Looking for a little respite from busy city living? Head to Thailand’s award-winning Pimalai Resort & Spa.
Like most places in Thailand, you can find accommodation at every price point, but here on Koh Lanta, tucked away inside the jungle are a few truly outstanding resorts.
READ: The 2023 Ultimate Travel Bucket List
We looked for luxury, pampering and great reviews and chose Pimalai Resort & Spa. The recent ‘World’s Top 1% Best Hotels’ gong in Tripadvisor’s “Traveller’s Choice 2022 – Best of the Best Awards” is a pretty compelling endorsement.
We were met at Krabi airport by a dedicated shuttle and transported to the private pier where a sleek speedboat whisked our small group around the bottom of Koh Lanta to arrive at Pimalai from the ocean (western) side. Now, that’s quite an arrival experience!
READ: The Ultimate Driver’s Staycation
The story of Pimalai Resort & Spa began more than 40 years ago when the father of the current owner, Ms Charintip Tiyaphorn, was looking for a serene and peaceful location to build a small seaside villa for his retirement. However, when Mr Anurat Tiyaphorn found Kantiang Beach, his dream of an isolated and beautiful location was realised and things took off from there. The name “Pimalai”, by the way, is derived from ancient Sanskrit, meaning “a little patch of heaven”.
Pimalai immediately set a benchmark for ecologically sensitive development and used the 100 acres of lush native jungle to full advantage. Last year, the resort achieved the coveted “Green Globe Certificate” and signed on to the UNESCO Sustainable Travel Pledge.
READ: Sony Unveils Two New Walkmans
The initial 80 rooms expanded to nearly double that with further expansion planned. The flagship Hillside Ocean View Pool Villas perched imperiously on the mountainside, with stunning views all the way to the distant horizon, ensure Pimalai remains at the top of the list of most desirable resorts not just in Thailand, but all of Southeast Asia.
Truly a destination resort, Pimalai has everything from beachfront bars and restaurants to clifftop luxury dining at Seven Seas, the signature and award-winning restaurant sitting 60 metres above sea level.
READ: The Tenacious Tailor of Hong Kong
Anything on Koh Lanta can be booked or arranged through the concierge at Pimalai. Land or sea excursions, scuba diving, Thai cooking classes, self-guided cycling or sumptuous spa treatments. The complimentary beach activities include kayaks, a Hobie Cat, paddle boards and windsurfers.
For more Travel inspiration click here.
LIKE WHAT YOU SEE? FOLLOW ALPHA MEN ASIA ON FACEBOOK, OR INSTAGRAM AND SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HONG KONG-CENTRIC NEWSLETTER HERE
