Five of the best: Mountain Retreats

BERJAYA HILLS

Pahang Darul Makmur, Malaysia

A visitor’s impressions of Malaysia invariably have the backdrop of xxxx heat, tropical in its intensity. But there’s one place that is like a breath of fresh air and, naturally, it’s at a high altitude. One of Malaysia’s most breath-taking resorts – Berjaya Hills – is set about 2,700 feet above sea level yet is about 45 minutes drive from Kuala Lumpur. Berjaya Hills is like visiting three countries at one time. There is, of course, the natural beauty and hospitality of Malaysia itself, epitomized overall in the resort and especially in the Berjaya Hills Golf & Country Club. Then there’s the French-themed Colmar Tropicale, modeled after an actual village called Colmar in Alsace, France. All 247 guestrooms are housed in eight blocks of architectural wonder that appear straight out of the 16th century. Daily street performances take place in the central Colmar Square with a colourful flea market opens every weekend and the resort itself offers a pétanque area, swimming pool, gym and sauna and karaoke lounge. Then the visitor can move swiftly to Japan and the Japanese Garden with its Ume Tatami Suite with rooms inspired by the Japanese-style of living, as well as a Western-style room. The suite accommodates up to 10 people, who share the dedicated services of a butler. Next to the Ume Tatami Suite is the Tatami Spa with its four themed treatment rooms named after the four seasons – winter/fuyu, spring/haru, summer/natsu and autumn/aki. The Haru treatment room, for example, has outdoor Japanese spa bathing and an alfresco rock pool. Elsewhere in the ‘village’ you’ll find an authentic-seeming teahouse where there’s a daily demonstration of the traditional tea-making ceremony.

Having ‘seen’ so much of the world in one place, visitors will still be inspired to enjoy the rest of the facilities on offer at Berjaya Hills.

Horse lovers will be able to take to the hills, riding a choice of steeds including Quarter horses, Appaloosa or Arab-Draft Cross. The undulating, 18-hole golf course, designed by internationally renowned architect, J Michael Poellet, can be readily enjoyed in this fresh mountain air, as can the trekking opportunities – on offer are compass and map-reading and jungle night walks. Botanists will adore the one-kilometre-long Botanical Garden that features more than 500 different native species of trees and plants as well as viewing decks overlooking the natural rainforests beyond.

And when you’ve worked up a real hunger, the resort offers fine French dining in La Cigogne, rotisserie-roasted chicken with hot and cold side dishes in the appropriately named Le Poulet Roti and Malay and international cuisine in Le Blanson as well as several other top-class eateries.

Travellers will delight in the Berjaya Hills where the world is at your feet – literally!



Details: for more information, please call 60(9) 288 8888 or Kuala Lumpur Sales Office at 60 (3) 2142 9611, email berjayahills@hr.berjaya.com.my or visit www.berjayahills.com