Hotel Review: Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas, Malaysia

This summer, Malaysia's eastern coastline unveiled a new hidden gem for me: the Desaru Coast.

The Desaru Coast sits on the eastern coastline and offers visitors a captivating blend of relaxation and adventure; whether it's basking on the sun-kissed shores, indulging in luxurious spa treatments, or diving into thrilling water activities, add this destination to your list.

The Location

Just two and a half hours by car from Singapore's Changi International Airport, the Desaru Coast is an up-and-coming destination perched on the edges of the stunning South China Sea, boasting pristine beaches, luxurious resorts, and exciting water activities, it is the ideal location for a memorable escape.

The Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas sits on the the picturesque Desaru Coast where over 17 kilometres of golden sands are within reach, and is the ideal destination for families to visit this summer.

The Resort

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Opened in December 2019, the luxury vacation resort features 116 rooms, suites and villas.

Relax on the edges of the sandy beach, or dive into the resort's infinity pool, explore the vibrant coral reefs on a diving excursion, or indulge in world-class dining – Anantara Desaru Coast Resort aims to cater to every whim.

I was intrigued by the unique architectural design of the resort, which is inspired by a traditional Malaysian fishing village, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, wooden panels, roof vents, and wide doors to enhance natural airflow and keep the interiors cool especially during the summer.

The Rooms

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The Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas offers guests a selection of deluxe guest rooms, several indulgent one and two-bedroom pool villas, alongside a number of spacious three and four-bedroom residences for those seeking ultimate privacy.

These three and four bedroom villas also have a private infinity pool, a full kitchen and even a personal chef and butler services to cater to all your needs, making it the ideal destination for families with children, or intergenerational family travellers.

I stayed in a two-storey, one-bedroom lagoon villa with a private pool. With ample space inside, the villa also invites guests to enjoy the outdoors and the incredible views, the villa I stayed in had a private outdoor terrace which was perfect for taking a in the views with a book early in the morning, and the private pool was an indulgent infinity pool.

The Guests & The Vibe

Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas is a family friendly destination, which also caters to a varied array of discerning travellers.

The luxurious Malaysian resort is renowned for being a family-friendly holiday spot but it is also an ideal destination for those looking to unwind and indulge in the ultimate relaxation and rejuvenation.

Families with children can take advantage of the resort's kids' club and exciting water activities, including the on-site water park, this destination is the perfect creating lasting memories together.

Whether you're looking to keep busy, try new activities, keep the kids entertained or just chill out, there is something for everyone at Anantara Desaru Coast.

The Restaurants

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With 6 different dining experiences on-site, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas offers guests a selection of dining options. From all day dining at Tumeric, to relaxed refreshments at the Observatory Bar, poolside tapas at Infinity Bar and fresh seafood at Sea.Fire.Salt, the options are almost endless.

Special occasion private dining experiences can also be arranged by the culinary team, and can be set up at the beach, in your villa, or in the lush gardens. A personalised, 5-course meal is served as you enjoy the company of loved ones and family - the ultimate experience for a special celebration.

The Amenities

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With an incredible array of activities and amenities, and two swimming pools, your stay at Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas can be as busy or relaxed as you wish.

For families, Layang-layang Kids Club has a jam-packed schedule of fun activities for children. Whilst any teenagers can hang out at the Luncur Ombak Teens Club with fun activities include hand-painting arts and rock painting, watersports and biking around the resort.But the on-site waterpark is a hit with all ages, it has one of the world's largest tidal wave pools, ideal for surfing and boogie boarding. It also features Southeast Asia's first water coaster, alongside water slides and a splash pad area for younger children. Guests staying at the resort can receive a complimentary one-day access. 

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During the day there are plenty of beach activities to participate in such as volleyball and soccer, in addition to unique, family friendly activities such as terrarium making classes, group or private cooking lessons, and even birdwatching. The Desaru Coast is home to more than 100 bird species such as the sea eagle, kingfishers and hornbills. Surprisingly, this was something I really enjoyed, the expert guide was so knowledgable and pointed out lots of beautiful exotic birds.

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Take time to connect with nature and reconnect with the family adventure, the Desaru fruit farm is a must-visit. I got to experience a one-hour jeep adventure with a guide; we went fruit picking and tasted Malaysian fruits including passion fruit, ciku, Jambu air (water rose apple), and longan. One of the stand out moments of this experience was the thrilling ATV route through the farm.

Spice Spoons is a cooking class where guests can cook dishes from the Turmeric restaurant menu, featuring a fusion of Thai and Malaysian cuisine. Under the expert guidance of the resort's chef, I made a flavourful tom yum soup with lobster, followed by a tasty glazed chicken dish, and the traditional, sweet sticky mango rice for dessert. Delicious!

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For those seeking a more relaxing and mindful stay, the sunrise dong stick session was such a beautiful way to start the day, connecting body and mind through slow, thoughtful movements. The Anantara Spa offers guests a top-tier relaxation experience where facials and massages are inspired by Thai and Malay techniques. Perfect for after a long day of activities, or a long flight, the Signature Anantara Massage, which stimulates circulation and relaxes the muscles and leaves you feeling rejuvenated.

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• As a Saudi citizen, you can visit Malaysia visa-free
• Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas is a halal-friendly destination
• The Malaysian Tourism Board is preparing to attract over 35.6 million international tourists for their Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign

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Prices from SAR770 p/n
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