Tanjung Rhu Resort ★★★★★

Unsurprisingly, it is almost always me whisking away my partner for a luxurious getaway: a romantic ‘staycation’ in Paris, exhilarating weeks in Dubai, and indulgent weekends in Italy. So, you can imagine my excitement when, after announcing his plans to travel to Kuala Lumpur for work, he invited me to come along for an extravagant adventure.

So it was, after a humid week of exploring the spectacular Malaysian capital, we arrived in Langkawi, frizzy-haired and travel-weary. Fortunately, we were met by an air-conditioned Jaguar to drive us from the capital, Kuah, to our resort on the shores of the Andaman Sea. This was our first taste of the extraordinarily high level of service that characterises the Tanjung Rhu Resort.

Upon arrival, we were welcomed in our room with cool towels, a welcome drink and a fruit basket offering familiar and not-so-familiar options from the island. We flung the French windows open to our private balcony, suspended among the trees and lush vegetation of this discreet, luxury resort. Our room was bright: light-filled and airy, decorated in cool neutrals with accents of green and gold. Countless pillows and soft white linens made the vast, king-size bed even more inviting, but we opted to slip into something more suitable and headed to the pool.

More like, pools: the Tanjung Rhu offers guests the opportunity to soak in any one of three pools, my favourite being the naturally landscaped lagoon pool, filled with cool, therapeutic saltwater. The resort harmoniously integrates the spectacular natural environment into its design and ethos: the treatment pavilions in the spa are built without walls and set among acres of landscaped gardens, and the water-sports available on the bay are all environmentally friendly. No buzzing jet-skis and speedboats disturb the peace here; just the odd excited squeals of enthusiastic windsurfers and the soothing rush of gentle waves meeting the pearl-white sand.

One of the Tanjung Rhu’s finest features is its array of activities on offer: during our week there, we took an unnervingly small boat to venture into the ancient mangrove swamp. Our two-hour adventure into the swamp showed us the exotic flora and fauna characteristic to the archipelago, and was a truly unforgettable experience. My partner spent one afternoon on a cave-exploring expedition, organised by capable members of the Tanjung Rhu team; meanwhile, I chose to explore the spa.

After a steamy yoga session cooled by the ocean breeze that rustles the treetops surrounding the elevated, open-air studio, I ventured to the JivaRhu Wellness Centre. The Spa is designed to integrate the natural environment surrounding the hotel into its treatments, using techniques derived from Malay, Thai, Ayurvedic and Balinese influences. The twelve independent treatment villas feature sea and pool views, with private gardens, saunas, showers and Jacuzzis. As well as a range of relaxing massages and body wraps, the spa also offers aesthetic treatments to look your best for a romantic dinner at one of the hotel’s four restaurants.

We reunited at our table at the Rhu, the hotel’s signature fine-dining restaurant, after a long soak in our deep, free-standing tub. Here, we tucked into delicious Malay-inspired dishes, all plated and served with expert precision. As the sun set over the bay and the stars began to wink and gleam in the clear skies above, we toasted our good fortune at finding such an exclusive, elegant destination in the Tanjung Rhu Resort.