The Island Hideout - A StressRelief & LifeBalance Retreat

Drop your baggage, exhale, and get to know the real YOU again! ... THE ISLAND HIDEOUT will be the ideal refuge from stress and modern distractions. Our long-held dream has been to create a tropical sanctuary for all, where days will pass in bliss and balance – whether they’re spent surrendering to a hammock on a breezy deck, basking in the sun at poolside, or embarking on thrilling excursions on land and sea, your peace of mind and body is our goal.

And this will all happen in an atmosphere of affordable luxury – comfortable accommodation, gourmet dining, wellness and mindfulness programs, and undisturbed natural beauty – fused with Koh Yao‘s pristine jungle environment and its wonderfully warm people. Immersing the core concept of the retreat in Koh Yao’s environmental and cultural bounty will surely have a profound and positive effect on all those graced by it.

And we are well on our way to achieving this dream! For a long time now, our friends and family have asked us to make this project a reality. So, after a lot of dreaming and planning and encouragement, we decided to go "all in" and: Founded the One Level Ahead Co. Ltd.; purchased and leased the properties; finalized government paperwork and are already in the construction phase. The project will then commence in earnest with five luxury lodges, a restaurant and a swimming pool by year's end, with plans to expand to 10 lodges plus two villas within the next two years.

Simplicity, comfort, luxury, and tranquility…NATURALLY! All of our Thai-style lodges shall be constructed with eco-friendly building materials from local sources, and crowned with natural palm leaf roofs. Designed with organic simplicity in mind, they will be crafted to the highest quality and comfort standards in the region, striking the precious balance between open-air living, privacy, and tropical luxury. Spacious beam-work, three exposed faces with bamboo blinds, and an open-air bathroom will inspire a strong sense of immersion with your surroundings, complete with breathtaking views of our lush, tree-lined grounds, and the sparkling waters of Phang Nga Bay.

We deliberately will not offer the typical modern distractions of in-room television or radio, affording our treasured guests the unique opportunity to truly surrender to the experience of nature and beauty as intended.

At the ISLAND HIDEOUT, we stand by the belief that the symphony of jungle wildlife, the song of wind in the trees, and the whispers of waves against our island shores are the best medicine for your senses!

Escape the tension. Drop the routine. Embrace your bliss! THE ISLAND HIDEOUT is for those of us longing to find personal balance, experience the raw beauty of nature, and deepen our bonds with family, romantic partners, and - most importantly - with OURSELVES. Our focus lies on those who wrestle with constant pressure in their lives, anyone who is feeling overwhelmed, on edge, or verging on serious burn-out.

A stay in THE ISLAND HIDEOUT goes far beyond a "wellness vacation". Our goal is not to eliminate stress – that’s virtually impossible in today’s hectic and demanding world. Rather, we will teach and encourage our guests to monitor, manage, and then utilize everyday tension to enable a dramatic, positive shift in lifestyle. We combine outdoor activities, mindfulness exercises, guided yoga and breath meditation, holistic massages, a natural diet, and experiences. We employ a simple 5-part approach to stress management:

• Relaxation: We see relaxation as an active mental process which, when practiced daily, produces an enduring calm, and a more energized state of being. We offer “Pure Me-Time” – time for yourself without any distractions – so you can re-discover what is of real importance in your life, and what helps you be well. Activities supporting relaxation may be amongst others: mindfulness programs, guided yoga, breath meditation, healing massage, and art therapy.
• Physical exercise: modern science shows without a doubt that moving the body helps us to manage stress more effectively, depleting stress hormones (cortisol) and boosting mood-enhancing chemicals (serotonin). During your stay, you‘ll explore a variety of engaging activities unique to the area, including nature hikes, biking, rock climbing, kayaking, and Thai kickboxing.
• Cultural exchange, and a Return to Nature: our long-standing presence in the island community allows for deeper insight into Koh Yao Noi‘s environmental and cultural experience. Plentiful opportunities for coastal excursions (sailing and fishing), plantation tours (rice and rubber), and classes with local artisans (painters, woodworkers, and chefs) make for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
• A healthy diet: We will source all of the resort’s menu from local and organic sources, prepare and cook traditionally (via open fire within our handmade wood burning oven/grill), and offer a powerful blend of healing, empowering, and enzyme-rich foods to transform the way you experience eating…hopefully for years to come. We also cater to special diets, such as halal, vegetarian and vegan.
• Self-reflection/individual Coaching: Prevent stress-syndromes and burnout, by getting to know your own structures and create a room to reflect with yourself.

