Devasom Khao Lak in Thailand: Where Luxury Meets Lagoon and Beachfront Dreams

I found it – the most breathtaking design hotel in Thailand. Nestled between a serene lagoon and golden shores of Khao Lak in Phang Nga Province, Devasom Khao Lak blends timeless Southeast Asian architecture with modern luxury in a way that feels straight out of a dream.

Think heritage-inspired architecture, lagoon-side lounging and thoughtful, curated spaces throughout the beachfront property. It didn’t take long for us to forget that the outside world even exists.

Located just 90 minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Phuket with only 69 boutique suites and villas, this is the place to go if you need a little peace and tranquility. Read on for my Devasom Khao Lak review and discover for yourself why this dreamy property is ranked among Thailand’s best small luxury resorts.

You might also like: The Best Things to Do in Khao Lak in Thailand, An Underrated Beach Destination

The Rooms at Devasom Khao Lak

Devasom Khao Lak sits on three hectares of prime beachfront land in Khao Lak, with a peaceful lagoon on one side and golden sand beach on the other. Opened in late 2018, Devasom Khao Lak’s design incorporates elements inspired by the area’s history dating back to its days as a coastal trading post of the ancient maritime silk route.

The warm, airy and neutral colour palette carries through every corner of the property, with splashes of elegance throughout. With the vast majority of resorts in Khao Lak offering hundreds upon hundreds of guest rooms, Devasom Khao Lak is the peaceful coastal retreat you didn’t know you needed.

Devasom Khao Lak offers just 69 thoughtfully-designed rooms, pool suites and pool villas. The rooms make up the majority of the portfolio, from the 54-square-meter Seaside Grand Deluxe room with a private balcony and day bed, to the 62-square-meter Seaside Junior Suite with Jacuzzi bath which we stayed in.

We don’t usually go out of our way to look for rooms that offer jacuzzis, but we actually made use of the spa bath on the private balcony almost every day and our 4-year-old just loved the novelty of taking a warm bath outdoors.

The balcony opened up to a sweeping view of the lagoon as well as the ocean. The king-sized bed offered an incredibly peaceful nights’ sleep, and the in-room sofa was transformed into a child’s bed for us by the lovely housekeeping team.

The colour palette of the room – lots of warm sand, taupe and beige – accentuated the view of bold shades of blue and green from the sky, ocean and swaying coconut trees.

We also loved the double showerheads in the bathroom as well a huge bathtub with complimentary bath salts and oils. For our child, Devasom thoughtfully provided a small footstool so he could reach the sink as well as children’s body wash gel and an absolutely adorable little linen bathrobe to match the ones they provide for adults.

To round out the room portfolio, there are 24 suites and villas which all offer private pools, ranging from the 105-square-meter Seaside Pool Paradise Suite with separate living room to the gigantic 200-square-meter Two-bedroom Beachfront Family Pool Villa which opens up directly onto the beach.

Booking tip: Book directly with Devasom Khao Lak for unbeatable direct booking perks including a booking discount, 10% off at the restaurants and 20% off spa services. Alternatively, if you’d like to book via Booking.com you can check rates and availability for Devasom Khao Lak here.

The Facilities at Devasom Khao Lak

Devasom Khao Lak is a “resort”, but because there are only 69 rooms (many of which have private pools) the grounds and even main pool never felt crowded.

The main double-tiered hourglass-shaped pool sits at the front of the property, directly in front of the beach. The stunning pool cascades into a shallow lower level, and there is also an adjacent, smaller kids pool as well.

If you are craving some active time in nature you will find the small rental stand here as well where guests can rent kayaks, SUPs and bodyboards to take to the lagoon or beach.

Poolside drinks and snacks can be ordered from the Beach Grill restaurant, and we loved the afternoon happy hour!

In this front area you will also find the spacious gym which has a weights section as well as plenty of cardio equipment.

The Lagoon Tower hosts a variety of wellness classes including small-group morning yoga, which I enjoyed. Every Sunday morning, Devasom Khao Lak also hosts an aqua sound bath at the main pool, which looks divine. In May 2025 the hotel also organized the area’s first-ever luxury wellness event, Sol Festival, which featured a unique line-up of yoga, meditation, sound healing, cacao ceremonies and even Kintsugi workshops. Stay tuned for next year’s dates!

The Spa at Devasom Khao Lak was one of the top highlights, and I was able to experience a 90-minute signature “Jewel of the East” treatment which incorporated a short sound bath followed by the therapist gently placing gems on my Chakra points.

Over the next hour and a half using oil infused with flakes of gold, she massaged my body and carefully worked on my tension points and knots (as I had described in the pre-treatment briefing). Absolute bliss. So much so, that I booked my husband in for a massage as well the very next day.

The spa itself is just stunning, with a special open-air cabana-style terrace surrounded by water for non-oil treatments such as Thai and foot massages.

