Pimalai Resort & Spa, Koh Lanta, Thailand 🇹🇭 – a dreamlike jungle resort with its own paradise beach

The Pimalai Resort & Spa on Koh Lanta is pure relaxation in a stunning natural setting! With luxurious villas, spectacular views and first class service, there is nothing left to be desired. A real insider tip for those who want to experience Thailand at its best!

Review #4

Location

Pimalai Resort & Spa is located at the southern end of the twin island of Koh Lanta in the very south of Thailand. A total of 20,000 people live on the two islands. Most of the area is covered in jungle and is part of the Mu Ko Lanta National Park. There are several hotel complexes on the larger of the two islands – with the Pimalai Resort located almost at the end of the western road and situated right on the beautiful Bakantiang beach.

Getting there

We flew in from Siem Reap to Krabi via Bangkok Don Mueang Airport. Flights from Bangkok to Krabi are offered several times a day by various low-cost airlines but you can also travel to Krabi town by bus or ferry from various ports.

How to get to the Resort

Pimalai Resort & Spa offers a complimentary pick-up service from Krabi Airport to the hotel but if you would like to be picked up at another location, you can also book this through the hotel for a small supplement.

Booking the transfer was very easy. We emailed our arrival time at the airport and our flight number as soon as we booked the hotel. So a very friendly Pimalai staff member in hotel uniform was waiting for us at the airport and walked us straight to the minibus. Two other guests also arriving on our flight were travelling in the same van as we did.

In the van a bottle of cold water was waiting for each guest and you can use the complimentary wifi during your journey. The first part of this transfer will always be the same. All arriving guests are driven to the Hua Hin ferry terminal taking around an hour. The resort has its own jetty where you can use the restroom and either board another hotel car or the hotel’s own boat.

After that there are three options:

• You get into the other hotel car, wait for the regular ferry, cross over the small strait of sea for a good 10 minutes and then are driven to the resort – which was the experience we had. Unfortunately, our flight was quite late and we arrived at the ferry terminal after dark and under these circumstances, the hotel’s own boat does not run anymore due to safety reasons.
• Or you can get on the hotel’s boat and in about three minutes, with no waiting, cross over to Khlong Mak Pier on the opposite shore, where you get into another hotel car and it’s another 40 minutes drive to the resort. This is what we did on the way back.
• The best option, however, is to hop on the hotel’s own boat and be taken directly to the hotel’s jetty in 40 minutes. This gives you the unique opportunity to approach the resort at its best. But it has to be during daytime, the jetty has to be set up – this only happens during the predictably calm weather season – and the sea has to be calm.

In all cases, you will end up in a beautiful open-air lobby where you will be greeted with the traditional flower garlands.

Check-in & Welcome

After a leisurely drive from the airport to the resort, we were greeted by one of the receptionists as soon as we got off the car, and she walked us the short distance to the lobby. As soon as we sat down we were greeted with “Welcome Khun Fabian and Khun Michael”! Even before we had handed in our passports and she already called us both by our correct names. I can only say that our high expectations were already exceeded by far at this moment! This really is service at the highest level! Incredible! And yes, of course – these are small things, but to be honest we were plain speechless.

The process itself only took a few minutes. A quick signature on the prepared printouts and as we arrived very late, we were asked if and where we would like to eat right away. We were given some advice and a table was immediately reserved for us. After a few words of general information about the resort and, of course, a refreshing drink and a cool towel, we were driven to our room in a buggy, accompanied by an extremely friendly member of staff.

Pimalai at a glance

The resort is quite large and stretches from the beach all the way up into the green jungle hills. The resort is actually divided into two parts by a road – which sounds worse than it is. The part that faces the beach contains all the rooms, suites and of course all the beach villas. It also houses the lobby, shop, spa, pool, kids club and two of the four restaurants. There are also walkways here and the landscaping is more open, so the whole area feels more like a normal resort.

On the upper level though, the paths are wider and more suitable for golf carts. There are also two restaurants and a pool, as well as the library lounge and fitness centre. Otherwise, there are only the Hillside Villas in three different sizes. All have sea views and are beautifully set in the jungle. They only differ in the number of bedrooms ranging from one to three.

