Discover or rediscover the Els Club Teluk Datai and its Datai Langkawi hotel.

The Datai Langkawi, in northern Malaysia, reopens next summer after a complete renovation orchestrated by two Frenchmen: General Manager Arnaud Girodon and original designer Didier Lefort of the DL2A agency, who alongside visionary Australian architect Kerry Hill, imagined the hotel's architecture 25 years ago.

Sixty million dollars (US) of investment and 10 months of work were required to complete the rebirth of this Leading Hotel of the World, perfectly integrated into a 10 million-year-old virgin forest, with Datai Bay as its backdrop and a dream beach that National Geographic ranks among the ten most beautiful in the world.

The 121 rooms, villas and suites have been updated with new lighting, a sophisticated color palette in warm tones and state-of-the-art technology to ensure ultimate comfort, while retaining the ever-present "Datai DNA" touch. Regular guests will notice significant changes to the main entrance, lobby and overall landscaping.

As the "Rainforest Villas" are so popular, three new ones have been added to the existing five, all with terraces and swimming pools, along the Datai River which flows through the 750-hectare forest.

Spanning over 3,500 m2, the spectacular five-room The Datai Estate, one of the largest villas of its kind in Asia, boasts five bedrooms, spacious lounges, games rooms, 24-hour butler service and a private chef.

A Nature Centre, inspired by tribal bamboo "longhouses", has been built with a view to creating a total immersion of guests in nature. The center will be staffed by a team of naturalists and marine biologists led by talented naturalist Irshad Mobarak.

The Datai Spa has been enlarged with an air-conditioned treatment studio to join the four other spa villas in the forest, as well as a mani:pedi:cure studio designed by Bastien Gonzalez. The spa will offer a range of treatments strongly inspired by local traditions, using products from the medicinal plant garden and the forest.

The expansion of The Pavillon and The Dining Room restaurants and the reconstruction of the seafront Fitness Centre complete the hotel's new look. The new facilities and brand identity reflect Malaysia's legendary sense of hospitality, with its attention to detail, professionalism and humanity.

**Els Club Teluk Datai: a must.

A wonderful opportunity for golfers from all over the world to discover or rediscover the Els Club Teluk Datai, opened in 2014, an 18-hole par 72, one of the finest golf courses in Southeast Asia, designed by South African Ernie Els, four-time winner of major tournaments.
Just a 10-minute drive from the hotel, the course is set in the heart of the rainforest, with magnificent views over the marble mountains of Guning Mat Cincang and the emerald waters of the Andaman Sea.
Among the course's special features are the total absence of bunkers, spectacular tree-lined holes such as Teluk Datai (hole 7) and Paradise Found (hole 16), and the most difficult hole (hole 8), a double dog-leg par 5 often overflown by eagles, hence the name Eagle's Nest, which is formidable on windy days.
A contemporary clubhouse includes the Hornbill Café restaurant, the Els Lounge, a well-stocked pro-shop, changing rooms and no fewer than 70 golf carts at your disposal.

[Els Club Teluk Datai
The Datai Langkawi
Jalan Teluk Datai, 07000 Pulau Langkawi, Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia
T +60 4 9500 500, F +60 4 9500 600, www.thedatai.com
)]