Aside from the facilities at the resort, Devasom Khao Lak also offers a range of excursions and experiences including beach picnics, luxury beach dining, private longtail boat cruises to a hidden beach or even a private day trip to the Similan Islands (available only from mid-October to May when the national park is open). We visited during July and the wind was fairly onshore throughout the day, so I do believe that these additional experiences are best booked during the peak travel season from about October to April.

Ready to book your peaceful Khao Lak getaway at Devasom Khao Lak? Booking direct will get you the best deal and perks – however, if you prefer booking via Booking.com you can check rates and availability here.

Devasom Khao Lak With Kids

While I wouldn’t necessarily say that Devasom Khao Lak is marketed as a family hotel, it is in reality very family-friendly and even has the most gorgeous, spacious kids club that is perfect for younger children and toddlers.

There are plenty of activities on offer as well, including surf lessons, roasting marshmallows by the campfire and various arts & crafts workshops. While we were there in the off-peak season there was always a few kids around for our son to play with.

There are plenty of shallow sections where kids can stand unassisted in the main pool, there is also a smaller kids pool beside the main one if you prefer.

The menus at both the Beach Grill and TAKOLA had kids menus with plenty of fantastic options such as chicken croquettes, stir fried vermicelli noodles, and a “dinosaur” omelette served with rice. The Beach Grill offered a selection of pasta with a classic sauce of your choice, which was always an easy option for our 4-year-old.

If high-energy kids facilities like water slides, arcade rooms, outdoor playgrounds and so on are a non-negotiable for you, this might not be the right choice and there are other options in the area.

However, Devasom Khao Lak is a perfect peaceful family getaway option for your Thailand trip and gave us the opportunity to slow down and take a little breather in the middle of our intense 2-week trip through Phuket, Khao Lak and Krabi.

Ready to book your family or couple’s beach getaway at Devasom Khao Lak? Booking direct will get you the best deal and perks – however, if you prefer booking via Booking.com you can check rates and availability here.

Dining 0ptions at Devasom Khao Lak

The two restaurants at Devasom Khao Lak have both earned MICHELIN Guide recognitions. TAKOLA serves up award-winning Southern Thai cuisine and was awarded the Bib Gourmand by MICHELIN which recognizes “restaurants providing authentic dining experiences by way of quality cuisine at affordable prices in approachable and friendly establishments”.

The bright and airy restaurant is the perfect setting for some of the best Thai food you’ll ever try in your life!

We couldn’t get enough of the chicken in massaman peanut curry and coconut milk served with flaky, buttery roti, and the pad see ew stir-fried thick noodles was bouncy and full of flavor.

For modern beachside dining head to Devasom’s Beach Grill and Bar for a Mediterranean fusion menu and stunning setting. The arched roof and gentle lighting creates the perfect place to watch the sunset in Khao Lak, followed by a romantic dinner.

The menu, true to Mediterranean practice, heavily features fresh seafood from the region as well as some Italian classics like wood-fired margherita pizza and vongole. The cocktails are not to be missed – trust me.

Things to do around Devasom Khao Lak

Devasom Khao Lak is in Khao Lak town in Phang Nga province, just a short 90 minute drive north from Phuket International Airport. It was my second time to this area and this time we spent a full week exploring the surroundings. Here are some of the top things to add to your Khao Lak travel itinerary.

A quick drive away from Devasom Khao Lak is the easily accessible Sai Rung waterfall – it is best to visit this during the green season between May and October when there’s more water flowing, but we loved this quiet waterfall in Khao Lak! It is just a quick 5-minute walk into the jungle from the car park, and you have to pay a small fee to the property owners to enter.

Next up, visit the nearby herd at Khao Lak Elephant Sanctuary, currently home to 6 gorgeous female elephants rescued from the logging and tourism industries. This ethical elephant sanctuary in Khao Lak gives visitors the opportunity to feed supplementary snacks to their elephants, watch them enjoy the cool water and bathe in the river as well as walk alongside them.

Beginning August 2025, the venue will discontinue all elephant feeding activities as part of their effort to align with the ethical guidelines of the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS). The focus will shift fully to educational, observation-only experiences, allowing elephants to live freely without human interference.

You might also like: ethical elephant sanctuaries, parks and orphanages around the world

Surfers will also enjoy the waves in Khao Lak. The surf season in Khao Lak typically begins in about May/June to late October/November, and is a popular surf spot for long boarding.

You can rent surfboards and sign up for lessons at Memories Beach or Salt Surf – we especially loved the indoor/outdoor Salt Surf beachfront cafe which served up a delicious coffee and acai bowl.

One of the best things to do in Khao Lak is to kayak through the “Little Amazon” rainforest in Takuapa – you’ll understand why it’s named this way as soon as you see it! The lush mangrove forest features 200 year-old networks of towering banyan trees and native wildlife.

