Symphony in green: where nature sets the standard for luxury

At The Datai Langkawi, in Malaysia’s ancient rainforest, coral blooms, bees hum, and guests discover what regenerative travel can truly mean. Here, sustainability isn’t a gesture, it’s a heartbeat

There is one stand-out star of the celebrated show that is The Datai Langkawi resort. Nature.

And like all divas, Nature has an entourage to ensure her performance receives a standing ovation.

Ready to share a stay in the resort set among ancient rainforest are hornbills with animation-studio cachet, rare gliders, giant squirrels, leaf-eating langurs, Brahminy kites, cheeky geckos, glossy dolphins and butterflies in colourful couture.

One of the world’s most unique resorts, The Datai Langkawi sits on the northwest tip of the archipelago of Langkawi, 99 largely untouched islands nestled between Peninsular Malaysia to the east and the Andaman Sea to the west.

Langkawi, the first UNESCO Global Geopark in Southeast Asia, is recognised for unique geological formations, a 10 million-years-old rainforest and limestone cliffs. It is home to more than 200 bird species, upwards of 500 kinds of butterfly, and the colugo, a flying primate. White-sand beaches, clear waters, jungled-up mountains, and graphic mangrove forests make for a unique tropical paradise.

The call of the wild

A trailblazer for more than three decades, the five-star resort has collected more than 230 awards and accreditations for its architecture, spa, dining, sustainability measures, spirits list, and its Datai Bay beach, named by National Geographic as one of the world’s top 10 beaches. Last year it won a gong for best Sustainable Luxury Resort in Luxury Travel Magazine’s Gold List Awards.  

Sustainable eco initiatives

Indeed, at the core of the resort’s DNA is what is called The Datai Pledge, an initiative designed to see both biodiversity and the local community prosper.

Acknowledging luxury travel’s potential to be transformative, The Datai Pledge is a sustainability and conservation program that supports Langkawi’s marine life, terrestrial wildlife and local youth.

The Datai Langkawi addresses 21st century enviro challenges with initiatives that include propagating coral, developing sustainable fishing, removing ghost nets, establishing wildlife corridors, and planting trees, together with ethical beekeeping, beach clean-ups, and an upcycling program that repurposes candles, slippers, sheets, glass, and food.

An award-winning regenerative tourism experience

Says Arnaud Girodon, CEO of Datai Hotels and Resorts, in the property’s 2024 Impact Report: “Luxury and sustainability are not just compatible, they should be inseparable.”

Last year, The Datai Pledge saw 96 per cent of solid waste diverted from landfill, three UN-endorsed eco-schools sponsored, the planting of 5,960 native tree saplings and, in Datai Bay, a planting of 253 coral nubbins.

The Datai Pledge is, in other words, a way curious,eco–conscious travellers can pay it forward.

Onsite innovations include a water bottling plant; The Lab – a sustainability showcase and workshop space constructed from 8,000 recycled bottles; and The Nature Centre – a bamboo house inspired by tribal architecture that houses an environmental library and serves as a base for the resort’s resident naturalists and marine biologists, making each stay as enriching as it is restorative.

Sleepovers with space and style

The resort has 121 rooms, suites and villas, with Canopy, Rainforest and Beach collections to select from, all offering vistas of lush, tropical rainforest, some with views to the Andaman Sea.

Rooms are luxurious and spacious, ranging in size from 65 to 730 square metres. Expect lots of wood and rattan styled up with neutral soft furnishings and contemporary art, in line with the property’s visionary architecture and understated elegance. Starting rates differ from season to season, with low season tariffs starting at AUD $873 a night.

The Datai Estate Villa is pure indulgence. A two-minute walk from the beach, it is a glamorous 3,500 square metre space offering five-bedrooms, each with a private balcony, along with two connected pools (15 and 20 metres), a games room, bar and pool table, a 24-hour butler and a private chef.

Fine dining in the jungle

Dining outlets in the resort include the award-winning Gulai House, a Malaysian restaurant reminiscent of a traditional Malay kampung house, its soundtrack the Waterdog frog. The Pavilion, a birdhouse on stilts, serves tantalising Thai cuisine. The Dining Room is a fine dining restaurant where wine aficionados head in the evening.

The Beach Club and The Beach Bar offer casual cocktails and fresh seafood served from an open show kitchen. The Lobby Lounge is the go-to for light snacks, high tea, people-watching and views that mandate return visits.  

Time to treat yourself

The resort has several pools, a state-of-the-art health club, an array of wellness activities including Pilates, yoga and meditation, The Boutique, and The Atelier, a space where local arts and crafts are showcased, and The Els Club Teluk Datai golf course, designed by the South African pro, Ernie Els.

An award-winning spa sits alongside a small, winding stream, capturing the peaceful sounds and aromatic scent of the rainforest.

As well as forest and beach walks and, for the twitchers, birdwatching, guests who enjoy calm waters can go sailing on a catamaran, paddle-boarding, or kayaking.

For a more chilled outing, exotic herbs and vegetables beckon from the permaculture garden. Or seek out a cooking class, a visit to a hive of stingless bees, or a session making soap and candles at The Lab.

No bookings required for acoustic bliss. Day or night, sit back and soak up the sounds of the rainforest courtesy of nature’s lively musicians.

For more information and an immersion in luscious Langkawi island, visit thedatai.com/