Pangkor Laut Resort
A 300-acre rainforest island off Malaysia, with a two-million-year-old forest behind the villas.
Pangkor Laut is a privately owned island off the west coast of Malaysia, near Lumut in Perak, reached by boat. It runs to about 300 acres, of which the resort occupies a small part; the rest is rainforest said to be two million years old, with hornbills, monitor lizards and a canopy walk. One resort holds the island, and the forest rather than the beach is the property's defining feature.
Around 140 villas — hill, garden, beach and sea villas on stilts over the water — make up the accommodation, along with the Spa Village, which was among the first destination spas in Southeast Asia and remains the property's centre. Luciano Pavarotti's stay in the 1990s gave the island a lasting reputation in Asia and a suite that still carries his name.
Rainforest, not beach, is the argument. The forest is older than almost anything else in this register and the resort was built to sit under it rather than clear it.
One of Asia's first destination spas. Spa Village established a category in the region, and the property is still visited for it specifically.
Who it is not for
Pangkor Laut is wrong for guests wanting clear tropical water — the Strait of Malacca is warm and often murky. It is wrong for travellers seeking a small property at 140 villas. And it is wrong for those who dislike heat, humidity and insects, which come with a rainforest island. Those wanting clear water in the region should look at Bawah Reserve or Misool.
Sources
- pangkorlautresort.com — around 140 villas, 300-acre private island, Spa Village
- Villa count, island area and forest age unverified. Confirm before publication.
Booking
Private Island Resorts arranges each stay on request, quoting the rates available for the island and dates. No benefit should be assumed unless it is confirmed in writing for the individual reservation.
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