If any single resort has done much to promote Koh Lanta to the world it is surely this, Pimalai Resort & Spa , which has become a 5-star icon of the island. This was the first luxury resort on Koh Lanta, opened in the 1990s when most of the accommodations here were still in the backpacker phase. The owner, a Thai business woman with great foresight, bought an extensive tract of land running up the hillside behind Kan Tiang Beach , one of the most beautiful on the island – despite that it was far down the island’s west coast. At that time the road was narrow, rough and uncomfortable, so Pimalai brought its guests in by speedboat, and still does.
As the photos show, Pimalai has been carefully integrated into the natural forest, making it an early pioneer of eco-awareness in this country – another reason for the many accolades it has won. The foresight behind this resort has paid off handsomely, with Pimalai now recognized as one of the top beachfront resorts in the country, and one of Thailand’s finest, super-luxury hideaways. Pimalai was also named and listed in Thailand’s Top 10 Most Romantic Beach Resorts . Needless to say, Pimalai’s accommodations are entirely 5-star, while the layout and design of its expansive public areas like pools and restaurants is also superior. The beach also matches these superlatives, for it too is one of the most beautiful on the island, with wide sand, deep water and virtually no rocks. This south end of Kan Tiang Beach offers some of the best swimming conditions on Lanta.
It was a 2 hour speedboat ride to the hotel from the airport, and we got to the hotel after dark, and had to disembark onto their floating jetty, which Chris found difficult. There was no proper road on the island, so the speedboat was the most comfortable way of getting to the hotel . Koh Lanta itself does not offer much in the way of tourist attractions - you come here to enjoy the hotel the sun and the sand
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