Indonesia’s Cempedak Island resort is barefoot luxury at its finest

What’s the story? Five years in the making, Cempedak – the common name for the tree known to Latin speakers as Artocarpus integer – is a new private island resort off the east coast of Indonesia’s Bintan Island. It is from the same team behind nearby Nikoi Island, another Robinson Crusoe-esque set up.

How does it differ from Nikoi? Cempedak is a few notches up on the design and cuisine fronts. The main difference, however, is that Nikoi is geared towards families with young children whereas Cempedak is for adults only.

You’ve got my attention. How do I get there? Catch a ferry from Singapore to Bintan (an hour’s crossing), where you’ll be picked up by private car and driven across the island (another hour) to a jetty, from where it’s a 30-minute speedboat ride to Cempedak. Trust us, it’s worth it. Or you could arrive directly by yacht, of course, if you have one to hand.

What does the resort look like? As your chosen vessel approaches the tiny, verdant island, a series of striking, curved bamboo structures come into view. Below their thatched roofs are the villas and public areas of the resort. But Cempedak is not just a pretty face. The owners are committed to eco-friendliness, too. Bamboo is sustainable and the open-sided, high-ceilinged designs cut out the need for air-conditioners. The resort was built by local workers using locally sourced materials and employs only Indonesian staff. Added to that, the owners have set up The Island Foundation, to help improve the income, health and education of surrounding communities.

Tell us about the guest rooms. All villas, they come in two types: beach-fronted or set back and elevated with a view of the sea. Both have airy, open sitting areas, terraces and a plunge pool large enough to get a couple of strokes in. A spiral staircase leads up to a bedroom complete with sitting area to further soak in the view.