Thailand’s The Sanctuary: How a hippie hideaway transformed into a top beach retreat

Eventually, he took up residence in Hat Rin, a sunset-facing beach at the southern tip of the island where a fast-growing international hippie scene offered everything from trance music and tai chi to hedonism and spirituality all rolled into one.

By 1989, Hat Rin had become world-famous for its monthly Full Moon Party on the beach, and Doyle melted into the flow of “the new Goa.”

One day in 1991, a chance acquaintance invited Doyle to a celebration for the opening of a new spot on a secret beach further up the coast. It was called “The Sanctuary,” and it could only be reached via hired boat or on foot over steep hills and rocky…