Cempedak Island
Twenty bamboo villas on an Indonesian island, adults only and built without concrete.
Cempedak lies off the east coast of Bintan in the Riau archipelago of Indonesia, reached by ferry from Singapore and then boat — under three hours from the city. The island is granite and forest with small beaches between boulders, and one property occupies it. Its sister property Nikoi is nearby under the same ownership.
Twenty villas are built almost entirely in bamboo, using traditional techniques rather than concrete, and the property takes adults only. Power is largely solar, water is collected and treated on site, and a conservation programme covers the reef and the island's forest. The buildings are the argument: bamboo at this scale is rare and demanding.
Bamboo instead of concrete. The construction method shaped the architecture and the maintenance burden, and it is why the island looks like nothing else in the region.
Adults only, three hours from Singapore. A combination that defines the guest list precisely.
Who it is not for
Cempedak is wrong for families, since the property takes adults only. It is wrong for travellers wanting clear tropical water, as the Riau seas are warm and often murky. And it is wrong for guests who need air conditioning throughout, given the open construction. And it is wrong for travellers who need a fast, simple transfer, since the ferry and boat take most of a morning. Families should look at Nikoi next door, under the same ownership.
Sources
- cempedak.com — twenty bamboo villas, adults only, Riau archipelago, Indonesia
- Villa count and construction details unverified. Confirm before publication.
Booking
Private Island Resorts arranges each stay on request, quoting the rates available for the island and dates. No benefit should be assumed unless it is confirmed in writing for the individual reservation.
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