Garrya Tongsai Bay Samui — a private bay where not a single tree was cut, since 1987
Back in 1985, the late Khun Akorn Hoontrakul sailed past a small bay on the north coast of Koh Samui and fell in love at first sight — buying the land within seven days. What followed was The Tongsai Bay, the first 5-star resort on Koh Samui, opened in 1987 on a principle far ahead of its time: built without cutting a single existing tree, leaving gaps for coconut palms to grow up through the terraces. Today it runs under Garrya (Banyan Group), but the spirit is unchanged. 83 cottages, villas and suites are spread across a private 28-acre bay, almost every one with a terrace bath looking out to sea. From approx. THB 9,500/night. Score 9.4 from 410 reviews.
Garrya Tongsai Bay sits on a private 28-acre bay on the north coast of Koh Samui, in the Choeng Mon area on Thong Sai Bay. What sets it apart from other luxury resorts is its origin story — founder Khun Akorn Hoontrakul forbade cutting large trees during construction, having the buildings designed to weave around them, leaving openings for coconut palms to rise through the terraces. The result feels like a resort tucked into real coastal jungle rather than a manicured garden. This was an eco resort before the term was even known in Thailand.
All 83 rooms are cottages, villas and suites stepping down the hillside. The thing everyone talks about is that almost every room has a terrace with a bathtub set facing the sea — the signature "bath with a view" concept the resort has been known for for decades. Entry-level rooms like the Cottage/Seaview Hillside Suite are already around 68 sqm, rising to Pool Suites and pool villas with their own pools. Many reviews praise the rooms as large, bright and airy, though some note the furniture and woodwork are starting to show their age — understandable for a resort that has stood the test of several decades.
"Soaking in the terrace bath, looking out over Thong Sai Bay at dusk, hearing nothing but the waves and the palm fronds — it felt like the whole bay was ours alone."
At the heart of it all is a quiet, clear-water private beach in the bay, great for swimming, kayaking and snorkelling. There's a main pool for those who'd rather not go in the sea, and several pool villas have private pools. The most consistent praise across nearly every platform is for the staff — Booking scores the staff category an exceptional 9.9. Many guests say the team remembers their names and looks after them with a genuine warmth that feels like coming home, not service by rote.
There are three main restaurants. Fish Tales is a beachfront seafood spot known for its fresh fish and seafood, RHOY! RHOY! serves punchy Thai food in a relaxed setting, and EVOL is the main dining room used for breakfast — repeatedly praised as one of the best breakfasts guests have had on the island. Some reviews note that when the resort is full, breakfast service can slow down and the spread isn't always as varied as expected, but on flavour almost no one complains.
Location-wise it's at Choeng Mon on the northeast of the island, only about 10 minutes' drive from Samui Airport. The Big Buddha and Fisherman's Village in Bophut are around 10–15 minutes away. The resort is private and set apart from the bustle, suiting travellers who plan to stay in rather than head out every day. The overall score sits around 9.4 across hundreds of reviews, climbing to 9.5 on Booking — a high and steady figure for a resort open since 1987.
Honestly, the thing to accept is that the resort sits on a hillside and is spread wide, with a fair bit of walking up and down, especially for upper rooms. There are buggies, but some guests say you may have to wait. The secluded setting also means heading out to eat or sightsee always requires a ride. And some of the design is classic rather than sharply modern compared with newer resorts. But if what you're after is a quiet private bay, real untouched nature, and genuinely warm service — this delivers that in a way few places on the island can match.
A tip from following the reviews here over time: if you want full sea views and easy access, choose a Seafront or Beachfront room near the beach rather than an upper Hillside room that relies on a buggy. In high season (December–March) prices climb noticeably and the best-view rooms fill fast, so book ahead and lock in a free-cancellation rate first, then compare prices across platforms.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Genuinely warm staff who remember your name — staff category scores an exceptional 9.9
- ✓ Quiet private bay with original nature left untouched, like hiding in coastal jungle
- ✓ Clear-water private beach for swimming, kayaking and snorkelling
- ✓ Breakfast widely praised as one of the best on the island
- ! Resort spread over a hillside with a fair bit of walking; buggies can mean a wait
- ! Secluded location means a ride is needed every time you head out to eat or explore
- ! Some furniture and woodwork show the resort's age
- ✓ A genuine eco feel — mature trees throughout keep the resort shady and cool
- ✓ Large, bright rooms; the terrace sea-view bath is a feature hard to find elsewhere
- ✓ Only about 10 minutes from Samui Airport, very convenient on arrival and departure
- ✓ Great for couples and families wanting a quiet getaway
- ! High-season prices climb quickly — worth locking in early
- ! Upper Hillside rooms mean a walk uphill or a wait for the buggy
- ! Classic styling rather than the sharp modern look of newer resorts
- 💡If you can't manage the hillside or dislike waiting for buggies — the resort spreads over a hill and upper rooms mean a walk or a buggy call → ask for a Seafront/Beachfront room near the beach and lobby at booking.
- 💡If you want to walk out to eat and explore every day — this is a secluded private bay, so a ride to Bophut/Chaweng is needed every time → if you want walkable buzz, consider staying in Bophut or Chaweng instead.
- 💡If you expect a flawless brand-new design throughout — open since 1987, the charm is in the classic feel and the nature, not cutting-edge modernity → if you want a brand-new room, try a recently opened pool-villa resort instead.