[category]
[title]
There’s something slightly surreal about leaving Singapore’s city buzz in the morning and, not long after, finding yourself in Malaysia's first UNESCO Global Geopark, surrounded by rainforest, listening to birdsong from a warm jungle pool. Langkawi is less than a 90-minute direct flight from Singapore, and the new Hilton Burau Bay Langkawi Resort is another short drive from the airport – less than 30 minutes, to be precise. Yet by the time I arrived, the city already felt very far away.
Opened in June 2026, this new 251-room beachfront resort sprawls across almost 22 acres of Burau Bay, wedged between the Andaman Sea and a centuries-old rainforest. There’s a 650-metre private beach, four dining concepts, three swimming pools, five rock pools, an Eforea Spa and a Nature Center.
It sounds like a lot. And it is. But somehow, the resort doesn’t feel busy. If anything, its size is part of what makes it work well as a wellness escape.
Why stay at Hilton Burau Bay Langkawi Resort?
It’s easy to check in for a wellness weekend here. The resort is spread across a sprawling patch of rainforest, with pathways winding between buildings, pools and pockets of greenery. You don’t get the sense that nature is being used as a backdrop – it’s very much part of the experience.
You can start your day with yoga by the beach, join a sound-healing session, or simply sit somewhere quiet and listen to the jungle doing its thing. The Nature Center also offers guided walks and nature encounters for those who want a little more adventure with storytelling. The result is a stay that feels less like ticking off resort activities and more like gradually slipping into holiday mode.
What are the rooms like at Hilton Burau Bay Langkawi Resort?
The rooms continue the nature-meets-modern aesthetic, with warm timber, stone-textured finishes and neutral tones that don't compete with the scenery outside. There are 251 rooms and suites, from Terrace and Deluxe Rooms to Executive Suites, and every one comes with a private terrace or balcony overlooking the rainforest, mountains or sea.
That outdoor space is particularly welcome here. With the rainforest practically on your doorstep, I found myself lingering outside even during light rainy periods rather than treating the balcony as somewhere to dump wet swimwear. Families are catered for too, with 16 connecting rooms designed for multi-generational stays.
Where to eat and drink at Hilton Burau Bay Langkawi Resort?
There’s enough variety here to keep you happily on-site for a few days. Gingerfire is the all-day dining restaurant, serving Asian flavours alongside international favourites. Here’s also where you’ll have your breakfast buffet, complete with live stations for roti canai, laksa utara and kaya toast. Breakfast is served till 11am, which is great for slow mornings. Alternatively, you can order it straight to your room to enjoy in bed.
Over at Trattoria Mare, the restaurant and bar pairs Italian fare like fresh wood-fired pizzas and handmade pasta with stunning seaside views. Time Out tip: save room for the tiramisu, which is assembled tableside, turning dessert into a little show of its own. You also have the option to choose between a boozy or a zero-proof tiramisu.
Next door, Mingzhu focuses on the spice-rich culinary traditions of Yunnan’s ethnic tribes. Time Out tip: if you’re dining at Mingzhu, order the Crossing the Bridge Rice Noodles. It comes with a little tableside theatre, as your noodles are prepared and cooked right before your eyes.
Then there’s Haliya, the lobby lounge serving coffee, tea, mocktails, cocktails and light bites. It also offers hot and iced chocolate drinks made with locally sourced cacao. One small thing I’d love to see in future? Those chocolates turned into proper bars that guests can slip into their suitcases as souvenirs.
What are the facilities like at Hilton Burau Bay Langkawi Resort?
This is where the resort’s sheer size really comes into its own. There are three pools, including a secluded adults-only pool overlooking the rainforest, alongside five meditative rock pools. Each rock pool has different-sized stones underfoot, turning a dip into something resembling a DIY foot massage.
My favourite, though, is the warm jungle pool. Surrounded by greenery with birdsong overhead, it’s the kind of place where you get in for five minutes and emerge much later having completely lost track of time. Plus, with the steamy cloud and sunlight peering through the trees, it looks like an absolute dream.
Then there’s Eforea Spa, which takes the wellness theme considerably more seriously. Its open-pavilion design is inspired by Langkawi’s salt air, vegetation and natural surroundings, with treatments designed around relaxation, skin rejuvenation and restorative wellness. There are also outdoor sauna barrels and a Salt Room. After a treatment, you can wind down in the Elixir Lounge with a herbal tea of your choice. It’s a small detail, but one I appreciated – the spa experience doesn’t abruptly end the moment the massage does.
For something more energetic, the spacious gym has floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto the greenery, while the recreational courts offer tennis, pickleball and basketball.
I would, however, have liked to see more indoor programmes for families with younger children, particularly on rainy days when some of Langkawi’s outdoor attractions may close.
What’s the area like around Hilton Burau Bay Langkawi Resort?
You don’t have to stay cocooned in the resort. The Langkawi SkyCab and SkyBridge are about a five-minute drive away, offering panoramic views across the island – and, if you look closely enough, a bird’s-eye view of the resort itself. While you’re out and about, don’t skip the picturesque Seven Wells Waterfall, which is another five-minute drive away.
There’s also Fat Frog, a vegetarian al fresco dining spot serving meat-free takes on Malay and Western comfort food, from pizza and lasagna to rendang and curry. It’s worth making a stop even if you’re not vegetarian – particularly if you fancy browsing its shop, which stocks crafts by Langkawi-based artisans, or playing a game of pickleball at its courts. Time Out tip: book a table at sunset – the skies look extra dreamy here at this time.
For a change of pace, Pantai Cenang is roughly 30 minutes by car, where you’ll find beach bars including Kalut Beach Bar N Cafe and Yellow Beach Cafe, plus evening beach performances, live DJ sets and fire shows.
Why should you book a stay at Hilton Burau Bay Langkawi Resort?
Hilton Burau Bay Langkawi Resort works best when you resist the urge to do too much. Yes, you can squeeze in the cable car, waterfall, beach bars, spa, yoga, rainforest walks and several restaurant reservations – all accessible via Grab.
But you could also spend half a day moving between the adults-only pool, jungle pool and spa – and call that a very successful itinerary. It’s easy to get to, but once you’re here, the rainforest, sea and sheer amount of space make the city feel wonderfully distant. And sometimes the best kind of getaway is one where your only real plan is to lose track of time.