Langkawi is the Malaysian holiday island that continues to call us back. We’ve been lucky enough to visit many times, staying in everything from luxury hotels to boutique hideaways and budget friendly guesthouses. There’s so much to love, past trips have seen us explore the island on a motorbike, chasing hidden beaches, soaking up breathtaking views, and always on the lookout for a fresh coconut, an oat milk latte, or something perfectly plant based for lunch. But this trip was different. This time, our only goal was to slow down, unwind, and savour a carefully curated vegan staycation, choosing a vegan friendly luxury resort that felt like home and restaurants that proudly fly the vegan flag.

Stay at Ambong Pool Villas

By choosing to stay at Ambong Pool Villas, we gifted ourselves a peaceful escape that felt both indulgent and deeply restorative. From the moment we arrived, the friendly team made us feel like family, offering the kind of warm hospitality that turns a hotel stay into something truly memorable.

Our villa, Kuang, came with a private pool that was not only huge but boasted the most incredible views over the jungle canopy and distant sea. We spotted dusky leaf monkeys, macaques, hornbills and black giant squirrels foraging in the surrounding trees, a reminder that we were sharing this tranquil retreat with the island’s native wildlife. Waking up to nature and dipping into our pool before vegan breakfast quickly became the perfect way to start each day.

Dine at Pegaga

Dining at Pegaga is a must when visiting Langkawi, this 100% vegan restaurant is nestled within Ambong Rainforest Retreat but welcomes guests from both resorts and the public too. We discovered it on a previous trip when searching for the best vegan options on the island and knew we had to return. This time, staying with Ambong away meant we could work our way through their creative menu at leisure. One of our dining highlights was surprisingly simple: hummus and falafels. The hummus was wonderfully creamy, topped with lightly fried falafels full of flavour, and sautéed peppers and onions that brought the whole dish together. The smoothie bowls offered a healthy start to the day, vibrant and nourishing. But we couldn’t resist the indulgent side of the menu either, the vegan carrot cake and French toast (served with homemade coconut ice cream) were utterly delicious.

The true standouts, though, were the veganised versions of classic Malay dishes. The jungle laksa was hearty and comforting, while the masak lemak combined rich coconut flavours with herbs picked from the onsite garden. The nasi lemak was so good we had it twice, a bold and beautifully balanced plate of sambal, rice, curry, and tempeh. The congee was another favourite, far surpassing other vegan versions we’ve tried elsewhere. Clearly, the menu at Pegaga has been developed with thought, creativity, and respect for traditional Malaysian flavours, all while keeping it plant based.

Stay at Ambong Rainforest Retreat

Consider Ambong Rainforest Retreat for your vegan vacation in Langkawi if you’re looking to disconnect and recharge in a truly special setting. This private estate, with only 11 suites, studios and cottages, offers a peaceful sanctuary surrounded by towering jungle trees and the sounds of nature. The shared pool is a refreshing oasis in itself, perfect for a post breakfast swim or simply to relax under the jungle canopy.

What makes this place truly special is the combination of adult only tranquillity, a fully vegan restaurant onsite, and a wellness programme that includes daily morning yoga with Ms Sugu and restorative treatments at Amaala Spa. It’s the kind of place that encourages you to slow down and breathe deeply, an ideal escape from the noise of everyday life.

Dine at The Fat Frog

Dine at The Fat Frog to enjoy their ”healthy and earthy dining in a stunning setting” including some of the most delicious vegan desserts we’ve ever had. Located about 15 minutes away from Ambong by taxi, this vegetarian restaurant offers sweeping views over a golf course and the lush surrounding hills.

We started our visit with drinks and snacks on the sunset terrace, a peaceful spot that set the tone for a memorable meal. From the remarkable vegan rendang to the wholesome falafel bowl and the rich spaghetti with homemade vegan meatballs, every dish was full of flavour and flair. But the desserts really stole the show. The key lime pie and pecan slice, both served with coconut ice cream, were so good we were already planning our return to eat them again before we’d even finished.

