Ruins Luxury Resort +12 Age Adult Only

Turkey , Bodrum
Bodrum, Tilkicik Cad, 89 2
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50 reviews shown

10/10

Exceptional

01 Nov 2025

Jeremie

Great staffs, beautiful and rustic settting

10/10

Exceptional

11 Jul 2025

Steven

Japamala has a fun vibe and a great location. The food and drinks are also fantastic. It’s starting to show its age in places, but is good value for a relaxing break.

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

16 May 2024

Stefan

I had a relaxing stay st this nice resort with a very friendly staff

Self

6/10

Pleasant

05 Feb 2024

GIUSEPPINA

We starved because of the bad cuisine

The staff is scarce and it is very difficult to get hold of them. The majority seems poorly trained.
The cuisine was simply horrible. The same group used to have a restaurant in Singapore where the same dishes were superb, however in Malaysia they were unforgivingly poorly made

Friends_and_family Friends

10/10

Exceptional

04 Dec 2023

Steven

A very beautiful place, a very wonderful place-- so thank you very much. Living as we do on the other side of the world, we looked carefully for somewhere where we could be quiet after a busy week of work in Singapore, longing to walk into the water and see its wonders. Bali was possible, but at a friend's suggestion, we chose Tioman Island. The Japamala Resort satisfied every hope, known and unknown. The sea and sand was all we imagined and needed, our room was creatively curated in a Polynesian style, the food was different and unique (and tasty!), and the staff were exemplary. Mike stands out in his role overseeing the hospitality, characteristically eager and kind, able and willing to do anything needed to make our time a pleasurable one. Everything from the restaurants to the masseuse to the watermen who helped with the snorkeling, we were grateful for each one. Do we recommend? Yes, and yes again!

Washington DC

Leisure Family

10/10

Exceptional

21 Aug 2023

Kate

Wonderful peaceful stay with friendly helpful staff. Loved diving 4 days and relaxing in the afternoon.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

20 Jul 2022

Chun Chiang

Very nice beside lovely beach

We stayed at Penghulu House. Very nice house next to private beach. Unfortunately no place to hang our clothes. And no fan in the room downstairs.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

31 Jan 2020

Verified traveler

beautifully understated. wonderfully private and unpretentious. the staff were all brilliant. would love to return. snorkeling marvellous

Leisure Partner

8/10

Excellent

24 Jan 2020

Richard

honeymoon

The stay was very special and felt like we were on a movie set. The resort is extremely difficult to get to though and annoyed us that you have to pay for the hotels ten minute speedboat even though there is no other way of getting there. I’d give the stay 8/10

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Jan 2020

Verified traveler

Japamala Resort is a wonderfully place to enjoy sport, relaxation while renewing and regain vigor with the remarkable beauty of the living place. The resort is on an island but the comfort it offers is superb. The amazing staff is always attentive and willing to accommodating a reasonable request. I was particularly pleased by their positive disposition and beautiful smile. I certainly recommend this special place to the ones who appreciate the Planet we are a part of.

Leisure Family

8/10

Excellent

24 Mar 2019

Verified traveler

Quiet peaceful natural surroundings
Warm welcome and staff friendly and very helpful
Little luxury touches such as turn down service
Food fabulous
Cocktails at sundown
No plastic bottles or straws
Snorkelling from the beach is great

Only thing negative was that guests have to use ferry as japamala own boat to mersing not available so far this season
They pick you up from genting ferry terminal on tioman
Not clear on japamala website that this is the case . Blue water ferry from mersing to genting was an awful experience and I didn’t feel safe ..all resorts on tioman depend on the ferry for guests so in their interest to put pressure on ferry company to up their game .. everything from getting ticket to chaotic boarding to the boat itself being tatty and well below par ...and I didn’t feel safe

I would gladly come back to japamala but not until the transfer from mersing is better
The japamala resort used to have their own speedboat and so I was expecting that when I booked ... the website should make it clearer that you have to arrange your own transfer from mersing to genting on tioman. There is a new boat for japamala coming soon apparently .. the sooner the better

Leisure

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jan 2019

Mitch

Can not say enough Good Things!! Beautiful location, our Seaview Sarang room was incredible as to its size, view, we even had a private waterfall pool! Food menu was a culinary experience, whoever made up the menu(s) for food and drinks...Top Shelf! Staff is so, so AWESOME, very attentive, yet allow you to keep your privacy. I wish we had a negative to say...but we can't think of one! Hope to return to PARADISE soon!!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Nov 2018

Cristina

Superb experience

My partner and I had an absolutely perfect stay at Japamala. Words can't describe the quality of the service that the wonderful staff there offers. They made us feel very special without being intrusive at all. We loved our private dinners, enjoyed long days on the beach, walked in the jungle and the villages around the resort. Our room was stylish, large and equipped with anything that one could wish for. Food was delightful and we probably had some of the nicest cocktails ever. We would like to say a big thank you to the wonderful staff at Japamala and look forward to return.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

17 Dec 2017

kshitij

The hotel service and the food was par excellence.

