Banyan Suite - This Thai-style house affords marvelous vistas of coconut groves on one side and gardens on the other. Upstairs or down, gentle breezes flow through the villa even on the hottest days.

On the second floor is an extraordinary open-air bathroom lovingly constructed around the roots of a giant ficus tree.

The large open-air living space on the ground floor leads out onto the lawn and is ideal for relaxing during the in the shade, or for dining.

Note: Because of its unprotected decks and steep stairs, the Banyan Suite may not be suitable for toddlers or very young children.

Banyan Suite size:
House size (two levels) - 100 sqm
Plot size - 650 sqm

More About Tamarind Retreat

Imagine exotic tropical gardens set under a verdant canopy of coconut palms. Barely visible amid the lush flora are eight individually designed holiday villas, each uniquely crafted to blend unobtrusively into its natural surroundings.

Your bedroom with its highly polished wood floor might be built against the face of an enormous granite boulder...or overlooking a carp-filled pond. Perhaps a giant ficus tree grows in the middle of your distinctively appointed open-air bathroom.

As you luxuriate under the hot water shower, you gaze out onto colourful hibiscus blossoms. Or onto a bower of vibrant bougainvillea. Innocent of your presence, nature's creatures--birds and butterflies, lizards and ants--go about their lives.

Respect for the landscape doesn't come at the expense of comfort. No matter which house you stay in, you will delight in the integration of interior and exterior that makes Tamarind Retreat one of the most original resorts in Southeast Asia.

Amenities
We have purposefully removed as many distractions as possible. So that you can enjoy the serenity of your home unencumbered by distractions of "normal" life, the villas have no TV, video, radio or daily newspaper. We provide a selection of music for your pleasure, and you are welcome to bring your own CDs. There's no swimming pool on the property, but we're only 200 metres from a quiet sun bathing beach and a 20-minute walk from a lovely swimming beach.

If you need your own transportation, we'll gladly assist you in renting a car, jeep or motorbike.

Restaurants
Our day spa Tamarind Springs has a small cafe with a selection of light food like soups, salads and pasta. The cafe if open from 11am to 7pm.

There are other restaurants within walking distance.

Samui offers an abundant choice of restaurants and cafes serving both Thai and international cuisine.

We'd be happy to give you some advice according to your preferences.

A healthy wholesome breakfast is included in our rates and brought to your villa every morning.

About your neighbours
The villas are designed in a way that invites nature in and sometimes nature accepts the invitation. This arrangement gives you an opportunity to view many fascinating tropical species close up. The majority are entirely harmless, and most of our guests consider the ants, lizards, spiders and geckos an appealing feature of their stay. For many city folk, sleeping in such close proximity to the wonderful sounds of frogs, cicadas and night birds can be an exciting experience. However, people with a strong fear of insects may require an adjustment period before feeling entirely at home. See an aerial photograph which shows our location on Samui.

All beds are equipped with large mosquito nets and many of the homes also have a screened in bedroom or living room.

Minimum booking
We don't normally accept bookings for less than three nights (and seven nights in peak season). The reason is that our houses are all so different, and we are not like an ordinary hotel that can simply substitute Room A for Room B. We encourage people to come and relax, and unwind, and don't believe that a shorter stay will be restful or beneficial.

Air conditioning
The average annual temperature in Samui is around a comfortable 30 degrees centigrade in the daytime, and hardly fluctuates from season to season. During the rainy (low) season, it cools down to about 28 degrees during the day and is much cooler at night. For a short time in April and May we might even see 34 degrees. We have built all our houses using largely natural materials, with lots of wood, and taken advantage of the prevailing winds so that air-conditioning is not necessary. All the houses have effective ceiling fans.

Tamarind Springs day spa
Ever since we first opened in 1998, thousands of guests have found a peaceful haven at our tropical spa. Come in and sample for yourself our world-famous recipe for relaxation.

What to do at Tamarind Retreat
We invite you to discover the essence of Samui and rediscover the simplicity of life. We have meticulously planned everything so that there is nothing for you to do. Nothing except relax, unwind, and rejuvenate.

Just because it's peaceful and quiet doesn't mean you'll be bored. Tamarind Retreat is surrounded by rolling coconut groves dotted with dramatic fairy-tale rock formations. Amateur (or avid) birdwatchers will delight in studying the profusion of exotic species that visit the many plants and trees on our property and surrounding hillsides. See an aerial photograph of our beautiful grounds and surroundings to get a better idea of the layout.

In addition to the spa treatments available at The Springs, many alternative healthcare treatments (reiki, acupuncture, yoga, reflexology, hypnotherapy, myotherapy) are available on Samui. We can recommend several excellent practitioners who can treat you in the privacy of your villa.

Please note, many of these practitioners come and go on Samui, so that we cannot guarantee that all of the above therapies are always available. Please let us know if there's something particular you are interested in and we can make enquiries.

Mountain walks to your taste -- vigorous climbing or gentle strolling -- start immediately behind the houses. Or you may choose to enjoy a quiet beach walk at sunset.

Rates 2005 / 2006  Currency -  Thai Baht
Daily Rate for 3 or 4 nights / per night 11 Jan - 19 Dec	Peak Rate per night minimum 7 nights Dec 20 - Jan 10
7,400 ++	8,500 ++
++   Displayed rates do NOT include 3% service charge and 7% VAT

A deposit of 2 nights will be required