Hop on a small kayak with your local guide – they do all the paddling while you lay back, put your feet up and bask in the unspoiled landscape. Keep your eyes peeled for monkeys, birds and even snakes!

You can also go on a day trip to Khao Sok National Park which is a 90-minute drive away to see the towering karsts at Cheow Lan Lake, or head to the picturesque Similan Islands which opens each year between mid-October to about mid-May. More Khao Lak travel ideas here.

Ready to book your family or couple’s beach getaway at Devasom Khao Lak? Booking direct will get you the best deal and perks – however, if you prefer booking via Booking.com you can check rates and availability here.

How to get to Devasom Khao Lak and how to get around

The best way to get to Khao Lak is by rental car and self-driving, or by private transfer. We rented a car via Klook from Elephant Car Rental, a local car rental company. We communicated with their team via Whatsapp ahead of the pick-up date and met them at the rental vehicle car park directly across from the domestic arrivals terminal.

The car, a Mazda sedan, was in good condition and offered plenty of boot space – we were able to rent a child car seat as well. I usually use Rentalcars.com for international car rentals but in Thailand we find Klook to be better with more car rental companies and vehicle options available. The route from Phuket International Airport to Khao Lak is relatively straightforward with wide roads and no toll booths. The drive will take you approximately 1.5-2 hours.

Alternatively, the best way to get from the airport to the hotel is by pre-booking your private pick-up here. Once you have arrived in Khao Yai there is virtually no public transportation so you will need to rely on either a private driver or drive yourself around.

The verdict

Devasom Khao Lak is one of the most breathtaking hotels we have ever stayed at. Every corner is curated, evoking calm and peace throughout the property. If you are a design or architecture lover you absolutely must visit Devasom Khao Lak.

The service and attentiveness is truly world-class, with the butler team always just a quick message away. The hotel’s location in Khao Lak is severely underrated – the stunning natural surroundings are incredible, offering easy access to waterfalls, rivers and national parks, minus the crowds that often flock to neighboring Phuket and Krabi.

In fact, we loved our stay at Devasom Khao Lak so much that we are currently planning on returning in October for a family surf trip and to drink our way through the many gorgeous coffee shops in the area.

In addition to the hotel’s environmental sustainability initiatives, we were also impressed to learn about Devasom Khao Lak’s commitment to supporting the local community in Khao Lak.

In addition to the Devasom Khao Lak Scholarship (which is awarded annually to a student from the local Takuapa District to cover the full tuition fees of an entire bachelor’s degree program in any field), Devasom also provides a school lunch fund to a nearby local school to fund meals for students every academic year.

Ready to check in?  Booking direct will get you the best deal and perks (including 10% off at the restaurants and 20% off spa services) – however, if you prefer booking via Booking.com you can check rates and availability here.

🎥▶️ Let me show you around Devasom Khao Lak ▶️🎥

I hope this Devasom Khao Lak review helps you in your Thailand travel planning!

Quick logistics tips for visiting Khao Lak:

✈️ To get into Khao Lak you can fly into Phuket International Airport (airport code: HKT). The best way to get from the airport to the hotel is by pre-booking your private pick-up here. Devasom Khao Lak is a 90 minute drive from the international airport.

🛂 Thailand visa requirements: Thailand currently offers visa-free travel to nationals of nearly 100 countries. Visitors from ASEAN or Western countries, including most European, Commonwealth, and North American citizens, are not required to have a Thai visa for visits less than 60 days in Thailand. Starting 1 May 2025, all non-Thai nationals entering Thailand by air, land, or sea must complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) online before arrival. This can be completed within 3 days before arrival.

💱 The currency in Thailand is the Thai Baht. The exchange rate is approximately US$1/Euro to approximately 32-35 Baht or 1 AUD: 22 Baht. There are some ATMs available in Khao Lak town and cash is king if you are booking local tours, so I do recommend withdrawing some Thai Baht when you arrive.

📱 Stay connected and buy a local SIM card at the airport. We purchased a True SIM card which was extremely easy to pick up in the international arrivals halls, just after you exit the baggage claim and customs area. You can purchase your True SIM card ahead of time and pick it up at HKT airport. Get your True SIM card here!

🌤️ The best time to visit Khao Lak is typically considered to be during the dry season between November to April. That being said, we visited in July and with the exception of a few rainstorms here and there (as well as one full day which was rained out by a typhoon), we experienced plenty of blissful sunshine. However, if you want to surf, then the Khao Lak surf conditions are typically best from about May to October. During this time it can also be windy and the beach isn’t necessarily the nicest for swimming.

🇹🇭 The main language spoken in Thailand is Thai: You may experience a slight language barrier in Thailand, but most people working in the hospitality sector will speak English.

🗓️ Wondering how many days to spend in Khao Lak? For a first time visitor I would recommend spending no fewer than 3-4 days in Khao Lak, more if you plan on spending a night staying on the lake in Khao Sok National Park or doing a day trip to the Similan Islands.

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