Temple Tree Resort

When Narelle McMurtrie moved to Malaysia in 1986, she soon found herself head-over-heels in love with the country and its culture. She began as a restaurateur in Kuala Lumpur, but when she expanded to Langkawi, she began collecting a series of old colonial-era and kampung houses. This collection eventually opened in 2008 as the Temple Tree Resort, an idyllic holiday estate filled with serene groves for relaxation, but also offers opportunities for adventures in and around Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark.

Accommodations are spread out among seven different properties, each relocated from another part of Malaysia, and with their own story to tell.

The Penang House

Built sometime during the early 1930s, its initial inhabitants were a Chinese contractor and their family. Its architecture features common conventions during that decade, and retains its original exterior colour and the two entrances. For its interiors, the decor and design use modern furnishings set in rooms awash in white walls and ceilings.

The Plantation House

A two-story home built in the 1930s on Penang Island, it was the home of a local artisan before it was acquired and relocated to Langkawi. The home features high ceilings and shutter windows, able to use natural ventilation to keep its inhabitants cool. Other classic aspects include the thick wooden pillars and beams, as well as aged wooden doors, which all complement the period-style furniture.

The Johor House

A grand wooden home built by a Chinese family living in Batu Pahat, Johor, and designed with distinct Taiwanese elements. It's notable for being the furthest traveled among the resort's properties. Over a hundred years old, the two-story home was also a farmhouse. After recent renovations, the interiors have been given a new style, with walls and ceilings painted white, and rooms decked in vintage-style furniture.

The Colonial House

With its impressive countenance and stature, the Colonial House is a fine example of Malaysia's British Colonial architectural influences. Notable adornments include cornices on the roof and pillars, ground floor spaces covered in floor tiles, and a striking porch canopy with fish scale designs. Despite the Western elements, the house's original owners were actually goldsmith traders during the 1920s.

The Estate House

Much humbler yet with its own unique charm, the Estate House was once a bunkhouse in the 1940s for Indian workers at a rubber plantation. This property features rooms with very tall ceilings, providing a cool abode even during hot summers. Another notable aspect is that each room has its own veranda and private garden.

The Negeri Sembilan House

Transported all the way from Mantin, a small town southeast of Kuala Lumpur, the Negeri Sembilan House looks very much like an avant-garde take on the traditional kampung house. It was built during the 1940s and features colored glass windows, which make it stand out from other houses in the resort.

The Straits House

A beautiful Eurasian bungalow, the Straits House has the elements of a quintessential colonial home. Its exterior has a veranda porch, as well as balconies where guests can sit outside. Inside, rooms and common spaces are furnished with posh, modern styles, creating a charming contrast between the old and the new.

Paloh Restaurant & Bar

Even the restaurant of Temple Tree Resort is located in a restored colonial-era home. The Paloh Restaurant & Bar is a 100-year-old house from the valley city of Ipoh. Savor the finest samples of Malaysia's multicultural cuisine, including delicacies such as daging kerutuk, a dish of slow-cooked beef in coconut-based gravy. They also serve a variety of international dishes like pizzas and burgers, with the occasional fusion twist such as nasi lemak pizza or rendang burger. For breakfast, the restaurant serves buffets or meal bundles. Options include a Hainan Breakfast, mixed fruit platters, and their bestselling Big Breakfast.

At the bar, guests can indulge in a variety of delectable alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Try their signature mixes like the Paloh Margarita or the Paloh Special GT. They also serve healthy juices and smoothies for health-minded guests. Live bands perform every Monday, from 8 pm until 10 pm.

Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday: 8 am - 11 pm; Thursday to Saturday: 8 am - 12 am
Happy Hour: 5 pm - 7 pm (Daily)

Looking for a unique setting for your destination wedding? The Temple Tree Resort can be transformed into that dream venue you might be yearning for. The tropical jungle provides a wondrous backdrop for solemn ceremonies and vivacious celebrations. You may book one or several of the resort's houses, depending on the size of your entourage. The reception and catering will be handled by Temple Tree Resort, utilizing their long experience in the hospitality industry. Their package options mainly provide privatization of the resort, with slight differences in the availability of the restaurant.

Whether it's fun, cultural enrichment, or relaxation, you'll easily find amazing things to do while staying at Temple Tree Resort.

Sign up for Temple Tree's Batik Painting Class and learn the subtle art of Malaysian batik, taught by masters, so you can discover a new way to express yourself. Another talent you can develop during your visit is your culinary skills. Pick up some new recipes and techniques while attending the Malaysian Cooking Class, and take home the flavors of Langkawi with you.

If you're looking for a wellness retreat, the resort holds yoga classes out on the verdant lawns. Unwinding with a therapeutic massage is also an option, and can be arranged upon request.

Since Langkawi is inscribed as a UNESCO Global Geopark, make sure not to miss out on the incredible natural beauty that makes the archipelago so treasured by the world. Take multiple tours of the islands, visiting mangrove forests by the sea, trekking to jungle waterfalls deep in the mountains, or even just relaxing at one of the scenic beaches.

Notable spots to visit include the Machinchang Cambrian Geoforest Park, where fossils of ancient creatures such as trilobites are found and studied, and the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park, known for its mangroves and karst rock formations.