From the moment you set foot on the island there is an air of tranquillity that we’ve found unrivalled elsewhere. We found that it’s a great opportunity to spend time with good friends with nothing else to distract us from life’s simple pleasures eating, sleeping and drinking! Even better this natural island is perfect for families, older children able to safely roam the island during the day while little ones can sleep in a hammock as their parents sit down to a great sociable meal in the evening. The staff are amazing as they always manage to cook some food that appeals to everyone, with venue and timings arranged to suit our party. We have been to Pangkil three times in the last year and look forward to many more visits to come – its just brill !

Rob and Anita Coldman

Let me live there permanently !

When you arrive at the island there is this huge WOW factor ! It was one of the best weekend breaks I've ever had (if not the best). We all came off the island saying how we would like to come back with other groups of friends for a longer stay (and note, this would be coming from England and not Singapore).

Dan Burgess

[I’ve been to] Pangkil before and enjoyed it a lot the first time. Second time – even better. I think you guys have improved on a lot of small things.

Søren Storm

Overall the trip was fantastic. I’m now a big fan of private tropical island getaways. Next time we'll go mid week, stay longer and relax even more.

Peter Robilliard

Love it [the pool] ! Love the entrance (through the rock), love the seat by the sea, love the wooden sun lounger (carved from a trunk).

Clare Boden

We had an absolutely wonderful time ! The island was really so much more than we expected …

We were welcomed on the island by your staff, who we found to be very pleasant and efficient. They took excellent care of us all weekend yet stayed discretely out of the way. Even the men making repairs tried their best to avoid being in the same area as us.

We played volleyball, flew kites (our own but the kids really liked doing that) and did puzzles (our own) in our downtime. We all got the massage and it was awesome. I recommend it to anyone visiting the island (although warn them that it is a proper deep muscle massage!!).

The food was far beyond what we expected. It was excellent ! Our group included everyone from native Singaporeans to first-time-visiting-asia and also 3 children. Everyone loved the food. We had pancakes every morning - don't know if that is planned or if it was because I told the staff that the kids liked pancakes. The coffee was excellent, there was plenty of OJ and apple juice.

Patty Schupp

I loved [the Driftwood Palaces] and have no complaint (especially as I was in the one above the bar!).

Peter Snell

Another great stay … Weekend was brilliant if not a little wild ... We'd like to come back if we're allowed ! Susan and Hendra rock. They are the most accommodating, tolerant people I think I have ever come across. We were so rowdy yet the staff just took it all in their stride.

Any problem with us naming ourselves the Pangkil Pounders for the upcoming volleyball [tournament in Singapore, named after a drink we created on the island] ?

Pip Kember

Trip was great. Really great crowd and a lot of fun. The service, as always, was excellent.

Sean Worrall

The driftwood palaces are aptly named, Robinson Crusoe would be envious. Comfortable, functionally well laid out, wonderful view to wake up to.

The pool area was very nice, loved the driftwood chaise longue ... The bathrooms are GORGEOUS and very comfortable.

The crew that facilitated our group was so kind and caring. They really took good care of us.

The entire island and all facilities are just incredible. We had an amazing time - everyone loved it. We'll definitely be going back and have already recommended the place to several others.

Microsoft Singapore [Selected comments from a corporate retreat]

We lost a ring at the poolside and staff came to lift up the boards to retrieve it !!

Melanie Highfield

I thought the food was great. There was plenty and it was always of a high standard. The really frightening thing was that it was also healthy !

George Adam

Even in the double rooms (we stayed in Number 5 with two others) you felt like you had some privacy because of the covered beds. And the beds were comfortable which is a big plus !

A few of us swam to [the swimming pontoon] and some even saw a giant turtle swimming around further out. The food was commented on by everyone because it was SO GOOD ! I am allergic to gluten and found that nearly everything was gluten free and tasted magnificent. The vegetables cooked with ginger were the best. And the juicy, perfectly cooked prawns, and the Rendang, and the melt-in-your-mouth beef, need I go on ?!

Karen Parker

Weekend was super special. Fabulous place with awesome attention to rustic luxury. Food was outstanding. Staff was perfect. You can quote me.

William Marmon

I just wanted to drop you a quick line to say what a fantastic weekend we had in Pangkil. I have never seen a place quite so beautiful, the staff were brilliant, and the food incredible. You really have an incredible venture there, and I wish there were more places like it. We all agreed that it was by far the best weekend we have had away since we have been in Singapore (and there have been quite a few).

Many thanks again (now I can't stop going on about That Weekend in Pangkil)

Hannah Greig

Thanks for facilitating a great weekend with our friends.

David Milroy

Just wanted to congratulate you on how beautifully you have done Pangkil. I love the way you've created magical spots without intruding too much on the landscape.

Basia Passl

The beauty is breathtaking when you arrive. I really loved the food so much. We had really delicious healthy salads every day and I kept saying, how come they can get it right on this little remote island but not in Singapore. Another really fun part was taking out the Lasers and not seeing another boat in sight. The Lasers were a lot of fun, but you definitely need to know what you're doing because the wind is fairly strong … I'm still walking on air from the fabulous weekend at Pangkil. Everything was absolutely perfect. The accommodations were lovely and the food was outstanding. We just had an incredible time and can't wait to book again next year. The staff was wonderful.

Pamela Fahey

The Perfect Island ? [an excerpt from a write-up in the BritPack newsletter by Ben Mander]

If you have ever looked out of an aircraft window at a remote tropical island far below, with coconut and palm trees, white beaches, turquoise sea and coral, then fantasized as to what it would be like to be there, last weekend would have been your chance !

An advanced team of four set off on Friday morning (only [half of whom] had their leave from work authorized !) making the 3½ hour trip by ferry, bus and island boat.

After a sumptuous lunch (all meals were terrific) we put our hands to a bit of sailing in the Laser dinghies. There appeared to be some confusion as to whether the mast or keel should be uppermost, the final compromise being to sail 50% of the time with each pointing skyward. Plans were discussed to swim round the island, but after doing the same in kayaks it seemed just too much trouble (as with most things after just a few hours of mellowing).

At the far end of the island (not very far), passing through a natural tunnel formed between two huge boulders is the fresh-water swimming pool. On arriving there the first time there was a 4-foot lizard, not drinking but swimming in the pool. It swam at torpedo-speed (fortunately away from us), leapt out and was not seen again.

At Scotch o’clock (an indeterminate time occurring twice a day) the two oldest members of the team sat with the youngest, looking seaward, enjoying a preprandial drink whilst awaiting the arrival of the rearguard.

A table was laid and all looked set for a major party night. Considerable use was made of the well stocked bar and after dinner everyone moved up to the pool area along paths lit by oil lamps, for the party to begin. However such is the atmosphere on the island that even boogying seemed too much trouble so we lounged around, occasionally flopping into the pool and trying to dodge missiles dropped by overhead fruit bats (various fruits, fortunately prior to consumption).

Thus was the scene set for the rest of the weekend, too laid back to be described hedonistic but equally pleasurable. Two members came back one year older but everyone felt rejuvenated by the experience.

Was it perfect? No, the Tonic Water wasn’t Schweppes, but if that’s all a whinging Pom can find to complain about it was pretty damn close !

Ben Mander