We touched down at Langkawi airport after being welcomed with stunning aerial views from the small airplane window. We thought we had reached our final destination, only to find we had one more leg of the journey until our luxury retreat in Langkawi would officially commence.
We were whisked away to the jetty where we hopped on a speedboat to be taken another 2 km to a private island. Just a few minutes later we arrived at the stunning Vivanta by Taj Rebak Island Resort, the ultimate luxury resort in Langkawi.
Rebak Island is one of the 99 islands that make up the archipelago that is Langkawi, the “Jewel of Kedah”. Although just a short boat ride from civilization, you feel worlds away as you are surrounded by emerald waters of the Andaman Sea, untouched beaches, and lush green jungle bursting with tropical plants, colorful flowers and exotic wildlife to be discovered.
A buggy (aka golf cart) conveniently picked us up from the dock and shuttled us to the reception where we were greeted with a warm welcome. Check-in was quick and efficient and we were given a run-down on all that the resort has to offer. Within 10 minutes, the buggy loaded us up with our luggage and shuttled us over to our room to get us settled in.
The Vivanta by Taj is not your typical hotel. It consists of charming chalets with traditional Malaysian architecture spread among the large grounds, giving a sense of serenity and seclusion. It felt more like a country club, with buggies driving around offering to take guests from point A to point B if they didn’t feel like walking. We actually preferred the walk, except for when we needed to get to the dock to catch the boat back to the mainland and a hard rain hit. They sent a buggy for us with an umbrella within minutes – impressive service!
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Our room itself was beautifully decorated and cozy. We fell in love with the wood floors and combination of modern and Malaysian decor. The room was bright and spacious, but the bathroom was the best part of all. Almost the size of the of our condo in Chiang Mai, the large bathroom was equipped with plenty of closet space to hang our clothes and place our luggage, his and her sinks, as well as separate shower and bathtub cubicles. The balcony off the room was pure bliss in the mornings while it was still cool and quiet with tranquil views of the perfectly landscaped gardens.
Although we would have been perfectly content nestled in our plush king size bed all day, we spent our days taking advantage of all that the Vivanta by Taj had to offer. Our mornings started off stuffing ourselves at the breakfast buffet, where you can find anything and everything from traditional Malay and Indian cuisines to familiar Western dishes. There is an assortment of breads and pastries with numerous jams and spreads, a colorful salad bar, a chef whipping up eggs and omelettes as well as other custom orders and even a smoothie bar with an array of flavors to choose from.
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We would then make our way to the pool, where we could enjoy a cocktail or two and unobstructed views of the Andaman Sea. Sometimes we’d get a little crazy and migrate to the private beach or take a nap in the hammock for a bit.
In the evenings, you could find us at Lepak Bar just in time for Happy Hour – half priced cocktails!
The resort has a variety of activities you can take part in, from kayaking to nature walks, cooking classes, volleyball games, movie nights, yoga, and more. We highly recommend the morning nature walk with Selva. He is so much fun and knows how to work up an appetite for the breakfast buffet. He is also very knowledgeable so be prepared to learn a lot and ask lots of questions if you wish!
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The island is also equipped with a full service marina that welcome yachts from all over the world. We loved strolling through and picking out which boat we were going to sail around the world on. In the evenings, you could find some of the sailors gathering near the docks, strumming their guitar and jamming out together. We grabbed a few beers from the onsite mini-mark and enjoyed the free performance!
One of the best feats of the resort if you are looking to really spice things up in the romance department is the Moon Deck. You can make arrangements for dinner on the most romantic spot on the island with a custom menu and private meal service. I can’t imagine a more romantic setting!
Our stay at the Vivanta by Taj Rebak Island Resort could not have been more perfect. It provides everything you need on a beautiful private island, however, its just a 7 minute boat ride to the main island if you wish to spend the day visiting Langkawi’s main beaches and attractions. We highly recommend for honeymooners, families or even a friends getaway looking for the ultimate holiday in Langkawi!
Visit their website for more information or check current prices here.
This trip was made possible by Naturally Langkawi. As usual, all opinions are our own.
