Pimalai Resort and Spa, Krabi, Thailand

A tropical hideaway between forested hills and the Andaman Sea

On Koh Lanta, in Thailand’s Krabi province, Pimalai Resort & Spa feels like a resort shaped by the island rather than placed on top of it. White-gold sand runs along the edge of the Andaman Sea, tropical forest climbs into the hills behind it, and the whole property seems to move naturally between beach, palms and wide blue horizons. It is polished, spacious and quietly luxurious, but what stays with you most is the setting: open, green, sea-facing and made for a slower kind of escape.

The resort is split between a Beachside Estate and a Hillside Estate, creating two different ways to experience Koh Lanta. Lower down, everything feels close to the sand, with the easy rhythm of barefoot mornings and long hours by the water. Higher up, the mood becomes more private and cinematic, especially in the ocean-view pool villas, where terraces and infinity pools look across the forest towards the sea. Inside, the style is elegant without feeling heavy, with generous spaces, tropical details and a calm connection to the landscape.

What makes Pimalai so appealing is the amount of freedom it gives without ever disturbing the peace. You can move from the beach to one of the two sea-view infinity pools, take a kayak or paddleboard out on the water, play tennis, pickleball, badminton or basketball, borrow a bike, follow the running track or simply stay under the shade with the sea in front of you. The resort has plenty to do, but the atmosphere remains unhurried, more about ease than energy.