Tanah Mympi, a private island resort four years in the making, is preparing to open its doors in Indonesia’s Telo Islands, a string of islands lying west of Sumatra’s mainland that the resort describes as the Maldives without the development, Fiji without the tradewinds and Bali without the crowds. Bookings are being taken now ahead of the opening, and guests who quote code 98 will receive exclusive benefits with the compliments of The Executive Magazine.

The island sits encircled by white sand and seashells in the silky aqua of the Indian Ocean, alive with birdsong and shaded by a cool, lush interior of foliage. It is a setting the owners pitch at guests chasing the ultimate immersive tropical experience: intimate yet expansive, classy yet casual, exotic yet accessible.

Sixteen suites and room for thirty-two guests

Accommodation is deliberately generous. Eight Ocean View suites and eight Jungle View suites give the island a capacity of up to thirty-two guests, making it a fitting stage for once-in-a-lifetime gatherings, though the resort more commonly hosts smaller, more intimate groups and family vacations. With the whole island given over to so few, space itself becomes the luxury.

Days revolve around the pool, pavilion and shaded swim-up bar area, a spot the owners say guests could easily spend an entire day relaxing in, usually by way of lazy laps of the pool or a hot lap of the lagoon before finding themselves at the swim-up bar later that day.

A kitchen with pedigree

Food is treated as a headline rather than an afterthought. The resort’s chef is no stranger to a Michelin-starred kitchen, the dinner parties are described as already legendary, and bar staff double as cocktail artists. A Tanah Mympi massage rounds out the wellness offer with a signature treatment guests can book without leaving the island.

Adventure sits just offshore. The island’s drift-dive snorkel experience is pitched to leave guests amazed, sea turtles pass through the surrounding water, and all manner of activities and water toys await children and the young at heart.

The journey is part of the adventure

Getting there is treated as part of the experience. International flights route into Padang via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Jakarta, where guests are met at arrivals with a Tanah Mympi sign and taken to pre-booked overnight accommodation. A morning pick-up follows, with a charter flight aboard a Grand Caravan to the Telo Islands, a swift transit to the dock and a short boat ride to the island itself, in-flight snacks included.

Guests who prefer to stay at sea level can choose the deluxe nautical crossing option from Padang to Telo instead of the flight. Either way, the transfer is arranged end to end by the resort team, luggage lads and all.

Bookings and exclusive benefits

Tanah Mympi is opening soon for guests, and bookings are being taken now for the seasons ahead. Guests who quote reference 98 when booking will receive exclusive benefits care of The Executive Magazine. For a first taste of island life before the plane lifts off from Padang, the resort’s own materials offer a simple promise: an island of deep relaxation, good conversation and finally getting to read that book.