The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
Private-island luxury in an Indonesian eco-paradise
Haloed by golden sands and the gently lapping South China Sea, this gorgeous do-gooding private island retreat has 20 eco-fabulous villas (each with four-poster beds and private pools), a bar shaped like a seashell and a magical array of wildlife for neighbours.
Location 8/10
The island of Cempedak rests in the unspoilt Riau Archipelago in northern Indonesia, just 50 nautical miles from the coast of Singapore, and can be reached in less than three hours from Changi airport. The journey involves a 50-minute ferry to the island of Bintan, a one-hour drive, and a 30-minute speedboat transfer – worth every minute when you lay eyes on this picture-perfect private island retreat.
Style/character 9/10
Sustainable design at its sexiest. Built almost entirely from natural materials – bamboo, recycled teak, local rock – Cempedak has been designed to blend into the rich natural flora and fauna of the island. Other green initiatives work on water and waste, the supply chain, conservation and the community – and it has all been done without a single ounce of style being sacrificed. Expect eyepopping elemental designs – boomerang-shaped villas, shaggy alang-alang roofs, shapely wooden furniture – and a laid-back life-is-good vibe.
Service & facilities
jungle. It’s home to a wonderful array of wildlife – a family of adorable sea otters, dozens of oriental pied hornbills, at least one pangolin (a highly endangered species), while passers-by include bottlenose dolphins and green sea turtles. Soak it all up with a range of complimentary and paid-for activities, including kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and sailing. Or venture into the interior where you’ll find nature walks, lawn tennis courts and croquet. A spa will also be added to the property towards the end of the year – in-room treatments can be arranged in the meantime. Service is warm and attentive.
Rooms 9/10
Cempedak’s 20 bamboo villas – some on the beach, some on the hillside – sport the same eco-smart design; open-air complexes spread over two floors linked by spacious decks and spiral staircases with curvaceous thatched roofs swooping over the lot. There are also private pools, four-poster beds and loungers on the deck (perfect for sunbathing and star-gazing). If the thought of no air-conditioning makes you panic, fear not; a constant sea breeze teamed with super energyefficient fans keeps things surprisingly cool. Bathrooms have indoor and outdoor showers. There is no access for guests with disabilities.
Food & drink 9/10
In keeping with its environmentally friendly principles, Cempedak works hard to source locally and reduce waste, but again, it’s done with such panache you’d never know unless you were told.
A daily rate (£55) includes three plentiful meals a day. Overseen by Bali-based food sage Penelope Williams, breakfast includes a tropical fruit platter, pastry baskets and a choice of eggs or muesli. Lunch and dinner are a delicious fusion of local and modern Asian flavours – think zesty squid salads, Balinese roast chicken or slipper lobster with creamy risotto. Menus are set and provided in advance, but if you just want a sandwich they can do that, too.
Romantic dinners à deux, picnics on deserted islands and barbecues on the beach can also be arranged.
There’s only one place to be at sunset, and that’s the enigmatic Dodo Bar, sitting above the water’s edge workingyour way through Cempedak’s huge collection of rum and gin.
Cempedak Private Island, Indonesia
Value for money 7/10
Room-only villas from £258 year-round, with a minimum two-night stay. Dining plan, which includes breakfast, two-course lunch and three-course evening meal, from an additional £55 per person per night. Speedboat transfer costs £52 per person. Free Wi-Fi.
Family-friendly?
The resort is restricted to guests aged 16 and over. Air Gelubi, Bintan Pesisir, Bintan Regency, Riau Islands, Indonesia (00 62 811 7008 040; cempedak.com).