Batu Batu

Rooms

The stilted wooden villas are styled on Malay kampungs and carefully positioned among the trees to afford maximum privacy. All have four-poster beds swathed in mosquito nets, a large private balcony, and a sprawling bathroom featuring a rainfall shower and a huge standalone tub. Many have children’s annexes with bunk beds, too.

We stayed in a palatial Ocean Villa, which boasted spectacular views across the azure water; the Ocean Deluxe Villas sit in a slightly more elevated position, with an even better vista. Beach Villas have direct access to Sunrise Beach, while the Jungle Villas are set slightly further back from the shore, amid lush rainforest.

Poolside Villas have 2 bedrooms (a double and a twin) and are located directly behind the infinity pool and restaurant. We loved their huge verandas with sofas and tables, and their 2 private outdoor bathrooms (one with a shower, the other with a tub). They also seemed slightly cooler than the other villas due to their thicker roofs (all have air-con), though it's worth noting that they're a little less private.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• Mosquito net
• Safe box
• WiFi

Eating

Meals are a relaxed affair, served in an airy, open-sided pavilion nestled between 2 large stones (‘batu’ in Malay, hence the resort’s name). Tables look out over the sea to neighbouring Pulau Besar (‘Big Island’).

At breakfast, the buffet table (carved from a cengal tree felled in the 1970s) groans under the weight of fresh fruit, yoghurts, cereal, and freshly baked pastries and bread. There are also numerous cooked options, all made to order; tucking into fluffy pancakes or buttery scrambled eggs as the sun rose made a wonderful start to our mornings.

The 2-course lunches and 3-course dinners feature a daily changing menu of local and Western dishes. Highlights for us included a crisp salad with olives, butternut squash and feta; fried tofu with sambal and a vegetable dhal; and a slow-cooked beef rendang made with the island’s own coconut milk and lemongrass.

Note that no meals are included in the rates, so you'll need to purchase a meal plan which covers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Drinks and side dishes are charged as extra, as are cocktails from the sea-facing bar and laid-back beach bar.

Features include:

• Bar
• Restaurant

Activities

• Go diving - the corals and marine life are spectacular. The dive school caters for all levels, with a PADI entry-level course, an open-water course and an advanced 'Divemaster' course
  
• Other water-based activities on offer include snorkelling, kayaking, paddle boarding, and boat trips to neighbouring islands
  
• Go for a stroll around the island. There are 2 self-guided walking routes (each around an hour), taking in the jungle interior and various lookout points with views over the sea to neighbouring islands
  
• Discover Pulau Tengah’s 8 beaches (you can try a different one every day!). Our favourites were Angsana and Sunset in the north
  
• Tour the island’s conservation centre and learn about efforts to protect green and hawksbill turtles. Ask to be alerted if there are hatchlings ready to be released during your stay
  
• Unwind in the spa. There are numerous treatments on offer, including a coffee body scrub and a hot-stone massage (you’ll need to book in advance)

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Hiking
• Kayaking
• Plantlife / flora
• Sailing
• Scuba diving
• Scuba diving courses
• Snorkelling
• SUP
• Swimming
• Well being
• Wildlife

Kids

This is a paradise for outdoorsy kids, and families are welcomed with open arms. As well as the beaches and watersports, there's an unstaffed playhouse and the chance to release turtle hatchlings.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Ocean and Jungle Villas have annexes attached to the main bedroom, with bunk beds for children; the most popular are the Beach Villas with annexes, as they're located near the pool and restaurant. There are also 2 Poolside Villas with 2 bedrooms (a double and a twin) and a covered veranda with a living area. All villas can accommodate baby cots, and all except the Poolside Villas have daybeds which can be made up for additional guests, meaning they can sleep 3-5 people in total.

Distances:

• Airport: 2 hours (Johor Bahru), 3 hours (Singapore) or 5 hours (Kuala Lumpur), then a 20-minute boat transfer
• Shop: 20-minute boat transfer
• Hospital: 20-minute boat transfer then a 15-minute drive

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Batu Batu is located on the small island of Pulau Tengah, 16km off the southeast coast of Malaysia. It's a 20-minute speedboat ride from the mainland town of Mersing.

By Air:
Fly to Singapore (a 3-4 hour drive) or Kuala Lumpur (a 4-5 hour drive). Both are major air hubs served by numerous airlines - click on the links below for a list. You can also fly to Johor Senai International, 2 hours away, though it only receives flights from within Malaysia and other southeast Asian countries.

From the Airport:
Batu Batu can provide contacts for reputable transfer companies for the journey from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur to Mersing. Once you reach Mersing, there are 1-3 scheduled boat transfers to the island (extra charge) each day, depending on resort occupancy and tides; private transfers can also be arranged. Please note, boat scheduling is restricted by the tide levels at the river mouth of Mersing, which changes at very hour of the day, every day. As such, you can request to know the boat schedules before you make your booking.

If you prefer to self-drive (see our car rental suggestions), there are several secure car parks close to the boat jetty in Mersing.

Detailed directions will be provided once you confirm a booking through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Malaysia and getting around