Pimalai Resort & Spa 

A picture-perfect island idyll

At one with nature, this resort ascends the mountainside from one of Koh Lanta’s breathtaking beaches.

This is tropical Thailand as you’ve imagined it – a forest-cloaked limestone hill (complete with cheeky macaques) tumbling down to a picture-postcard beach that’s bookended by a handful of rustic local restaurants and bars. In the middle of this glorious bay is Pimalai Resort & Spa, a hideaway where wellness and sustainability share top billing. The style blends perfectly with the natural environment and there’s a real sense of place thanks to the gabled and thatched roofs and landscaping that includes koi ponds and waterfalls.

Why we love Pimalai Resort & Spa

  • It’s a member of 'Small Luxury Hotels of the World', whose properties are known for their luxury, character and tranquillity

  • The resort is set in 100 acres of beachside forest and gardens, which you can explore on a guided nature and wildlife walk

  • There’s a great range of complimentary water sports at the Beach Hut and a long-established 5 Star PADI dive centre

  • Its secluded village-style spa is a stand-out spot and is so highly regarded it has won awards from the likes of Condé Nast

5 stars
Nov - Apr
Koh Lanta
Krabi 13 hours
Overlooking Kantiang Bay on the south-west coast of Koh Lanta
Approx. 1 hour’s transfer from Krabi airport followed by a five-minute speedboat ride and 50-minute road transfer; after 5.30pm, a public ferry will be used to cross to Koh Lanta
Villas, Beach, Kids club, Suitable for children

This resort has earned internationally recognised certification that conform to standards set by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

Rooms

Facilities

  • Restaurants & bars
  • Board
  • Spas & wellness
  • Activities
  • Diving & Watersports
  • Sustainability
  • Families

The resort is home to three restaurants and a café, some of which are open seasonally. The award-winning Seven Seas Restaurant overlooks the Andaman Sea. Serving predominantly western cuisine, it also has a well-stocked wine cellar. Spice and Rice Restaurant is for guests staying at the Beachside Estate with plenty of Thai dishes on the menu. Rak Talay Beach Bar & Restaurant which, as the name suggests, is located right on the sand whilst The Banyan Tree Poolside Café will keep you refereshed throughout the day.

Seven Seas Restaurant
Located at the Hillside Estate with stunning views out over the bay, the Seven Seas serves Western cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Spice and Rice Restaurant
Overlooking the infinity pool in the Beachside Estate, this is the place for authentic Thai dishes.

Rak Talay Beach Bar & Restaurant
Offering fresh seafood Thai-style by the beach.

The Banyan Tree Poolside Café
Serving light snacks and drinks throughout the day.

We love the barbecue sets at Rak Talay Beach Bar and Restaurant. Choose from a surf or turf set or a combination of both.

Whats Included

Breakfast at Seven Seas Restaurant from 6.30am to 10.30am

Upgrade Options

Half Board • Breakfast at Seven Seas Restaurant from 6.30am to 10.30am • Dinner at Rak Talay Beach Bar & Restaurant.

The spa is a stand-out spot and is so highly regarded it has won awards from the likes of Condé Nast. Alongside the traditional and more modern treatments carried out in oh-so-tranquil rooms tucked away like a village in the forest, there’s the chance to make that relaxed holiday feeling last a lifetime thanks to a trio of spa classes. There’s the Art of Traditional Thai Massage, an hour-long session teaching you the pressure points and techniques to relieve tension, and the Art of the Neck and Shoulder Massage – a great way to release the tensions of our 21st-century lifestyles. You can also learn how to create an aromatic herbal pouch and how Thai herbs can be used in everyday life.

There are regular classes in Thai boxing, aerial yoga and circuit training.

Explore the mangroves by boat, follow the self-cycle route or make a visit to the Sports Centre where tennis, pétanque, badminton, pickle ball and a running track await.

Located on a 900-metre stretch of beach, you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to watersports here. Kayaking, windsurfing, paddleboarding and sailing are just some of the activities on offer. Diving can also be arranged for beginners and experienced or you may prefer to take a speedboat to Mu Koh Lanta National Marine Park for snorkelling amongst the limestone coves.

Both the natural world and local communities are important to the folks at Pimalai and a lot of emphasis is put on protecting and advancing them both. One of the most exciting projects that the resort is part of is The Little Scientist House which was set up by Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn. Her goal is to encourage the children of Thailand to take an interest in science and further the education of primary school children. Pimalai now works with 11 Koh Lanta schools that are part of the project and they help them provide a wide range of scientific activities by providing materials and inspiring their staff to get involved. There’s also a real focus on locally created arts and crafts in the resort boutique and guests are encouraged to visit Old Town Lanta to shop, eat and drink, and also to visit the Lanta Community Museum and learn about island life.

On the environment side, the resort runs a selection of programmes including local litter picks with local children to show them the importance of keeping the island clean and safe. They also have a zero-waste project to ensure everything that can be recycled is recycled and food waste goes to a fertiliser-making facility. This low-waste agenda starts before the waste is even produced – the menus are designed to create minimal leftovers, produce is not over ordered and any ‘ugly’ fruits and vegetables are used in soups and smoothies.

There’s also a plan to reintroduce the clownfish to the surrounding waters – the surrounding waters were a natural habitat for the famed fish species made famous by the film Finding Nemo. In 2004, they discovered that the population had disappeared thanks in part to the pet fish industry. Through trial and error, they successfully released clownfish and seahorses back onto the Andaman Sea and then started up a coral propagation programme.

There's a weekly schedule of activities for children at the Kids' Corner. From making art from nature and balloon twisting to kids pétanque and Thai boxing.

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