How we found Mango Bay Boutique Resort – Koh Tao

We had been in Koh Tao for five days when we finally decided to explore the island. Subsequently, each day we walked in a different direction. Our last destination was Mango Bay. We checked the location on the map, double checked on the GPS and realised that it was a long walk. However, since we had been walking everywhere in the past few days, we agreed that we could handle it. We took our water and off we went.

As usual, we started off excited and eager to see what the road had to reveal. However, this time we soon realized that we were in for a truly sinuous adventure! The road was extremely steep and we were not physically prepared to handle the hike with pride and grace! We quickly ran out of water and there were no signs of a place to refill or buy more.

There was nothing around us; I mean absolutely nothing besides vegetation and a man-made dirt road.

An energetic man walking quickly toward us started to laugh the moment he looked at our feet. I could read on his facial expression “Flip-flops?”. He did not stop for a long time but stayed enough to tell us that the destination is worth the sacrifice and that we would eventually find a shack on the side of the road to buy water. The news made us hopeful.

We continued our walk and eventually spotted the shack high up on the top of yet another steep track. I couldn’t walk anymore. My feet hurt, my legs hurt and I was so thirsty my tongue was sticking to the top of my mouth. As a result, we leaned against a stone wall to rest for a few minutes before proceeding.

The reward

Eventually, we made it to the top of the hill to buy our precious water. It was so cold we had to sip it as if it was the last bottle on the island. After satiating our thirst, we stocked for the rest of our trip and continued. We were feeling slightly better and were getting really excited wondering what was ahead of us.

The road seemed to have no end. We walked and walked and walked some more. When we least expected, for a split second, I thought I had died and was having a glimpse of heaven! Honestly, this is not poetic licence. It was flabbergasting to be exposed to such beautiful blue and green tones through the lush green vegetation. We were finally in Mango Bay! The hardship of those last three hours was well worth every single steep step.

Mango Bay Boutique Resort

We proceeded to what seemed to be the access to that beautiful ocean. On our way, we found a young lady sitting at the entrance of a property. “200THB to go in”, she said. We could not believe it! Going back without reaching that ocean and without food was just not an option. After all, what we had to pay was about 6€ anyway. We paid and mumbled our way in.

After a few steps, we realised we were walking into the Mango Bay Boutique Resort. The resort comprises a number of private bungalows spread along the steep mountainous walkways. We finally made it to the bottom, by the sea, where access to the resort is made by boat. This is also where the main building houses the reception and restaurant.

Sanjo, an extremely polite and welcoming short Nepalese young man, greeted us asking if we wished to have lunch. He further explained that the value of the entrance fee would be discounted from our bill. Ah, that started to make sense! Our mood changed immediately. We checked the menu and first headed to the water to refresh and reward our bodies. The access to the water was only through a small manmade cement platform, where the long tail boat stops.  After a good swim, we joined Sanjo at the restaurant for a superb meal with the most incredible view.

Mystery Explained

As we waited for our food we commented about how absurd it was to be charged to walk through public land. “I am sorry madam, I overheard what you said and I must correct you. That is not public land. It belongs to me.”. Gabriele and his Thai wife are the owners of the resort. He explained that the charges are to avoid massive flows of people coming in to disturb his guests.

Furthermore, Gabriele explained that he was the one to build access to that side of the island and most of the land belonged to him. We understood his point and continued to talk. After lunch, Gabriele showed us part of the resort where remodelling jobs were just being finished. The view was so spectacular that we decided to stay for the remaining of our time in Koh Tao.

Swim. Snorkle. Relax.

The following couple of days were truly relaxing and reinvigorating. Waking up everyday to those amazing colours was just pure natural chromo therapy. After breakfast we relaxed at the lounge area and just read, rested, swam and snorkelled.

In the afternoons, Gabriele provided the long tail boat to take us to the other side of the island, where we would have dinner. After a walk, we returned to our little peace of heaven at the established time.

 The two days we spend at the Mango Bay Boutique resort were very special, not only for the beauty of the surroundings, but also because we met wonderful people.

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