Hotel with a heart: Khaolak Merlin Resort

Located on a scenic stretch of coastline to the north of Phuket, Khaolak Merlin Resort is a hotel which is making waves for all the right reasons. Not only is this southern Thai resort a tranquil place to relax on holiday, it’s also at the forefront of conservation in the Khao Lak area. The hotel has earned acclaim for their sustainability projects and the way they support the local community. In 2020 and 2021 the Responsible Thailand Awards recognised Khaolak Merlin Resort for their continuing good work. 

SHA Plus certificate
Khaolak Merlin Resort has achieved SHA Plus certification. To be awarded the certificate, hotels must adhere to the rigorous Covid protocols set by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health and also have at least 70% of their staff vaccinated against Covid-19.

Where the rainforest meets the sea

Nestled between the Andaman Sea and the rainforest, this tropical eco-resort provides a picturesque environment for guests to relax. One of a growing number of Thai hotels and businesses that actively support responsible tourism, the focus at Khaolak Merlin Resort is very much on sustainability. 

Supporting the local community

Responsible tourism isn’t just about the environment; it’s also about ensuring that the rights and needs of all those who support your holiday are respected. Khaolak Merlin achieves this by working closely with the local community. Wherever possible, local people are employed at the resort and the hotel also purchases goods and supplies from suppliers in Khao Lak. In addition, Khaolak Merlin arranges volunteering activities which the community as a whole benefit from including beach clean-ups and cleaning of temples in the Khao Lak area.

Love Wildlife Foundation 

Khaolak Merlin Resort partners with the Love Wildlife Foundation Thailand, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the protection of South-East Asian wildlife and endangered species such as the slow loris. The native trees found in and around the  resort provide the ideal habitat for these shy, nocturnal primates.

Wildlife lovers will enjoy staying at the resort with dozens of different species calling the area home. Ranging from slow lorises to parrots to flying squirrels, the diverse wildlife is depicted in a handy information booklet. Each room at the hotel has a copy of the booklet and multilingual signs are also in place all around the resort and gardens so that visitors can find out more about the flora and fauna.

Big Tree Project

When Khaolak Merlin was constructed care was taken to preserve the ancient trees with almost 300 of these found within the resort grounds. Partnering with the Big Trees Project, the trees are maintained by professional arborists which helps ensure the health of the trees and the safety of guests. 

Water conservation and waste management

Wastewater is cleaned organically with the treated water then reused to water plants and fill streams throughout the resort. Freshwater fish now live in the streams and with the water being clean it also means that any run-off which finds its way to the sea is chemical free and does not contaminate the ocean.

Solid waste is separated and recycled with organic waste going to local farms for use as pig feed or repurposed as compost in the resort gardens. The use of plastics is discouraged with simple solutions including the use of biodegradable straws, and cloth bags replacing plastic bags.

More details

To book a stay at the award-winning Khaolak Merlin Resort, contact them directly:
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Discover more ways to support responsible tourism on your next visit to Thailand:
https://fanclubthailand.co.uk/category/responsible-tourism/

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