Dream Boho Treehouse and Organic Farm at Baan Rai I Arun | RANONG – THAILAND

On our previous trip to Myanmar, we made a stop for a few days in Ranong province in the South of Thailand before departing to the islands of Mergui Archipelago.  While we had a few options of staying in hotels right in Ranong city, we decided to spend a night 55km south of Ranong city at one of the most beautiful eco-resorts we have ever stayed at so far, namely “Baan Rai I Arun”

Baan Rai I Arun is a “farm stay” or, in other words, a small family-run eco-resort within a beautiful organic farm.  Open since late 2015, this farm stay allows guests to experience the stress-free, sustainable life among nature while getting a decent level of comfort.  It is also super famous for its charming wooden houses and tree houses, which are highly instagrammable (we believe this is important nowadays…)

Above images from Team Chester

Bee and I had always shared a dream of staying in a treehouse, and this was when our dream (sort of) came true.  We got ourselves a (sort of) treehouse (as the sign suggests) which is more like a tall, narrow house made from trees.

It was, however, truly fantastic.  Our “treehouse” was 2 stories with a mini extra sleeping space under the roof perfect for a very short person.

While the “Master Bedroom” is on the second floor, there is a compact living area on the bottom floor with a rather impressive toilet and a shower area.  Both floors are, thankfully, equipped with air conditioners.  Most basic “hotel” essentials are provided: 2 bottles of water, towels, basic toiletries as well as a hair dryer!  We had a very good night’s sleep and it was great waking up surrounded by the beautiful greenery and fresh, clean air.

The accommodation comes with free breakfast.  Guests have options of Western sandwiches or local Southern Thai style breakfast (both options come with tea, coffee, tropical fruit and a set of Thai dessert).

For those who are planning to give the Southern-style local breakfast a go, we must warn you it is not for the faint-hearted.  Guess what a typical Southerner has for breakfast?

Fresh rice noodles with boiled eggs, a big set of fresh vegetables, pickles…and fish curries.

No, not just fish… Fermented fish entrails.  That’s right.  Bee confirms it is common for Thai people in the South to have curries with fermented fish guts first thing in the morning.  She loves it, and so do the Thais.
Ben…. not so much.

However, as mentioned, before, sandwiches are also available as an alternative.  The breakfast area also serves as a cafe open to non-resort guests.  There is a good selection of beverages and desserts, and the decoration is just stunning.

As Baan Rai I Arun is famous for its super fresh produce from their very own organic garden, we thought it would be a great idea to have dinner there.  We ordered over 10 dishes for our group of 8, but the food was so good we all chose to enjoy the moment and forgot to take pics of the dishes.

All dishes are absolutely delicious and authentic.  We highly recommend the Southern style yellow curry (non-coconut milk), fern leaf salad and their seafood set (which is the only dish we managed to take pics of).

And of course, the venue also looks stunning at night.

Though Baan Rai I Arun started off as a small-sized family-run farm stay, they are slowly expanding whilst keeping their sustainable concept.  There are other accommodation types available–all somewhat similar style to the one we had and sleep between 2 to 4 persons.

Baan Rai I Arun is known to be very difficult to book due to their limited number of rooms.  The small staff team also explains that their goal is to offer the best service they can to all guests (hence the limited number of guests they take).

We booked 5 months in advanced and just managed to secure their last tree houses.  They are not on Agoda or any online booking platform, and the only way to book is with them directly via their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/baanraiiarun/

We would say that if you are traveling to/past Ranong province, it is definitely a great idea to stay here for a night or two and really spend time “slow-life style” within the resort premises.  We must say that if you are on a rushed schedule and only need a bed to sleep in, perhaps save this beautiful gem for another opportunity.  Expect no live music, hip cafes, swimming pools or WiFi but the sounds of birds, organic local produce, creeks and smiles from the staff team and other happy guests.  Baan Rai I Arun is a truly unique place to wind down, enjoy beautiful surroundings and get lost in its unforgettable charm.

More images from Baan Rai I Arun official Facebook page

Eco-resortSouthern ThailandNature ResortRanongRetreatOrganic