Desaru Coast in Johor is fast becoming a hot spot for holidaymakers. Spanning over 16 square kilometres, the holiday destination has all the trappings for a luxurious getaway. Now, a major resort in the area is providing another incentive for a visit. Allow us to draw your attention to the newly launched jungle picnic experience by Anantara Desaru Coast.

Situated near Iskandar Malaysia and easily accessible via a 45-minute drive from Malaysia’s Senai International Airport, Desaru Coast is a natural playground. It’s also accessible via a two-hour drive from Singapore. Additionally, visitors from Singapore can also travel to Desaru Coast by ferry, followed by a short drive.

Now, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas is located along a pristine 17-kilometre beachfront facing the South China Sea. The new high-end resort development offers a range of luxury accommodation nestled in lush tropical gardens. With its natural surroundings, Anantara Desaru Coast has now introduced a new a new jungle picnic experience for the benefit of its guests.

Dining With Nature

Offering holidaymakers a one-of-a-kind vacation on Malaysia’s scenic Desaru Coast, the luxury resort has launched a new jungle explorer package. Available to all resort guests, the Jungle Picnic is a wonderful opportunity for nature-lovers and those looking for a break from urban rush to discover the richness of Malaysia’s biodiversity while enjoying a gourmet meal in a secret location.

The experience takes place at the Panti Forest Reserve, in the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia. Covering nearly 275 square kilometres of lowland rainforest, it is home to over 25 species of mammals, including the White-handed Gibbons, Pig-tailed Macaques and Banded Langurs, and over 100 species of birds. Bird-lovers know the eco-park as the best place in the world to see the Rail Babbler — an enigmatic, ground-living species that is hard to spot in the wild.

To ensure guests get to the park early enough to experience the lively morning chorus of cicadas and songbirds, the experience starts at 6:30am. Guests will be picked up at the resort and driven to Panti in a car — a journey of approximately one hour. The first leg of the Jungle Picnic involves an exhilarating ride through the forest in an open pick-up truck with plenty of wildlife-spotting opportunities, followed by a ten-minute hike to a secluded picnic spot in the thick of the jungle.

As they enjoy a full gourmet picnic laid out for them by the Anantara team, guests can savour fresh bakery and silence punctuated only by the occasional ‘whooping’ calls of the White-handed Gibbons, buzz of cicadas, melodious birdsong and the gentle gurgle of a jungle creek.

More nature-centric experiences await back at the resort where guests can join a cruise through the Sedili Wetlands, a freshwater swamp that is home to the endangered water trumpet, or explore the spectacular nature around Desaru on foot or by bicycle with Anantara’s handy downloadable maps charting the most scenic routes.

The Jungle Picnic at Anantara Desaru Coast is priced at USD130 (RM580) for two persons, including transfers.

(Images: Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas)