THE KASTURI

Peninsular Malaysia’s east coast is about to witness the opening of a luxurious, smallscale resort. Less than an hour’s drive to the north of Kuantan, the Pahang state capital, The Kasturi overlooks a 1.3-kilometer-long beach near an estuary where the Pak Siak river empties into the South China Sea. Its 24 rooms are mostly beachfront pool villas— distinctive A-frame structures that feature private deck areas with gardens, outdoor showers, and more. The resort’s main building contains six single-bedroom suites and two penthouses that can be opened up into one generously sized two-bedroom suite, while communal facilities include a restaurant, bar, spa treatment rooms, and a beachfront 20-meter pool. The Kasturi also runs a turtle hatchery with daily releases scheduled between May and October. Green credentials extend to sourcing organic produce for resort kitchens, along with the conservation of the existing on-site forest and mangroves. Km 32.5, Jl. Kuantan–Kemaman, Cherating, Pahang, Malaysia; 60-9/582-5000; the-kasturi.com