Pangkor Laut Resort

Pangkor Laut Resort, an exclusive adults-only retreat within the Small Luxury Hotels of the World collection, nestles on a privately owned island three miles off Malaysia's west coast along the Straits of Malacca, blending seamlessly with ancient rainforest and the pristine sands of Emerald Bay, celebrated as one of the world's most breathtaking beaches.

Airy villas, some perched on stilts over lapping waves and others tucked into tropical gardens, open to large balconies with loungers for soaking in sea or forest views, each equipped with a flat-screen television, desk, minibar, and en suite bathroom featuring an oversized tub for indulgent soaks. The stilted overwater bungalows, linked by wooden walkways, offer a serene escape, with select villas granting direct access to the four-acre Spa Village for tranquil treatments beside an exclusive lap pool.

Feast Village awakens the senses with an international breakfast spread and dinners rich with Malay delicacies, their spices mingling with sea breezes, while Fisherman's Cove, reserved for guests 16 and older, presents seafood-focused dishes alongside Western, Chinese, and Italian flavours in a refined, smart-casual setting. Uncle Lim's Kitchen serves soulful Nyonya and Hockchew Chinese-style home cooking with sea vistas, and Royal Bay Beach Club delivers Asian and international plates on a shaded terrace for lunch. The Spa Village's Jamu Bar crafts healthy salads and specialty drinks, while The Straits offers an intimate private dining experience with 24-hour advance booking. Royal Bay Beach Club's chic lounge and Chapman's Bar, set on white sands with bay views, pour cocktails and fine beverages, inviting unhurried evenings under vibrant, jewel-toned skies. Beyond dining, the Spa Village's rejuvenating therapies, two outdoor pools, fitness centre, squash, and tennis courts weave wellness into the island's calm, with the Kazbah Gift Shop adding a touch of local craft.

Accessible by a 15-minute speedboat from Marina Island Jetty, Pangkor Laut Resort sits amid 300 acres of untouched wilderness, where long-tailed macaques, oriental pied hornbills, and soaring sea eagles share the landscape, just moments from the island's secluded bays and coral-fringed shores.