The road that separates the two parts is hardly used at all. In the vast majority of cases you will be using a golf cart to cross it anyway and, to be honest, you will hardly notice that it does not belong to the hotel.

Villa

As always, we had booked the standard room – in this case the Deluxe Room. As the hotel is part of the Small Luxury Hotels, we were able to book through World of Hyatt to earn nights and points for our status.

However, as we took off on the golf cart up the hill, we were a little confused, but of course quite excited to see where we were going. When we stopped at Villa 904, we were really surprised. We walked the short distance, through the entrance gate and then stood in amazement in front of our own huge pool and in the middle of our villa! At this point the attendant told us that we had obviously been upgraded to a Hillside Ocean View Private Pool Villa One Bedroom. We were truly speechless! So much space. Just for the two of us. Amazing!

Our villa consisted of two buildings with a gazebo in between and an infinity pool almost the entire width in front of it.

Livingroom

In our case, the living room was on the left. You enter through a sliding glass door and find yourself right in the middle of the room. There is a huge sofa overlooking the sea and on the table in front of it was our welcome gift. This consisted of two coconuts, other fruit and a small jar of spiced nuts.

There is a TV on the wall to the left and in the back of the building there is a fully equipped small bathroom with shower, toilet and wardrobe.

On the other side is a full kitchen, with the fridge doubling as a mini-bar. It is stocked with water, soft drinks, milk and wine, although only the water is free of charge. There is also a coffee machine with free pods and a kettle with tea bags.

Just outside the large panoramic windows is a covered terrace with a small bench and table. This is a wonderful place to enjoy your first coffee of the day with a spectacular view.

The sofa can be converted into a bed so that the living room can be used as a separate bedroom for a third person as well.

Bedroom

The bedroom is located in the building on the right. Entering through the door, there is a large king-size four-poster bed with four pillows and a large duvet as well as a sofa with a small table in front of the bed. On arrival there was a map of the resort on the table, as well as a small booklet covering the details of all areas of the resort. There was also a desk with a telephone and writing materials, as well as a TV. Also two sun loungers on the terrace in front of the bedroom. The terrace is accessed through a large sliding glass door.

Bathroom

Straight through from the entrance is the large, fully equipped bathroom. Opposite the bathroom door is a large bathtub. To the right and left of the bathroom door there is a washbasin with all the necessary amenities and a bottle of water on each side. The shampoo, conditioner and body lotion are the hotel’s own products, which are of excellent quality and smell wonderfully of ylang ylang.

Next to the right sink, an entire room has been converted into a walk-in wardrobe. There is plenty of space in the open cupboards to store all the things you have brought with you, also you will find here the bathrobes, flip-flops and slippers. Besides that there is also a safe and an iron and ironing board alongside with two umbrellas (very handy!), a bag and an anti-mosquito plug.

The toilet is located behind the sink on the right. Behind the left washbasin is the shower, which can also be opened to the outside with a sliding glass door. The terrace area in front of the bathroom is separated by a screen and there is also an outside shower.

On the dressing table, to the left of the bathroom door, there is also a beach bag that you can use free of charge during your stay.

The villa pool

In the centre between the two buildings is a large gazebo that can be used by two guests for relaxing outside. In front of it is the entrance to the villa’s own pool which stretches across almost the entire width of the villa and is so large – you can actually really swim lengths in it.

View

Our “The View” category is taken to a whole new level here! Look at it – it is simply fantastic! From almost every part of the villa we had incredible views over the jungle, the beach and the sea to the horizon. The view across the infinity pool to the sea is truly unrivalled!

Resort activities

Pools

In addition to the many villa pools in the jungle and on the beach, Pimalai also has two large public pools that are open to all guests. Interestingly, the hotel has not given the individual areas – apart from the restaurants – their own names. So here they simply call them the upper and lower pool.

Upper Pool

The best way to get to the upper pool is by buggy. You will be driven to a roundabout which is the central access point to the upper public areas. From here you can access the Seven Seas Restaurant, the fitness centre, the lounge (which was being refurbished during our stay) and the upper pool.

