Faasai Resort & Spa — an eco resort in a forest garden where you walk over the hill to Kung Wiman Beach
Picture waking up in a bungalow surrounded by trees, hearing birdsong and a fountain in the koi pond, then walking just a few minutes to a still-quiet Kung Wiman Beach — Faasai Resort & Spa is a small eco resort in a forest garden near Kung Wiman Beach in Na Yai Am district, Chanthaburi, that a husband-and-wife team — Bronwen from New Zealand and Khun Surin from Thailand — built from a bare plot of land with their own hands, planting the trees themselves · What guests talk about most is the shady forest-garden setting, organic food from the resort's own garden, and the Thai-massage spa, which make it feel more like staying at a friend's place than a hotel · Rooms range from simple bungalows to villas and a penthouse, starting at about THB 1,200/night · TripAdvisor gives it 4.3 out of 5 and ranks it #4 of 28 hotels in Chanthaburi from 106 reviews
Who Faasai Resort & Spa is for — the shortest way to put it: Faasai is a place for people who want to escape the bustle and really be in nature. It is not a flashy luxury beachfront resort but a small eco resort in a forest garden that prizes quiet, shade and a friendly feel · Its origin story is genuinely interesting, because the husband-and-wife team — Bronwen from New Zealand and Khun Surin from Thailand — bought a bare plot of land near Kung Wiman Beach and gradually planted trees, built an herb garden, and put up the bungalows one by one, determined to create a place that truly lives alongside nature rather than just wearing an "eco" label · Real reviews agree on who fits here: couples after some peace and quiet, families who want their kids to run around in the garden, nature-minded international travelers looking for somewhere off the mainstream tourist trail, and anyone who loves food made fresh from garden ingredients · The people who may not click with it are those who want a brand-new, flawless hotel room with every facility of a big resort, or anyone without their own car who would rather not handle their own transport, because this place sits fairly far from town and you do need to get around largely on your own · Overall, Faasai sells "experience" and "atmosphere" more than luxury, which suits some travelers perfectly and others not at all — so it is worth knowing which camp you are in before you book
Location and getting there — Faasai sits near Kung Wiman Beach in Sanam Chai, Na Yai Am district, Chanthaburi province, a coastline that still feels very local · The resort is not directly on the beach but set on a rise behind it called Springwater Hill, so it is about a 10-minute walk, or roughly 640 metres, from the resort to Kung Wiman Beach, which is known for its quiet and pretty sunsets thanks to its west-facing shore · Kung Wiman is a public beach that locals genuinely use, with seafood spots and beachside shacks where you can sit, catch the breeze and take in the view — it is not an overly touristy beach · The area falls within the Kung Krabaen Bay conservation zone, so building heights are limited and the forest on the surrounding hills is protected, keeping the views natural · On getting there, it is only honest to say that this place suits people with their own car best, because it is about 30 kilometres from Chanthaburi town and the sights are spread out · From Bangkok it is roughly a 3.5–4 hour drive via the motorway and the scenic Chaloem Burapha Chonlathit road · If you do not have a car you can take a coach to Chanthaburi and connect onward, but it is less convenient and you should arrange a pickup with the resort in advance · One thing real reviews note is that the resort entrance is fairly close to a road with passing traffic, so some guests feel they hear cars now and then
"We came here to really rest — woke up to greenery all around, walked a few minutes to a beach with almost no one on it, the owners chat with you like friends, and the food is made fresh from the garden. It's the kind of place that genuinely recharges you."
