A stay at the Kasturi, a luxury coastal resort in Cherating is a time-and-tested solution for a relaxing and rejuvenating escape from city bustle
Beach on one side, river to another, and rainforest behind – The Kasturi is the modern luxury retreat Cherating needed. This intimate, small-scale resort designed by celebrated Malaysian architect Hijjas Kasturi is a modern, thoughtful take on a traditional beach resort. No battling crowds or queues here, with just 23 rooms in the resort and exclusive access to a quiet, well-kept beach.
For the full experience, book yourself into one of the signature beachfront villas, set across the Pantai Chendor beachfront. The villas are designed in a unique blend of the modernist style Hijjas Kasturi is famed for, with the influences of traditional Malay architecture. There are one-, two- and three-bedroom villas to account for different sizes of travelling parties, and each villa has its own private pool, deck and immediate access to the beach and forest.
Brushing up against the forest is the main building, another stunning piece of architecture that houses sea view pool suites, the main pool and deck, Kenyang Restaurant, bar, lounge, fitness facilities and spa. Kenyang Restaurant is a celebration of the Malaysian dishes and produce beloved within the country, and pays special note to lesser-known local Kelantanese delicacies. Enjoy wild rice, rich curries, fresh, fragrant herbs and all kinds of fish dishes.
And while the resort is perfect for relaxing, that’s not the only thing to do. The Kasturi’s natural surroundings are ideal for exploring, whether that’s spotting sea eagles on an early morning beach walk, or a treetop wander along the elevated walkway to see the mangrove blue flycatcher, fireflies and tiny gliding lizards. Take an inflatable kayak down the river and look out for the family of otters and mangrove birds. Speaking of which, there are serious birding adventures to be had here, with the abundance of different natural habitats around the resort to explore, from mangrove river to coastal forest to grass fields, all within walking distance. Keen-eyed visitors will be able to spot a huge variety of native Malaysian birds, from kingfishers to hornbills to flowerpeckers and many more.
Don’t leave The Kasturi without a visit to the Rimbun Dahan Turtle Hatchery. Here you’ll see firsthand the resort’s efforts to nurture the local endangered sea turtle community, and if the time is right you’ll even be able to take part in releasing the baby hatchlings to sea. the-kasturi.com
