Pimalai Resort & Spa — A 900m Private Beach and an Infinity Pool Under an Old Tree on a Koh Lanta Hillside
Ask anyone who's been where the real Luxury resort on Koh Lanta is, and the answer comes back the same: Pimalai Resort & Spa. The property runs across roughly 100 acres of tropical forest on the southern end of the island, sloping down to Kantiang Bay (Ba Kantiang) — a private beach stretching almost 900 metres. The image guests keep coming back to is the infinity pool that runs beneath a huge tree at the centre of the resort, looking straight out over Kantiang Bay — and that's a view few other properties on the island can match.
Pimalai opened in 2001 and expanded over the years into the largest resort on Koh Lanta — 121 rooms and villas scattered across a hillside that slopes down to the sea, split between a beachside zone and an estate area higher up. Entry-level rooms are the 48 sqm Deluxe Rooms with teak floors and a private balcony, while the hillside holds the Hillside Ocean View Pool Villas with private pools that look out over the Andaman Sea. What guests mention most is the privacy — many villas sit tucked into the forest where you barely see the next one over.
Dining runs across several outlets. The best-known is Seven Seas, a fine-dining restaurant set on the headland above Kantiang Bay, serving European cuisine alongside a long wine list (note that it carries a dress code). Rak Talay sits right on the sand for seafood and Thai food with your feet in the beach, and the breakfast buffet runs at Spice & Rice, which guests rate as one of the better hotel breakfasts they've had — fresh fruit, eggs to order, and bread baked on site.
One guest recalls "coffee by the pool first thing in the morning, looking at the sea and the green hills, so quiet you only hear the birds" — three days there and they barely wanted to leave the resort.
Pimalai Spa is another part guests keep talking about. The treatment rooms are thatched-roof salas tucked into the garden, open to the natural breeze, with a menu that runs from the resort's own Thai massage through to milk baths and herbal wraps using local botanicals. There are two pools, both infinity-edge — the hilltop pool with sea views and a second one down by the beach. Before 9 am the hilltop pool is nearly empty, which is the best photo window of the day.
It's worth being straight about getting here, because Pimalai sits well down at the southern end of the island. It's around 70 km from Krabi Airport, and the resort runs a free transfer — roughly an hour by minivan, then about 45 minutes by speedboat in high season. The upside is convenience: you don't have to arrange your own boat. The downside is that getting out to eat off-resort or visit Lanta Old Town means a fair drive — which is why most guests simply spend their time inside the resort.
The Trip.com score sits at 9.4/10 from 233 reviews, with Tripadvisor at 4.8 from over 3,600 reviews and a Travelers' Choice 2025 badge. The private beach and the service score highest. The honest feedback from lower-rated reviews flags food and activity prices inside the resort running high, some areas starting to show their age and due for refurbishment (a few reviews mention the lower pool), and the steep terrain meaning you'll be calling the resort buggy to get between your room and the beach. These are real things worth knowing before you book.
On price — a Deluxe Room starts around ฿9,500/night in low season, while a Hillside Ocean View Pool Villa with a private pool runs ฿18,000–30,000 depending on the season. High season (November–April) lifts every category noticeably, and the private-pool villas book out fast. Anyone eyeing a villa over New Year or Songkran should book at least two to three months ahead.
The bottom line: Pimalai works best for couples, honeymooners, or families who want a quiet, private-beach Luxury resort cut off from the noise. It's the kind of place where you check in and don't feel any need to leave — a genuine retreat. If you want maximum privacy and the budget stretches, the Hillside Ocean View Pool Villa with its private hilltop pool and sea view is hard to find elsewhere. If you want lively nightlife or easy walking access to restaurants outside, the remote southern location may feel like a stretch.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Beautiful private beach — white sand, clear water, very quiet
- ✓ Staff attentive and genuinely caring with every detail
- ✓ Breakfast buffet varied and fresh
- ✓ Infinity pool with sea views and green forest surroundings
- ! Food and drink prices inside the resort run high
- ! Remote southern end of the island — long transfer by boat
- ! Steep terrain means relying on the buggy to get around
- ✓ Villas extremely private, tucked into the forest, very quiet
- ✓ Thatched-roof garden spa with a relaxing setting
- ✓ Seven Seas with Kantiang Bay views, strong food and wine
- ✓ Free Krabi Airport transfer — no need to arrange your own boat
- ! Some areas starting to show age and due for refurbishment
- ! Limited dining options off-resort — requires a drive
- ! Private-pool villas book out fast in high season — reserve early
- 💡If you want maximum privacy — pick a Hillside Ocean View Pool Villa with its own sea-view pool → just expect to call the buggy up and down between your room and the beach, since the terrain is steep
- 💡If on-resort spending worries you — food and drink run high · lock in a rate that includes breakfast at booking, and plan to head out to try a few restaurants off-resort to keep the budget in check
- 💡If you're travelling as a larger family — a two-bedroom Pavilion Suite at 160 sqm or a beachside villa sleeps up to 6, better value than several Deluxe Rooms and you get shared living space together