Cempedak is a member of The Long Run.
THE
CEMPEDAK
STORY.
Simple Barefoot Luxury:
A Tale Of bamboo, quiet
weekends, and what an Adults-
only island could become.
Building Cempedak was a lesson on bamboo (and on patience). We used around 50,000 pieces, some 20cm thick, and lost track of an entire shipment for a month before the navy found it on an unscheduled detour. A bit like the rest of us, bamboo has its quirks: it hates getting wet, attracts beetles, and demands careful hands. So we brought in the experts, designed with the wind in mind, and got used to a life without corners.
Cempedak opened in 2017 for guests aged 15 years and older. It’s a place to tuck into a good book and a slow cocktail at the Dodo Bar, to fall asleep to geckos and crashing waves, and to remember what nature really sounds like. It’s not Nikoi’s younger sibling. It’s our next chapter.
Cempedak started with a feeling. One that had been building quietly over years.
Nikoi, our sister island, had taught us a lot: how to work with nature, not against it; how personal hospitality leads to personal recommendations; and how sometimes, not following the crowd is exactly the point.
But with the kids grown up and the nest suddenly quiet, we found ourselves holidaying alone (save for the occasional interruption from someone else’s child in search of a torch, a snack, or a new best friend). And so, over craft brew and sandy feet, a new kind of story began to take shape.
2007
Sister property, Nikoi Island, opens to the public
2010
The owners form The Island Foundation
2011
Titles to Cempedak are acquired
2014
Construction on the island begins
2017
Cempedak Island officially opens to the public
2017
Established a 7ha permaculture farm on Bintan
2018
The Rock Spa opens on the island
2018
Cempedak becomes a member of the Long Run
2020
The team help establish Seven Clean Seas whilst the islands are closed
2022
East Bintan Marine Protected Area (MPA) gazetted
2023
The Island Life cookbook is published
2025
The Tulisan Nusantara writers residency is launched
A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
OUR AWARDS
2019
Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Award
2017
HICAP Sustainable Hotel Awards -
Sustainable Design
2017
National Geographic Traveller Big Sleep Awards - Castaway Category
2017
Conde Nast Traveller - The Hot List
2025
Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Award
2024
Expat Living Reader's Choice Awards -
Best Overseas Hotel for a Couple's Getaway
2023
HICAP Sustainable Hotel Awards -
Positive Community Impact
2021
Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Award
We protect what we’re part of
We look after the land, the sea, the people and the culture around us.
We go beyond
what’s expected
Our service is instinctive, not scripted, and always personal.
We question the usual
From how we build to how we host, we’re not scared to do things differently.
ISLAND ETHOS
From the beginning, we’ve been committed to ensuring that both Cempedak and our sister island, Nikoi, create a positive impact for everyone involved. We’ve deliberately avoided calling ourselves an eco resort because it is a term that’s often overused and can suggest guests must either pay more or settle for less. Instead, our aim has always been to offer guests a unique experience which minimises any negative impact and has a long term positive impact in the local community.
We see this goal as an ongoing journey, one that evolves with feedback from our guests and team. Our approach may not always seem conventional or align with how other resorts operate, but every decision, no matter how small, is carefully considered. As owners and operators, our choices are guided by what’s best for our guests rather than the bottom line. After all, a returning guest is the best advertisement we could hope for.
For us, being ethical does not mean we have to compromise on standards. In fact we believe the opposite. By harmonising with the local environment, community and culture, customers get a better experience. An experience with the soul put back in.
Our Name
Cempedak is the name of a fruit tree native to Indonesia. The island itself was once known as Cempdak, which led us to believe it had been home to these trees, perhaps even a small plantation. When we first acquired the island, however, all the Cempedak trees had been cut down, their valuable wood likely used for boat building. To restore what was lost, we purchased young saplings from a nearby village and planted them around the island. The Cempedak fruit belongs to the same genus as breadfruit and jackfruit.
Our Team
All of the staff on Cempedak, except for one, are Indonesian. Together, Cempedak and our sister island, Nikoi, employ over 250 people. With no more than 40 guests on Cempedak at any given time, there’s always a generous ratio of staff to guests, ensuring attentive and personal service. Many of our team members joined us during the island’s construction phase, some even earlier on Nikoi, and we are really proud of the remarkable sense of connection and pride in the company that has been developed.
A lot of effort has gone into creating a relaxed and convivial work ethic that breaks away from the traditional hotel model. The goal has been to have healthy and happy employees who take pride in their jobs. They are encouraged to learn new skills and many staff have moved from back of house to front of house roles. A number of innovative programs have been established to help staff and their families get ahead financially. Staff turnover is less than 10% per annum.