Japamala Resort by Samadhi

The location is beautiful, with its own beach and jetty. From the moment you arrive to when you leave, the Staff went above expectations. The room turn around in the mornings was fast, invisible, and thorough. The staff remembered preferences for coffee and where we liked to sit in the restaurant. The extra add-on package we purchased was completely worth it - the afternoon tea was a lovely break after relaxing or swimming, the sundowner cocktails where tasty and different each day, the turn-down service each evening was such a lovely touch with the bedtime cookies and small drink. Tea selection in the rooms was great, and the plunge pool / verandah area was cleaned and tidy each day. We also went diving and the dive leader was knowledgeable and safe - we received a safety brief prior to each dive and assistance with equipment. Overall, I wish we could have stayed longer at this resort. Super relaxing and also private with cabins scattered about the jungle property without line of sight to each other.

A small, charming hotel on the coast with cozy little villas. Breakfast is excellent, with a menu to choose from, and lunch and dinner can also be ordered à la carte — no buffet lines, which is a nice touch. The hotel operates even during the off-season, which is a big plus! You can book excursions or arrange services outside the hotel. Staff meet you by boat from the ferry, adding a touch of convenience. Keep in mind, though, that life on the island really starts to pick up only after the monsoon season ends, around March 25.

The downside? The pool. Its greenish water looked more like rainwater, so no one dared to take a swim. Getting to the island's center isn’t exactly easy either: it’s either a boat ride or a challenging walk along a forest trail.

We spent 11 nights here at the beginning of the monsoon season (mid-November) and were lucky as it only rained for the last two days, otherwise it was sunny and hot.The hotel is a very lovingly designed small complex that blends in perfectly with its surroundings and almost disappears into the rainforest. Great importance is obviously attached to sustainability, which can be seen from the building materials to the rubbish bins (no plastic bags). The water quality in the restaurant and on the island is excellent and the water is safe to drink, even for Europeans.The rooms are detached, large, comfortable and lovingly furnished huts that are connected to each other and to the centre of the resort (reception, Tamarind restaurant, spa...) by wooden walkways. There are different categories - from those that stand "in the back", i.e. in the middle of the rainforest to those that are enthroned above the cliffs and offer a magnificent sea view to particularly large chalets with their own small infinity pool situated almost directly on the beach.The staff is extremely friendly, helpful and courteous and cater to guests' every wish.There are three restaurants in the resort. Due to the season (monsoon, few guests), the small restaurant directly at the end of the jetty was closed. In the "Tamarind" restaurant you could enjoy Italian and Malay cuisine.There is a very long time slot for breakfast from early morning to mid-afternoon. As there were so few guests present, there was no buffet but breakfast was served instead. First there was toast with butter and jam and a platter of tropical fruit, plus coffee, tea and various fruit/yoghurt cocktails. Then you could choose from a large selection of sweet and savoury "main courses" for breakfast, from French toast to crepes, waffles, eggs in any style, sausages, bacon, ham and cheese to even a Malay soup pot.

:-) For lunch and dinner there was a choice of Malay and Italian dishes (starters, main courses, desserts). Both cuisines were excellent, both the quality of the food and the way it was served. The prices were comparatively high, but not overpriced. The homemade ice cream is particularly recommended...The water in the hotel pool had a very dark, brown-greenish colour and was not at all inviting for a swim. The sea, on the other hand, was exceptionally beautiful with crystal clear water. There is a fine sandy beach directly in front of the resort, with shaded sunbeds available on a slightly elevated area, thus protected from sand flies. There are good snorkelling opportunities right in front of the resort and we were able to see countless fish and even moray eels and (very) young sharks. Unfortunately, like almost everywhere else in the world, coral bleeching is so massive that over 80% of the corals are dead and you are practically snorkelling in coral graveyards...Mosquitoes and ants were absolutely no problem. The gang of monkeys living in the forest around the resort is delightful to watch, but you shouldn't leave the doors open if you stay further away from your room - otherwise there is a risk that the monkeys will "check" your luggage and raid the minibar...The "excursion possibilities" on your own on site are limited. The next village, Genting, is about 40 minutes' walk to the north along a well-maintained path. To the south, there is a jungle path to a viewpoint above the resort and to the village of Nipah. However, this path is a real challenge, so good shoes and surefootedness are recommended.Alternatively, Japamala offers and organises a wide range of excursions (by boat). Snorkelling trips, shorter and longer hikes (Mukut and Asah waterfall, Tekek/Juara jungle trip etc.), fishing etc. are on the programme and all recommendable.