We loved our perfect vegan vacation in Langkawi. Feeling blessed to be based just a short flight away from this tropical paradise, we know we’ll be back again soon. This visit might be hard to beat though, the combination of luxurious stays, inspiring jungle surroundings, kind hearted people and mouthwatering vegan food has set a new standard for future holidays. Whether you’re vegan, plant curious, or simply love good food and peaceful places, Langkawi is most certainly a destination that delivers.

With over 200 courses to fit all budgets and handicaps, Malaysia is a golfing destination waiting to be discovered, from hill country courses away from the heat and humidity to city centre courses and beautiful landscaped courses next to the ocean there truly is something for everyone. Once you’ve chosen where to play you’ll have no problem finding somewhere to stay with luxury hotels and resorts up and down the country to choose from. For our most recent golf trip in Malaysia we carefully selected two of the finest courses and two luxury hotels that were just a short drive away which when combined demonstrates exactly why Why Malaysia should be your next luxury golf vacation. Malaysia boasts a number of top tier courses, many of which are situated between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru, offering easy access from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and also convenient for golfers heading over from Singapore explore Malaysian golf offerings.

Stay at Renaissance Johor Bahru

Renaissance Johor Bahru is where we stayed prior to our round at Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club, which being just a short drive away allowed us to enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel before heading to the course. This five star luxury hotel is located in the thriving township of Permas Jaya, making it an ideal choice for business and leisure travellers alike as there are countless restaurants, spas and eateries just a short walk from the hotel. Easy access to the highway and less than 10km from Johor Bahru city centre and the crossing to Singapore further enhance the excellent strategic location. Our Bayview King Room boasted modern amenities and views over the straits of Singapore, whilst the exceptional service from the moment we arrived ensured for a very enjoyable stay. We enjoyed a post golf unwind in the outdoor pool but didn’t find time to make use of the well equipped gym during our stay, instead we decided to explore the various dining options on offer within the hotel.

Dine at Renaissance Johor Bahru

We enjoyed all of our dining experiences at Renaissance Johor Bahru, whether it was during long and leisurely breakfasts at Cafe BLD, healthy and nutritious plant based bowls of goodness for a light lunch, or indulgent Cantonese feasts for dinner at Wan Li. The menus are clearly marked with vegetarian options, with many dishes that can easily be adapted to be vegan. They even offered a fully vegan set menu at Wan Li, which we of course we indulged in during our stay. With the multiple dining options to choose from at Renaissance Johor Bahru, and a staff team happy to make changes where required, we most certainly didn’t go hungry. Executive Chef Fiffi and his excellent team were the perfect hosts and made sure we had breakfast, lunch, and dinner options that were exciting and delicious. We even enjoyed vegan cakes from the breakfast buffet, a ‘naughty but nice’ treat that we made the most of!

Play at Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club

By choosing to play eighteen holes at Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club you are selecting one of the best courses in southern peninsular Malaysia. Located in Iskandar Puteri, this 18 hole championship course presents a challenging yet enjoyable experience for golf lovers of all handicaps. Designed by renowned golf course architect Ross Watson, the course is known for incorporating natural elements like lakes and elevation changes to further enhance the experience.

The highlight of our round was a perfect birdie on the par 3 third from Paul (my playing partner for the week) effortlessly hitting his 8 iron to with 15ft, then rolled the tricky downhill putt into the centre of the hole for a memorable two on his scorecard. That was the first and last birdie for either of us during what proved to be a challenging yet enjoyable morning of golf on this Johorean jewel of a course. The only other ‘notable achievement’ was us both avoiding the water on the par 5 eighteenth allowing us to end our rounds with a couple of pars, which left us wanting more, determined to return and post more respectable scores at the pristine Horizon Hills Golf & Country Club.

Stay at The Westin Kuala Lumpur

We chose to stay at The Westin Kuala Lumpur during the weekend of our round at Kota Permai Golf & Country Club as we wanted to be in the heart of the city with easy access to the bustling Bukit Bintang district where we planned to spend the evening. But before that we wanted to enjoy the blend of comfort , convenience and luxury that this five star hotel has to offer offer guests who choose to stay in one of the well appointed 443 rooms, suites or residences.

