Let me share a little secret with you... Tucked away amongst the rainforest on the shores of Koh Lanta's Western bay lies a paradise called Pimalai.
On a balmy afternoon in April, we were greeted with a warm welcome at Krabi airport and whisked off to the hotel's private jetty from where we boarded a speedboat which completed the journey to the hotel. As our speedboat approached Pimalai's stunning hillside, beach front estate, we immediately knew we were in for a treat!
The hotel is secluded and hidden amongst lush tropical rainforest and is comprised of modern luxury rooms, suites and private pool villas hidden amongst cashew trees and it benefits from direct access to a long stretch of pristine private beach. A short stroll along the beach brings you to the cutest little village which is home to a few local Thai restaurants and bars, allowing for plenty of variety during our stay.
On arrival, we were greeted with fresh floral necklaces, refreshing cocktails and cold hand towels while the receptionists quickly processed our check in. We were then collected in a golf buggy and brought swiftly to our beautiful room. After settling in, we made our way to the hotel's lower poolside restaurant 'Spice n Rice' and indulged in the most spectacular Thai meal I have ever enjoyed. The Pad Thai, Massaman curry and pineapple rice were particularly divine!
Breakfast was served both in this restaurant, where the atmosphere was family oriented and at The Seven Seas restaurant in the upper part of the resort which attracts mainly adults and boasts spectacular views. As a breakfast enthusiast, I indulged daily in far too much, from warm buttery pastries, to delicious cooked breakfast, exotic fresh fruits and made to order noodle soups.
The following days were spent recovering from these morning feasts, lounging by both infinity pools, each with the most spectacular views of the sparkling turquoise bay. Breaks from the sun were enjoyed in the hotel Spa which was exceptional. I opted for the full body massage and coffee body scrub and would urge you to do the same!
The level of service both poolside and beach front were unparalleled and we eagerly sampled most of the delicious cocktail list from our sun lounger. Sundowners at The Seven Seas are a must! Iced drinking water was delivered to your sunbed before you even had time to realise you were thirsty, important when mixing sun with many cocktails!
Venturing outside of the hotel, I would particularly recommend 'Rock n Roll Pad Thai', a family run restaurant. Although the dining room is very basic, the food was cooked fresh in an open plan kitchen and every dish we ordered was simply divine. We devoured the tom yum soup, green chicken curry, pad thai and the house special curry and to finish, my favourite pudding; mango with sticky rice- a must! If you are in search of a little entertainment, 'No Name bar' is a fantastic casual beach bar serving delicious cocktails and showcasing an impressive nightly fire show.
Our trip was rounded off by a spectacular return speedboat trip back to Krabi airport and we set off on our journey home marvelling at this new found paradise and promising our return.
Charlotte xoxo
