Review of Pangkor Laut Resort

Located one nautical mile to the south-east of the main island of Pangkor, off the west coast of Malaysia, this is an age-old tropical island reserved exclusively for hotel guests. No other resort clouds the horizon and only a fraction of the island has been developed to house the resort. 

Travelling to the resort can be done in a number of ways. By air, fly in from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport. Once landed, the journey continues with a car transfer to Pangkor Laut’s office at Marina Island Pangkor followed by a 15-minute speedboat ride to the island. Others may prefer to drive – it is around 250-kilometre transfer from Kuala Lumpur taking around 3.5 hours journey time. 

Helicopter transfers from Marina Island Pangkor to Pangkor Laut are also available along with the speedboat and private charter boat transfers. 

Check-in to the resort and luggage collection takes place in the offices at Marina Island Pangkor.

If views over the ocean is what your heart desires, then the signature Sea and Spa Villas standing elegantly aloft on stilts above the waves are for you with the latter enjoying quick access to the spa. Landlubbers meanwhile will prefer either the Garden, Beach or Hill Villas which sees you grounded on terra firma in incrementally larger living spaces. 

Each villa is similarly decorated in neutral tones, with native woods and sumptuous silks, enjoying a Malaysian feel of contemporary elegance with the views becoming part of the décor. There is always a writing desk, comfortable bedding, open en-suite bathrooms with twin vanities and oversized bathtubs and an outdoor balcony or open verandah. Amenities include tea and coffee making facilities, powered safes, minibars, ceiling fans, in-room climate control, a selection of international newspapers and a writing desk. 

The 55 square metre Spa Villas look out over the Straits of Malacca from large balconies and enjoy fast access to the Spa Village. Facilities include an oversized bathtub and ceiling mounted showers whilst the similarly sized Sea Villas enjoy the same facilities whilst looking out over the ocean and the surrounding islands. 

The Garden and Hill Villas at around 71 square metres of living space are the next largest accommodation.  The former are surrounded by lush, verdant vegetation and are close to the main facilities with the ground floor villas able to be inter-connected, perfect for families. The Hill Villas enjoy extraordinary views from their perched position on the hillside overlooking the ocean with the ground floor enjoying a bathtub opening out onto the rainforest. Once again, for families, the first-floor accommodation is linked via balconies.

The Beach Villas are larger at 95 square metres of living space and are sited closed to the Royal Bay Beach (head to Emerald Bay for swimming however) and the resort’s jetty and pier. 

There are three premier villas – the Suria and Purnama Suites and the Pavarotti Suite. The Suria and Purnama are both over-water suites with 107 square metres of living space. They enjoy an entrance hall, master bedroom and sitting room, a spacious bathroom with views overlooking the sea’s horizon and large balconies ideal for taking in the rays. 

The Pavarotti Suite, named for the famous tenor and frequent guest, is by contrast a two-bedroom suite set high up on the hillside, nestled in the rainforest, with an extensive balcony overlooking both the tropical rainforest and the sea. There is also a spacious living area with a television room and kitchen.

There are also eight private sanctuaries called The Estates – three sited on the beach and five on the hillsides - perfect for those who want privacy or space. Tucked away on the northern part of the island, these offer from one to four bedrooms, separate living and dining areas as well as a private pool, set in pristine rainforest.

The Spa Village at Pangkor Laut honours the healing traditions of the area with each Spa Village delivering therapeutic and authentic encounters with natural local ingredients and the healing practices of particular areas – Malaysia, China, Japan, India, Thailand and Bali. This is combined with modern approaches to health and wellbeing resulting in a unique spa experience. Treatments are based on four concepts – Rejuvenation and Longevity, Relaxation and Stress, Reduction, Detoxification and Romance.

Located on a four-acre site, The Spa Village is comprised of a number of different structures and buildings to offer eight treatment pavilions, a deluxe Belian Treatment Pavilion, three “healing huts” which include Chinese Herbal, Ayurvedic and Malay Huts, two bath huts, three spa huts, three nap gazebos and a Spa Boutique.

The Ultimate Spa Experience allows guests to relax in the Belian Spa Pavilion after a signature Bath House Ritual. This is an exclusive retreat perfect for couples with its own private whirlpool, yoga pavilion, nap gazebo, steam room and private treatment areas. The Pavilion can be booked for half or full day experience with activities and treatments custom designed to each guest’s preference.

Pure Activities – the activities programme for the resort - features a wide range of authentic experiences under four main headings – Discovery, Vigour, Creativity and Balance.

Under the Discovery Section, there are fishing, island hopping and snorkelling excursions; jungle trekking; Pangkor Island excursions; sunset cruises, “The Impian” Private Cruise and chartered luxury cruises for those who like to do their own thing. Vigour – as the word might suggest – is for the more energetic activity and includes kayaking; waterskiing; wakeboarding; catamaran sailing; golf; jogging; swimming; fitness; tennis and squash. Creativity leads us into the realm of the kitchen with dessert making, private dining experiences and The Chef’s Kitchen Experience whilst Balance includes trips to the Spa Village Pangkor Laut, Tai Chi Quan and yoga classes.

Other resort facilities include two swimming pools with loungers and towels, serviced with refreshments at the pool deck, a gymnasium, three tennis courts and a squash court. There is also a library behind reception with a selection of reading materials including magasines, papers and books. There are also board games and compact discs available. The Kazbah Gift Shop sells a number of items ideal as souvenirs or gifts for those at home as well as sarongs, batik, swimsuits and other carefully selected local items.

