REVIEW: Pimalai Resort and Spa- Enjoy a touch of adventure and paradise in the lap of luxury!

CONTENT: Yiew Kai Jie

Located about an hour’s drive away from Krabi International Airport and a 45 minute boat-ride from Kantiang Bay, Pimalai Resort and Spa is a luxurious private resort located on Koh Lanta Island with over 900 metres of pristine beachfront and over 100 acres of forests with nothing less then five star luxury resorts hidden within- a perfect secluded paradise that travellers have to experience themselves to believe it!

Upon arrival to the resort’s private dock, our team were greeted by the ever friendly staff by refreshments and flower necklaces after our weary journey on the road and the sea. Afterwards we were whisked away to a buggy ride to get to the check-in counter as the resort is so huge, a buggy ride is necessary to get from one place to another! Guests are highly recommended to book this service in advance as the resort is rather huge to travese and it will take time for the staff to pick you up!

Extravagant rooms and villas

The rooms themselves are truly the pièce de résistance at Pimalai as we were staying in an opulent private villa at their hillside estate located 80 metres above sea level that’s built into the mountain side! Our team were blown away by the Hillside Ocean View Private One Bedroom Pool Villa that sits right in the middle of the tropical jungle with a breathtaking view of the ocean overlooking Ba Kan Tiang Bay.

We took our time taking a dip in our own private pool which also came with a lot of photo-taking opportunities and lazed away on the sunbed as we took in the view that Mother nature could offer us!  The villa also has a large bedroom that comes with a lavish king sized bed, a private bathtub along with bespoke bath amenities one might need to make their stay more comfortable! On the other side of the villa, there is a living room with a fully equipped kitchen where guests can order their own ingredients from the resort to cook on their own or for another guest to sleep in.

Dining options and cocktails by the beach

Situated right on Koh Lanta’s flawless beach, Rak Talay offers up undeterred views of the beach and ocean as guests will be able to enjoy authentic southern Thai cuisine and some of the freshest seafood that Krabi has to offer from her bountiful oceans!

Perched on top of the mountains, the resort’s signature restaurant The Seven Seas specializes in western cuisine with an extensive wine list while providing a front row seat along with a perfect photo-taking opportunity to view the sunset, infinity pool and the Andaman Sea while dining on scrumptious food and sipping on fine wine! The restaurant is also where guests can go to enjoy their continental breakfast with a mixed array of Thai and Western options! In the evening, guests can also head down to the beachside bar to sip on cocktails and enjoy exclusive happy hour promotions all whilst lounging back in their seats to watch as the sun sets over the horizon.

For an unforgettable intimate dining experience, the resort is also able to set up a private beach dinner along the beach for families to dine and enjoy their family time over delicious food or for guests who want to set the mood right before they pop the big question and propose to their long-time sweethearts! (Guests must make arrangements in advance with the resort.)

Island hopping and other activities

Making full use of their private dock and luxurious speedboats, Pimalai resort also offers daily island excursions to neighbouring islands either for a quick snorkeling or free-diving session to visit the teeming wildlife beneath the glistening waters of the ocean! Our team got treated to a private yacht ride out to the nearby island of Talabeng to take in a close-up view of the majestic sights of the humongous limestone cliffs and did a little bit of kayaking into an underground cave! Apart from Talabeng, guests can also visit Koh Haa island to do some snorkelling or Koh Rok island to enjoy the white sandy beaches and get some tan on their skins!

Guests can also pop by the Old Town that’s roughly a 30 minute ride away from the resort for some local Thai food or extremely fresh seafood that’s freshly caught on a daily basis! Some examples include giant cockles that’s as big as your hand, “fighting prawns” that are way larger then the average prawns that can be found in Singapore. For the more adventurous connoisseur, they can opt for lobster sashimi or even a lobster blood drink, a curious concoction that’s made with mixing lobster blood with sprite for a savoury drink that’s not for the faint hearted! Apart from the food, there are lots of old school shophouses with a wide array of goods that you can buy back for your friends and family back home, there’s even a museum that is open to the public for free entry!

Other activities include a private Thai Cooking class where guests will be guided on how to prepare some traditional Thai dishes and if they impress their chefs enough, they will receive a special certificate and get to keep their very own cooking apron from the class as a keepsake!

Nature lovers can go on a Mangrove Tour near the east coast of Koh Lanta island where they can spend 3 hours on a longtail boat and slowly cruise down the interlinking maze of rivers and canals to explore the mangroves and learn how they play an important part to the ecosystem and benefit the people living on the island!

Lastly, guests should check out the in-house spa in the resort as it is situated in a lush forest valley with small treatment rooms, all named after a distinct local flower found on the island. Regardless of whichever treatment guests opt for, they can lounge and relax at the koi pond with a warm pot of ginger to rejuvenate themselves after the treatment before heading off to their next activity!

Visit Pimalai Resort and Spa’s Website to book one of their luxurious villas today!

Pimalai Resort and Spa
99 Moo 5, Ba Kan Tiang Beach Koh Lanta, Krabi 81150, Thailand