of torched ginger and pineapple. Trisara oozes “quiet luxury”, with guests contentedly sipping cocktails under palm trees and the rhythmic sound of the waves kissing the beach.
