The Escape | The Datai, Langkawi
Long considered one of Southeast Asia’s foremost retreats, The Datai on the tip of Langkawi Island remains a top destination for luxury travel
Following a prodigious facelift, Malaysia’s unparalleled rainforest resort scores high with its visionary architecture and unique brand of bespoke hospitality, deep inside a dense prehistoric jungle.
Originally blue-printed by the late Australian architect Kerry Hill and design-guru Didier Lefort of award-winning Paris-based studio DL2A, the lavish property has been the luxury nature refuge of reference ever since its inception back in 1993.
Exterior front of the dining room overlooking the pool, set against the lush tropical landscape of the surrounding rainforest
From the canopy rooms and suites situated in the main building with views into surrounding treetops and the Andaman Sea, stretching beyond to the elegant rainforest villas scattered throughout the estate, tucked deep inside the lush tropical jungle – all accommodation in this award-winning project has been designed to seamlessly blend in with mother nature.
Dim lighting and the latest in-room technology blend with the natural design elements of the bedrooms
While keeping the original structures, Didier enhanced the low-key lighting with dimmers throughout, and updated the décor in a sleek, understated colour palette, while decking out rooms with the latest in-room technology.
The elegant bathrooms in marble from a local quarry were redesigned with a composite stone bathtub, Corian washbasins, ceramic tiles and tropical timbers.
The bathrooms feature marble, stone, tiles and tropical timber
Along the 1.5-kilometre-long beach, guests can book a selection of only 13 exclusive beach villas with fully enclosed private gardens, a pool, separate living pavilions and direct beach access set amidst the property’s extraordinary biodiversity of its ancient rainforest.
Waiting to be discovered, The Datai is every nature lover’s dream. Still, it is also a grandiose retreat in a league of its own, hosting guests to a bespoke level of luxury rarely seen in today’s humdrum branded hotel landscape. thedatai.com
Photo Courtesy of: The Datai
From the Spring 2021 Issue of Harper’s Bazaar Interiors.