The Datai Langkawi in Malaysia has developed a number of fresh nature experiences, relaunched its signature The Chef series, and launched two new room categories, as Malaysia’s borders reopen.
New for 2022, The Nature Centre at the Datai Langkawi invites guests to participate in reef protection activities at the centre’s new Coral Nursery, learn about the resort’s reforestation efforts at the Native Tree Nursery or discover how to harvest the unique Trigona itama honey from the resort’s stingless beehives with a new “Bee a Beekeeper” activity.
Meanwhile, the resort’s sustainable craft-making centre, The Lab – built from over 9,000 used wine, champagne, and liquor bottles – has also been extended with an open-air annexe to conduct upcycling workshops.
Outdoors, the resort’s inspirational Poet’s Trail has been relaunched with a series of poems by Max Wallis, Khalil Gibran and The Datai’s Resident Naturalist, Irshad Mobarak.
The Datai Langkawi also welcomes back The Chef Series, a signature chef residency dining experience that welcomes culinary stars to its kitchens throughout the year. Previously, guest chefs included luminaries as Michel Roux, Nils Henkel and Michel and Sebastien Bras.
The focus for this year is ‘Eclectic Malaysian’ Dining, spotlighting the country’s culinary talents. From April 22-23, 2022, chef Azli Ahmad from OpenHouse KLCC, will champion Malaysian flavours based on recipes handed down by mothers and grandmothers.
For their menus, the chefs focus on local ingredients, especially what they can hand-pick from the resort’s own permaculture garden where the resort team grows turmeric, chilli, lemongrass, pandan and many more ingredients essential to authentic Malaysian fare. Fresh fish and seafood are predominantly sourced from Langkawi’s fishermen and organic chicken is available from a local village farm.
Some of the chef residencies are accompanied by cooking demonstrations and cooking classes, where guests are able to enjoy a hands-on gastronomic experience creating and enjoying their own culinary creations, under the guidance of the chefs themselves.
The Datai Langkawi has also introduced two new room categories: the Canopy Garden and the Rainforest Premium Villa. The five new Canopy Garden rooms are ideal for larger groups, offering direct access to an outdoor private patio and seating area, while the Rainforest Premium Villa offers enhanced privacy views of Anak Datai River and Sungai Datai.