The free cocktail hrs that they provide is just awesome. Service is exceptional. Location is mindblowing with unlimited snorkling and kayaking.

10/10

Exceptional

29 Oct 2017

Sally

Wonderful, peaceful - - place to really relax

If you are looking to get away from it all then this is the place for you. Five star but not so slick you feel you don't belong... Staff friendly and food good (not too expensive). We had the sea cabin in all the photos - simply wonderful view across sparkling South China Sea. Hard to beat

10/10

Exceptional

08 Sep 2017

Verified traveler

Awesome stay

The service and sea view chalet was perfect. A bit of a climb but worth it for the view. They have a kayak and snorkeling gear that is complimentary on a first come first serve basis. The only thing to complain are the stained towels. But everything else including the food was awesome.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

17 Apr 2017

Kim Lee

Postcard beauty

Gem finds thrill me. This is one good one. A long drive and speed boat away, the emerald blue greets you with open waves. Japamala's tag line is Rustic-Luxe. And it truly epitomises that. Rustic tree house huts with the smallest beautiful details. A personal jacuzzi and sun deck all make you feel like a Sultan. The heart of the show is the bar and restaurant built out into the sea with cabanas looking out into the azure sea. Cocktails are complimentary from 6-7 pm as the sun departs leaving wisps of orange, amber and pink. Monitor lizards slither away and monkeys watch you from afar in your shower that opens into the forest. You think you're here to watch but you're being watched. By the forest.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

19 Mar 2017

Phil

Totally away from it all

Excellent location, facilities, ambience, staff and food. Takes time to get there and back but totally worth it. Really relaxing with every wish catered to.

10/10

Exceptional

18 Mar 2017

Ali

Paradise

We had the most amazing time at Japamala during our honeymoon! Peaceful, warm, incredibly nice staff, delicious food. Every detail makes of this place a superb and romantic get away. Caber wait to go back there :)

10/10

Exceptional

02 May 2016

Verified traveler

Nice island retreat

Great escape from the busy city life.

Family

8/10

Excellent

27 Mar 2016

Brandon

Relax relax relax

Tree top chalet 13 is perfect for an able bodied couple. It had an incredible view and is relatively private but be prepared to walk up a fair amount of stairs. The balcony area over looks the crystal clear waters of tioman. Perfect for an afternoon of lounging around.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

18 Mar 2016

Hiew

Relaxing holiday

Overall, our stay was great. Great view, design of the hotel, good food & great services.

Family

8/10

Excellent

03 Feb 2016

Relaxing in a comfortable and peaceful surrounding with the most magnificent view. staffs were very friendly and caring. We were there mid Jan during the quite season and had the entire place shared with only 3 to 4 other couples. That is exactly what we wanted.There were small things structurally that could improve but given the fact that it is a jungle retreat and it is in a small island, some how it did not mattered that much. Perhaps it was the result of getting so chilled out that nothing of that sort mattered.
It is not often that we consider going back to the same place but we are thinking of booking just because we could compliantly relax with having many people around.

2/10

Poor

17 Jan 2016

Verified traveler

Would not recommend booking during monsoon season

Limited ferry services during monsoon season. Tried to get my money back when I saw the lack of ferries but told it was not possible. Called their reservations office but was bumped around.

10/10

Exceptional

22 Dec 2015

joe

Beautiful hotel idiotic beach resort

My wife and I enjoyed our 6 days of honeymoon at Japamala the staff are very polite helpful and simply cannot do enough we were very impressed with the personal level of service and attention to detail. Beautiful location for a relaxing get away

10/10

Exceptional

01 Dec 2015

Torgeir

Beautiful getaway!

