Japamala Resort

Okay the journey to get here may be convoluted dependent upon your starting point but the travel is part and parcel of the experience and unless you have need to clock watch then just go with the flow. A ferry from Mersing to Genting (with Cataferry) took about 1hr 15 minutes where we were greeted with an enthusiastic wave from Robert the Japamala manager. Assisting Robert at the quay were a number of staff from the resort to help with luggage. A short hop along the coast in the resorts own boat captained by Christopher brought us to the Japamala jetty and a greeting from Mike the assistant resort manager and restaurant manager. We were led to our home for the next 7 days - The delightful Penghulu House situated a stone's throw from the crystal clear South China sea and we were immediately struck by the calmness and tranquillity of the house and its location. We had opted for the 7 night inclusive package taking full advantage of the inclusions - a snorkelling session, romantic beach dinner with set menu, nightly sundowners on the jetty, a massage, afternoon tea and daily laundry. We also opted to take the included trip + walk to a nearby waterfall. Japamala is surrounded by nature, no matter where your accommodation is you will be sure to come across the native wildlife. We were privileged to be close enough to the sea to observe from our balcony fish swimming, lizards climbing trees and Malaysian giant black squirrels scurrying along between trees and visits from resident long tail macaque. Breakfast allowed for a lazy start to the day, the buffet was available until about 11am and the a la carte options until 3pm and both offered some very tasty options During our visit we enjoyed eating in the main restaurant and on the jetty serving BBQ fish and sea food. The main restaurant doesn't have an extensive evening menu but on the whole is good. We were slightly disappointed with a lamb curry, having travelled in South East Asia on a number of occasions we felt the spice level and flavours were a little lacking, that said I dare say had we asked for an uplift in the spice department it would have been delivered. The BBQ fish on the jetty was probably our favourite evening meals. To have the sundowners whilst watching the sun setting was so peaceful and relaxing. The variety and freshness of the catch to follow was exemplary. Price wise as with and fish restaurant we have been to the fish/sea food is sold by weight, for example a 600g Golden Snapper at 52 MYR per 100g and with the addition of local tax came in at 361 MYR or £69 - BBQ Prawns (6) 78.88MYR or £15 and 2 BBQ Squid 81 MYR or £15.52. Other fish was available, Grilled Grouper @ 44 MYR + tax and Sea bass. The Romantic Dinner! I have always shied away from the 'Dinner on the Beach' concept due to the fear of the sun setting and fading light making things difficult to see. This fear came true when try as we might we had to revert to the torch on the i-phone. An improvement in lighting or repositioning of the table would go some way to improving the ambiance. The menu for this 'Dinner on the Beach' was very good but for us we were slightly over faced with the quantity but certainly not the quality. Every member of staff we interacted with were all quite charming and willing to engage in conversation. The house keeping was provided by Akash and Taizul and was exceptional in both quality and thoughtfulness The restaurant was overseen by Mike assisted by Saw and Sameer, professional ever willing to serve and ensuring our needs were met. Chef's Boi and I QA produced some very nice food for the main restaurant and perfectly cooked fish/sea food on the jetty after the Sundowners. We also need to mention the hard working ground staff A Saw and Robin who always had a smile and acknowledged our presence and the lady in the spa providing us with a great massage. A big shout out to Robert for taking the time to listen to our observations. For anyone contemplating a visit to Japamala don't go expecting marble floors and crystal chandeliers, this is a small rustic but luxury resort in the middle of nature. Japamala resort is true to its concept, it provided us with the peace and tranquillity we had been looking for. Yes Japamala SUCKED us into a world of calm serenity where our inner wellbeing was recharged and refreshed. Would we return? absolutely in a heartbeat.

We thoroughly enjoyed our two-night stay at Japamala. The cliffside house was truly fantastic. It was a little unfortunate that the heavy rainfall limited our ability to participate in activities such as kayaking, hiking, and snorkeling. Perhaps fishing at the jetty would be a good alternative for the rainy season. I also wanted to extend my sincere thanks for the motion sickness medicine that resort manager tried very hard to get for me—it was exceptionally helpful.

Best place I have stayed in. The Sea cliff view chalet was absolutely stunning! We would return again for sure. The beach is beautiful too and the staff are very professional. Special thank you to Rocco who took us on a hike to the highest point of the resort that really made our day. All in all 5 stars, dinner portions must be larger though but the fact that you get room service twice a day is actually EPIC

This unpolished gem will beguile you from the moment you walk from the sundowner over the water bar to the reception. Sea cliff rooms are perched over looking the South China Sea and golden beach below. Rooms are rustic with luxury bedding. Glamping at its finest. The staff are the secret ingredient and make the magic happen. Italian restaurants is authentic and fabulous. The mineral swimming Pool is formed around the bedrock which is positioned below the Italian restaurant with stunning views of the ocean. Getting to and from Tioman Island is a bit of a journey as the ferry service can be spontaneous so patience will be required. In the end it’s all part of the experience of traveling and making memories.

Our mother daughter six nights stay at the Japamala Resort in Tioman was otherworldly. We stayed in a sea view chalet with spectacular views overlooking the sea and witnessed amazing sun sets and sunrises. The style of the chalet resembles a Malay wooden hut with materials sourced from the forest but was beautifully curated with locally crafted furniture and furnishings. The attention to detail was impressive, with eco friendly bath products, turndown service with a night cap and a special nighty inspirational message hand written on leaves to inspire positivity. All three restaurants on site delivered great service not to mention deliciously prepared meals. We loved the Malaysian dishes especially, the complimentary breakfast until 3 pm!, afternoon tea with delicately prepared Malay sweet and savoury treats. Kenny and the hospitality team deserve special accolades for their enthusiasm, dedication and service always with a smile which made us feel most welcomed. The beach is rather rocky with sharp corals, so caution is advised and do wear sea shoes but the snorkelling is great with equipment provided by the resort. Do go to the nearby islands for amazing snorkelling opportunities and do visit the turtle sanctuary and please support this private venture with Hakim volunteering his time and resources to save the turtles. Please do bring a donation as it is such a worthy cause to support, otherwise these beautiful creatures will become endangered. Thank you to the whole Japamala resort team for outstanding hospitality and for preserving this eco resort in all its splendour to co-exist with nature. We loved seeing the monkeys swinging in the trees while keeping a respectful distance, the giant squirrel with its winged arms, the mouse deer foraging in the hills, the large iguana on its daily stroll and the many colourful butterflies, birds and even bats. It is clearly a spectacular, intimate resort for the ultimate rest and relaxation. Highly recommend doing their spa treatments, the massages added to our blissful stay. 5 star overall with outstanding service, hospitality not to mention the spectacular location of the Japamala resort. Congratulations to the whole team for seamlessly organising everything to perfection.