The Datai, Langkawi

A response to a recent post of mine had a client comment about adding a particular hotel to a ‘bucket list’. Bucket lists are subjective, as we all have different tastes, but it did trigger a thought about working through the many properties I have access to and pushing a few ideas out to you all.

With that in mind, I’m starting with The Datai in Langkawi, a property I stayed at about 20 years ago. Langkawi Island can be found off the west coast of Malaysia, and the property sits on the northwestern tip overlooking Datai Bay. The beach was considered by National Geographic to be one of the top 10 beaches in the world, but that really should not be the main reason for visiting. Right at the top of your ‘reasons to visit’ should be nature, as the hotel is surrounded by ancient rainforest and all sorts of wildlife.

You have three different room locations to consider: The Canopy Collection, based in the main hotel building; The Rainforest Collection, which consists of individual villas within the tropical rainforest; and The Beach Collection, with properties on the white sand beach of Datai Bay. Given that I recommend that you come for nature, and if your budget can stretch, then stay in one of the Rainforest Collection villas.  During the day, you will see groups of monkeys swinging through the trees surrounding your villa, and you’ll hear the sound of tropical birds. Go up to the main buildings at dusk for pre-dinner drinks and dinner at one of five restaurants (‘The Pavilion’ sits upon 30m high stilts over the rainforest), and you can watch the hornbills and various other birds swooping in to roost in the trees. You may see a colugo (a flying lemur) gliding through the canopy. Walking back to your villa on a path through the rainforest, you will hear a right racket as the forest comes alive with the nighttime creatures. Large monitor lizards may well cross your path– one, well over 1m long, swaggered across our path. It is a privilege to stay here.

Given its location, the hotel is focused on sustainability, both in the way it is run and how it encourages the visitor to interact with the environment. The hotel actively encourages guests to participate in sustainability initiatives and to get you into nature, with guided rainforest walks and kayaking within the mangroves being just a couple of options.

It’s been 30 years since the hotel first opened its doors. Its stunning location, its awe-inspiring rainforest, its first-class service (and yes, the beautiful beach!) keep people coming back.

It makes it a mandatory bucket list entry.