Desaru Coast
Near the tip of the Malay Peninsula yet only two and half hours from Singapore, Desaru Coast is one of Malaysia's best-kept secrets, perfectly poised between the South China Sea and swathes of thick jungle.
Even the best travelled can be forgiven for not having heard of Desaru Coast. This pristine sliver of shoreline lies tucked between lush jungle and the South China Sea, near the south-eastern tip of the Malaysian peninsula.
Though a popular retreat for Singaporean families in the 1970s, Desaru only emerged on the international travel scene in 2016, when luxury hotel groups One&Only and Anantara realised its potential for blissful beach holidays. Two Ernie Ells golf courses and an adventure waterpark have since added to the mix, but it’s the near-deserted beaches, cobalt-blue seas and swathes of thick jungle that make Desaru stand out.