The Best Resorts to Book in Langkawi, Malaysia

This affordable family-run boutique hotel focusses on impeccable service. Here, in a quiet corner of Langkawi, shipping containers have been converted into cleverly designed suites featuring exposed brick walls and stairways made of reclaimed wood. For something more upscale, the oceanfront villas are built in traditional Malay kampung (village) style, with pitched thatch roofs and patios beneath the palms. Spend the day lounging beside the pool, in the garden or on the sun terrace before sampling the barbecue of freshly caught fish and marinated satay skewers, held nightly.

If you want sun, sea and sand, this beach resort in Langkawi has you covered. The wooden chalets, modelled on a traditional Malay village, are decorated inside with timber panels and floral motifs. Verandas look over either the gardens or the beach, and even the gym is sea-facing at this privileged perch on Cenang Beach. Naturally, there are water sports, plus two free-form pools and other diversions such as bicycle rentals and a spa. Kids will love the Horizon Pool, with its dino-themed water slides.

This Four Seasons runs alongside Langkawi Unesco World Geopark, the first such site to be recognised in Southeast Asia for the wealth of natural rock formations, dramatic mountain peaks and diverse flora and fauna on the island. This beach resort stretches out between limestone cliffs and the Andaman Sea, with a private beach where free drinks are supplied every hour, on the hour (a nice touch). When you’re not lapping up the hospitality, there are tangled mangroves to explore, colourful crabs to admire and centuries-old sea stacks to sail past. Next-level pavilions and villas feature tropical gardens, private outdoor baths and plunge pools, and the Geo Spa offers Ayurvedic treatments.

One of the best hotels in the world upped its game in 2018 after a sweeping renovation that gave a $60m lick of paint to guest rooms, spa pavilions, a fitness space and the new Nature Center, run by a squadron of naturalists and marine biologists who invite visitors to take part in conservation and research activities. The idyllic views of the Andaman Sea remain, as does the personalised butler service in some of the villas. One of the best white-sand beaches on the island can be reached via the private trail; it’s perfect for kayaking, windsurfing, sailing or simply doing nothing.

The Ritz-Carlton name is synonymous with luxury and glamour, and the Langkawi beach resort is no exception. The impressive design is inspired by the handwoven fish traps used by local fishers, and the hotel showcases the only overwater spa on the island, where Malay rituals are meted out inside cocoon-shaped pods. Make yourself at home in the rainforest villas on the edge of the jungle or in one of the oceanfront villas that blend in with the seascape. The resort is also home to a beachside swimming pool, yoga decks, tennis courts and a kiddie playground and pool.

The only overwater accommodation (move over, the Maldives) in Langkawi features individual chalets elegantly built on stilts above the sea or jungle. This lavish beachfront property also offers a wide range of recreational activities, such as sunset yacht cruises, batik painting, jungle trekking, parasailing and windsurfing. The Taaras Spa, with a steam room, a sauna and an outdoor jacuzzi, elevates its appeal further still.

In northern Langkawi, between the Mat Chincang mountains and Datai Bay, the Andaman Resort exudes a minimalistic island aesthetic in its rooms and suites, all outfitted with marble bathrooms and rainforest showers. Rejuvenation awaits you at the on-site V Botanical Spa, housed in four separate spa villas. Personal training, core conditioning and a variety of boot camps are offered; other activities at this ecofriendly resort err towards conservation, with guests invited on coral nursery feedings and private snorkelling trips amid the 8,000-year-old reef.

The Westin Langkawi Resort is an exotic seaside escape on a private beach. Each of the rooms, suites and 20 villas are decorated with Andaman-inspired decor, such as coral-reef motifs, turquoise hues and artworks reflecting the ocean. For special occasions, make a reservation at Float, a thatched-roof bungalow that offers private dining by the sea. End the day with a tranquil couples massage at the Heavenly Spa.

The elegant suites and villas of the St Regis Resort offer spectacular sunset views. For real wow factor, book the Sunset Royal Villas at this beach resort in Langkawi, which offer plunge pools and glass-floor entrances so you can see the emerald green waters and the sea creatures swimming beneath your feet. All guests have access to a private butler, ensuring even the most discerning guests are disarmed.

Sheltered inside a secluded cove, the Danna Langkawi has spectacular views of the yacht-studded Telaga Harbour and a string of tufted tropical islets. Book a villa to get a private infinity pool with direct access to the beach, or simply lounge beside the triple-tiered pool, the largest on the island, where daybeds and parasols are set up within the shallows, spying the Strait of Malacca.