Our spacious and stylish One Bedroom Residence boasted a separate lounge area, small balcony and a bathtub which was very welcome after our golfing adventures. Having stayed at a number of Westin Hotels and Resorts in the region we knew that we were guaranteed a restful and relaxing sleep, as each and every room is equipped with their signature Westin Heavenly® Bed. Our chosen room type granted us access to ‘The Westin Club’ which is open from 0600-2200 daily and offers drinks, refreshments and a changing selection of food offerings throughout the day in addition to the various F&B outlets within this luxury hotel.

Dine at The Westin Kuala Lumpur

The Westin Kuala Lumpur made a strong impression with its vegan friendly approach to dining. Starting each day with a standout Indian breakfast selection that quickly became a daily highlight. Mini uttapam, lentil vadai, aloo mutter, spicy tomato chutney, and rice were just some of the dishes on offer, with Mr Anil always on hand to ensure we had enough vegan options to enjoy in addition to the excellent Indian dishes. These included vegan pancakes, oatmeal with berries, vegan noodle soup and healthy salads with organic leaves from BoomGrow Farms who have partnered with Westin in Malaysia to offer fresh and vibrant salad leaves in each of their three resorts.

We were very excited to discover a dedicated plant based section on the à la carte menu at The Living Room which is where we also enjoyed breakfast. During our stay, we worked our way through the menu, trying everything from cumin spiced lentil soup and protein packed chickpea quinoa salad to a ‘no chicken’ burger served in a green tea bun. The vegan bolognaise and sweet and sour vegan meatballs stood out as favourites, while mango sago with coconut cream and gula Melaka provided the perfect sweet ending. These thoughtful menu inclusions made dining as a vegan at The Westin Kuala Lumpur an absolute pleasure.

Play at Kota Permai Golf & Country Club

Located in Shah Alam, just south of Kuala Lumpur, Kota Permai Golf & Country Club is easily accessible via the highway from central Kuala Lumpur or direct from KLIA, making it a convenient destination for a weekend of world class golf. Widely regarded as one of Malaysia’s best courses, it has hosted the prestigious Malaysian Open and welcomed legendary players including Francesco Molinari and Rory McIlroy, who famously aced the par 3 fourth during the pro am.

Our own round may not have been as headline worthy, but we thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this exceptional course. Playing in a three ball with Mr Selva and guided by outstanding caddies, we were able to navigate the lightning fast greens and tricky pin placements with confidence. Their expert advice proved invaluable, and thanks to their support, we posted our best scores of the week, both comfortably in the eighties. Despite the strong performance, a few shots slipped away towards the end of our round. Reaching the green in regulation on the narrow par 4 16th kept us dry with the water hazard running left, but a frustrating three putt from 20 feet followed. On the par 5 18th, after reaching the green side in two on the 520 yard hole, a chip and another three putt left us with a disappointing double bogey to finish. But this didn’t take away what is a truly stunning course that should most certainly be part of your next Malaysia luxury golf vacation!

Being based in the region we are blessed with some amazing courses to choose from with those in Malaysia being some of the best. The value for money when compared to neighbouring Singapore where a round on one of the best courses combined with a stay at one of the finest hotels would be out of most peoples budget is truly remarkable, making Malaysia an excellent option for your next luxury golf vacation. Malaysia offers the perfect blend of world class golf courses, five star hotels, seamless connectivity between major cities and being adjacent to neighbouring Singapore further enhances the appeal. Whether you choose to tee off amidst the serene landscapes of Horizon Hills or navigate the challenging fairways of Kota Permai, your Malaysia luxury golf vacation promises memories to treasure, even if the golf lets you down. But this is golf right? If it was too easy we would all be turning pro and all of a sudden, the mystique and the never ending pursuit to improve your game would disappear which none of us want. But maybe we would? Touring the world in a private jet and playing golf on the best courses in the world doesn’t sound too bad after all…