A tranquil retreat

Privacy is assured at your own Villa in the midst of the rice paddies! Just relax at this rural retreat, or adventure into the traditions of the surrounding villages.

The Thai house & gardens

Gecko Villa is set in over 60,000sqm of private grounds, with a walled garden, fish ponds,   and orchards where we grow a large variety of mango, banana, passion fruit and other plants including chilies, papaya, galangal, Thai basil, lemongrass, herbs and more...

The house itself consists of several separate buildings set around a private garden and linked by wooden verandahs and decks.  These also  lead to the private  swimming pool that is set into the deck at the same level. The house has  a large air-conditioned Master Bedroom with a teak, King sized bed, en suite W.C.  & sink, and adjoining garden shower. Its private verandah also boasts  a hammock in which to laze under the fragrant frangipani flowers.  The second air-conditioned & King-bedded  bedroom enjoys views over the garden and swimming pool towards the rice fields, and  has an en suite W.C. and shower.  A third, fan-cooled king bedroom shares this bathroom with the second bedroom.

Relaxation at the villa

The large air-conditioned living & dining room offers satellite TV (BBC, CNN, TV5 etc.), a DVD/CD player and sound system, and a selection of DVD films and books. Water hyacinth sofas and armchairs with comfortable cushions, as well as cotton futons, offer plenty of space to relax in comfort, whilst the large  indoor dining table is just the place to enjoy indoor meals and conversations.  Further extensive wooden decks and outdoor hardwood tables, chairs and benches also permit guests to enjoy outdoor meals, or to relax with a drink al fresco.

Should you wish to access the internet at the villa, we have a notebook available which offers wireless internet connectivity at inexpensive rates.

Thai cuisine & the Villa kitchen

As self-catering holidays often tie you to the kitchen, at Gecko Villa we prepare and serve all your meals for you, free of charge.  We will also be happy to show you how to make Thai and Isaan dishes.  The Villa has a fully equipped kitchen with refrigerator, freezer, toaster, kettle, coffee maker, microwave, hobs and oven. The kitchen is separated into a formal Western style kitchen and an open-air Thai kitchen, set off a spacious balcony. Barbecues can be arranged here.

Your private swimming pool

Your own tranquil swimming pool is finished in hand-made tiles, in mottled hues of green from celadon to emerald. Sun loungers allow you to simply lie back and soak up the tropical sun.

Service at Gecko Villa - relax & enjoy your holiday!

The property and grounds are serviced daily. We understand that you are on a well-earned vacation and we will do our best to make our house your Thai home. If you would like to see and experience local lifestyles and traditions, do let us know (and please do have a look a our activities page!). Should you prefer privacy - again, just inform us!

For more complete details on the villa, your arrival and the family which will look after you, please visit our FAQ page.

To find out more about traditional Thai houses in rural Northeast Thailand, click here.

Floor plan

For a floorplan, please click here. For guest comments, please see below.

 

Reviews & Testimonials

"Having visited Thailand twice before, it was a real pleasure to visit Gecko Villa! Your hospitality was superb and we felt like part of the family. We particularly enjoyed seeing lifestyles that have fast disappeared elsewhere and feeling really welcome. We will not hesitate to recommend you!"

"Undoubtedly Gecko has been the highlight of our last two trips and will certainly be so of the next."

"Had a great time! Loved the garden shower and the bedroom! Can now make some som tam and spicy beef - but eating it here we miss the atmosphere of Gecko! Good luck to you both."

"An inimitable experience. We look forward to coming back and to meeting you all again....it'll be a case of visiting old friends."

www.smarttravelasia.com
For a back-to-nature away-from-it-all escape in Thailand's Northeastern province of Isaan (bordering Laos), the Gecko Villa, set amidst rice fields and cattle farms, is an option. Located in Amphoer Prajak Sinlapakom, in Udon Thani, the resort is very much in the local Thai style, constructed on stilts, but with air-conditioned bedrooms and living rooms and a private swimming pool finished in hand-made tile. There are no set menus at this three-villa resort. Guests state their craving and the chefs will prepare it. Learn Thai cooking, visit temples on a bicycle, shop for handicraft or ride a water buffalo.

ResponsibleTravel.com
I am reborn! Simply the best holiday I have ever been on
Reviewed 19 Jun 2007 by Christine Cowell

Q. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The relaxing villa, great pool, food, and the great people.

Q.  Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes.

Q. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
5 just what we needed.

Some wonderful memories, I would not hesitate to recommend it to a friend
Reviewed 26 Feb 2006 by John Harrison

First ...... THANK YOU . If it was not for your web site I would never have found this accommodation! How can I describe this accommodation? I don't know if I can, but here goes........ Hazel and I spent 6 nights there at the end of February 2006. This is almost the peak of the hottest and driest part of the year. 

This accommodation is adequately described on its web site. What it cannot describe and what I may have trouble in describing is the peace, tranquillity and blissful surroundings. At the time I called it "the Garden of Eden", "Nirvana" and "Heaven on Earth". We both lead very busy working lives and this accommodation was the perfect location to chill out, wind down and re-charge the batteries. 

I know I am not doing the place justice as I struggle to find the right words, but this is so different from anywhere I else I have been. Ten and Euang, they run the property, will call each day at meal times and cook the most wonderful local food . They are more than happy to introduce you to local life or leave you to your own devices. The local people were very friendly and never stopped smiling. 

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday? 
On the last day it was my 57th birthday... Ten arranged for some of his family and friends to come to the accommodation and we had a birthday party - Thai Style - we were treated like long lost friends. It was fantastic! (understatement!). For any doubting Thomas' out there .. NO, I didn't get a bill. 

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday? 
Take lots to read, or DVD's or CD's. A pair of binoculars would have been good to watch the wildlife! (Webmaster note: we now have a pair of binoculars - thanks for the recommendation!) 

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment? 
We met a lot of local people during out visit, they are financially very poor. But the right contact with outsiders will hopefully encourage the children to learn at school and widen their horizons. These people have a lot to offer and we have a lot to learn from them.

"Some stories to tell the grandchildren, I would not hesitate to recommend it to a friend"
Thailand farmstay, reviewed by Charlie Marshall.

Q. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The power cut one night; Ten and his wife (the owners) took us out to "eat locally", which involved piling half the town into the back of the 4WD, driving to the local eatery and singing some video karaoke with the local teachers. After that, we were taken to the local village monthly festival - an experience we never would have had were we travelling alone.

Q. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Ask the owners to teach you how to cook Isaan food, especially the Kao Thom..!

Q.  Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes.
handbag.com
What to do: rural retreats
For something completely different, go rural. Udon Thani can be reached by air from Bangkok - it's near the Lao border and the countryside around it is famous for its endless rice paddies. Gecko Villa is a B&B-style lodge right in the middle of the country - perfect if you want to observe the local way of life and clomp around in wellies for a bit. Alternatively, head for one of the northern hill tribes - any Thai travel agent will be able to assist you with booking information.

Bangkok Post
"Surrounded by rice fields and small rural villages where traditions are strong and the rhythm of village life has remained largely unchanged...Gecko Villa offers a chance to live the Thai way of life"

The above comments are just a sampling of the kind words we have received from guests, either upon their return to their home countries from Thailand, in our visitors' book or via third party websites. We are delighted to have welcomed back repeat guests on many occasions, and should like to thank all those who have recommended Gecko Villa as an enjoyable holiday home ... and experience. Other guest comments can be found at third party sites by performing relevant searches.