Sunlight danced on the waves as we sped across the South China Sea, weaving around wooden fishing boats and away from the bustling port of Mersing in Johor province. Stepping off the boat at our destination 20 minutes later, we were awe-struck by the dazzling blue of the shallows, the pure white of the sand and the deep green of the jungle; put simply, Pulau Tengah (‘Middle Island’) is as close to paradise as we’d ever come.
Hugging a stretch of the 3km coastline, between thriving coral reefs and swaying coconut palms, Batu Batu is the only resort on the otherwise uninhabited island. Its 22 traditional Malay villas were built by local carpenters and are quietly luxurious, with four-poster beds, annexes for children, and huge tubs. But the vibe throughout is relaxed, and as we explored, we saw kids playing in the infinity pool while couples lingered over cocktails in the bar.
We spent our time immersed in nature, which is taken very seriously here: profits are used to fund their own conservation programme committed to protecting the fragile environment. Help release turtle hatchlings into the surf; scuba-dive sustainably with the on-site PADI school; feast on fresh picks from the organic food garden; or simply sun yourself on a near-deserted beach. This is a paradise escape, but in a considered way.