Celebrating 1 Year of JW Garden at JW Marriott Khao Lak

I recently had the chance to join the 1-year anniversary celebration of JW Garden at JW Marriott Khao Lak, and I wanted to share some highlights from this beautiful experience with you.

When people in Khao Lak talk about JW Marriott, it’s always with high regard. The hotel is known for its exceptional service and stays busy all year round. While most large hotels would use their land to build more facilities, JW Marriott chose to invest in something meaningful — JW Garden. It’s not only a unique guest experience but also a true commitment to sustainability, a core value of the brand.

What is JW Garden?

JW Garden first launched in the U.S. back in 2022. The Khao Lak location is the first outside the United States, and it’s impressive! While farm-to-table concepts aren’t new, JW Garden in Khao Lak takes it to the next level.

They’ve dedicated 68 rai (27 acres) to build this eco-friendly space, growing over 200 types of plants including vegetables, fruits, and local herbs. They also raise chickens, ducks, goats, and even water buffalo — all taken care of by experts and local farmers. The garden supplies fresh ingredients straight to the hotel kitchen!

Things to Do at JW Garden

You can actually visit JW Garden during your stay — the hotel offers daily activities like:

• JW Garden Experience Tour (daily except Tuesdays):A guided walk through the farm where you can meet the animals, learn about ecosystem restoration like nipa palm and mangrove forests, and see freshwater mud lobsters that help rebuild the environment.

• Environmental Education & Reforestation:Learn from on-site experts and even help plant trees.

• Wilderness Park & Nature Discovery:Explore lakes, mangroves, and spot over 100 species of colorful wildlife — birds, reptiles, and insects.

• Bonus Activities:Kayaking, “Jogging in the Wild,” sound healing workshops, and a farm-to-table Alfresco Dinner right in the garden!

Anniversary Day Highlights

• At The Yoga Shala, we watched a live art performance by Artist Ludalet, who created beautiful illustrations using only vegetables and fruits from the garden. The final artwork featured garden animals and produce — truly inspiring.

• Local farmers showed me a Mud Lobster Mound — I was born and raised in Takuapa and had never seen this before! They explained that if you see mud lobsters in the area, it’s a sign that the ecosystem is thriving, as these creatures don’t live in polluted environments.

• The General Manager and Executive Chef led us through the garden to show where real produce is grown and harvested for hotel meals — all pesticide-free and chemical-free.

• Dinner was magical! We had an Alfresco Garden Dinner, with many dishes made directly from the garden. My favorite? The zucchini dish and the wagyu steak — both absolutely delicious.

🎁 A Sweet Surprise

Back in my room, I was surprised with a JW Garden Gift Box filled with snacks and produce from the farm. There was also a card with memories from the day — including a note about a sweet grandma who taught us how to weave fish from palm leaves. I truly appreciate JW Marriott Khao Lak's attention to these thoughtful little details.

🦈 Shark Nursery Visit

The next morning, we visited the Shark Nursery — a conservation project for Bamboo Sharks. Guests can learn about marine conservation and even release baby sharks into the sea. Since June 29, 2023, over 27,176 visitors have learned from this program. I was lucky to help release one of the baby sharks — such a happy and meaningful moment!

🥚 Is JW Garden Really Real?

I used to wonder if hotels truly use what they grow, or if it's just for marketing. But JW Garden proved it’s the real deal. We visited a live JW Garden Breakfast Station where guests lined up for dishes made with eggs from the garden’s own chickens — plus papaya salad, fresh garden salads, and more. Look for signs that show what’s from the garden!

Even though I was trying to eat light, I couldn’t resist — I had two eggs that morning! It felt good knowing where the food came from and that it was 100% natural and chemical-free.

🌍 Fun Facts About JW Garden’s Impact

• 🥚 90% of eggs used in the hotel come from cage-free or garden-raised hens.

• 🍊 2,000+ liters of fresh juice made from upcycled fruit peels and scraps.

• 🍉 Nearly 1 ton of watermelon rind pickled into Thai-style preserves.

• 🍝 128 kg of leftover bread and garden veggies turned into signature pasta.

• 🌿 5.8 tons of vegetables, herbs, and flowers grown by hand.

• ☕ 4.3 tons of used coffee grounds reused as fertilizer.

• 🍞 700 kg of bread scraps rebaked into sourdough loaves served at breakfast.

What impressed me the most was how genuine, passionate, and measurable their efforts are. JW Garden is not just a showpiece — it's a working model of sustainability, and I truly believe it will inspire other hotels across Thailand and beyond.

JW Garden shows that with heart and intention, hospitality can create real change 🌱✨

More Information : JW Garden