Built within the rainforest of Koh Lanta, this boutique beach resort occupies 100 acres of tropical vegetation with direct access to a 3,000-foot stretch of pristine beach. The luxurious Pimalai offers 121 accommodation units – Deluxe, Bayfront, Deluxe, Pavilion Suite, Beach Villa and Pool Villa – all very elegantly appointed. Dining options include four restaurants and five bars, including a popular beach bar, that offer an extensive variety of cuisines. Other amenities include a spa, a small boutique PADI dive center, two infinity-edge pools, a fitness center and Internet access throughout the property an in the rooms. Depending on the season, there are different methods of getting to the Pimalai. From November to April, the high season, it is a relaxing, 60-minute boat ride along the east or west coast of the Lanta Islands to get to the Pimalai. During the Green Season (May to October), guests have the option of taking a 40-minute boat ride to Old Lanta, the old village on the east coast of Koh Lanta Yai, and then transferring to a private car for a 30-minute drive from the east coast to the west coast to reach the resort.

Why We Love This Hotel

Location: Pimalai is based on the south west coast of Koh Lanta Yai, which is part of Krabi province, and faces the Andaman Sea, decorated with white-sand beaches and providing guests with startlingly picturesque sunsets.

History: Koh Lanta has reinvented itself from what was in the mid-80s, a backpacker destination, to a luxury retreat. The island still boasts a community of Sea Gypsies, who have lived there harmoniously for hundreds of years.

Service: The Pimalai has won a vast array of awards that attest to the top-of-the-range services guests can expect at this luxury hotel.