Amazing resort, great and friendly staff! The Penghulu house is stunning!! Food high quality, really no complaints about anything! Just be aware of the monkeys, don't leave your door open - they had a feast in our minibar;)

Family

10/10

Exceptional

22 Oct 2015

Gavin

heaven

Perfect in every way and great value for money. Staff and manager where the best I have encountered in any hotel. They couldn't do enough to help and add to the magical experience. 6 days felt too short.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

11 Sep 2015

Judy

A peaceful beach health retreat

Japamala is a beautiful resort that relaxes your soul. It is where the tropical jungle meets the beach. The weather is hot but you can cool off in the sea or one of the lovely pools. The food is suprisingly good for such an isolated location. The best thing about Japamala are the people who work there who are so happy, kind and accomodating. We felt totally recharged after five days there and intend on returning.

10/10

Exceptional

20 Feb 2015

Pradhyum

Exotic Getaway...

Great place, very scenic amazing Italian food.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

29 Jan 2015

Steven

Value: Acceptable price, watch out for $transfers;
take the walk to Genting and even further Tekek. A magic island.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

29 Jul 2014

Verified traveler

Secluded relaxing beach vacation

Very friendly staff, great snorkeling, wonderful (Penghulu) house
Monkeys, lizards and squirrels could be watched right outside the house, much to the childrens pleasure.
The hotel is very private and secluded, so we could get a break from hectical Singapore city life.
Food and drinks were good as well.
Sipping cocktails and mocktails out on the pier was wonderful, and the water is so turquoise and clear that you can watch all kinds of fish right from the pier. We even saw a sea turte and some reef shark!
Swimming and snorkeling right at the hotel is possible and nice, we would definitely recommend water shoes though, since there is a lot of dead coral pieces and rocks in the water (with shoes we had no problems)
Definitely a place we would recommend and come back to.

10/10

Exceptional

06 Jul 2014

Just perfect

No place can be better for a quite couple' s weekend or for spending time with family.

Partner

4/10

Poor

09 May 2014

Mad_Doug

Great staff poor maintenance

The resort is located on a private beach not far from the ist landing point of the ferry. The hotel pick you up for a small fee. The staff are great , the food is great however our room was very poorly maintained. The toilet wouldn't flush and the water ran out on our third day. It took them most of the day to fix it and we had to stay out of the room till then. The next morning water ran out again. I would go back only because of the staff and location but in all poor show for such a high end resort

8/10

Excellent

06 Apr 2014

Mel

Beautiful location, relaxing and private

This resort is in a lovely spot and with such a small number of guests feels very private. Plenty of space for everyone to have their own beach cabana or the pool to themselves. Snorkelling from the jetty is terrific, but is also nice from the beach at high tide. Not much to do other than relax by the beach and snorkel. (we also arranged a dive trip, but be aware that this can be tricky due to the resort isolation, and the fact it does not currently have its own dive gear).
The resort boat transfer (to and from the ferry) was ridiculously expensive. Our two storey cabin was spacious and in a pretty location high in the rainforest. It was just missing a couple of obvious items that we would have expected for the price. The small tea and coffee making area had no bin, no teaspoons and only powdered creamer, despite there being a fridge. There was no hair conditioner in the bathroom. No flyscreens on any doors or windows, meaning you have to leave your cabin completely closed up - it got hot and stuffy on the ground floor.
The up side was the excellent service - very friendly and personal.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

23 Feb 2014

lex

Complete Bliss!

Nothing bad to say about Japamala. It was more than amazing. The room was perfect when we got there, air con turned on to full blast to welcome you after your boat ride. (Which was horrible). Japamala is such a relaxing place, no one disturbs your peace and you come and go as you want. Only a handful of staff around, but that's really all they need. At times, we had to wait till someone showed up. But we're in paradise and waiting was so enjoyable. Snorkels and fishing gear were all provided if you wanted to use them. Japamala is now my favourite place to be!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

02 Feb 2014

Lawrence

Japamazing

We loved Japamala. Arriving by plane from Subang was great and the hotel staff meet you at the cute airport in Tioman. They took our bags which we didn't need to carry at all. The boat transfer seems expensive but the whole process both ways was seemless and stressfree. The hotel is on a private beach and with only 13 rooms it was a peaceful and relaxing place. The italian restaurant, Mandi Mandi, is a lovely place to eat but it's better for lunch as portions are about half the size per ringgit than the Tamarind restaurant. It is definitely worth going to Mandi Mandi at 6pm on the dot for the happy hour cocktails as it's a wonderful place to watch the sunset, however if you aren't timely you may find yourself without a seat [as there are only 6 booths]. The highlight of this resort has to be the staff, they made our stay as good as it was.

