The Datai Langkawi
Resort hotel · Langkawi ·
Rainforest resort with private beach, wildlife, luxury villas & dining
.jpg "The Datai Langkawi by Courtesy The Datai Langkawi")
.jpg "The Datai Langkawi by Courtesy The Datai Langkawi")
.jpg "The Datai Langkawi by Courtesy The Datai Langkawi")
Rainforest resort with private beach, wildlife, luxury villas & dining
"Malaysia’s The Datai Langkawi is a hotel certified by Regenerative Travel."
"Set the scene.Macaques amble past Rainforest villa windows, fist-sized butterflies skitter through the air. A pair of majestic white steeds—150-year-old teak horses found in a Mumbai flea market—stand under a high-vaulted ceiling, guarding the lobby. Behind them, framed by towering pillars, is an open-air courtyard and pond, carpeted with hot-pink lotus flowers and copper frogs—frozen-in-time versions of the real-life critters who provide a baritone chorus. What’s the story?When the late, great architect Kerry Hill built The Datai in 1993, he wanted it to blend in with the astonishing surroundings, with rooms set back from an untouched golden swoop of sandy Datai Bay amid thick rain forest. Langkawi was a relatively unknown island at the time, and his idea was considered a little out there—but it was an overnight hit. It’s changed hands several times over the years, but for its 25th anniversary in 2018, one of Hill’s co-collaborators, Didier Lefort, freshened up the interiors while retaining its original architectural DNA and spirit. What can we expect from our room?How wild do you want to be? Entry-level bedrooms have views over the treetops and are close to the forest-side pool. More in the thick of it are the Rainforest villas—calm spaces in the midst of the thrum, buzz, and chirp with beds draped in white muslin, deep-brown timber floors, ceiling beams, and pop-open-and-close blinds. Vast windows in the bathrooms keep things light and airy. There’s plenty of seating for wildlife spotting—but lock the door to your patio, or else the clever macaques will sneak in to swipe mangoes from the fruit bowl. The Rainforest villas would always be our pick, for the sense of being right in the forest, but also consider the larger beachside ones for the lappable swimming pools. How about the food and drink?The Pavilion restaurant is set on stilts so you can spot colugos—shy, flying lemurs that glide through the canopy—while snuffling down creamy massaman curries and pandan custard with coconut sorbet. Breakfasts—included in the rate—are a feast of everything from pain au chocolat hybrids to rainbow-colored juices and wok-fried noodles. There are classic Malaysian and Indian plates such as cauliflower masala, palak paneer, and beef rendang at the Gulai House restaurant; head to the poolside bar to graze on Wagyu burgers and chocolate and coconut sundaes. Anything to say about the service?Many of the staff have been here since the very start and go to great lengths to make things memorable—whizzing guests off golf buggies if it rains; helping kids set up cricket stumps on the beach. Try and catch at least one talk at the new nature center: Wildlife guru and TED-talker Irshad Mobarak rhapsodizes about the island’s inhabitants, then leads walks to spot flying squirrels and dusky langur monkeys. What sorts of people stay here?Tropi-cool families in a parade of brightly printed sarongs, wide-brimmed hats, and Orlebar Brown swim shorts. Teens dodge hair ruffles from family friends, then race to the beach to paddleboard and kayak in the shimmering waters; younger siblings watch while licking vanilla ice cream cones and dipping their toes in. How does it compare to others hotels on the island?Langkawi’s hotel scene has come on leaps and bounds in recent years—with heavy-hitters including Four Seasons, St. Regis, and Ritz-Carlton rubbing up against smaller, more established favorites such as Bon Ton and Temple Tree—but The Datai’s jungle-beach setting and attention to detail set it well apart. Anything we missed?Conditions on the turquoise-teal warm waters of the Andaman Sea range from mirror-flat—making swimming, kayaking, and paddle-boarding possible—to a little more rough and ready. Of the three pools, one is serene and adults-only, and the other two have families splashing about with balls and floats. The dinky five-room spa is good for Bastien Gonzalez pedicures and forest-view massages that begin with traditional Malay floral-cleansing rituals. Is it worth it—and why?Yes. It’s a seriously smart eco-hotel (permaculture garden, on-site water plant) that gives you access to Langkawi’s prettiest beach and makes its awe-inspiring rain forest your own, along with various furry/scaly/feathered inhabitants. And the service is second to none." - Ianthe Butt
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"A member of a collective of small, luxury independent hotels committed to regenerative hospitality, this property follows a set of six principles focused on minimizing ecological impact and respecting local culture. As part of the group, it participates in whole-systems thinking, knowledge sharing and data-driven efforts to demonstrate measurable environmental and social benefits and help set industry standards." - Jeff Chu Jeff Chu Jeff Chu is an editor-at-large at Travel + Leisure. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Set within a rainforest and refreshed after a 2018 revamp, this upscale resort pairs luxury hospitality with active conservation: its resident naturalist leads reforestation to reconnect fragmented wildlife corridors, runs an on-site coral nursery to restore reefs, and maintains a kitchen garden and native Trigona itama beehives for ingredients. The property evokes a postcard tropical paradise while offering Malay-focused dining at its main restaurant and nature-led experiences and education for guests." - Jeff Chu Jeff Chu Jeff Chu is an editor-at-large at Travel + Leisure. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"When we stayed at the Datai Langkawi in Malaysia, we really wanted our rooms to be connecting so that we could easily walk back and forth between them. Unfortunately, they didn't have any connecting rooms left. We realized that a simple cloth separated the two balconies of our rooms, and by removing the cloth, we could create our own little suite by keeping the balcony doors unlocked and walking between rooms on the outside instead of the hallway. The staff gladly complied—going above and beyond with a simple gesture that made our stay so much more enjoyable."