The entrance couldn’t be more dramatic. From the entrance area, you descend a large flight of stairs to the pool, which has fantastic views of the jungle and the sea. The infinity pool is the perfect foreground for this backdrop.

The pool is very long and offers plenty of space for all guests. It literally is the best spot to take photos of all kinds – especially at sunset, which can be enjoyed beautifully from here.

There are plenty of sun loungers with parasols and you can also relax on some kind of loungers inside the pool.

Lower pool

You can get to the lower pool of the Pimalai from the lobby by walking down the hill towards the beach or, if you arrive from the upper part of the resort like we did, you can also take a buggy to the pool which of corse is a lot more convenient.

This pool has a much more of a jungle feel. Here you also have a nice big infinity pool, but it is beautifully green and ingrown situated just above the beach. A small section is even covered like a hut – there even is a kind of whirlpool inside there.

There are also plenty of sun loungers with parasols placed in two rows so there is plenty of space for all guests.

Beach

You can get to the beach by foot or using a Buggy. It’s just a minute’s walk from the lower pool though.

As all beaches in Thailand are public and cannot be allocated to individual properties, all hotels are not allowed to separate the sections of beach where they are located and are only allowed to provide a minimum number of sunbeds. The Pimalai Resort, for example, has some sunbeds at the beach, but only located in a small area and only at the very back of the beach and right at the edge of the jungle. As a result, the view of the beach and sea remains unobstructed and the sunbeds are mostly placed in the shade.

The service here is also really good. As soon as we had chosen our sunbed, a member of staff was approaching with two glasses of cold water and towels.

At the end of the beach you can walk around a rock and discover that the Pimalai grounds continue even beyond it. The beach villas here are very quiet and a little hidden. So if you are up for even more privacy – try to get one of those!

Fitness Center

Of course, as well as water sports, you can also work out in the fitness centre. The size is okay and all the standard equipment is available, but everything is more in the okay range. There is also a classroom, though it is at the back and has mirrors all around but no windows. You can take courses here for a fee according to the course schedule. The whole area is somewhat hidden under the Seven Seas Restaurant.

There is also a Muay Thai boxing ring just below the gym. Boxing lessons can be booked here twice a day for a small fee.

And even two tennis courts are also available for use free of charge.

Pimalai Spa

The Pimalai Spa has won several awards, including the World Luxury Spa Award! And honestly! It really is a MUST. When you stay at Pimalai you must book a treatment.

The spa is located in the lower part of the resort, right next to the lobby, in its own little valley with a river running right through the middle of the spa. You check in at the spa lobby, where you are greeted and informed of your treatment. At this point you can choose a scent for your massage and are then escorted by a member of staff to your own little house (i.e. treatment room). Some of the treatment rooms even have outdoor baths and showers for the treatments, and one even has a fully equipped Jacuzzi. The whole place feels like you stepped inside a village in the middle of the jungle.

After the treatment you will be taken to a relaxation area with loungers and a beautiful view of the jungle. Here you will be served hot ginger tea and allowed to slowly return to the real world and reflect on what you just have experienced.

Kid´s Corner

Of course, there is also entertainment for the little ones, and you can register your children in the Kid’s Corner. There are different activities every morning and afternoon.

Tours

Pimalai Resort also offers a range of activities. The most popular are the snorkelling and diving trips to the small offshore islands of Koh Haa and Koh Rok an. Five days a week you can choose to snorkel in the morning or snorkel and watch the sunset in the afternoon. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to do this as the islands were closed during times with rough seas to give nature a chance to regenerate. A big shame for us, of course, but all the better for the ecosystem. Just another reason to return to the Pimalai Resort & Spa.

Restaurants

Seven Seas Restaurant

Located in the upper area, there are a few tables inside (good if it rains), but most of the tables are placed outside on the terrace so that as many people as possible can enjoy the truly fantastic views over the jungle and sea.

We dined here twice and, as expected, the quality of the food and service was excellent! The Seven Seas serves western cuisine by the way.

