Luxury Hotels Atlas / Places / Thailand / Krabi / Pimalai Resort & Spa
Pimalai Resort & Spa
Krabi, Thailand · Independent · Core Luxury
A proudly family-owned Thai resort on Ko Lanta Yai's pristine southern bay since 2001, Pimalai, a Sanskrit word meaning 'a little patch of heaven', spans 100 acres from a limestone hillside to 900 metres of Andaman beachfront. Every tree on the site was preserved during construction, and its position within Mu Ko Lanta Marine National Park has kept Ba Kan Tiang Bay among the least developed stretches of Thailand's western coast.
- 144 rooms
- Opened 2001
- Neighborhood: Ko Lanta District
- Rooms from 517 sq ft (48 m²)
About Pimalai Resort & Spa
- The resort's name derives from Sanskrit, meaning 'a little patch of heaven' — a name chosen by founder Anurat Tiyaphorn, an avid sailor who spent holidays swimming in the bay before deciding to build here over a 30-year period.
- Every tree on the 100-acre site was preserved during construction — the same design ethic adopted at Four Seasons Koh Samui, but achieved here on a family-owned independent scale.
- Its position within Mu Ko Lanta Marine National Park has legally limited resort density around Ba Kan Tiang Bay, preserving one of Thailand's most pristine Andaman luxury settings.
- Entry-level rooms start at 517 sq ft (48 m²).
History
Pimalai Resort & Spa opened in 2001 as the first five-star resort on the island of Koh Lanta in Krabi, Thailand, the vision of founder Anurat Tiyaphorn, a former lawyer. Set across roughly 100 acres of tropical forest hillside fronting a 900-metre private stretch of Kantiang Bay, it began with 80 keys and has since grown to around 144 rooms, suites, pool villas and residences. The resort remains family-run, now led by Anurat's daughter Charintip Tiyaphorn.
The setting
Pimalai Resort and Spa anchors the far south of Ko Lanta Yai at Ba Kan Tiang Beach, Ko Lanta District, about 45 minutes by road from Saladan, the island's main port. Ba Kantiang Beach is walkable in nine minutes and is widely cited as one of Thailand's finest — a pale-sand crescent sheltered by jungled hills, far removed from the over-tourism of nearby Phi Phi. The resort spans 100 acres of tropical forest from a limestone hillside to 900 metres of Andaman beachfront, with Kantiang Bay reachable in 15 minutes on foot. Ko Lanta's position within Mu Ko Lanta Marine National Park has historically limited resort density, preserving this southern bay as one of the most pristine luxury settings on Thailand's western coast. 2 km from Khlong Chak Waterfall.
Restaurants and bars
- Rak Talay Restaurant — Restaurant
- Seven Seas Restaurant — Restaurant
Amenities
- Spa
- Pool
- Sauna
- Fitness center
- Kids' club
- Tennis
- Private beach
- Water sports
Awards
- MICHELIN Two Keys (2026)
- Condé Nast Traveller Readers' Choice Awards (2025)
Open Pimalai Resort & Spa in the atlas for live weekend rates, photos, and the full folio.
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