Room types and decor — one of Faasai's charms is that it is a small resort of around 15 units spread across the garden, not blocks of rooms in a row · There are several types to choose from depending on your budget and group size · It starts with the Bungalow, a simple, budget-friendly room that suits couples or solo travelers · Stepping up are the villas (Basic Villa and Deluxe Villa), which are roomier, with a sitting balcony and garden views · There is a Penthouse, an upper-floor room with wide views, and a Two-Bedroom House for families or groups of friends · The decor uses local materials mixed with colorful fabrics and accents that blend into the surrounding garden; each unit has air conditioning, a balcony or outdoor seating, a TV, a private bathroom with a shower, and locally made toiletries · Many reviews praise the bungalows as clean and tidy, with comfortable beds and good cold air conditioning · The expectation to set correctly is that Faasai is not brand new — some units have been open for years and show their age — one review noted that the penthouse looked older than in the website photos · So if newness matters to you, ask the resort about the room's condition and request updated photos before booking, or choose a recently renovated unit · But for those after a clean, friendly garden bungalow, most say they got what they expected and good value for the money
Facilities, pool and spa — small as it is, Faasai puts together a charming set of facilities that fit its concept · The highlight is the outdoor pool set in the middle of the garden, perfect for a cooling dip after sightseeing or coming back from the beach · Around it are a koi pond, a fountain, and wooden walkways through a garden laid out by feng-shui principles, which many reviews credit for the resort's especially shady, relaxing atmosphere · There is a spa and massage room that earns praise for its Thai massage and relaxing treatments, ideal for recharging body and mind · For those who want activities, the resort has bikes and kayaks to borrow, a ping-pong table, a badminton court, and an herb garden to wander · Wi-Fi and parking are free · The resort can also arrange local tours and activities — mountains, forest, and cultural spots around Chanthaburi · To be honest, the pool is not large and is not an infinity sea-view pool, but a garden pool that fits the nature theme; overall the facilities here emphasize "quality of experience" over quantity or luxury, which is exactly what nature-minded guests like
Food and dining — this is one of the most praised parts of Faasai · The resort has its own restaurant and cafe serving fresh, organic food using vegetables, fruit and herbs from the resort's own garden · Many reviews agree the food is tasty, fresh, and homemade in feel — like a home-cooked meal — covering both Thai dishes and menus adjusted to suit international palates · The Thai–New Zealand owners mean the resort understands both authentic Thai flavors and what international guests want, with vegetarian and healthy options too · One thing to know upfront is that, because it is a small kitchen cooking everything fresh, many dishes need to be ordered ahead — it is not a place you can walk into and get anything immediately · If you plan to have dinner at the resort, let the kitchen know in advance so you are not waiting long · Another upside: since there are not many restaurants nearby, having a kitchen that cooks well on-site helps a lot, especially at dinner · Anyone who wants to eat out can drive to Kung Wiman Beach, which has beachside seafood spots, or head into an area with more restaurants — but you will need a car
Service — service is the heart of Faasai and the reason this small resort scores high and has won awards year after year · Because the owners run it themselves, many guests say it feels more like staying at a friend's home than checking into a hotel · The staff and owners are friendly and attentive, happy to suggest places to go, help arrange tours, and look after guests as individuals · Many international reviews use words like "caring" and "peaceful" to describe the atmosphere · The honest thing to know is that some staff speak limited English, so communicating with international guests sometimes takes patience and a bit of sign language, though most say the genuine care makes up for it · For Thai guests language is not an issue, and you will likely feel the warmth of owners who look after everything themselves · Overall, service is this place's biggest strength and the main reason people come back
What real reviews say (praise and gripes) — pulling together TripAdvisor, Trip.com and other booking sites, the picture is fairly clear · On the praise side: a shady, well-kept forest garden; a short walk to a quiet Kung Wiman Beach; tasty, fresh organic food from the garden; a relaxing Thai-massage spa; owners and staff who look after you like a friend; great for a quiet getaway close to nature; and an eco resort that genuinely does the environmental work rather than just slapping on a label · On the watch-out side: the location is fairly far from town and the sights, so you really need your own car to be comfortable; the entrance is near a road with traffic, so you hear some noise; many dishes must be ordered ahead; some units are older with age and a few people felt they did not match the website photos; some staff speak limited English; and because it sits in a garden, there are insects and nature as you would expect · Most of these gripes come with the forest-garden eco-resort concept more than being actual shortcomings — people who understand and like this style tend to score it high, while those expecting city-hotel convenience may feel it is not for them
"Beautiful garden, the food made from garden vegetables really is delicious, and the owners are lovely and take good care of you · The one downside is that it's a bit of a hassle without a car since it's far from town, and you have to order food ahead — but for a quiet stay close to nature it's well worth it."
