Pangkor Laut Resort, the only hotel on the island that shares its name, feels like a haven of respite from the modern world. Villas climb up the hilltop or sit on stilts over the water, and throughout the resort fruit bats dangle, hornbills flit and sea eagles circle.
The hotel takes some getting to, it is a four-hour drive from Kuala Lumpur Airport and then a further 20-minute speedboat ride, but is well worth the effort. The resort is split over two sites on the 298-acre island. The main hotel is on the east side of the island while Emerald Bay, a picture-perfect horseshoe-shaped cove, awaits on the west with regular shuttle buses connecting the two.
Bar eight exclusive ‘estates’, accommodation is found on the west side and comes in the form of elegant Malay-style villas - spacious affairs with high wooden ceilings throughout. There are subtle differences between the villas, some offer expansive decks for horizon-gazing, some outdoor baths (and some both) while the oversea villas aren’t suitable for children, so it is worth specifying what you are looking for while booking.
Also on the west side of the island are a games room, sports courts, infinity pool and water sports along with the Spa Village - a separate adults-only section - which has become a destination in its own right. When you enter the spa village, you immediately feel at ease in the open lobby area which offers views of the beach and adults only pool area. You can choose from a variety of treatments, but for the ultimate pamper you can opt for one of the ‘day’ experiences, each themed on a different part of Asia. All of them bring three hours of bliss incorporating bathing, exfoliation, hair treatments, body wraps, facials and even a yoga class depending on which region you opt for.
The resort goes to great lengths to ensure that island living doesn’t feel repetitive. The restaurants include fine dining at Fisherman’s Cove and magnificent Chinese Malay restaurant Uncle Lim’s Kitchen. The main eatery, Feast Village, goes beyond the usual buffet options with a great roti canai station and fresh juices made to order at breakfast and a Saturday night celebration of street food with carts spread out over the garden offering local specialities such as hainanese chicken rice and nasi lemak.
While it would be tempting to spend all your time lounging, you’d be doing the island, 70 percent of which remains untouched rainforest, a disservice. Nightly sunset cruises offer a great overview, but to really get amongst it join the regular jungle treks where you can learn more about the two-million-year-old rainforest and its wild inhabitants the resort helps to support. As with everything on Pangkor Laut it will leave you torn between taking to the socials to tell the world what an amazing time you’re having, or keeping this secret for yourself.