Overwater bungalows in Malaysia offer a unique and luxurious stay that combines comfort with nature’s beauty. If you are dreaming of an unforgettable vacation, these stunning Overwater bungalows in Malaysia are the perfect escape.
Yes, there are overwater bungalows in Malaysia. They can be seen off the shores of some of the incredible islands in Malaysia.
These offbeat staying places are also called stilt houses in the water.
Overwater bungalows are built very close to the beaches. Some of them are fitted with glass floors that make it easy for the guests to watch the marine creatures, while comfortably lounging in a recliner within the accommodation that is standing in the water.
Another unbelievable facility in some overwater villas is a private plunge pool that is built within the accommodation.
I mean, you don’t have to take the risk of getting into the sea, but still enjoy the water by immersing yourself in the attached private pool that is right over the sea.
Where were the first overwater bungalows built and when?
Surprisingly, they were built in the remote French Polynesia, an island chain in the South Pacific Ocean.
Moorea, one of the highly popular islands owned by France, is where the first overwater huts appeared during the year in 1960. It is interesting to note that they were created by a few Americans.
Polynesia, France, and America-what a wonderful combination!
Naturally, this innovative way of staying in offbeat places caught on. Fiji implemented it soon, and incredibly it travelled all the way to the Maldives in the Indian Ocean.
Which kind of water body is ideal for building overwater bungalows?
Lagoons are the best water bodies because of the absence of waves and water currents.
The water should be shallow with great clarity, and of course warm enough for the underwater living beings to thrive.
These conditions exist off the Caribbean Islands, African islands, and in the South Pacific Ocean.
Of late, the Malaysians adopted the idea to increase their tourism. Here are some of the superb overwater bungalows in Malaysian waters that support rich marine life.
Malaysia is an absolute tropical paradise for tourists who love to see underwater life by snorkeling, and scuba diving.
Is Malaysia an under-rated country for water-based activities?
I would say so. The main reason is the mainland natural attractions in Malaysia are so good that the tourists forget there is another side of Malaysia that is equally engaging.
8 Stunning Overwater Bungalows in Malaysia
Let us look at some of the Overwater Bungalows in Malaysia exist just beyond some attractive white beaches.
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Semporna, Sabah
Sabah is one of the Malaysian states but it is not part of mainland Malaysia. It is inside the island of Borneo in which Malaysia has a share. Sabah, and Sarawak are the two states of Malaysia that are located in Borneo.
Semporna is a city on the southeast coast of Sabah state in Borneo.
Dragon Inn Floating Resort is located in Semporna, Sabah, Malaysia. The overwater bungalows are called “Water Chalets” here. I think this is a very appropriate name for water villas.
Apart from a restaurant that is known to serve delicious fare of local cuisine, the guests can enjoy the facilities of a spa.
This region of Malaysia is known for great diving sites. If you rent a water chalet, you can join an exclusive diving tour. If you have trepidation, you can still enjoy getting into the beautiful water and wearing a snorkel.
Another exciting way to spend time, you can charter a boat, and go island hopping. There are 395 islands that are part of Sabah. They include Sipadan, Pom Pom, Mabul, and Sibuan.
Sipadan Island is popular for its excellent diving spots. The island is located just about 50 km only from your floating resort.
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Gayana Island, Sabah,
Sabah is part of the Island of Borneo which is shared by Indonesia and the Kingdom of Brunei. Along with Sabah, Sarawak is another state of Malaysia that is also a part of Borneo Island.
The Gayana Marine Resort offers beautiful bungalows that are built over the South China Sea.
Man, isn’t it heart-stealing? Guest are treated with various outdoor activities such as scuba diving, kayaking stand-up paddling, snorkeling, and finally, paddleboarding which is a non-swimmer-friendly water sport.
The overwater accommodations come with glass flooring, and a deck, right over the sea making you feel like you are in paradise on Earth.
The marine resort is known for providing delicious Malaysian food.
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Langkawi Island
St. Regis Langkawi Resort is whom you have to approach for inquiring and booking an exotic bungalow over the water.
This is a five-star resort that offers both land and overwater accommodations.
The latter are only four in number and that implies, advance reservation is a must.
The 99 islands of Langkawi are floating in the Andaman Sea which is also called Burma Sea,an extension of the Indian Ocean, on the west coast of Malaysia.
Langkawi Island is fondly called the Jewel of Kedah, because of its stunning natural beauty and rich culture.