At this stage, we’ve composed custom 7, 14, and 21-day programs to provide the biggest benefits and ensure lasting stress-relief strategies for our guests. Please visit our site to learn more! www.theislandhideout.com/packages/

So...you’ve read this far and you’re still keen on our campaign? Then we bet you resonate with our thoughts on the dangers of stress, and the urgent need for a lasting personal solution. We'd also like to think that you share in our passion for natural beauty, sustainable development, and a respect for cultural exchange. That’s amazing! But there’s something else that we can share...

Our yearning for something REAL. THE ISLAND HIDEOUT was conceived to help guests experience their authentic selves again. And you simply can’t do that in a few weeks of sterile luxury, cookie-cutter package tours, or concrete boxes serving defrosted meals shipped from halfway around the world. These kinds of vacations are fine for what they are, but they’re like short dreams...destined to fade away. But we know there are so many of you out there longing for much, MUCH more – who seek a deeper experience from travel, and a feeling that will endure and inspire you long after returning home.
THE ISLAND HIDEOUT is for YOU!!

Believe it or not, every single Euro helps, even with a project of this size (so no contribution is too small…or too large, for that matter...). But contributing money isn‘t the only way that you can help make this dream a reality – in the end, it’s all about spreading the good word!

• TELL YOUR TRIBE: get together with like-minded friends and family, and get them excited about the concept, and the philosophy surrounding it. "In-the-flesh’" is still the best possible advertising.
• Share, share, SHARE: Help our campaign get noticed by using the startnext.com share tools, Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and other popular social media platforms.
• Click SEND = A-Okay: Email your friends, nudge your family, spam your co-workers, and harass your distant hippie schoolmates! Share our campaign link and website with them, and urge the best and brightest to share it with their friends, too.

As stated above, the project is underway…but we still need your support. Now, by contributing to our startnext.com campaign, you can play a vital role in achieving the next steps!

Is 35.000 Euro enough to build up THE ISLAND HIDEOUT? No way. That’s just a small slice of what we need to build the retreat. We are putting up the bulk of the funding from our own resources.
With our own resources we can completely build, launch, and operate THE ISLAND HIDEOUT by approximately March 2016.

We are not only committed to build sustainable and eco-friendly, but also to involve the local people in the project , pay fair wages, purchase food and goods from local sources and put real emphasis on environmental awareness at all levels of the project. To achieve these goals we need more working capital in the initial phase than we can currently provide.

The additional 35.000 Euro we hope to raise will provide the rest of the funding needed to:

• Get our doors open quickly and get everything perfect for our first guests…which will hopefully include YOU!
• Stock up fluid assets and cover for operating costs in the early months.
• Operate with true environmental consciousness on all levels of the project from the very first beginning: all cleaning products and bathroom amenities will be organic and locally produced on this island. Therefore, we will set up a training camp to teach resident engineers how to create those special products.
• Social Project: Involve the island community in our project, educate and consult key locals in sustainability and ecological use of resources and keep cherished traditions and handcraft alive and well.

When we are blessed with a funding of 80.000 Euro or more:

• Establish a full water-cycle from collection of well and rain water, to water treatment and re-usage. (100% self-sufficient)
• Filter and purify drinking water from pristine local sources.
• Implement and support eco-friendly and sustainable tourism on this paradise island. We will give 100THB/night booked in the retreat to a fund to preserve the environment, implement and improve existing eco-friendly policies, and establish sustainable awareness programs.
• Social Project: Many Thais are unable to swim. We will be the first on the island to implement weekly swimming lessons, water safety, and rescue techniques in our pool for the local children and interested adults.
• Social Project: Cultural and language awareness programs in co-operation with and for the local community.

A funding of 210.000 Euro or more makes THE ISLAND HIDEOUT truly "world class" in every way:

• Carbon Footprint: We will equip the resort with solar panels (300sqm) and use renewable energy to power the entire resort with the sun (100% off-grid).
• Install heat pumps for warm water.
• Social Project: build a sustainable and organic farm + consult and support the locals in sustainable organic systems.
• Social Project: Service training for hospitality and Food & Beverage, dual education principle.

Let us prove together that a successful business can be environmentally conscious, culturally respectful, and have positive social impact!