This story about the Bayu Lestari Island Resort on Pulau Besar is written by one of our contributors, Adiana. Some parts of the article may have been edited for length and clarity.
This trip was planned one month before our trip which was in July 2020. I was travelling with my friends - 6 of us for my bachelorette party.
We stayed at Bayu Lestari Island Resort for 3 days and 2 nights. There are few other resorts that you can stay in Pulau Besar other than Bayu Lestari Island Resort, but only this resort can accommodate up to 5 people. So we chose this resort and it turns out it was a great resort to stay in.
Recommended duration and best months to visit Pulau Besar
To avoid the crowd, I would recommend weekdays as the best options. Like other islands, from March to September are the recommended months to go. However, the rainy season now is kind of unpredictable since our weather is changing due to global issues. July-August is usually a rainy season but we were lucky during our stay for the whole 3 days in July, it did not rain and it started raining the day after. So yeah, you need to plan wisely.
P.S. Check out these other beautiful islands in Malaysia (other than Redang and Langkawi!)
Getting to Pulau Besar
Pulau Besar is located in Mersing, Johor. Wherever you stay, you need to go to Mersing first. I am from Johor Bahru so we drove off to Mersing for 2 hours and parked our car in the parking area near the jetty. Since we were dealing with the resort itself, we took the package that already included everything from boat transportation to accommodation (3D2N) and food (full board). So it's easy for us, there was already someone waiting at the Mersing jetty to guide us to the speed boat and it took 20 minutes to arrive on the island.
P.S. Check out these 12 private island resorts in Malaysia that locals don't even know about!
Ambience at Bayu Lestari Island Resort
I love that the place is near the beach and it is not too crowded with a lot of people. Probably because we went there on a Thursday so there were not so many people.
However, I find the place to be quite calm and somewhere where you can seek solace.
The resort also has good facilities. And the access to the beach that is just in front of your door makes it the best as you have the view of the blue ocean. Anytime you want to snorkel, or play by the beach, you can do so. I would say it's an Instagrammable place where you can have a lot of beautiful pictures.
Cost and rooms
The cost per person is RM430 (3D2N) which includes boat transfer, accommodation and full board meal. There are a few suites that you can choose from depending on how many people you're travelling with.
Credit: Bayu Lestari Island Resort
For us, we stayed in the Exclusive Villas for 5-6 people. They also provide dorms for up to 15 people. You can check out the info about the rooms in this link.
I would recommend Bayu Lestari because of the facilities, the cleanliness and the environment. The sea views are breathtaking and at night, you can see thousands of stars in the sky. And I'm happy with the food that has been served and its creativity. From the beginning of our journey till the last day, everything went so smoothly and we did have a great stay here.
Halal food at Bayu Lestari Island Resort
All the food provided is halal and they also have Western and Asian cuisine. So you don't have anything to worry about at all and don't bother to bring instant noodles as the price is reasonable ? Since it's Covid-19, they will serve the food to your table and the breakfast, lunch and dinner are already scheduled if you purchase the full board package. The creativity of the food presentation really attracted me besides its delicious taste.
It is perfect for couples as they provide special services such as candlelight dinners. But it's also suitable also for families as well as a group of friends. But for youngsters that like the crowd and fun, I would suggest Aseania Resort.
Activities at Bayu Lestari Island Resort
You can do snorkeling, island-hopping, jungle-trekking, kayaking, beach volleyball and you can rent out the bicycle to cycle around the island. Apart from that, you can also have a BBQ buffet. All the reservations can be made upon arrival at the reception.
Since we were going there just to relax and chill out, we didn't do the activities such as island-hopping or kayaking. We only did jungle-trekking and snorkeling where the snorkeling gear and safety jacket can be rented out. You might need to check with them which route they will bring you on for the jungle-trekking. You can go for 30 minutes or 1 hour, you may request with your guide and yes you need someone to guide you otherwise, you'll get lost.
We love the other side of the island where you can see the sunset more clearly and there was no wave on the ocean. It was really mesmerizing.
P.S. Planning a trip to the nearby Pulau Tinggi instead? Check out one of our contributors' experience here!
Useful tips for other travellers
- You are advised to contact directly with the resort for booking
- Mersing is also famous for keropok lekor and ikan masin if you want to bring back home (if you're from other states). Check out Keropok Hj Puteh and Pak Dol Ikan Masin.
- The boat only leaves once daily, which is at 12PM, so plan wisely if you are driving from another state to Mersing, Johor.
- Confirm with the reception your check-in and check-out time as it can be confusing sometimes.
Bayu Lestari Island Resort
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Find more of Adiana's travel adventures on her Instagram @adiana_lim.
P.S. Have you been travelling around Malaysia? Want to share your tips and stories to help Muslims travel better? Email us at [email protected] or send us a DM on Instagram.