Partner

8/10

Excellent

27 Oct 2013

Jen

3 night break from Singapore

Lovely couple of days, beautiful beach, excellent service and good. Loved dining each night out on the jetty.

10/10

Exceptional

04 Feb 2013

Sarbi Virk

Isolated luxury

Far away from everything. The resort takes personal care of your needs. Excellent food. Great service. Would go again.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Mar 2011

Magnus

Wonderful retreat

JapaMala is close to nature. In fact, it is embedded in beautiful rain forest with a nice beach and great snorkeling, with beautiful corals (some unfortunately subjected to coral bleaching) and an abundance of small fish.
The staff is fantastically helpful and the manager, Mike, will do everything to ensure that you have a great stay. The staff, the location, the scenery, and the eco/nature feel of the place is fantastic. Some great food at the restaurant. Only ways to the place is by boat and by jungle trek 30 min from a nearby village.
We had a great time. Special thanks to Belle and to Mike.

Family

10/10

Exceptional

09 Apr 2026

Vegard

Fantastisk resort! Jungel og hvit strand. Svært hyggelig og bra staff🌟 En unik opplevelse.

10/10

Exceptional

28 Mar 2026

Jan-Michel

Es war ein wunderbar mystischer Ort der Entspannung in nahezu unberührter Natur. Wir haben uns seit vielen Jahren nicht mehr so sehr wohl gefühlt wie an diesem Ort.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

15 Mar 2026

Hans

Are you tired of big resorts with swimming pools and lots of guests, vendors and jet skis – Travel to Tioman Island and the rustic Jambamala resort and experience the tranquility, crystal clear water and very good food from breakfast to dinner.
Jambamala has sustainability and recycling as its guiding principles so the jetties are partly made of recycled wood but the accommodation is very high standard with everything you could need for a perfect stay.
Jabamala offers snorkeling trips and jungle walks to waterfalls but there are also plenty of exciting fish at the jetty.
The hotel and beach can take a maximum of about 35 guests and there is therefore plenty of room for everyone.
We had 5 perfect days and would love to come back again.
The staff keeps the beach and surroundings in very good condition and always has a smile on their faces. The effect of ebb and flow is quite large, you can always swim from the jetty but this means that the boats to Tioman depart a little unevenly due to the flood.
As the chalets are beautifully situated on a steep slope surrounded by jungle but with a beautiful view of the sea, you should have full mobility as there can be a lot of steps to manage. No major problem as you probably prefer to spend your time near the sea, the food and the good drinks

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

25 Feb 2026

Isabella

Ein traumhaft schönes Hotel mit großen und top ausgestatteten Zimmern, die Massage war eine der besten die wir je hatten. Wir haben jeden Tag ausnahmslos sehr gut gegessen und das Personal war sehr zuvorkommend. Es hat uns an nichts gefehlt und wir werden sicherlich wiederkommen! Danke!

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

02 Feb 2026

Odd Anders

Vi har hatt et fantastisk opphold her. Det var lavsesong nå. Med lite folk. Vi ble godt kjent med de ansatte og fikk veldig god service. En ekstra takk til MR Robert som var 10/10. vi kommer tilbake.

10/10

Exceptional

16 Dec 2025

Ole

Great location, really good service. The pool is not there anymore, but the beach is fine and crystal clear water.
They could improve the menu with a daily special as the a la carte is good but limited and get a little boring after some days.
But all in all highly recommend.
Last comment, limited ferry service to and from the island.

Partner

10/10

Exceptional

01 Jun 2025

Annett

Ein absolutes Paradis mit hervorragendem Essen und überaus nettem, hilfsbereitem und aufmerksamen Personal. Wir kommen sicher wieder.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

07 May 2025

Saskia

Wir hatten einen fantastischen Aufenthalt. Perfekt zum rechargen und in den Tag leben.

Leisure Friends

10/10

Exceptional

11 Oct 2024

Heiko

Absolutely lovely and friendly staff!

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

21 Sep 2024

SERGIO LUIGI

Wonderful. We have spent three outstanding days in this resort. Right in the heart of a jungle, deep in the nature, quiet, elegant. The staff is amazing… there is an extreme attention payed to the details.
Restaurants are just perfectly blended in this relaxing scenario.
The highest volume sound you’ll hear are the waves…
Strongly suggested if you want to find peace and be back in harmony with nature.
Wellness along the sea.

Leisure Partner

10/10

Exceptional

13 Jun 2024

Alexander

Very idyllic place with nice and helpfull Team. Food is very good too.

Leisure Partner