Breakfast is also served in this restaurant for guests staying in the upper part of the resort. See our breakfast section below for more information.

Spice’n’Rice Restaurant

Located right by the lower pool, this restaurant serves traditional Thai cuisine. It is open plan and has mainly indoor tables. Only a handful of tables are placed outside. From here you have a beautiful view of the lower pool and the beach with the sea. Just like the lower pool, the atmosphere here is very tropical with endless greenery and lots of palm trees.

Breakfast is served in this area for guests staying in the lower part of the resort. During low season it is always possible to try breakfast in the other restaurant on request. This is subject to capacity though and a short enquiry from you has to be made beforehand.

Rak Talay Beach Bar & Restaurant

The Rak Talay Beach Bar & Restaurant is located right on the beach. Actually, there are two different areas, both on the beach and very close to each other. 

The Rak Talay Beach Bar is located at the foot of the stairs leading down to the beach and invites you to linger and relax during your stay at the beach. The round bar is a wonderful place to celebrate beach life.

Located just a few steps through the sand next to the bar, the restaurant is a fantastic place for a relaxed lunch or dinner. Here you can soak up the beach vibes, relax and enjoy Thai and international seafood dishes.

There is also a happy hour in the afternoon and evening.

The Banyan Tree Poolside Café

Located below the Seven Seas Restaurant and connected to the upper pool is The Banyan Tree Poolside Café and as the name suggests it serves traditional lunchtime snacks and a selection of ice creams.

There is also a small pool bar by the lower pool with a selection of ice creams and drinks. Where you can also order simple dishes such as pizzas straight from your sun lounger.

Breakfast

As described above, breakfast for guests staying at the Hillside Villas is served in the Seven Seas Restaurant.

A large buffet covering big parts of the restaurant is set. European and Asian dishes are offered in abundance. Bread and pastries are freshly baked on site and, in addition to the daily changing live cooking, there is a wide selection of freshly prepared dishes from the breakfast menu.

As always with this hotel, the service and quality of the food was great! We only had to order coffee the first morning. The following days we were just asked if we wanted the same. From the second day on even the champagne was automatically served and topped up.

Of course, we opted for our signature breakfast: Eggs Florentine for Fabi and French toast for me, Micha.

Check-out

Sadly, this stay also came to an end (all too quickly). Our luggage together with us was loaded back into the buggy and driven down to the lobby. Of course, everything was already prepared and the actual check-out process itself was super quick. After a short wait we were told that our transfer car was ready and we finally had to say goodbye for this time and will hopefully come again soon.

Costs

We paid just under 47,000 Thai baht for our stay in October 2023. This was around 1,213 euros at the time of our stay. This price included 3 nights, two spa treatments, two dinners, a poolside lunch and various drinks and snacks.

Departure and onward journey

As mentioned on arrival, all transfers to and from Krabi airport are included. We were driven to the jetty in our own car. The other departing guests taking another car boarded the same boat together with us and crossed over to the other side of the pier. And honestly! That short boat trip was really cool and so much fun! As we arrived on the other side, we were driven back to the airport once again in our own car. Of course we didn’t have to worry about our luggage for a moment during the whole transfer (but we did it anyway and carried our small suitcases ourselves… 😉 )

After arriving at the airport we headed to the Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra.

Conclusion

What can I say? The resort is fantastic. We had an incredible time. Yes, not everything is brand new. And yes. I’m sure not everyone will agree with us. But everything was just perfect for us.

We can recommend the Pimalai Resort & Spa to singles, but especially to couples and (larger) families.

Hotel Homepage

https://pimalai.com

Rating

We rate the Pimalai a score of 11 out of 10 possible points. We were plain out impressed with the entire resort. The villa, the grounds, the spa, the service, the staff. Everything. Everything was just perfect! Amazing!

Go there?

Absolutely! We can recommend it with a clear conscience. And while you’re there, treat yourself to a spa treatment!

YouTube Review

If you still feel like you want so see even more from this incredible Resort feel free to also watch our YouTube Review made with love by Fabi!