The island is SO beautiful and the rooms are amazing. The staff are extremely friendly and accommodating. The food is exceptional. I enjoyed my stay a lot and will definitely be coming back!

There were lots of ants everywhere, but that’s to be expected staying in a hut in nature :)

We loved absolutely everything about this EcoResort. The room had a very nice and neat decoration, the bed was very comfortable and the air conditioning worked very well. The entire team, without exception, has been super friendly and we feel that they have cared for us throughout our stay with love. The food at all 3 restaurants was delicious, especially the fresh grilled fish and seafood. The beach is gorgeous and perfect for snorkeling (you can see lots of colourful fish). Definitely one of the best hotels I have been to and I will surely return.

A stunning resort and location, situated on the beach, next to the jungle. It is real castaway territory. The staff could not have been more helpful and the food was remarkably good given the isolated location, with 3 choices to eat; a local Malay restaurant, a small Italian restaurant and a BBQ on the jetty, all excellent.

Nothing really, maybe a small gym, tucked away might have been nice, but I guess that is not really the point on the resort.

Beautiful setting in the jungle overlooking the sea

Looks a bit worn and needs some repair. Stairs especially.

Everything was amazing. It is a resort that is run with love and care. The location and the rooms are exceptionally nice and there are thoughtful details added to all aspects of the stay. The most exceptional thing is the friendliness and the kindness of all staff. It really feels like the people who work there are happy and they actually enjoy what they are doing. This leads to infectious friendliness all across the resort. There is relatively good snorkelling on the south side of the resort pier. There are several other good places for snorkelling and many good scuba diving spots nearby. I experienced underwater visibility of close to 30 meters and saw several sharks and turtles. We definitely want to go back there.

There is really not much except for the room (cliff view) getting a little hot during the daytime despite the A/C being on, but that is to be expected. Even the internet was strong in all places, in contrast to what we had seen in some of the older reviews. Leaving Japamala after 5 days and going back to "normality" was the worst part of our experience.

The friendliness of the entire staff. The restaurants.The beautiful beach.

The difficult transportation to the resort

Incredible hotel, calm area, tremendous view, charming staff. Definitely to recommend!!

Superb attentive staff who went out of their way to make our stay special. Beautiful location, lovely food, spectacular private beach.

Wow just wow, Japamala absolutely blew us away! From the ferry pick up with Edwin we knew we were in for a treat in our 3 day stay. The resort ticks all the boxes for us, small , personal, environmentally aware, and just superb service provided in a relaxed and attentive way. It’s clear that the ethos here is to ensure you come away feeling relaxed and pampered just enough, and it works. The food is delicious and the room surpassed all expectations, beautifully appointed, fantastic views, peaceful and immaculately kept with daily cleaning and evening turn down. Kenneth and team are setting the standard in discreet luxury. One of the nicest hotels we’ve stayed in and we shall be back asap!

Nothing it was perfect!

Natural view, Environment, service, cleanliness and food

Ferry from mersing jetty to genting

Gorgeous resort to reconnect a few days with yourself in a very beautiful spot. Food is great,with different options,all of them great quality.Special thanks to the Executive chef ,Ignasi.Definitely recommended, will be back.

The friendly staff, the private beach, the amazing Malay restaurant, the breakfast, the spacious rooms

Some of the facilities were unfortunately out of action (like the boardwalk bar)

Stunning location. Quiet.Lots of thoughtful touches in the room.Every member of staff is lovely.

Area under refurbishment.More variety with food choices.More sun beds or cabanas.

very nice and attentive staffgreat view from our bungalowfood is nice

facilities are a bit worn down

amazing setting, unique rustic set-up, no children, friendly and helpful staff

property in need of maintenance, only one restaurant open. maintenance needed on all structural areas: pathways, steps, swimming pool, deck’s, etc.

comfortable beds, wonderful sea view from the room, very friendly staff, nice beach

avoid December month as it’s the monsoon season, can’t do diving or other sea activities. The hotel is secluded and there isn’t access to places outside of the hotel. only one restaurant and it’s quite expensive

The staff were friendly and incredible. The food was excellent. The location of the resort was exclusive and pristine. One of the best island living spots in my opinion and the perfect place to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life!

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