At the southern tip of the Krabi Province on Thailand’s Andaman coast lies Koh Lanta — an island archipelago is known for its coral-fringed beaches, forested hills and mangroves. Unlike bustling tourist hotspots like Ao Nang and Phi Phi, Koh Lanta offers a more serene experience, perfect for those seeking a rejuvenating getaway.
As an island district, Koh Lanta is home to over 50 small islands, many of which are uninhabited. Despite gradual touristic developments over the years, Koh Lanta still keeps its beauty and richness of its white-sand beaches, grand limestone cliffs and pristine underwater world. The two main islands in the district are Koh Lanta Yai and Koh Lanta Noi, connected by a bridge.
One of the resorts on Koh Lanta is the luxurious Pimalai Resort and Spa. The resort is accessible via a private jetty, where it operates a speedboat service exclusive for its guests. Pimalai provides complimentary roundtrip transfer all year round to and from Krabi Airport or anywhere on Lanta island.
Nestled within 100 acres of lush rainforest on the island's western coast, the resort offers guests panoramic sunset views. It boasts a 1.1 km-long sandy beach, over 900 metres of which is private, giving guests exclusive access to one of the longest resort beaches in Thailand. Additionally, the resort’s crystal clear ocean is safe to swim in almost all year round.
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Pimalai only houses 68 rooms, nine suites and 44 villas spread across its property, ensuring complete privacy for all guests. It also guarantees ocean views from every beach suite and villa, with units ranging from 48 sq m to 650 sq m each.
For example, its 350 sq m hillside villa stands amidst the tropical jungle, up to 80 metres above sea level. Guests can enjoy astounding ocean views while swimming in their private pool.
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To save guests from the hassle of physical hotel check-in, Pimalai offers its app, which allows guests to conveniently check-in in advance — aside from other pre-arrival requests such as meals on arrival, complimentary setup for special occasions, flower bouquets and other advanced purchases. The app can also get transport buggies and order room service, aside from contacting the resort staff via its live chat function.
Dining and divine massages
Thailand is known worldwide for its delicious and diverse cuisines. Thai culinary delights can be found at Pimalai’s Spice ‘N Rice restaurant, which serves authentic Southern Thai cuisine. Some highlights include Tom Kha Gai (tangy coconut soup), Pla Ka-Pong Tod Kamin (deep-fried sea bass with crispy herbs and tamarind sauce) and Kaeng Phed Gai (red chicken curry).
There is also a great selection of fresh seafood prepared in either Thai or Western style at Rak Talay, the resort’s beachside restaurant and bar. Here, guests can savour dishes such as Thai-style tuna tartare, pomelo salad with soft shell crab, barbecued whole sea bass and pumpkin custard.
For more Western cuisine, guests can visit Seven Seas, Pimalai’s signature and award-winning restaurant. The restaurant’s exquisite dishes include chicken liver and pistachio pâté, Koh Lanta shellfish bisque soup, steamed grouper with white wine sauce, and Australian beef tomahawk.
Aside from its award-winning restaurant, Pimalai is also widely known for its spa, which won the World Luxury Spa award. The highly-trained masseuses provide a range of services combining traditional and contemporary techniques to offer relaxation, pain relief, improved circulation, and overall wellness.
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Laid out like a small village, each “sala” (pavilion) was designed with nature at heart. The spa has three private double treatment rooms with a jacuzzi, aside from four private single treatment rooms, outdoor salas, an outdoor jacuzzi, and a sauna.
Adventures ahoy
After long pampering sessions, guests may choose to do any complimentary activities at Pimalai. This includes cycling, boat sailing, canoeing and paddle boarding. Meanwhile, those seeking bigger adventures can board Pimalai’s professionally-crewed speed boats for various island excursions.
Pimalai is only 30 minutes away by boat to Koh Haa and 45 minutes away to Koh Rok, two beautiful islands within the national marine park ideal for snorkelling and diving excursions. Guests can gander at the colourful underwater world, observing various marine life in their natural habitat.
Koh Haa, for example, is a group of six islands forming a sheltered lagoon with a shallow sandy bottom. There, snorkelers and divers can spot reef animals like parrotfish and sea cucumbers among the abundant hard and soft corals. On the way back from the trip, guests can enjoy a laidback sunset cruise with white wine and finger food served on board.
Those looking to explore more of Koh Lanta can participate in several other tours facilitated by Pimalai, including the mangrove and Old Lanta Town tours. The mangrove tour starts at Tung Yee Peng, a small village on the east coast of Koh Lanta. On traditional gondola boats decorated to serve as comfortable touring vessels, visitors admire the sounds of nature while savouring local desserts and hot medicinal fern tea.
The local community around the mangrove advocate for ecotourism — educating and inspiring visitors to learn about their unique way of life, deeply connected to the mangrove forests along the canal. The tours are designed to minimise environmental impact to preserve the ecosystem.
This tour can be followed by an excursion to the Lanta Old Town, one of the oldest villages on the island with a rich cultural heritage. The village is home to a mix of Thai, Chinese and Muslim communities, resulting in unique architecture and cultural traditions. Many of the restaurants and cafes along the village offer stunning sea views.
The Old Town is also known for its unique shopping opportunities — visitors can browse a range of shops selling handmade crafts, hammocks, snacks and souvenirs to bring back home.