The overwater bungalows are bungalows in the true sense because of their quite large sizes. The resort is owned by the Marriot Hotels.
You can expect a terrace overlooking the Andaman Sea, a plunge pool that is beautifully merges with the sea thus making it an infinity pool,.
The crown in the jewel is the exclusive butler attached to you. Even the restaurant is an overwater affair!
I reckon the St. Regis Resort in Langkawi Island is the best place to spend your first or second honeymoon.
The St. Regis Langkawi Resort and Spa is pure luxury personified.
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Lexis Hibiscus Overwater Bungalow Resort, Port Dickson
Lexis Hibiscus is one of the largest overwater bungalow resorts in Malaysia. The resort is part of the Negeri Sembilan State in Malaysia.
The overwater bungalows are conveniently located near the county’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur. Just an hour’s drive will get you the stunning Port Dickson. The place is one of the must-visit beach towns in Malaysia.
Look at the bungalows standing over the water.
Wow!. Aren’t they creatively designed? They are built over the waters of the Strait of Malacca, which connects the Andaman Sea and the South China Sea.
Each overwater room at Lexis Hibiscus comes with a private pool that leads you to the Malacca Strait. In addition, there is also a sun deck and a spa. You have several options to unwind and experience underwater exploration.
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Pangkor Laut Island
The name of the resort that offers overwater villas is Pangkor Laut Resort.
You can look forward to hopping on two islands to reach the resort. The first island you need to visit is Marina Island. From here, a 15-minute ride on a speedboat will get you to the privately owned Pangkor Laut Island.
Oh, you must know the nearest airports to the Marina Island-right?
Here is some useful information.
- Ipoh Airport is about 73.8 kilometers away.
- Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport is 163 kilometers away
- Penang International Airport is roughly 130 kilometers away.
The island and the stilt houses are located on the Strait of Malacca
The scenic villas on the water have a lovely backdrop of lush rainforests. Visualize a rainforest that leads to the Malacca Strait, and in between, the overwater Sea Villas, and Spa Villas.
Here is a wonderful video that has captured all the beauties of the Pangkor Laut Resort.
Would that lure you to spend your next holiday there in Malaysia?
For your information, the Pangkor Laut Resort bagged the best resort in the world award, given by the highly respected Conde Nast Traveller travel magazine.
Apart from a small balcony, a sprawling sun deck is the alluring feature of the overwater villas.
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Berjaya Langkawi Resort
Berjaya Langkawi Resort is located on the island of Langkawi, Malaysia.
Similar to the Pangkor Laut Resort, this one also has a backdrop of rainforest, home to some fantastic species of birds.
The beach behind the overwater bungalows has white sand. I think this feature is a rarity in Malaysia.
The Andaman Sea beaches generally have golden sand.
As usual, you can expect a picturesque balcony that gives a panoramic view of the Andaman Sea.
There is a large overwater bungalow that comes with a Jacuzzi, outside the wooden property. That should meet your money’s worth, buddy!
A spa is there to pamper you after you take a leisurely stroll in the jungle behind.
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Grand Lexis, Port Dickson
This beach resort on the southwest coast of Malaysia is the most-visited resort in the country.
Grand Lexis lives up to the word, literally. As many as 300 overwater villas welcome you. Each of them comes with a private pool.
That is a tremendous feature. In addition, a balcony gives you ample space to sit and gaze at the horizon.
Another notable facility of the water villas is the glass floor that enables us to see the swimming fish below.
Don’t imagine the entire water villa’s floors are made of glass. Just a small, square glass panel gives you an underwater view.
The beds are large. The rooms are air-conditioned. Overall, the ambiance is what will capture fascination.
Port Dickson sits, abutting the Strait of Malacca. This coastal city can be reached in about 2 hours by taxi from Kuala Lumpur.
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Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort, Kuala Lumpur
This is the nearest site for renting a water bungalow from Kuala Lumpur. 30 minutes drive from Kuala Lumpur’s airport is all you need to step into the picturesque and luxurious overwater accommodation on the Strait of Malacca.
This resort is also very large. 300+ over the water villas are available for rent, throughout the year.
The 300+ properties are arranged aesthetically, giving you the impression of a palm tree. I think, only an aerial view will give you that impression.
You can expect all the modern amenities such as air-conditioning, a private pool, a balcony, and even a small kitchen.
It is clear that Malaysia is not lagging behind the Maldives, and the French Polynesia for offering offbeat accommodations such as overwater bungalows.
