The Soft Life

Sandy Toes, a sunkissed nose, and enough sunset pictures to last a lifetime — the pimalai resort on koh lanta delivers everything a true tropical paradise promises

- AMANDA LEO

When it comes to weekend getaways, Thailand is one of the choice picks for Singaporeans itching for a vacation. There’s the irresistible shopping offered by the capital city of Bangkok, and the beach

parties on legendary Phi Phi Island, but for travellers in search of tranquillity and true relaxation, the island of Koh Lanta — and the beautiful Pimalai Resort — can’t be beat.

Located two hours away from the Krabi airport, Pimalai is the Andaman Sea’s best kept secret, living up to its name, which is Sanskrit for “a little patch of heaven”. It’s surrounded by lush foliage, and boasts 900m of private pristine beach with endless clear waters as far as the eye can see.

THE ROOMS

For weary urbanites, the tropical paradise serves as a soothing respite to catch your breath from the hustle and bustle of city life, and the layout of the resort reflects that. There are no interconnecting rooms for complete privacy — each room is ensconced in greenery and spaced out within the property, which measures 0.4 sq km. To get around, call for a buggy via the Pimalai app or room phone, or take a quick walk to the neighbouring unit if you’re travelling with friends — you can also complete your check-in via the app, so you can go straight from boat to villa.

We stayed at the one-bedroom Hillside Ocean View Private Pool Villa, and it was incredibly hard to leave once we got settled in. Sitting at around 80 m above sea level, the bedroom is spacious and inviting, with sliding glass doors that offer a vast view of the sea and sky — but we ended up enjoying the beautiful sunsets while floating in the private infinity pool, or lounging on the daybed amidst the buzzing sounds of cicadas.