Dubai, United Arab Emirates – October 2019 – Cempedak Private Island, just 14 km from the East coast of Bintan, Indonesia, offers conscientious barefoot luxury to the discerning traveller. Since the island’s launch in March 2017, the adults-only destination has redefined the art of unwinding with an emphasis on admirable environmental and social living practices, that make it a model of responsible business ethics in the region.
THE VILLAS
This bamboo resort nestles comfortably into its jungle island habitat offering guests beautifully appointed accommodation, complementing the natural world it rests in. Handcrafted from bamboo with ‘alang alang’ grass roofs designed to promote natural ventilation, the two storey villas are over 150sqm and incorporate a spacious upstairs bedroom, an ensuite bathroom and a balcony with glorious ocean views. Downstairs showcases a spacious lounge area with an open-air deck area and a 1.3-meter deep private teardrop pool for a truly secluded experience.
The interiors pamper guests with barefoot luxury at its very best. With vaulted ceilings, electric fans and a king size bed resplendent in luxurious organic white cotton sheets. Ensuite bathrooms have modern fittings set amongst the contrasting natural stone and bamboo textures.
ROCK SPA
The Rock Spa is a unique haven of tranquility nestled on top of impressive granite boulders in an eastern mangrove bay. All three double treatment rooms overlook the ocean allowing guests to relax and restore to the sound of ocean waves on the rocky shoreline below. The Rock Spa offers unrivalled holistic, authentic treatments inspired by traditional techniques, with a focus on providing individualistic tailored experiences based on the guests’ needs.
DINING
Dining at Cempedak is a journey through the region’s local produce and unique flavours. Locally sourced ingredients are transformed by Executive Chef Dika and Chef de Cuisine Bambang into a memorable culinary experience. F&B consultant Penny Williams, whose experience at London’s Savoy and the Bathers Pavilion in Mosman lends a tangible refinement to the offerings at Cempedak.
Cempedak changes their menu daily serving only the freshest seasonal produce available, prepared with a fusion of Indonesian and international flavours. Barbequed seafood, local dishes and tropical fruits feature prominently on the menu as well as a variety of fresh vegetables, free-range chicken and eggs from their farm on Bintan.
There are no single-use plastic bottles on the island and the Cempedak team make their own syrups, soda water, coconut milk etc. to significantly cut down packaging rubbish.
ACTIVITIES
The concept of Cempedak’s activities is to provide something for everyone. Exploring the natural environment is the focus around all activities. Guests can choose from a vast array of aquatic activities including; stand-up paddle boarding, scuba diving, kayaks, island hopping, snorkelling and sailing. On land, tennis courts, croquet and boules are complemented by nature walks, which take in the lush flora and fauna as well as the rare species including Pangolins, Silver Leaf Monkeys, Sea Otters and Hornbills.
THE BUILD
Cempedak’s commitment to conservation is to ensure that not only is the environment protected, but also to guarantee that where there has been change, efforts are made to restore it. Like its sister, Nikoi Private Island, which is constructed of driftwood, Cempedak is made from hand-picked bamboo sourced from the Indonesian Islands of Java and Sumatra.
Founder Andrew Dixon explains, “we chose to build with bamboo because it is the most sustainable building material available, you can do amazing things with it in terms of design and we knew we could source it locally”. Not only was Cempedak built and is operated using local materials, labour and services, but the owners took this one step further by teaching many of their contractors and staff new trades and techniques, a passion that stems from their commitment to sharing of knowledge and creating lasting change through education which is further solidified through The Island Foundation.
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