Langkawi island in Malaysia gets “new” luxury resort

KUALA LUMPUR – Langkawi island in northwest peninsular Malaysia will get a new luxury boutique resort. Tanjung Sanctuary Resort will re-open in first half 2009 following a total refurbishment that took a year.

The 16-villa (32-key) resort occupies six acres [2.4 hectares] of a 62-acre [25 hectare] plot of native mixed hardwood trees, which sweep down onto, in effect, one private sandy beach and five separate sandy coves, two with their own streams. Dusky-leaf and crab-eating monkeys inhabit the Tanjung Sanctuary grounds. Sea eagles, hornbills, sea otters, and pink dolphins are regularly sighted. Tanjung Sanctuary’s showpiece restaurant, The Point, sits over rocks on the coast.

“Tanjung Sanctuary has been designed for couples who want to retreat to privacy surrounded by nature,” said general manager, Mr John MacNeill. “We aim to appeal to guests who want a luxury experience in a resort which is proud to show its Langkawi heritage through its design, setting, and the staff’s unbeatable local knowledge.”

Each of the 32 rooms offers separate views of forest, beach, or headland. All units offer 81 square meters of space including a large balcony, in-room dining table, sofa set, 40-inch wall-mounted LCD TV, tea/coffee making set, electronic safe, and minibar. All rooms include a large spacious bathroom with Japanese-style bath.

The resort, the first beach resort by Coronade Hotels based in Kuala Lumpur, has its own spa with views over the ocean. An executive meeting room for up to 15 looks out onto the tree tops adjacent to the coast. Tanjung Sanctuary is a 10-minute drive from Langkawi airport and the many restaurants of Telaga Harbour, which is popular with the international yachting community. The resort is also a 15-minute drive from Panti Cenang restaurant and shopping area.

“Many of the themes we use to promote Malaysia apply to Langkawi,” said Mr. Roslan Othman, director of Tourism Malaysia’s Kedah office. “If your holiday focus is islands and beaches, honeymoon, romance, diving, fishing, yachting, spa, and relaxation, Langkawi offers all of this and more. Don’t forget, Langkawi is also known for its geoparks. UNESCO has branded the geoparks in Langkawi among the top geoparks in the world”.

Mr MacNeill added, “First-time visitors are often taken aback by the grand limestone mountains we have here in Langkawi. Everywhere you go there are spectacular views. An appreciation and respect for nature is central to everything we do at Tanjung Sanctuary.”

Langkawi, which is an archipelago of 99 islands 30 km off the coast of Kedah state in northwest Malaysia, near the Thai border, reaches up to 890m above sea level. The island enjoys duty-free status making it popular with shoppers. Langkawi has direct scheduled flight connections with Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Penang. There are also seasonal charter flights from Europe, Russia, and Korea.