Fly only one hour north of Kuala Lumpur, and you’ll be whisked away to a fantastical locale!
Nestled within a century-old coconut tree plantation and enveloped by lush, leafy greenery, Temple Tree Resort Langkawi is a heritage resort made up of eight beautifully-preserved Malaysian houses dating back to the 1930s, lovingly restored and relocated to Langkawi from across the country. Steeped in amazing stories, rich histories, and heritage, all of Temple Tree Resort Langkawi’s houses, rooms and suites have been retrofitted with modern amenities to afford guests a luxurious resort living experience while they enjoy a true taste of Malaysia.
Despite all that we already knew about the resort, we were still blown away by it upon our arrival. What’s more, the wealth of experiences we were afforded during our 3-day 2-night trip – from magnificent cuisines to heavenly massages, sinful shopping sprees to a sunset cruise on a catamaran – made it feel like a trip of a lifetime. Here’s a look back at our unforgettable holiday.
DAY 1
We were fortunate to have been included among invited media representatives for an amazing staycation at a fabled resort in Langkawi. The Temple Tree Resort, which has 21 rooms and suites, is located on Pantai Cenang, Langkawi, and is just a one hour’s flight from Kuala Lumpur. From the airport, it only takes 10 to 15 minutes to get to the resort. Upon our arrival, we were served with The Temple Tree Resort’s Welcome Drink – made with cucumber, mint, and a few additional components. It has a somewhat bitter flavour, but it was definitely nutritious and, most importantly, refreshing.
After gulping down our refreshing beverage, we headed for a quick lunch at The Temple Tree Bar & Restaurant, located within the Ipoh House (basically, the reception area). What we loved about this dine-in area is that it offers a retro-chic vibe with a pinch of heritage. The food served has a mix of traditional Malaysian, Asian and even international cuisine. For our lunch, we had to make our own pizza. They’d prepared all the ingredients for us, so we just had to create them however we liked. It was indeed a fun thing to do, because we got creative and shared it amongst ourselves.
After a good Italian lunch, we went on a tour around the resort. The beauty of this resort comes from two main factors: nature and the houses. The entire resort is surrounded by lush, green plantation, keeping the area cool. As for the houses, there are 8 in total, and each one is different from the other. After the tour, we were all showed to our rooms. Ours was Plantation 6.
We had a good rest till 6pm and then got ready for the Sunset Mocktails at Temple Tree Garden. They’ve set a table by the pool and had a barista prepare some drinks for us. There were two options given: Cinderella (mocktail) and Temple Tree Sling (cocktail). We went with the Cinderella mocktail that contains pineapple juice, orange juice and syrup. To compliment our drinks, they served us Salted Edamame and Devil Popcorn. We were considered lucky on that day, because we got to catch the perfect golden hour for the day.
At about 7pm, we headed for dinner at The Temple Tree Bar & Restaurant. We had a 4-course-meal that began with Bruschetta & Nachos Chili Con Carne. Both appetisers had so much deliciously tangy flavour! Then, we had Pumpkin Soup – the creamiest pumpkin soup we’ve ever had (even though we aren’t really fans of pumpkins).
For mains, the Signature Ayam Percik came with a small portion of rice served with chicken and sweet sambal. This dish was simply amazing and flavourful, and the chicken wass cooked to perfection. Last but not least, for dessert we had Sago Gula Melaka with small chunks of mangoes. The dessert looked sweet, but it was just nice, especially when you eat it with the chopped mangoes.
Once lunch was over, we decided to check out the area near Pantai Cenang, which is only 5 minutes away from the resort. Going there refreshed our memories of the entire place. We still remembered some of the shops we visited during the pre-Covid era – but it was good to see that many had undergone ugrades. One of our favourite attractions was the fire show. You get to watch stuntmen playing with fire right at the beach. There are also a few cafe & bars for you too chill at. Of course, the best thing to do in Langkawi is to shop for chocolates and booze since, they’re duty free. Our team went into a few chocolate stores and we grabbed as many chocolates as we could to bring home. It was super convenient, seeing that it’s easy to get Grab services from the resort to the beach.
