Garrya Tongsai Bay Samui
A secluded bay of its own on Koh Samui's north-east tip, with suites and pool villas set into a wooded hillside above a 200-metre beach
The Privata Perspective
Garrya Tongsai Bay Samui opened in July 1987 as The Tongsai Bay, by its own account the first five-star resort on Koh Samui, on 28 acres wrapped around a private bay on the island's north-east tip. Khun Akorn Hoontrakul, then chairman of The Imperial Hotel Group, bought the land in 1985, seven days after first seeing the bay from the sea. In December 2022 the resort joined Garrya, Banyan Group's wellbeing brand. It holds One MICHELIN Key in the guide's 2026 selection, keeps cars out in favour of electric buggies, and has grown its own produce in an organic garden since 2003.
Via Privata stayed four nights in a Wellbeing Seafront Pool Villa in September 2025, straight after SALA Samui Chaweng. The villa was very good, with a private pool, an open-air bathtub on the terrace and an exercise corner of its own, though some finishes show wear. Service, breakfast and dinner at Rhoy Rhoy! were very good, and the beach was better than SALA's on Chaweng.
Rooms and suites at Garrya Tongsai Bay Samui
Wellbeing Seafront Pool Villa
189 sqm · 2,034 sq ftSea view
1 king
Front row, with a private pool, the "bath with a view" tub, a four-poster gazebo, a bar and a dining area on the terrace, and a private exercise area indoors; the category Via Privata stayed in, September 2025
Tongsai Seaview Pool Villa
180 sqm · 1,938 sq ftSea view
1 king
Second row, with a private pool, the "bath with a view" tub, a four-poster gazebo, a bar and a dining area on the open-air terrace
Grand Seafront Pool Villa
141 sqm · 1,518 sq ftSea view
A private pool and a four-poster gazebo on the terrace, looking over the beach
Grand Seafront Villa
120 sqm · 1,292 sq ftSea view
A secluded villa without a private pool
Nang Gong Seaview Double Pool Villa
244 sqm · 2,626 sq ftSea view
The largest one-bedroom villa, with two pools
Seaview Hillside Pool Suite
88 sqm · 947 sq ftSea view
A hillside suite with a pool of its own
Beachfront Suite
72 sqm · 775 sq ftSea view
Behind the main pool, a few steps from the beach
Seafront Suite
67 sqm · 721 sq ftSea view
A front-row suite with the "bath with a view" tub
Duplex Seaview Hillside Suite
68 sqm · 732 sq ftSea view
A suite on two levels on the hillside
Two Bedroom Seaview Hillside Villa
160 sqm · 1,722 sq ftSea view
Two bedrooms at the top of the hill, without a private pool
Two Bedroom Seaview Hillside Pool Villa
211 sqm · 2,271 sq ftSea view
Two bedrooms on the hillside with a private pool
Tongsai Two Bedroom Seaview Pool Villa
230 sqm · 2,476 sq ftSea view
Two bedrooms with a private pool
Akorn Two Bedroom Seafront Pool Villa
264 sqm · 2,842 sq ftSea view
Two bedrooms with a private pool, named after the resort's founder, Khun Akorn
Wellbeing Three Bedroom Seafront Pool Villa
419 sqm · 4,510 sq ftSea view
Three bedrooms with a private pool
Restaurants at Garrya Tongsai Bay Samui
Rhoy Rhoy!
Thai
In a courtyard with sea views near reception: breakfast from 7 to 10.30 am with the resort's own bakery and a fresh juice bar, dinner from 6 to 10 pm, and a Thai street-food barbecue buffet with classical dance on Saturdays
Fish Tales
Seafood & grill
On the beach: seafood in Thai and Western styles with dishes finished at the table, steaks, pasta and plant-based dishes, and a Beach BBQ Night with a live band and a fire show on Tuesdays
EVOL
Plant-forward
Dinner made with local produce and, wherever possible, ingredients from the resort's own garden
Po-Lad Beach Bar
Bar
On the sand beside Fish Tales
Spa and wellness at Garrya Tongsai Bay Samui
8LEMENTS SPA, named after Garrya's eight pillars of wellbeing, offers Thai massage, aromatherapy and body treatments, a signature Rest Essence Massage and a private onsen. The 50-metre free-form main pool has a children's paddling area and runs almost onto the sand, and the Half Moon Pool halfway up the hill is for guests aged 14 and over. The Exercise Room is at the back of the main pool, a yoga room at the north end of the resort and a floodlit tennis court by the entrance; the kids' club takes children aged three to twelve, and hobie cats, kayaks, paddleboards and snorkelling gear are free on the beach.
The best time to visit Garrya Tongsai Bay Samui
Jan–Apr
The driest months on the Gulf islands
May–Sep
Via Privata stayed in September
Oct–Dec
The heaviest rain, peaking in November
We Stayed Here
Garrya Tongsai Bay Samui review
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