Since its opening in 1988, the Thai beach resort of Amanpuri has established a reputation for personal service, fine cuisine and cruising, all of which complement the natural beauty of its tropical island surroundings.

Amanpuri, a Sanskrit word meaning ‘place of peace’, reflects its name in moreways than one. The entrance sala (left ), restaurants and bar overlook the resort’s main swimming pool.

Amanpuri’s crescent beach (top left ) lies at the foot of a cascadingsweep of stone steps which lead to the resort’s midnight-blueswimming pool (right )and on to the entrancesala (below left ). Drinksand light snacks areserved beach- and pool-side throughout the day.

Located on the west coast of Phuket,Thailand’s largestisland, Amanpurilooks out over theturquoise expanse of the Andaman Sea.The resort’s 40 Thai-styled pavilions and32 private villas are interspersedthroughout a maturecoconut plantation.

Each pavilion has an outdoor sala and sun deck. Elevated walkwaysconnect the pavilions to the resort’s facilities. Pavilion rates are deter-mined according to view and location, with Ocean Pavilions 105 and103 enjoying the most spectacular views of the Andaman Sea.

Three pavilions feature their own private pools and all are surroundedby lush tropical vegetation which provides shade and privacy.

Each pavilionincludes a largebedroom with a

writing desk.

The elegant pavilion bedrooms lead to a spacious dressing area with twin vanities, then on to a sunken bath and separate shower.Most pavilions feature outdoor areas with day beds.

Amanpuri’s villas enjoy both ocean and garden settings. Ranging from two

to six bedrooms, they are available for short- or long-term rental.

Every villa is different inlayout, but all consist of anumber of separate pavilionslocated on varying levelsaround a private swimmingpool. The gracious designaesthetic draws inspirationfrom Thailand’s ancientkingdom of Ayutthaya.

The villas enjoy spacious surrounds and arefurnished with Thai textiles, art and antiques.

Each villa features separate dining, bedroomand living pavilions, a fully-equipped kitchen,a cook and a housekeeping service.

At dusk the resort’s central swimming pool becomes

a tranquil stage, reflecting the sky as the sun sets into the Andaman Sea.

The restaurant (left ) and bar (centre right ) provide

the ideal settings for watching this nightly show.

Facing the swimmingpool, the Terracespecialises in Thaicuisine and is openfor breakfast, lunchand dinner.

The Restaurant (below) serves Italian cuisine and is open every evening. The Bar(above) enjoys beautiful views of the Andaman Sea.

The Beach Terrace(right) offers al frescodining over lunch.

Overlooking PanseaBeach, Amanpuri’sintimate Beach Clubfeatures a 20m lap pool and a Thai sala

with a cocktail bar and lounge seating.

Just steps from the beach, Naoki serves Kaiseki,fare which combines the best of French techniqueswith a Japanese sense of artistry. The dining barsurrounds a sunken central kitchen where food is prepared in front of diners.

The Library (opposite top) houses over 1,000 books from novels to works on Thai history and culture.Its lounge (above) is a relaxing place for conversation and refreshments.

For meetings, the Boardroom (above right) is equipped with audio equipment and an LCD projector.Thai silk products and other handicrafts are available for purchase in the Gallery (above left ).

Set in a secluded coconut grove, Aman Spa,Amanresorts’ first full-service spa, is a holisticsanctuary that nurtures both body and mind.

Using exclusively-prepared products made only from thepurest ingredients, Aman Spa offers an extensive selection oftreatments. Complimentary yoga and meditation sessions arealso offered in the open-sided salas set high on the hillside.

The state-of-the-artGym features floor- to-ceiling windowswith open views tothe Andaman Sea, a Pilates studio and a juice bar.

Amanpuri provides Hobie Cats and equipment for windsurfing, snorkelling and kayaking on Pansea Beach. PADI-accrediteddive programmes are available year-round. Six tennis courts are lit for night play and five international-standard golf coursesare located within a 40-minute drive of Amanpuri.

Amanpuri’s ownAmancruises fleetnumbers more than20 cruisers and sailingcraft, one of thelargest resort-ownedfleets in SoutheastAsia. Sailing, deep-seafishing, diving andovernight charters,with full crew, are all available.

Ideal for cruising theislands and bays ofPhang Nga and Krabi,Maha Bhetra (below

right ), is a 90ft luxurycruiser with three air-conditioned cabinsand a huge Thai-styleliving sala on the top deck.

Pansea Beach, Phuket Island, ThailandTel: (66) 76 324 333 Fax: (66) 76 324 100

E-mail: amanpuri@amanresorts.comwww.amanresorts.com

The trademarks AMAN, AMANRESORTS and AMANPURI are registered in the U.S. Pat. & TM Off. & internationally.