EnChant Retreat & Glamping Telok Melano — Sarawak's Best Kept Beach Secret

The Vibe

This is a glamping spot — not a bring-your-own-tent kind of place. EnChant Retreat offers pre-set glamping tents and domes right by the beach in Telok Melano, Sematan. So if you're planning to pitch your own setup, adjust your expectations. But if you want a proper beachside retreat without roughing it too hard, this place delivers.

Telok Melano itself is one of those places in Sarawak that most Malaysians from the Peninsula have never even heard of. Way out near Sematan, close to the Sarawak-Kalimantan border — proper edge of the map energy. You wake up to the sound of gentle waves, step onto golden sand, and at night the stars come out properly. No light pollution, no crowds. One reviewer stayed twice and said she'd go back again. That kind of place.

The crowd here is a mix — couples looking for a romantic escape, families with kids, and corporate groups doing team building retreats. The beach is calm and safe, so it works across the board. It's not an adventure camp. It's a slow-down, recharge, stare-at-the-sea kind of place. If that's what you need, you're in the right spot.

Getting There

The address puts you on Jalan Telok Melano, Pasir Panjang, Sematan — which is already quite far west of Kuching. From Kuching, you're looking at roughly 2 to 2.5 hours by car heading towards Sematan along the Pan Borneo Highway, then turning off towards Telok Melano. The road follows the coast at some parts, and while it's mostly paved, the last stretch towards Telok Melano can get a bit rough depending on recent weather. Nothing that requires 4WD, but a normal sedan should be okay — just go slow.

Sematan town is your last proper stop for fuel, groceries, and whatever you forgot to pack. Don't skip it. Signal in Telok Melano reportedly still exists — reviewers mentioned decent network coverage — but don't count on it for navigation once you're deep in. Download offline maps before you leave Kuching. The campsite phone is 019-835 2695 if you get lost and need directions.

What to Expect

Flat beach terrain, open sky, and a laid-back atmosphere. The glamping tents and domes are set up close to the beach — some with forest views, some right on the sand. There are different accommodation types: couple tents, forest couple tents, family tents, and family domes. The family dome is the roomiest option and honestly looks like the upgrade worth getting if you're going with kids.

Don't expect a full resort experience though. The pathways between units can get very dark at night — one reviewer specifically flagged the walkway to the couple tent as dangerously dark. Bring a torch or headlamp, seriously. The bathroom situation is functional but basic — no hot water anywhere on site, and the dome bathrooms have an issue where shower water can splash out into the room. It's the kind of thing that's a bit annoying but manageable if you know about it beforehand.

Crowd-wise, it's quiet — one family mentioned they basically had the whole place to themselves over New Year's, sharing it with only one other group. That's the beauty of being all the way in Telok Melano. For those dark nights on the beach, the TAHAN Luminate Multifunction Lantern is a solid call — rechargeable, four light modes, and doubles as a powerbank. Handy when the walkways are pitch black and there's no electricity nearby.

Facilities

Accommodation

Pre-set glamping tents and domes — couple tents, forest couple tents, family tents, and family domes. Clean and well-maintained. The family dome is the top tier option and worth it.

Bathrooms

Available but no hot water at all — not in the tents, not in the domes. If you're visiting during musim hujan, that shower is going to be painfully cold. Plan accordingly.

Electricity

Electric kettle provided in domes along with coffee and tea. Basic creature comforts are there. Full electrical hookups — not mentioned, so don't assume.

Lighting

Reportedly very dark along certain pathways at night. Bring your own lighting. Don't rely on the site.

Network Coverage

Surprisingly decent for how remote it is. You won't be completely off-grid, which is either a feature or a bug depending on who you ask.

Parking

Available on site — no specific issues raised by any reviewers.

What Campers Are Saying

A corporate team who used EnChant for a team building weekend described it as the perfect mix of activities, relaxation, and good vibes. The staff kept getting called out specifically — multiple reviewers mentioned how warm and genuinely helpful they were, not pushy, just present when you needed them. That's rare.

One family who booked over New Year's had their original family tent swapped out for a family dome due to renovations — and ended up getting upgraded for free. They said they practically had the whole resort to themselves. Waking up to the beach, barely another soul around — for a New Year's trip, that's honestly hard to beat.

A couple who stayed in the forest couple tent for a three-night trip said the room was clean, smelled nice, and matched exactly what was shown in photos online. Rare win. They're already planning a return trip.

One repeat visitor — she's stayed there twice — talked about falling asleep to waves and waking up to fresh sea breeze every morning. She also mentioned the option to sleep in a proper tent for those who want the rawer nature experience, not just the dome. That's a nice touch that sets EnChant apart from pure-resort glamping spots.

The one consistent gripe across reviews is the no hot water situation and the dark pathways at night. Real inconveniences, not dealbreakers — but worth knowing so you're not caught off guard at 11pm when you need to use the bathroom.

TAHAN Tip

Visit during dry season — roughly March to October for Sarawak's west coast. During musim hujan, the cold showers become genuinely miserable, the pathways turn muddy, and the beach isn't at its best. New Year's period is apparently very quiet crowd-wise, but you'll be dealing with the tail end of wet season. If you can time it for mid-year, the sea is calmer, the sand is drier, and Telok Melano looks its best. Also — bring a headlamp or lantern specifically for navigating between units at night. The site doesn't have consistent pathway lighting and it gets proper dark out there.

Speaking of which, if you're bringing the family and lugging beach chairs, coolers, and overnight bags, the TAHAN AllTerrain Foldable Wagon makes moving gear across the sand from your car a lot less painful — hauls up to 100kg and folds flat when you're done.

Mike has been camping across Malaysia for over 10 years — from jungle treks in Taman Negara to beach camps in Perhentian. He writes about it so you don't have to find out the hard way. Follow along on TAHAN Outdoor's blog for honest campsite reviews, every week.

You Might Also Like

• Bako National Park Campsite — another Sarawak coastal gem, but rawer and wilder — great if you want to level up from glamping to proper jungle-meets-beach camping.
• Similajau National Park — Sarawak's underrated beachside national park up in Bintulu, worth knowing about if you're island-hopping or road-tripping across the state.