Cempedak Private Island

Character and identity

Reached by ferry, car and speedboat from Singapore, this 20-villa adults-only retreat occupies a 42-hectare private island in the Riau archipelago, two-thirds of it left as wild jungle. The architecture is the signature: split-level bamboo villas with spiral staircases and crescent-moon thatched roofs, cooled by sea breeze rather than air conditioning, with woodsy four-posters and stone-floored open showers. A single set-menu restaurant on elevated walkways handles dining, joined by the triple-tier Dodo Bar and an offshore kelong swim-up bar. The Rock Spa overlooks a mangrove bay. Service is informal, first-name, family-style.

Who's it for

Bottom line

The defining draw is the integration of bamboo architecture, sustainability practice and wild island setting into something that feels genuinely soulful rather than performative. Book a beachside villa for direct sand access, come with a partner and a stack of books, and plan at least four nights to justify the three-hour journey in. Dietary needs flagged in advance are handled well.