Amid lush rainforest, a Pahang resort and its French-themed town offer a luxurious stay and fun activities, writes Hanna Hussein
PEACE and tranquillity — that’s exactly how I feel upon our arrival at Berjaya Hills, a highland resort perched 820 metres above sea level on a mountain ridge at almost the tail end of Titiwangsa Range.
Located near Bentong in Pahang, it is an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur via Karak Highway. We are welcomed with a bit of sunshine but the weather is so much breezier and colder compared to the city as the resort is surrounded by lush rainforest and valleys. This definitely makes an ideal escapade away from the city!
Famous for its French-themed town, the resort known as Bukit Tinggi offers more than just breathtaking scenery. There are many great activities suitable for everyone, including couples, families and adrenaline junkies.
My sister and I have planned a 3D2N vacation here at Berjaya Hills which includes a stay at its luxurious hotel, The Chateau Spa and Organic Wellness Resort.
THE CASTLE
The resort is called The Chateau for a reason. It looks exactly like a castle with a majestic archway at the entrance. So magical!
As the bellboy unloads my luggage, he tells me to head up to the lobby and assures me that the bags will be in my room in no time.
To get to the glass elevator, we walk across a stunning walkway that has orchid pots hanging everywhere which make a beautiful background for a selfie.
Heading one floor up to the reception, we are welcomed by a friendly worker who ushers us to Le Rouge, a stunning lounge located near the lobby. We are given welcome drinks to refresh after our journey.
It’s almost noon but it’s still too early to check in, so we head to La Vie, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant for an early lunch. The restaurant is where we will have our daily buffet breakfast throughout the stay.
As it is a weekday, the hotel is in low occupancy and so my sister and I get to have a quiet meal by the window overlooking the swimming pool which is surrounded by greenery. We order from the a la carte menu which offers an array of local and International choices. For local delicacies, I highly recommend the mee mamak.
After lunch, we head back to the lobby to check if the room is ready. It’s not yet 3pm — the normal check-in time — but to our surprise, it is.
Our deluxe room is one of the lowest categories in this five-star resort but it’s still elegant and cosy. The European-designed room is basic yet gorgeously furnished with plush king bed and a work desk by a window. The room is complete with luxury amenities. All guests are also entitled to complimentary daily morning yoga and fitness boot camp, daily evening cocktail and nutritious snacks at Le Rouge, pressing or laundry for three pieces of clothing, as well as 20 per cent discount vouchers for treatments at La Sante Spa as well as Afternoon Tea set at Belle Vue.
We decide to use the discount vouchers at Belle Vue. It is a charming space, great for a light meal and popular for its signature Afternoon Tea experience. We sit at the balcony to enjoy the fresh air, order a tea set for two which comes with little savoury snacks and sweet desserts, scones with jam and cream, as well as two freshly brewed tea of your choice.
The hotel has another F&B outlet that is worth checking out. The L’assiette is a luxurious fine dining setting serving French cuisine. Here, the chef creates a degustation concept menu using the finest ingredients, including fresh vegetables from the Organic Farm here at the resort.
The La Therapie Culinaire is a special diet catering to guests’ needs and flavour palate. It offers seven menus — Coeur Fort for strong heart, L’Assiette Antioxydant (antioxidant choice), Chargeur de Proteine (protein charger), Nettoyage du Corps (body cleansing), Corps Essentiel (body essential) and Regime du Diabetique for those who require a diabetic diet. The four-course menu ranges from RM150 to RM220.
MEDIEVAL FRENCH VILLAGE
The next day, we head to the highland resort’s popular attraction, The Colmar Tropicale, an accommodation choice that is far more affordable than The Chateau.
Walking in the little town of Colmar Tropicale, a French-themed town inspired by the 18th century architecture of Alsace in France, I feel I am in the
Beauty And The Beast
movie! The area looks like it is surrounded by a moat and you cross a drawbridge to enter.