Price comparison and value — Faasai's rooms start at about THB 1,200/night for a bungalow in normal-rate periods (roughly USD 29–35) and rise with size and type · Villas and larger rooms run about THB 1,800–3,000+, while the penthouse and two-bedroom house for families go higher still depending on the number of guests (up to about USD 120 in some periods) · Compared with beachfront resorts in the Chao Lao–Kung Wiman area, which start higher, Faasai is great value among budget nature stays, especially once you factor in the garden setting, organic food, and owner-level attentive service · What you pay for is a quiet getaway close to nature, not luxury or a full set of facilities · If you measure value by atmosphere, peace, and good food, this place delivers a lot · But if you measure it by how new the rooms are and how easy it is to get there, you will have to weigh that against a location that really needs a car
Good to know before you book — a few things make the stay go more smoothly · One, plan your transport well; having your own car is most convenient, and if you do not, contact the resort about a pickup or directions in advance · Two, if you want dinner at the resort, order ahead, since the kitchen cooks fresh and many dishes need prep time · Three, if newness matters to you, ask for updated photos or check the condition of the room you will get before booking, and state your preferences clearly · Four, be prepared for a garden resort, so there are insects and nature as you would expect — bring mosquito repellent · Five, the best time to come is the cool season (November–February), when the weather is pleasant and the sea is calm; in the rainy season the garden is lush and green, but check the forecast · Six, book directly with the resort or through a platform with a cancellation policy in case plans change, and compare prices across channels before deciding
The bottom line — from all the real reviews, Faasai Resort & Spa is best suited to people who want a quiet getaway close to nature, at an eco resort in a forest garden the owners run with genuine care · The shady garden, organic food from the garden, Thai-massage spa, and a walkable Kung Wiman Beach make it a place that genuinely recharges you, at a price you can manage · If you are after luxury, a flawless brand-new room, or city-hotel convenience without needing a car, this may not be the answer, and you should consider beachfront resorts in the Chao Lao area instead · But for nature-minded travelers who want a calm setting, good food, and the warm welcome of staying at a friend's home — Faasai covers all of that, which is why it has held a top spot among Chanthaburi hotels on TripAdvisor for years
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Shady, quiet forest-garden setting, great for a getaway close to nature
- ✓ Walk to a quiet Kung Wiman Beach with pretty sunsets
- ✓ Organic food cooked fresh from the resort's garden, tasty and fresh
- ✓ Owners and staff care for you like staying at a friend's home
- ! Location is far from town; you really need your own car to be comfortable
- ! Many dishes must be ordered ahead because the kitchen cooks fresh
- ! Entrance is near a road, so you hear traffic at times
- ✓ Good value among budget nature stays
- ✓ Relaxing Thai-massage spa and a garden pool
- ✓ A genuine eco resort that does real environmental work — TAT Green award winner
- ✓ Great for couples and families who want peace and quiet
- ! Some units are older with age; ask for updated photos before booking
- ! Some staff speak limited English
- ! Set in a garden, so there are insects and nature as you would expect
- 💡If you don't have your own car — the resort is about 30 km from town and the sights are spread out, so getting around is a hassle → contact the resort about a pickup in advance, or choose a place in town instead
- 💡If you want a brand-new room and a full set of facilities — this is an eco resort in a garden, and some units are older with age → ask for updated photos and pick a recently renovated unit, or consider a newer beachfront resort
- 💡If you plan to have dinner at the resort — the kitchen cooks fresh and many dishes need prep time → order ahead with the kitchen so you are not waiting long