MALAYSIA | REBAK ISLAND RESORT & MARINA LANGKAWI BLOG REVIEW: What To Expect For A Three-Day Stay ~ A Weekend Travel Guide
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
An island vacation on an island vacation? That’s just how our stay went after our three-day stay at Pantai Cenang. I mean, yes, we’re already on a vacation—a 35-day tour around Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines, to be exact—but on the Langkawi Island leg of our trip, we moved from one of the most popular vacation spots in Malaysia to a more remote one. Well, not really that remote—it’s just a zoom of a speedboat away from Chenang Beach across the Senari Strait—the exclusive Rebak Island Resort; a private island resort in Langkawi Island.
EASY LINKS FOR YOUR REBAK ISLAND RESORT TRIP
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► Rebak Island Resort on Agoda
Easy Airport Transfers
► Car Rentals
Discounted Langkawi Klook Activities
► Water Sports Activities at Cenang Beach
► Island Hopping Shared Speedboat Tour
► Cable Car SkyCab Ticket
► Private Island Adventure at Paradise 101
► Langkawi Underwater World Ticket
| REBAK ISLAND RESORT REVIEW: WHAT TO DO & WHAT TO EAT TABLE OF CONTENTS ~ WHAT’S INSIDE? |
ABOUT REBAK ISLAND
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| THE MOON DECK GAZEBO, A FAMED SPOT AT REBAK ISLAND RESORT |
Experience Your Own Private Island Resort, so goes their tagline. But what really can you expect on a weekend—or even an extended weekend—at Rebak Island Resort & Marina? Rebak Island, the island itself, is located four kilometers away by boat from the famed Pantai Cenang. Inside the 390-acre island are lush forest, private beaches, and a marina. And catering to all of these is one single resort, the Rebak Island Resort & Marina.
Rebak Island Resort & Marina Pet Policy: Unfortunately for pet lovers, Rebak Island Resort & Marina is not pet-friendly. It does not allow pets on its property.
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| REBAK ISLAND RESORT & MARINA’S SWIMMING POOL |
GETTING THERE
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| CENANG TERMINAL WAITING AREA |
From Mercure Langkawi, where we were staying in Pantai Cenang, we took a ten-minute drive via a Grab car to Rebak Island’s boat station, which is located at the northern end of Chenang Beach. The Cenang Terminal is the only way in and out of Rebak Island and a stay on the private island comes with complimentary boat rides.
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| THE SPEEDBOAT RIDE TO REBAK ISLAND |
There’s a scheduled ride every thirty minutes for guests who want to visit Pantai Cenang and other areas of Langkawi Island. The boat schedule starts at 6:00AM and terminates at 12:00MN from the Cenang Terminal. If you don’t want to wait for these scheduled trips, you may pay 160.00 MYR per boat per way. And if you wish to go back later than twelve midnight—like if you’re still not finished partying at Pantai Cenang—a private boat can be requested for 210.00 MYR per boat per way.
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| PANTAI CENANG EVENING AS SEEN FROM REBAK ISLAND |
The boat station is a simple open-aired waiting area with seats and cold drinks for guests.
The speedboat ride itself was fast and exhilarating. I loved the rush of parting the aquamarine waters of Andaman Sea, then the release of slowing down as it entered the placid emerald waters of the Rebak Island’s harbor.
DOCKING ON REBAK ISLAND
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| REBAK ISLAND MARINA |
Docking on the island felt surreal—on super emerald green waters, the harbor bordered by lush towering trees, surrounded by multitudes of white yachts, with nary a sound of civilization. It does feel like entering a totally different island from that of Pantai Cenang.
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| ENTERING REBAK ISLAND RESORT | KID A, WAITING AT THE LOBBY |
From the harbor, we were fetched by golf carts used to service guests around the island. We were soon passing through a classic resort gazebo bridge, and finally to Rebak Island Resort & Marina’s lobby where a cold drink and towel were waiting to refresh us. Checking in took a couple of minutes and we were soon back on the golf cart, being whisked away towards our villa.
