Luxury Travel in Malaysia | Malaysia Luxury
Travel and Tours (Langkawi)
"Luxury travel company Urbane Nomads
makes an unforgettable Penang tour with a retreat
into one of the city's best kept secrets- a private
hilltop estate. And where do you get to stay? In old
rice barns that were beautifully converted into
suites. After a day spent being chauffeured to
different Chinese temples and enjoying the Straits
Chinese shophouses, relax in your barn/suite's
outdoor bathtub which sits on the edge of a hill
with stunning views- truly one-of-a-kind
experience."~
Mabel David-Pilar, Inspire Magazine
The town that was doomed for
'seven generations' as local myths would have
it, Langkawi is now an example of political will as
it turns into a thriving resort town( one of
ex-Prime Minister Mahathir's brainchild, and
coincidentally, marking the end of the period of
'seven generations' for which the curse was laid.
The concept of luxury travel to Malaysia is making
headway, with Langkawi beach having been voted by a Conde Nast
contributing editor as one of the 'most
undiscovered' beaches, Langkawi stands in stark
contrast to the popular luxury tourist destinations
like Bali or the resort towns of Thailand.
Today the setting of luxury
international resorts( one having won an earlier,
prestigious Aga Khan Architectural Award), Langkawi
is a top resort destination in Malaysia for its beautiful
scenery and access to idyllic surrounding kampong
(rural Malaysian)life. Driving in to your hotel from the airport
would have provided you with an indication of the
relatively untouched, pristine natural settings of
Langkawi. The air smells clean, even disturbingly
sweet and when you put it to your taxi driver, he'd
attribute the smell to 'bunga hutan'
(literally: 'jungle flowers').
The best resort(also the newest) on the island has
to be the Four Seasons. Fusing Arabic influences
with a Malay aesthetic, the Four Seasons Resort with
access to a private beach (and restaurants and a bar
that fronts it) is a scenic, magnificent hotel. The
lower Melaleuca rooms does a great interpretation of
the outdoor-bath-in-a-rainforest with its rainforest
shower, and granite jacuzzi within the privacy of
your lush private garden. The original grand dame on
the island however, is The Datai (the aforementioned Aga Khan Architectural
Award winner) although if rustic chic is more your
thing, then the Bon Ton resort, a conglomeration of
restored ancient Malay houses with an on-site animal
rescue operation, would be an excellent alternative.
Enjoy the local
Malay cuisine, the local spa treatments(you'd figure
out very quickly that the number 7 strikes a
particular resonance with the Malays as does the
number 8 with the Chinese) or bathe in the Telaga
Tujuh Waterfalls( 'tujuh' meaning 'seven' in Malay),
a renowned fertility bathing rite amongst local
women, in the natural, exotic surroundings of your
luxury resort.
Take a guided mangrove tour with a naturalist, visit
Gua Cerita - caves with ancient Quranic
writings inscribed on its walls or book a private
yacht for a very scenic tour of the surroundings
islands. Stop by the Ibrahim Hussein Museum, a
museum built by a famous local artist, with
eco-sensitivity and the idea of 'living museum in a
rainforest' in mind. Popping by into The Loaf
(simply ask the driver to bring you to 'Mahathir's
bakery'. The ex- Malaysian premier is part owner of
this cafe) to sample its excellent cheesecakes
provides you with an insight into the rapid
progression of this long-forgotten island.
Overlooking the harbor where many luxury yachts are
to be found, the stretch of developments surrounding
The Loaf is a respite from the hermetic luxury
resorts on the island yet the medley of luxury
yachts and surrounding infrastructure is a world
away from the kampongs and pristine natural
surroundings you'd seen around the rest of the
island.
A luxury tour of Malaysia could include quick
getaways from the main city of Kuala Lumpur to lush
rainforest resorts, a do-nothing few days in
Langkawi or unparalleled luxury in Malaysian Borneo,
taking a heli-ride to the countryside, ending it
with a private spa treatment against the lush
countryside in Malaysian Borneo.
Be it Peninsular
Malaysia or Borneo, Urbane Nomads offers
luxury private tours showcasing authentic
royal homestays or resorts amidst the
blessed natural surroundings that Malaysia
offers. Combining insider knowledge of the
latest goings-on as well as on-the-ground
contacts, Urbane Nomads is able to deliver a
trip to Malaysia in considerable style!
With an emphasis on the
wildlife experience in
Malaysian Borneo, this
itinerary combines
luxury cruises and
facilitates the best
lodges en route,
allowing guests to
experience Borneo in
style!
