Pulau Joyo
A barefoot Indonesian island let whole, with driftwood houses and no electricity in the rooms.
Pulau Joyo lies in the Riau archipelago off Bintan, reached by ferry from Singapore and then boat, under two hours from the city. The island is let to one party and holds nothing but the accommodation, the staff and the forest behind the beach.
A group of houses built from driftwood, teak and thatch sleeps around thirty guests. There is no electricity in the rooms — light is by lantern and candle — and no air conditioning, which is a deliberate condition rather than an omission. Food is cooked to the party, boats are available, and the model is a barefoot family island used for weeks and celebrations rather than a hotel stay.
No electricity in the houses. The register contains almost nothing else that goes this far, and it is the property's founding decision rather than a limitation of the site.
Reclaimed materials throughout. Driftwood and salvaged teak give the buildings a texture that new construction cannot reproduce and that will not be repeated.
Who it is not for
Pulau Joyo is wrong for guests who need power, air conditioning and connectivity in the room. It is wrong for travellers wanting clear water, since the Riau seas are often murky. And it is wrong for small parties, given the whole-island rate. And it is wrong for guests who expect a spa, a gym or evening entertainment beyond dinner and the stars. Those wanting the same region with power in the rooms should look at Nikoi or Cempedak.
Sources
- Open sources — whole-island rental, driftwood and thatch houses, no electricity in rooms, Riau archipelago
- Guest maximum, house count and current operation 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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