Spa and Beach Vacation Guru

Pangkor Laut Island is located in the Straits of Malacca, 3 miles off the west coast of Malaysia's peninsula. The resort occupies the neighboring Royal Bay and Coral Bay.

Twenty minutes walk across the island brings you to Emerald Bay, an internationally acclaimed beach. The island is reached either by boat from Lumut jetty or directly by air from Kuala Lumpur. Lumut is approximately 3 hours from Kuala Lumpur by road. The 300-acre island is mostly jungle--80% of the island is untouched rainforest, and the overall feel is one of privacy and laid-back relaxation. Families of peacocks roam the property, and the atmosphere is casual, with most people not bothering to dress up for dinner.

Pangkor Laut Resort, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, can be reached via a short flight from Kuala Lumpur or by a four-hour taxi cab to the small port town of Lumut. Depending on the condition of the taxi and how flexible your driver's attitude is towards the law, it can be done in about three hours. Pangkor Laut maintains a small office in Lumut, where guests can relax in an air-conditioned lounge and cool off with chilled towels while waiting for the private jetty to take them on a short ride to the resort.

The most striking features about the resort are the above-water huts on stilts and the green hue of the water. Since the area has an abundance of trees, the water reflects the green color. The best rooms are in the above-water huts, which have dark wood floors and stunning views of the ocean. The garden rooms are slightly larger, though, with huge outdoor stone soaking tubs and spacious bathrooms. For families or those looking for more privacy, a handful of villas are available for rent in a remote section of the island, which also have access to a private beach.

Pangkor Laut's own beach, Emerald Bay, is widely known as one of the best beaches in Malaysia. The crescent shaped beach has powdery white sand and is set against a backdrop of jungle hills where parrots and sea eagles can be spotted flying overhead. There's a casual beach bar with tables in the sand with an extensive menu of Malay and Asian-inspired food, like chicken and beef satay with peanut sauce and cold noodle salads. For those who'd rather not get sand in their hair, there are also three pools around the property for swimming and lounging.

Click here to make your resort reservation at Pangkor Laut Resort, Malaysia.

For a list of other Pangkor Laut Hotels, click here.