The Architect and The Rainforest
MALAYSIA · LANGKAWI
The Datai, Datai Bay, Langkawi, Kedah
When Kerry Hill first stood at Datai Bay, he secretly wondered whether moving a single stone would be sacrilegious. The forest was 10 million years old. The bay curved below him toward the Andaman Sea. Hill was an Australian architect who had spent decades building hotels across tropical Asia — he had designed for Aman, he had worked from Bali to Singapore. And yet, standing in this particular ancient wilderness, he hesitated. He built with that question still unanswered. The main building was placed 40 metres above the shore, 300 metres back from the sea, so that the beach would remain exactly as he found it. His proposal was met with bewilderment. Surely a seafront resort with direct Andaman Sea views would attract more guests? Hill stood his ground. The Datai opened in 1993.
Book here via booking.com
The Building
The Datai sits on a forest ridge on the northwest tip of Langkawi, above a bay that National Geographic has named one of the world’s ten most beautiful beaches. The architecture belongs to Kerry Hill’s particular vocabulary — steeply pitched pavilion roofs, shaded walkways, the materials of the landscape used to give the building a sense of belonging. The construction celebrated Malay, Chinese and Indian cultural heritage in its proportions and detail. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture followed in 2001.
Kerry Hill passed away in 2018. The building he left behind remains, as he intended, almost invisible.
The Stay
121 rooms, suites and villas across the forest ridge and the hillside, each oriented toward the trees or the sea. The two pools — one at the main pavilion among the forest canopy, and one at The Beach Club below — offer completely different moods. Mornings belong to The Dining Room — breakfast overlooking the forest and the main pool. Afterwards, kayaks are available from the beach at no charge. Paddle out and look back at the shore. From the water, the forest has the last word.
The Gulai House is worth a dinner regardless of where you are staying on the island — a stilted wooden pavilion built into the forest, serving authentic Malaysian cuisine with genuine depth. Nasi lemak, rendang, fresh seafood from the local catch. It is one of the most atmospheric restaurants in Malaysia and consistently earns that description.
The particulars
The naturalist programme — complimentary. Guided jungle walks with the resident naturalist morning and evening, deep into the 10-million-year-old forest. Langkawi has over 530 species of butterfly. If you are quiet, you may encounter dusky langurs moving through the canopy — or, if the morning is generous, the Great Hornbill. No booking required — simply join at the designated time.
The coral nursery — guests snorkel the reef restoration programme with a resident marine biologist. Between 2023 and 2024, 369 corals were planted at Datai Bay. One of Malaysia’s most actively managed marine conservation sites.
Kayaks from the beach — complimentary, no booking required.
The butterfly garden — an open-concept garden of nectar plants designed to bring the canopy butterflies down to eye level. Visit in the morning when they are most active.
The Gulai House — reserve ahead, particularly on weekends.
The Lab — sustainability workshops, upcycling sessions, cooking classes. Particularly valuable on rainy days when the forest becomes something else entirely.
Best season — November to March, the dry season. April to October brings rain — dramatic, tropical, the forest at its most alive.
Who it’s for
For guests who want the most considered natural luxury in Malaysia – the ancient forest, the private bay, the architecture that asked permission before it was built. Not for those who need urban proximity or lively nightlife — Datai Bay is remote by design, and that is exactly the beauty of it.
Photography ©Eric Martin and courtesy of The Datai Langkawi
Book here via booking.com