Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Malaysia / Langkawi / The Datai Langkawi
The Datai Langkawi
Langkawi, Malaysia · The Datai · Grand Luxury
Opened in 1993, The Datai Langkawi was placed by architect Kerry Hill on a forest ridge 40 metres above sea level and 300 metres back from the beach, a decision that earned the 2001 Aga Khan Award for Architecture and set a template for nature-embedded resort design across Asia. Its 10-million-year-old rainforest and Datai Bay, ranked by National Geographic among the world's top ten beaches, frame one of the region's most architecturally considered properties.
- 121 rooms
- Opened 1993
- Neighborhood: Datai Bay rainforest, northwest Langkawi
- Rooms from 678 sq ft (63 m²)
- Architect: Kerry Hill Architects; Didier Lefort
- Interiors: Didier Lefort; DL2A
About The Datai Langkawi
- Kerry Hill chose to build the main building on a forested ridge rather than the beachfront, using trained elephants instead of bulldozers to fell trees so as to cause less ground damage — an approach described as radical in 1993 when sustainability was not yet industry vocabulary.
- The hotel won the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2001, one of the most prestigious prizes in world architecture, for its sensitive integration with the rainforest site.
- The surrounding rainforest is estimated to be 10 million years old, predating the formation of most major mountain ranges on Earth.
- The Datai became the first organisation in the world to receive EarthCheck ECO Certification for terrestrial tourism — awarded before most luxury brands had formal sustainability programmes.
- Entry-level rooms start at 678 sq ft (63 m²).
History
Opened in 1993, The Datai Langkawi was conceived when Australian architect Kerry Hill and French designer Didier Lefort first trekked through the pristine rainforest of northwest Langkawi and were captivated by its 10-million-year-old primordial jungle. Their defining decision — to set the main building on a ridge away from the beachfront, facing the mountains rather than the sea — produced one of Asia's most architecturally celebrated resorts. The hotel received the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2001 and became the first organization in the world to receive the EarthCheck ECO Certification for terrestrial tourism. Following a comprehensive €55 million renovation completed in early 2019, led again by Didier Lefort, the resort celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2023 with renewed acclaim.
The setting
Set at the northwestern tip of Langkawi island in the state of Kedah, Malaysia, the resort occupies a 65-acre site within a Machincang Cambrian Geoforest Park — one of the oldest rainforests on Earth. Datai Bay's idyllic white-sand beach, accessible via the resort's Grand Staircase of 173 steps, has been named among the top ten beaches in the world by National Geographic. 21 km from Langkawi Cable Car.
Restaurants and bars
- The Gulai House — Restaurant
- The Dining Room — Restaurant
- The Beach Club — Poolside
Experiences
- The Chef Series 2026: The Art of the Distinctive — Signature celebration of global gastronomy set against the backdrop of Langkawi's ancient rainforest.
- Serenity - The Datai Well-being Series — Six visiting practitioners in residencies through 2026 into early 2027: reflexology, integration therapy, yoga, fitness, podiatry and longevity medicine.
- Longevity experiences and consultations (Dr Monisha Bhanote) — Cellular Longevity Experience, lifestyle consultations, The Breath of Resilience and a culinary experience; residency 20 Dec 2026 to 3 Jan 2027.
- Mandi Embun — Ancient Malay ritual of early morning forest bathing led by a resident naturalist, followed by a serene jungle pool; optional on the Tiger Express.
- Tiger Express journey — Seven-day one-off journey across Malaysia, 9 to 15 May 2027, including three nights at the hotel, in support of wild tiger conservation.
- Golf at The Els Club Teluk Datai — Award-winning 18-hole, par-72 championship course, five minutes by car from the resort.
Amenities
- Spa with nature-inspired treatments
- Infinity pool
- Datai Bay white-sand beach (National Geographic Top 10)
- The Els Club Teluk Datai — award-winning 18-hole par-72 championship golf course
- Nature programmes and guided rainforest experiences
- Tennis courts
- Fitness centre
- Sustainability programme (The Datai Pledge)
- Coral nursery and marine conservation
Awards
- MICHELIN One Key (2026)
- Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards (2025)
- World's 50 Best Hotels 51-100 (2025)
- Condé Nast Traveler Gold List (2023)
- Condé Nast Traveler Gold List — Best Hotels & Resorts in the World (2023)
- Prix Versailles UNESCO — Continental Winner, Interior Architecture (East Asia & Pacific) (2019)
- Aga Khan Award for Architecture (2001)
- EarthCheck ECO Certification — first organization globally for terrestrial tourism
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