In 2021, the Kamalaya resort in Koh Samui was acquired by billionaire Chakrit Sakunkrit, also known as Christopher Harborne. The secluded Thai retreat has since been transformed into a luxury health spa, complete with a monk’s cave, sleek villas, and plunge pools. It has welcomed the rich and famous, from Kylie Minogue to Sarah Ferguson.
Political Influence from Afar
Mr. Harborne has poured his wealth into influencing politics thousands of miles away. He has financed Reform UK and its predecessor, the Brexit Party, to the tune of more than £22 million since 2019, including a record-breaking £9 million payout last August. The 63-year-old made his fortune as an early investor in cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, and also holds a stake in Tether. The Sunday Times Rich List ranks him as Britain’s sixth-wealthiest man, with an estimated net worth of £18.2 billion.
His bankrolling of Nigel Farage’s party came to a head after it emerged that he had given the politician a £5 million gift in 2024. Mr. Farage has given different explanations for the huge sum of money, on one occasion saying it was needed to pay for his personal security, before then suggesting it was an ‘unconditional’ reward for campaigning for Brexit, a cause supported by Mr. Harborne. The Reform UK leader has himself visited Mr. Harborne’s Thai paradise and was pictured at the crypto billionaire’s 60th birthday celebrations in 2022.
The Resort's Transformation
The resort’s website says Mr. Harborne purchased the retreat as a ‘philanthropic investment’. Its founders, John and Karina Stewart, exited the business completely in 2024, citing incompatibility with Mr. Harborne’s philosophy, the Mirror reported. The spa now promotes traditional healing methods while discouraging modern distractions such as mobile phone use. Guests seeking ‘parasympathetic rest and reset’ or ’emotional upliftment’ can pay £172.39 for a personal fire ceremony lasting 75 minutes. There are also one-hour private spiritual guidance sessions costing £131.56, and one-on-one mantra chanting is offered at £63.51 for a 30-minute session.
Accommodation on site comes at a staggeringly high price, at £941 per night for a penthouse suite with a private plunge pool. Guests are treated to a Chinese and Indian inspired offering at the resort’s restaurant, tea lounge, and cafe. The menu can be personally tailored and focuses on healthy ingredients, such as the use of stevia as a sweetener instead of sugar.