ACCOMMODATIONS ON REBAK ISLAND
THE VILLAS & ROOM TYPES
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| MODERN VILLAS AT REBAK ISLAND RESORT |
There are two types of villas on Rebak Island Resort; the original dark chengal hardwood chalets fashioned after kampung-style Malaysian architecture—only much simpler and refined—and the much newer concrete villas, painted in clean whites and accented by dark-stained wood—its form still retaining that traditional architectural style.
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| REBAK RESORT’S ORIGINAL CHENGAL-WOOD VILLAS |
And housed within these two are seven room types, from the basic Deluxe Garden View Rooms to Premium Sea View Suites.
OUR ROOM
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| OUR ACCOMMODATION AT REBAK ISLAND |
During our three-day stay on Rebak Island Resort, we were billeted on their original chalets, which has a more premium location—being closer to the restaurant, pool, and more importantly, the island’s main beach. Granted, these villas do show sign of age, being part of the original resort. We were told, that restorations are being undertaken to restore them to their former stately form.
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| LIVING / BEDROOM AREA |
Our room, a Studio Sea Room, is actually more of a suite than a room. Situated on the second floor, it has its own living area delineated from the bedroom space by the placement of the couch. The ceiling follows the pitch of the roof, creating a really spacious feel, and on the walls area batik paintings, reflecting Langkawi’s culture.
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| WALK-IN CLOSET |
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| TOILET AND BATH |
At the back of the king-bed is a full-blown walk-in closet complete with his and hers lavatory, a vanity table, and lots of closet space. On one of its corners is the toilet and bath, which is fitted with a bath tub—this is probably luxurious back in the day, but it’s pretty basic nowadays.
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| OUR FAVORITE PART OF THE ROOM, THE BALCONY |
The living area of the room opens to a spacious balcony overlooking the beach. We usually spend more of our time here, transforming into our very own private bar during the evenings. Alcohol is extremely cheap in Langkawi, the whole island being duty-free, so we brought a stash of spirits with us, lol. It does get mosquito-ish at night, but we’re prepared with anti-mosquito lotions, so no problem on that front.
►CHECK DISCOUNTED ROOM RATES HERE!
WHAT TO DO IN REBAK ISLAND
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| PLANE FLYING OVER REBAK ISLAND RESORT & MARINA’S MOON DECK |
Rebak Island Resort shines, not because of its rooms and suites—although they are really quite nice—but because of the island itself. There are a lot of things to do in Rebak Island that a full weekend is simply not enough. We initially came to Rebak Island thinking that three days might actually be a tad too long, thinking there’s probably not much we can do on the island, but it turns out, even three days wasn’t nearly enough to experience everything on Rebak island.
►GET DISCOUNTED LANGKAWI TOURS HERE!
REBAK ISLAND BEACHES
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| REBAK ISLAND RESORT’S MAIN BEACH |
The main draw of Rebak Island Resort is its main beach. While there are a lot of beaches in Langkawi, what sets those in Rebak Island is its exclusivity. And the private island has not one, but five beaches—Rebak Resort Beach, Red Rock Beach, Rocky Beach, Freshwater Beach, and Long Beach.
SWIMMING POOL
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| BG & KID A ENJOYING REBAK’S SWIMMING POOL |
If swimming on the beach is not your thing, a hop away from the resort’s main beach is the swimming pool. It has a separate shallow kiddie pool, which is perfect for our toddler, and a main one where I was able to do my usual afternoon laps. It connects to a pool bar, which seemed to be non-operational during our visit.
PLAYROOM & LIBRARY
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| KID A ENJOYING THE PLAYROOM |
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| YOU CAN BORROW BOOKS AT THE LIBRARY |
When your kid tires of the pool, which they probably won’t, there’s a playroom at the lobby area with plenty of educational toys to keep them busy. And while he’s at it, there’s a billiard table outside. Across it, there’s also a small library where guests can borrow books to read.
WALK, RUN, HIKE
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| EXPLORING REBAK ISLAND ON OUR OWN VIA MARKED TRAILS |
For walking and running enthusiasts, and even for those who just love taking nature hikes, Rebak Island has an interesting trail that wounds through the whole area. The trail is marked, and the island isn’t really that big, so getting lost isn’t really a problem. And even with its size, the trail goes through surprisingly thick vegetation that you’ll really feel you’re in the middle of nowhere.