For many, Pangkor Laut is simply paradise – evidence of the beauty of nature aided by God’s touch. Set in a rainforest as old as the land, on a private island set in an azure ocean, the buildings meld into nature, a sensitive construction of beautiful villas honouring the traditions of the region. Nature is as much the architect here as the builder with bird and animal life as much at home and respected as the guests. 

Everything here showcases Malaysia at its very best from the design of the villas to the unique Spa Village experiences, the activities and the food. It is the opposite of the cookie cutter resort experience thankfully. Where else could you find individuals such as Uncle Lim AKA Chef Lim Fang Tat (who has been with the resort since its opening in 1985) or hear stories like Freddy Spencer Chapman’s – a British commando who spent three and a half years hiding from the Japanese in the Second World War and who escaped by submarine after spending 36 hours at Pangkor Laut. His brief visit and the impression its beauty and tranquillity made on him was memorialised in his book, The Jungle is Neutral. Both gentlemen are quietly and appropriately lauded here on the island because sensitivity and style is what this beautiful resort is all about. I’d expect nothing less.

Guests at Pangkor Laut resort are spoilt for choice for dining and relaxing with seven choices ranging from Royal Bay Beach Club to Chapman’s Bar to the Feast Village. 

By day, the terrace of the Royal Bay Beach Club, overlooking the infinity pool, serves a wide menu of Asian and international favourites but at night, it turns into a chill-out zone for long cocktails and other drinks, served with style. 

Feast Village by contrast offers an interactive dining experience with dishes from all over the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Open throughout the day, Feast Village also offers a patisserie, a café and a wine cellar where guests may stock up on their preferred vintages. By night, enjoy Malaysian cuisine and local delicacies. 

 The seafood restaurant of Fisherman’s Cove, situated adjacent to the Spa Village, features an array of seafood themed dishes using only the freshest of ingredients created by Chef Wai, who promotes sustainable fishing practices. For Southeast Asian cuisine, head to The Straits which is set against the rocks by the beach with beautiful silks contrasting with natural woods and granite. Private dining booths surround the restaurant with one side offering exclusive views out over the ocean. 

Uncle Lim’s Kitchen by way of contrast is built atop a rocky outcrop overlooking the sea and is named after the chef who has been with the resort since its inception. Inspired by the products available locally, Uncle Lim’s specialises in Nyonya and Hock Chew Chinese-style home cooking with dishes made to guest’s individual taste and preference. 

For those seeking a healthy salad option and speciality drinks, head to Jamu’s Bar, located in an enclave of the Spa Village, overlooking the Straits of Malacca. 

For relaxing throughout the day into the evening, check out Chapman’s Bar named after a famous British Colonel who, in World War II, sought refuge at Emerald Bay before a dramatic escape by submarine in 1945. As one might expect, Chapman’s Bar sits on Emerald Bay and serves a variety of beverages throughout the day including Asian and Western specialities. 

For a romantic meal, the resort will set up a private dining experience on the beach, where couples may dine under the moonlight with a set menu of barbecued lobster served by a personal butler at Emerald Bay. Romantic diners may prefer dinner on the beach at Fisherman’s Cove with a table sited in a secluded nook overlooking the Spa Villas. Expect a candlelit dinner with a five-course dinner menu.

Pangkor Laut is owned by YTL Group, a company which has an ongoing sustainability programme – Making a good future happen - which integrates green and environmental protection into their core business model to safeguard and improve the natural environment for future generations through responsible stewardship. 

The group is dedicated to protecting the environment, enriching communities, empowering their staff and embracing the marketplace. They aim to be carbon neutral in their operations by 2050, to have zero single use plastics in place by 2025 and to continue to empower and enrich local communities by supporting educational and outreach programmes. 

Their approach is to protect and conserve both land and marine biodiversity and ecosystems, to prioritise sustainable and efficient water usage and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy and greater efficiency. They are also committed to managing their waste under the mantra – Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose and Recycle. Various old furniture and equipment has been repurposed rather than disposed of. They have also installed recyclable waste collection bins both on site and at employees’ quarters/offices to promote recycling behaviour. The group has replaced plastic straws with environmentally friendly alternatives saving approximately 132,000 straws annually. They have also replaced plastic water bottles with reusable glass bottles and filtration systems, water dispensers and in-house bottling systems saving approximately 800,000 bottles annually. 

Amenities and toiletries have been replaced with ecofriendly packaging where possible and refillable pumps, dispensers and the use of refillable ceramic bottles have been actioned saving approximately 530,000 miniature bottles annually. 

At their properties and with any new construction, they are committed to using sustainable materials to minimise any harmful impact on the environment. 

With specific reference to Pangkor Laut and under their biodiversity programme, the resort has carried out conservation work on the giant fruit bat commonly known as the flying fox which is a protected species under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 and IUCN Red List with studies, raising awareness and providing safe roosting sites. The resort also planted Macarthur Palms to provide fruit for their national bird The Great Hornbill and Oriental Pied Hornbill. They have also constructed several wooden nesting boxes made from recycled wood to provide breeding and nursery habitats. They have also partnered with leading non-governmental groups to help address issues outside of their area of expertise such as Reef Check Malaysia to protect the coral reefs and marine life which depend on them. Within the rainforest, Pangkor Laut has maintained a strict island-wide dictat that any plant larger than six inches in diameter has to be protected. It is only when a tree dies of natural causes that it can be removed. When developing the resort, the majority of work was undertaken by nothing larger than a backhoe to protect the trees and the structures are environmentally sustainable 

As part of the jungle trekking Pure activities, guests at Pangkor Laut are able to learn about the richness of biodiversity and the resort’s conservation work on the island.