Just a short flight from Singapore, The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi offers a surprisingly immersive escape into nature, culture, and sensory indulgence
Editor’s note: See other Escape Plan stories here.
“Mama, why is he walking?”
I turn just in time to see a buggy slowing to a stop beside me. A little girl with plaited hair is sitting in the back with her mother. It’s the fourth buggy to pull up alongside me. Like the three before, the driver—and their passengers—gesture for me to hop on. And like the three before, I smile sheepishly and decline.
You see, The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi is a sprawling 42-hectare resort. Only the bold, or foolish, attempt to walk from one end to the other. But for the sake of giving you, dear reader, a true sense of its scale, I’m happy to play the fool.
It has been 25 minutes since I first began walking from Hai Yan, the ritzy Chinese restaurant located at its southernmost end, to the arrival lodge. If you’re a single-minded traveller, you’ll easily put that time to shame. But the resort, with its vibrant manicured greens, teeming wildlife, and towering trees that provide ample shade, makes it easy to slow down to a leisurely stroll and take in its flourishing flora and fauna.
A Sprawling Garden
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi is only 10 minutes away from the island’s airport—a fact that is difficult to compute once you arrive. Surrounded by a thick, 10-million-year-old rainforest, the resort has a way of enveloping you in nature, drawing you into its quiet rhythms and making you forget just how close you are to the outside world.
This effect, of course, is accentuated by the lush greenery that is interwoven within the resort. Appearing to live symbiotically with the buildings, pathways, and structures, the flora here has an almost subdued exuberance, as though every plant and tree has been carefully maintained to look organic. I later learn that the resort has over 50 landscapers who are dedicated to shaping and pruning every inch of its grounds.
If botanical splendour isn’t your thing, you’ll be happy to know that the resort’s wildlife offers its own spectacle. Bird enthusiasts will have no shortage of sightings, while children will be content chasing butterflies or catching glimpses of squirrels darting through the undergrowth.
Monkeys, on the other hand, make no effort to stay hidden. Whether it’s a family of macaques or mischievous dusky leaf monkeys, you’ll see them often: perched on the resort’s rooftops, climbing railings, or watching you with mild curiosity as you have your morning coffee. It’s a novel and pleasant experience, especially for a city-dweller. That said, be sure to keep your room doors locked when you head out as the monkeys can, and will, let themselves in.
The resort boasts a total of 119 keys: 90 guest rooms and suites, and 29 villas, thoughtfully arranged across three distinct ecosystems: rainforest, beach, and sea. Designed by Philippe Villeroux of Tropical Area Architects, the property draws heavily from traditional Malay kampungs. This influence shows up everywhere: in the gabled roofs, hand-carved details, slatted timber screens, and a clever use of elevation and light in the suites and villas. The result is a spacious, calm, and grounded experience, rendered by interior spaces that appear to almost be an extension of their surroundings.
While the 200sqm Rainforest Pool Villa, 280sqm Beach Pool Villa, and 300sqm Grand Ocean Front Pool Villa—all with expansive living areas and private pools—offer ample opulence for couples and smaller families, the two signature villas, Kenari and Mutiara, are perfect for multigenerational stays.
Villa Kenari, a 465sqm two-bedroom rainforest escape with spacious indoor-outdoor living areas, offers serene views of both forest and sea. The 650sqm Villa Mutiara, meanwhile, is the resort’s most exclusive beachfront residence. Featuring three bedrooms, two private pools, direct beach access, and a dedicated butler, the villa is ideal for guests seeking total seclusion or a home-like ambience with front-row views of the Andaman Sea.
Close To Home
“Do you know what this is for?”
I stop fidgeting with my robe and glance up to see my masseuse pointing at a bath full of colourful flowers. I can tell from her anticipatory look that she expects me to have some kind of idea.
This, as I soon find out, is the resort’s signature Mandi Bunga ritual. Part of a larger treatment at The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi’s overwater spa, the ritual is a traditional Malay purification practice that is believed to cleanse negative energies and enhance one’s aura. Translating to ‘flower bath’, the experience begins with a foot soak and traditional blessing, followed by a gentle scrub and aromatic bath infused with herbs and blossoms.
I ease into the bath, slightly embarrassed not to have known a practice of my own heritage. Quickly, however, the warm and fragrant waters—coupled with the gentle dousing of water courtesy of my masseuse—induce me into a state of relaxation. It, of course, helps that the overwater spa pavilion, with its floor-to-ceiling windows, offers a stunning view of the sea.
It’s important to note that The Ritz-Carlton Spa, suspended above the sea and connected by overwater walkways, is home to six of these cocoon-shaped pavilions designed to resemble the bubu—a traditional Malay fish trap. The architecture exudes old-world charm and is especially striking in the late afternoon, when the sun’s golden light filters through the lattice-like structures, casting delicate shadows across the floor.
Beyond Mandi Bunga, the spa offers a range of indulgent rituals, from a traditional hammam (the only one on the island) with a heated stone bed and steam chamber to vitality pools and experience showers nestled at the edge of the rainforest. There’s even a couples’ suite for those in search of an intimate experience.
But for those who are able to peel themselves away from the spa, the rest of the resort offers no shortage of things to do. From spending the day exploring the surrounding rainforest on a guided nature walk to discovering the island’s coastline on kayaks and paddle boards, you can tailor your stay to be as active—or unhurried—as you like.
Younger guests, meanwhile, will find plenty to explore at the Eco Discovery Centre. Part of the Ritz Kids programme, the centre offers activities that are designed to nurture curiosity through nature-based learning, from leaf-pressing and kite painting to guided discovery walks and visits to the resort’s sea cucumber nursery. Children can even adopt a tree or join an eco-ranger on a walk through the surrounding jungle to learn about local ecosystems.
Of course, if you’re like me, you’d simply choose to slow down. In this regard, the adults-only infinity pool, located near Horizon—the adults-only bar and restaurant—offers a serene, sea-facing retreat for those in search of stillness. It also offers the perfect excuse to whet your appetite for the four dining options: the light fare of Horizon, the refined Chinese dishes at Hai Yan, the bold local flavours at Langkawi Kitchen, and the grilled seafood and cocktails at Beach Grill.
More than anything else, however, The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi offers a faraway experience that belies its actual proximity. Just a short flight from Singapore, it feels distinctly different in mood, texture, and tone, offering the perfect weekend escape for anyone in search of a natural repose.
This story first appeared in the November 2025 issue. Purchase it as a print or digital copy, or consider subscribing to us here
