Samadhi Retreats, a luxury boutique hospitality group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Menteri Besar Incorporated, a diversified mining, property and investing holding arm of the state of Perak in Malaysia. Under the MoU, both sides will jointly develop The Samadhi Belum, set within the Royal Belum State
Park rainforest. This will be Malaysia’s first luxury tented camp in the 130-million-year-old rainforest, which is touted as one of the most ancient rainforests in the world.
The resort aims to offer guests once-in-a-lifetime encounters with wildlife in one of the largest and least explored, protected areas in Malaysia. The Royal Belum State Park thrives with birdlife and large animals that are regarded as highly endangered, including Asian tapirs, Asian elephants, black panthers, Malayan tigers, sun bears and the Sumatran rhino.
MC Inc. and Samadhi Retreats are committed to upholding the culture of the existing communities, and the project will emphasise the benefits to the local economy. From engaging human resources to purchasing local produce, the project will seek out ways to interact with the Indigenous people, facilitating their economic wellbeing and ensuring that the tourism development has a positive impact on their social, cultural and
sense of identity.
The project will also take into consideration the proper management of landscapes, habitats, species and access to rainforest, thus preserving the inherent beauty of the destination and ensure that the native wildlife is disturbed as little as possible.
The Samadhi will comprise a total of 55 luxury tents; 20 of which will be floating in a secluded bay in the northern part of the park, while 35 will be built on an island in the central region of the lake. Samadhi Retreats will manage The Samadhi Belum, which is the group’s highest luxury brand.
Federico Asaro, CEO and founder of Samadhi Retreats says The Samadhi Belum is a opportunity to discover one of Malaysia’s hidden treasures. “The Royal Belum is a place unlike any other, offering extraordinary wildlife spanning 117,500 hectares, this is a gem to be cherished. We are excited to be a part of this project, which will contribute towards building an awareness of the exciting wildlife that exists in Malaysia. The Samadhi Belum offers a unique experience for the adventurous traveller to explore an unspoilt area widely known for its rich bio-diversity. The floating tent option available, known as the “Outpost” offers guests two daily boat safaris, which will provide a different perspective to witness nature at its best.”
The Samadhi Belum is the latest hotel development for Samadhi Retreats. In Thailand, plans are underway for The Samadhi Chiang Mai, which will offer 20 rooms and five villas that are currently available for sale. Other upcoming projects include The Samadhi Tioman, a 25-villa resort, which will be its second property in Tioman Island. The latest developments bring a total of six retreats that the group now owns in three countries.
