Luxury holidays in Desaru

From a sleepy beach town to a getaway spot for Singaporean city-slickers, Desaru’s golden sands have been enticing thalassophiles for half a century thanks to its 17 kilometres of unspoilt coastal beauty and laidback local charm. But beyond the toe-in-sand pleasures of this tiny town you’ll find thrills of a different kind: colourful fruit farms, ostrich enclosures, and – for those with more intrepid dispositions – the Teluk Sengat Crocodile Farm, home to over a thousand snap-happy reptiles. Glide through the Belungkor forest, where you’ll encounter more than a quarter of the world’s mangrove species, or turn the romance up to 11 with a boat trip through the Firefly Valley Leisure Park where fairy-like bugs illuminate the landscape. And with Johor Bahru old town on your doorstep, there’s ample opportunity to sample the cumin- and coconut-infused flavours of the local cuisine, too.