Japamala Resort
Jungle villas,
Island seclusion
Couples
A rustic-chic hideaway on Tioman Island, where the plan for the day is to do absolutely nothing.
Japamala sits on a quiet stretch of Tioman’s coast, off Malaysia’s east coast, wrapped in jungle and fringed by clear water. It pairs five-star service with laid-back, barefoot charm.
Phone signal is limited and the wifi can be patchy, which is exactly the point. This is a place to switch off and soak up the island.
The resort feels woven into its surroundings, with timber walkways winding between the trees down to the beach.
The snorkelling just offshore is excellent, and there are waterfalls to discover in the lush jungle behind the resort. Otherwise, the days slip by between the beach, a sun deck and a good book.
All in all, this is a gloriously peaceful island escape for anyone keen to get properly off grid.
The Rooms
The rooms are called sarangs, Malay for “nests”, and are inspired by traditional kampong (village) houses.
Choose from villas and chalets set on the hillside, in the forest or right on the beach.
Many come with a plunge pool, a sun deck or an open-air bathtub surrounded by trees, along with air-conditioning and wifi.
What You'll Find:
Why You’ll Love It:
Explore ETG's Sample Itineraries in Borneo
A few of our favourite routes – hand-picked by the team and ripe for tweaking.
Think of them as conversation starters. Curiosity sparkers. Not fixed plans – just ideas for what your holiday could look like, shaped by years of local know-how and the kind of immersive experiences that live long in the memory.
Japamala Resort on the map
In Our Travellers’ Words
An Epic Adventure Across Southeast Asia
With ETG, we have visited extraordinary places
A bespoke adventure that delivered on every interest of our family
Curious traveller’s guide to Borneo
If you’d like to discover more, why not download the Curious Traveller’s Guide to Borneo? This is where you’ll find our experts’ edit of hotels, experiences and beaches. We also break down the best time to visit Borneo by month and share more information about our approach to conservation in-country.
