When I caught up with Michael Chua, VP Sales & Marketing, HPL Hotels & Resorts, and his colleague Angeline Loh, Director of Marketing Communications, in Singapore in October 2022, he mentioned this wonderful property coming up in Pulau Tioman. His passion for it was clearly visible as he invited me to cover the property whenever it opens. “You will be the first Indian media to cover our property,” said Michael.

Keeping his word, 21 months later, I was coordinating with Angeline for my flights and itinerary. And what a great decision it was! Upon my early morning arrival in Singapore, I stayed the first night at the popular Concorde Hotel. Brenda Lee-McColl and Amanda Low from the hotel were, as always, kind enough to provide me with access to Premier Club facilities. In the afternoon, Michael and his team took me out for a nice South Indian lunch.

Early next morning at 6 AM, Michael came to pick me up at the Concorde Hotel. While unfortunately Angeline could not make it, Cynthia Tan from her department accompanied me and Michael. Crossing into Malaysia, the immigration was quick. Currently, there is a visa waiver for Indian nationals, meaning they are eligible for visa-free entry into Malaysia. However, Indian citizens must complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) online at least three days before their arrival date.

Arriving at Mersing Jetty earlier than scheduled, we did some local exploring around the area. The resort also has a small office in Mersing where guests arriving early can keep their baggage, which is especially useful for groups. At around 11:30, we boarded the ferry to Pulau Tioman. It was a two-hour mix of smooth and rough rides. While I was able to doze on and off, I could sense some of the girls feeling nausea. Fortunately, the ferries do provide motion sickness bags.

Upon arriving at the jetty, Michael pointed out The Boathouse Pulau Tioman, and it looked like a truly amazing view. We had lunch, and then Felix Yeo, who is responsible for managing two hotels—the Boathouse Pulau Tioman and Concorde Hotel Shah Alam from the HPL group—took us for a tour of his wonderful property.

A 31-villa resort

The Boathouse Pulau Tioman, accessible only by boat, is a 31-villa resort that is inspired by nature and styled after the traditional Malay houses. The categories offered include sea view, deluxe, beachfront, beachfront family bungalows and a beachfront suite. The basic room sizes are 49 sqm with a private terrace and daybed. The family Bungalow is 69 sqm with connecting room with a bunk bed and 2 spacious bathrooms with rain shower. The Beach House is a two-level structure comprising of two suites and one loft (2 or 3 bedrooms option). “It’s ideal for large families or groups. The private terrace with casual dining bench table is an added advantage. Guests have the flexibility to book the entire Beach House or individual units separately as per the needs,” said Felix Yeo. While I loved the rooms the beach flip flops can be extremely handy apart from the beach bag and yukata.

Communal Hall: The MICE center

MICE is todays buzz word and Boathouse Pulau Tioman with its Communal Hall gives an opportunity for corporates to hold conferences and seminars or even commemorate corporate milestones. Guests can take in expansive views of the surrounding ocean in this cosy event space that can host up to 56 people comfortably in banquet style seating. For big groups, families a great place to hold private dinner with family and friends or celebrate a special occasion.

Sustainability

During the show round, I was impressed by the major focus on sustainability by the resort. “We are located on an island gazetted as a wildlife reserve and marine park. So I believe it is our job to take special care in preserving the island’s rich biological diversity and upholding indigenous heritage and culture. We are also able to generate our own potable water, which you saw at our Ayer Fountains (Water Refill Stations). We encourage guests to refill their water when they need,” said Felix Yeo.

A coral reef conservation demonstration was also presented by Reef Check Malaysia, enabling us to understand the efforts behind how coral reefs are conserved and preserved, and what the resort is doing to be part of it.

Recreational Facilities

The resort offers a variety of recreational facilities, including traditional Malaysian games, popular indoor English games, and video games. Later in the evening, we participated in a resort activity involving kite-making. It was thrilling as those who made their kites went to the beach to fly them. A few of the guests enjoyed a beach volleyball game where even the staff participated. There are also many friendly cats across the resort—calm, quiet, restful, and who loved cuddling from guests. It was a delight.

Gastronomy

While the food was delicious, the chefs were kind enough to provide a variety of vegetarian dishes. The resort also offers hands-on cooking demonstrations, including a variety of traditional Malaysian delicacies made from scratch. Also on display is the time-honored technique of tea pulling that transforms hot milk tea into a frothy, comforting drink affectionately known as teh tarik among locals. Guests can also learn the art of brewing Liberica coffee, a variety that thrives in Malaysia.

Facing the restaurant is the infinity pool where, in the afternoons, we all enjoyed swimming (some even after a morning trek), so don’t forget to carry your swimwear. Right across the pool and by the beach is the Beach Bar, which refreshes swimmers and sun lovers with signature drinks and a selection of beverages.

We also had the pleasure of a beach BBQ under the starlit sky. “It can be a great venue to celebrate one’s special moments—anniversaries, birthdays, family get-togethers, corporate retreats, or even a sunset beach wedding with a reception at the communal hall,” said Felix Yeo.

Excursions

There are various diving excursions, jungle treks, and island excursions. Diving and snorkeling are the most popular activities. As a marine park, Pulau Tioman boasts a myriad of popular diving and snorkeling sites with countless species of fish and other marine life. More than renting out scuba and snorkeling equipment to explore nearby waters, the Dive Centre arranges diving and snorkeling expeditions to some of the best spots. The best part for many guests is that they offer PADI certification courses for every skill level.

One can take a scenic boat ride to Asah Jetty and marvel at Tioman Island’s iconic twin peaks (known as the dragon horns) along the way. Guests can also enjoy a sunset cruise or a guided nature walk.

For the return trip, after being informed that our scheduled ferry had been delayed (which does happen often), we departed two hours later than scheduled. From the resort, we had a rough 10-minute private boat ride to Kampung Genting Jetty. From there, after an hour, our ferry to Mersing Jetty arrived. The ferry was quite comfortable, and after two hours, we reached Mersing Jetty. Our pickup for departure to Singapore (Airport) was waiting, and we had a pleasant drive back to the airport.

The trip was good, and the company was superb. I found it an ideal destination to immerse oneself in rustic tranquility, away from the hustle and bustle of city life, and just bask in the charming hospitality of the resort.