I stayed in a luxury tent on a remote island in Singapore

Ray Lee and Sam Wong, the co-founders of In the Woods and a married couple, said they wanted to create a space for people to relax without worrying about following an itinerary and filling their days with activities.

The founders had enjoyed camping with their children while living abroad in the US and Australia. Despite having no background in hospitality or real estate, they were eager to start something similar in Singapore.

During the pandemic, they came across a government initiative to promote sustainable tourism on Llàtzer Island. Lee and Wong ended up winning a three-year bid to open In the Woods on Lazarus Island in March 2023. The couple estimates they have invested nearly $800,000 in the project, half of which came from their personal savings.

“We want guests to go home feeling like, ‘I feel like I’ve done nothing, but I feel like I’ve accomplished everything,'” Wong told me.

Can doing nothing be satisfying? I was about to find out.

I stayed at Into the Woods on a Sunday night in August

Upon arrival at Lazarus, a member of staff picked me up from the dock in a buggy. We passed a complex consisting of tiny houses — the only other accommodation on the island, and where I spent the next night — past the only convenience store on the island and arrived at the glamping tents on Lázaro Beach a few minutes later.

Related Stories

There are nine tents, including six that can accommodate two guests and three that can sleep up to four. The tents are air-conditioned and located just a few meters from the water.

This was no ordinary tent.

It has a queen-size bed, a kitchenette with a microwave and fridge, and wooden floors. The space too includes essentials for a day at the beach, from a mat to complimentary snacks and a beach bag.

Slow living on the island

After unpacking, I headed out to the beach to explore. But apart from trying stand-up paddling at the island’s only water sports centre, there was little to do. So this is a slow life, I thought.

I sat on the beach and took in the surroundings. It was almost 5 in the afternoon, and the beach was full of life. Teenagers blasted pop music on their portable speakers, toddlers built sandcastles, and dogs ran free in the sand.

Around 6pm, the last ferry left the island and apart from the sound of the waves gently crashing against the sand, the beach became quiet. At the time, it felt surreal; singapore has one of higher population densities in the world It was strangely comforting to have such a spacious space for me, well, and the 10 other guests on the beach.

With nowhere to eat on the island, guests can cook their own meals or pack food. I ordered a set of BBQ meat for about $52 at the convenience store on the island. It came with enough for two or three people and included a variety of meat skewers and sausages, along with mac and cheese and otah, a grilled fishcake dish.

It was a rare opportunity to cook my own food on the beach, so I took the time to savor every bite and enjoy the surroundings.

Since guests are encouraged to wash their own dishes, I put the dirty cutlery and pans aside to take to the communal kitchen sink the next morning.

With no TV and a spotty internet connection, I was left to my own devices to figure out how to spend the rest of the night. Fortunately, each room has a doodle book and reflection journal, and I was grateful for the opportunity to engage in some self-reflection.

That night, instead of the latest Netflix series in the background, the sound of waves crashing on the shore lulled me into a deep sleep.

The next morning, the beach was still empty

I saw a couple who brought their Maltipoo and a Toy Poodle for a hassle-free getaway.

“Even though we have WiFi here, I don’t feel like working or checking emails,” said Peiling Kong, a financial consultant in her 30s.

“It’s a perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of city life,” he added.

Kong is not alone in his desire to escape. Interest in luxury glamping experiences has grown post-pandemic, Mike Harlow, CEO of luxury travel agency Scott Dunn, told me after returning from the trip.

“Being in very stressful environments, usually at work, we’re seeing people want to experience wider landscapes, be more in nature and get away from the hustle and bustle of busy tourist destinations,” he said.

Glamping has gained popularity in Singapore over the past few years, with several companies offering services to set up tents on public beaches and parks. The Mandai Wildlife Sanctuary, which runs zoos in Singapore, even offers zoo-goers the chance to try glamping in the wild by a lake at the Singapore Zoo or in a penguin enclosure at its park of birds, for about $1,300 per tent.

In the US, hotel chains they have also taken action. Earlier this year, Hilton announced a partnership with AutoCamp, which allows members to use Hilton Honors points to book luxury campsites. Similarly, World of Hyatt members can spend points at select Mr and Mrs Smith properties, which include several glamping resorts around the world.

The walk to the bathroom lacked luxury

While the comfortable beds and air-conditioned space provided a luxury camping experience, other aspects of the stay didn’t feel quite as luxurious.

The tents, for example, did not include a private toilet. Guests must share a communal toilet three minutes’ walk away. It is not a difficulty, but it is a drawback, especially in terms of the price of the complex.

“It reminds me of my military days,” one guest in his 50s joked.

When I returned from my trip, the co-founders told me that they could not build private toilets due to cost and time constraints. They said Lazarus Island is a “light-touch” destination, so they didn’t want to disrupt its natural state by laying pipes and installing a sewer system.

Overall, In the Woods is a great option for those who want to try camping in Singapore without going outdoors. Just don’t expect the luxury experience you’ll get at five star hotel.

Of course, there wasn’t much to do. But that was the point: I left feeling recharged and ready to get back into city life.

Business Insider covered the cost of the author’s stay.