DAY 2
Although we took some time to sleep, we woke up early, at 8am, to join in a calming yoga session at the resort. There was a yoga instructor who guided us through the session. After that, we headed for breakfast. This was the cutest and most Instagrammable breakfast, because we got to experience both Bali and Bridgerton vibes at the same time. One of our media friends stayed in the Straits House, so we decided to do breakfast there since they have ample space and a private pool. We got the “Santai & Swim” Breakfast set, where we indulged in a sumptuous spread of Malaysian and international breakfast favourites, picnic-style, and in the pool.
After a good breakfast, we got up close and personal with Irene Vairo, the resort manager. With more than 18 years of stellar hospitality experience under her belt, Irene manages all aspects of the resort and is the go-to person in charge of lodging arrangements, food and beverage management, human resources and culture organization, housekeeping maintenance and guest services control. Irene is from Cuorgnè (Turin), Italy, but her heart was charmed by Langkawi when she first visited in 2016.
It was indeed a fruitful session with Irene and once we were done, we headed to the Colonial House for lunch. Originally built by Arab goldsmith traders, the house is a 1920s architectural delight and an ideal space for gatherings.
We had satay, tuna sandwiches, spring rolls, samosas, fried noodles, fresh fruits and homemade burnt cheesecake. The food was all good, but the one that interested us the most was the burnt cheesecake. Believe it or not, all the cakes and pastries served at Temple Tree Resort is handmade by their culinary chef. And the taste? Simply amazing!
To make our stay extra fun, we were given a complimentary massage session. The Temple Tree Spa offers a few massage services, namely Asian Fusion massage, traditional Malay massage, back and shoulder massage and foot massage. Seeing that we had been walking around so much, the best option was the foot massage. We could tell that the masseurs really knew what they were doing because when they began to massage our feet, they were able to tell us if there was anything wrong with our digestive system or our body.
Next on our itinerary was the All In Langkawi Catamaran a.k.a sunset cruise. We took the half-day charter, which is inclusive of transport to and from the resort, and food and drinks. We went around 5pm, just in time to soak up the beauty of the Andaman Sea against Langkawi’s spectacular sunset. However, not all days can guarantee a smooth sail. We had a choppy ride and some of us experienced sea sickness. Nonetheless, it was a good experience for all of us.
For an extra special dinner on our last night, we switched things up with an intimate 5-course menu, under the Langkawi star-strewn skies. Unfortunately for us, there weren’t any stars that night because of the rainy season. The good thing is, we got to enjoy a good meal. We started off with the Mushroom Egg Crepe and Prawn Mango Tartare on Cucumber. Simple ingredients, but the taste was 5-star. Then we had carrot soup with bread. The soup was mushy and had original flavours. The bread was the best part – it was so crunchy, but when dipped in the soup, it became super soft. Then we had Salmon Niçoise. A French classic salad served with grilled salmon, potato, quail egg, olives and green beans. For mains, Grilled Barramundi with Seafood Tomato Stew. We loved the tomato stew, as it has so much flavour and tanginess. And to wash it down, we had Chocolate Brownie with Italian Gelato and Fresh Berries. Warm, fudgy and sweet!
DAY 3
Only a few hours before we had to head back to KL. So we had a good breakfast at the bar & restaurant, buffet style. They had all sorts of food, ranging from pastries, breads, sausages and cereals to fresh fruits and many more. You can also order any style of eggs you want from the kitchen. After breakfast, we soaked up a good dose of the resort, before bidding adieu. We knew we were going to miss the place.
Our time at the resort was wonderful. The hotel staff was welcoming and accommodating, attending to all our needs. We were hesitant to leave this wonderful refuge and return to KL because we had grown to appreciate it. We will most definitely make reservations to stay if we have a chance to visit Langkawi again.
We heartily endorse visiting The Temple Tree Resort Langkawi. It’s a great location at which to unwind, and it’s highly family-oriented. The Cenang mall and beach are relatively close by. Also, the resort is pet-friendly! And apart from the nearby attractions, you’ll be sure to enjoy your stay at the resort itself.