Inside, a cobblestone courtyard and colourful facade surround the Colmar Square, with a number of outdoor dining and shopping options. There are daily street performances too!
There’s a viewing tower at the end of the square. Just take a lift up or the stairs.
If you really want to soak up the ambience, why not chill at one of the outdoor dining outlets? We head to La Flamme, a quaint deli serving Italian cuisine such as pizza, pasta and pastry. The pizzas and pastas are good and the prices are affordable.
JAPANESE GARDEN
My favourite attraction at the highland resort is the Japanese Village. To get there, you can drive which takes less than five minutes or you can take the free shuttle.
From the drop-off, you will have to hike up a steep road — it’s quite tiring for a low-stamina person like me but I reach the top in 15 minutes.
From the first junction, I head right to visit the Botanical Gardens. It is a 1.6ha garden with one-kilometre walkway that weaves through towering trees and viewing decks. It’s quite a walk but quite worth it.
Next to it is the Japanese Village, where one is transported to old Kyoto! The garden is beautiful, and if you go early in the morning, you can feel the breezy mist.
You can rent a kimono at RM20. My sister and I both change into a kimono and pose for photos. The place is quite crowded with visitors and almost everyone is donning the Japanese traditional dress. Cool!
Traditional tea ceremonies are conducted at the tea house, Japanese spa and Japanese restaurant.
ADVENTURE TIME
Wanting some thrilling action, my sister and I head to the Adventure Park for activities such as ATV, rock climbing and ziplining. The price — quite affordable!
We pay RM85 per person for the ziplining adventure and add on the Canopy Walk at an extra RM32 per person.
Luckily, I am already prepared with suitable wear including sports shoes. All I need is a safety harness and a helmet. The worker prepares everything for us. We just have to follow his lead.
What’s the difference between this Flying Fox from other places in Malaysia? Well, it is said to be the longest with a combined length of over one kilometre, speeding down at speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour, flying more than 100 metres above the tropical rainforest. Sounds scary right? Yes, it definitely is!
Our adventure starts with a canopy walk which hangs 15 metres above ground that takes us to the Flying Fox take-off tower. There’s also a bit of jungle trekking but it's not too hard.
To kick off the Flying Fox activity, we have to climb up a really high ladder. It is a scary experience as the ladder sometimes sway, even though you are the only person climbing it. Once you climb up, you will then go on two exhilarating, fast and super fun ziplines with a view of the rainforest.
If heights and speed are not your thing, the adventure park also offers Warfare, Rock Climbing, High Rope Obstacle Course and more, perfect for team-building!
FAST FACTS
THE CHATEAU SPA & ORGANIC WELLNESS RESORT
KM 48, Persimpangan
Bertingkat Lebuhraya Karak,
Bukit Tinggi, Pahang
TEL 09 - 221 3888
FAX 09 - 221 3886
WEBSITE www.thechateau.com.my
STAY The resort boasts 130 rooms and suites with traditional yet sophisticated design and furnished with luxurious amenities.
EAT There are five F&B outlets at The Chateau: La Vie is the all-day dining open for breakfast through dinner; L’assiette is a fine dining restaurant offering French cuisine; Belle Vue tea room; as well as two lounges — Le Rouge and Salon Cigar Lounge.
DO Check out the multi-award La Sante Spa, the first European spa concept in Asia! The spa houses over 10 treatment rooms complemented with wellness facility fully imported from Europe. Aside from the wide range of spa and wellness treatments offered, there are also customised fitness and yoga programmes available, complimentary for hotel guests. The hotel also has a swimming pool and a game room!
GO Many places you can visit around Berjaya Hills including the little French town of Colmar Tropicale, Japanese Village, Adventure Park, Organic Farm and more.
HIGH Luxurious and relaxing stay!
LOW Nothing much to do after sundown — even the nearby 7-Eleven closes at 8.30pm! However, The Chateau has a gaming room.