NATURE TRAIL
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| JOINING THE NATURE TRAIL WALK WITH NATURALIST GUIDE, SELVA |
For a more in-depth hike, the Rebak Resort has a free guided 1.6-kilometer nature walk every Sunday that takes you through the heart of the island. Naturalist guide Selva, a very passionate and funny guy, takes you through the trail, pointing out all sorts of herbal medicine and interesting nature facts along the way. Be on the lookout for carnivorous pitcher plants, monkeys, Brahminy kite eagles, and colorful Malaysian oriental pied hornbills.
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| KID A JOINED THE HIKE TOO | PITCHER PLANTS ALONG THE TRAIL |
The morning walk tour starts at around 8:30AM and is usually limited to 15 participants—first to reserve gets the slot. They won’t wait for you, so get up early to have your complimentary breakfast buffet or have it right after the tour, which takes about an hour or so. They also have evening walks that starts around 5:30PM every Thursday.
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| A BREAK AT THE RED ROCKS AREA |
For longer and more challenging hikes to Red Rock Beach or Long Beach, the resort offers a guided tour for two at 120.00 MYR.
BIKE & ATV
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| ATV AT REBAK ISLAND ~ PHOTO FROM REBAK WEBSITE |
If you’re not into walking and would rather sit it out, well, you can still explore the island while sitting—using a bike or better yet, an ATV. Bikes are available for rent at 10.00 MYR per hour, and guided ATV tours are available at 180.00 MYR per person for a ninety-minute ride.
SUNSET CRUISE
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| REBAK ISLAND SUNSET CRUISE ~ PHOTO FROM REBAK WEBSITE |
For a more relaxing and luxurious activity, Rebak Island Resort offers a two-hour sunset cruise aboard the MV Petrus of London. The cruise lasts for two hours and sails around the waters of the Andaman Sea, while guests enjoy a private barbecue. It’s a bit pricey at 450.00 MYR per person with a minimum requirement of four adults, but if you can afford it, why not.
KAYAK & PADDLE BOARD
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| KAYAKING AT REBAK ISLAND ~ PHOTO FROM REBAK FB PAGE |
But if you really can’t afford a cruise around Andaman Sea, kayaking and paddle boarding would be the next best thing to do. Rental is at 60.00 MYR and if you wish to have an hour-long guided tour, just add another 60.00 MYR.
COOKING CLASS
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| COOKING CLASS BY THE BEACH ~ PHOTO FROM REBAK FB PAGE |
Every Mondays during lunchtime, Rebak Island Resort offers cooking classes for the culinarily curious guests. And it’s not just any cooking class, you get to try your hands on two authentic Asian menus, not on the kitchen, but right by the beach! Class fee is at 45.00 MYR, inclusive of lunch prepared by the chefs themselves.
BEACH YOGA
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| SUNRISE & SUNSET BEACH YOGA AT REBAK ~ PHOTO FROM REBAK FB PAGE |
Before the day begins or evening arrives, relax your body and mind by joining Rebak’s free yoga session by the beach. Facilitated by Wong Shinny, a yoga master, start your Wednesdays with a sunrise yoga and a sunset yoga every Monday.
MOVIE UNDER THE STARS
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| REBAK ISLAND MOVIE NIGHT AT THE BEACH |
Before retiring to your room, there’s one more activity to enjoy at Rebak Island Resort, a movie by the beach. Every Thursday nights beach recliners are set by the beach with a choice movie for guests. Drinks are 50% off if you join, and they have free popcorns too.
During our stay, the scheduled movie for the night was Maid in Manhattan.
WHAT TO EAT IN REBAK
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| REBAK ISLAND RESORT’S SENARI SEA VIEW RESTAURANT |
Besides exploring around, another great thing about being on Rebak Island Resort is eating. There is only one restaurant on the island, the Senari Sea View Restaurant, but boy, it’s really more than enough.
►GET DISCOUNTED RESTAURANT VOUCHERS HERE!
BREAKFAST BUFFET
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| BREAKFAST BUFFET AT REBAK ISLAND |
A stay at Rebak Island Resort comes with complimentary breakfast buffet. We’ve tried it twice during our stay and was totally satisfied every time. And we’d usually eat at the lanai area of the restaurant, preferring the open-air environment of their porch.
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| A MIX OF WESTERN AND MALAYSIAN DISHES |
The breakfast fare usually consists of Malaysian and International dishes—all halal, of course. Our usual breakfast spread consists of omelets, beef bacons, sausages, hams, pancakes, local noodles like mee goreng, curry, rice porridge, and some muffins and donuts for desserts.
Breakfast schedule at Rebak Island is from 7:00AM to 11:00AM. We’re late wakers and we’re usually so full after breakfast that we’d skip lunch altogether and go straight for dinner afterwards.
DINNER SPECIALS
On our first night in Rebak Island, we tried a couple of their restaurant specialties.
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| REBAK ISLAND RESORT’S BURGER KINGDOM |
It’s Burger Kingdom for me, where you get to choose your own buns (senari, beet rock, teluk kelubi, and keriang bun), meat patty (ostrich, salmon, wagyu, lamb, venison, turkey, chicken, duck, and vegetarian), fries (steak f, curley, waffle fries, potato wedges, sweet potato, and onion rings), sauces (masala, teriyaki, tomato), plus smoked cheese. My version has senari buns, wagyu patty, onion rings, smoked cheese, and all their sauces!
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| REBAK ISLAND RESORT’S HOUSE OF RENDANG |
For BG, she tried their House of Rendang. First, you choose your version of rendang (Kedah, Minang, Tok, or Daging). Then the choice of meat (mixed veggies, chicken, duck, beef, lamb, ostrich), and what to pair it with (white rice, ghee rice, Lebanese pita bread, or glutinous rice with turmeric). Since we’re at the Kedah State of Malaysia, she chose Rendang Kedah with beef and paired it with steamed white rice.
►BLISSFULGURO’S VIEW: REBAK ISLAND RESORT
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| PINOCCHIO NOSE FOR KID A |
Senari Restaurant also has a special menu for kids with playfully named dishes like Ninja Michelangelo (pizza) and Cuckoo Nest (spaghetti). Kid A chose Pinocchio Nose, which is fried chicken fingers (or fish fingers) served with French fries.
BBQ NIGHTS
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| BBQ NIGHTS AT REBAK ISLAND RESORT |
We were lucky our second night in Senari Restaurant fell on a Saturday where they usually hold their BBQ Nights (98.00 MYR adult, 49.00 MYR kids).
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| BARBECUED SEAFOOD PLUS CHILL LIVE MUSIC |
Grills were set up in front of the restaurant as skewered delights were cooked non-stop—beef, chicken, seafood, everything you can think of, well, except pork, since they’re halal. Besides these, they have non-grilled offerings on the buffet spread inside the restaurant too.
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| SPICY SQUID SKEWERS |
It was the most fun meal and also the best meal we’ve had on the island.
BEACH BAR
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| REBAK’S BEACH BAR AT NIGHT |
While we really didn’t get to hang out at Rebak Island’s bar—since we have our own stash of spirits from Pantai Cenang’s duty free, lol—their bar does really look inviting. Situated right in between towering trees beside the beach, it is open-air, and you can either choose to sip your drinks right there, or by the tables along the beach.
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| CHILLING BY THE BEACH DURING THE EVENINGS |
Happy hour is from 5:00PM to 8:00PM with everything at 50% off, and satays—which is grilled right by the beach—are available from from 5:00PM to 7:00PM.
FINAL THOUGHTS
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| REBAK ISLAND RESORT IS TOTALLLY WORTH IT |
It was a heck of a three-day vacation for us at Rebak Island Resort. What we thought would be a chill stay—one that might be a tad too long and might border on being a bore—turned out to be an action-packed holiday. We got to do so many things; our day always full, always exciting, and with nary a dull moment.
Three days, in fact, wasn’t enough to fully enjoy Rebak Island, there were a few more activities we were unable to try—I guess, that’d be something to look forward to should our feet lead us back to Langkawi.
~ OUR GRATITUDE TO REBAK ISLAND RESORT & MARINA FOR HOSTING OUR STAY, VIEWS & OPINIONS ALL MINE
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Rebak Island Resort & Marina ► ROOM RATES
Address: Rebak Island, Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia
Contact Number: (604) 966-5566
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GPS Coordinates Map: 6.294589, 99.700668
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