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

Ray Lee and Sam Wong, 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 enjoyed camping with their children while living abroad in the US and Australia. Despite having no experience in hospitality or real estate, they were keen to start something similar in Singapore.

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

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

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

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

When I arrived at Lazar, a staff member took me from the pier in a cart. We drove past a resort of tiny houses – the only other accommodation on the island and where we spent the next night – past the island’s only convenience store and arrived at the glamping tents on Lazarus Beach a few minutes later.

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

This was no ordinary tent.

It fits a queen bed, a cooking area with a microwave and refrigerator, and has hardwood floors. Space too included essentials for a day at the beach, from a mat to free snacks and a beach bag.

Live slowly on the island

After unpacking, I went out to the beach to explore. But apart from trying stand-up paddling in the only water sports center on the island, there was nothing to do. So this is a slow life, I thought.

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

Around 6pm, the last ferry left the island, and apart from the sound of the waves gently crashing into the sand, the beach became quiet. At that moment, it felt surreal; Singapore has one of the highest population densities in the world. It was strangely comforting to have such an expansive space to myself – well, to the other 10 guests on the beach.

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

It was a rare opportunity to cook my own food by the beach, so I took my time savoring every bite and enjoying the surroundings.

As guests are encouraged to wash their own dishes, I set the dirty cutlery and pans aside to carry to the communal kitchen sink the next morning.

With no TV and a spotty internet connection, I was left to figure out how to spend the rest of the evening. 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 blaring 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 30-year-old financial consultant.

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

Kong is not alone in her desire to escape. Interest in luxury glamping experiences has surged since the pandemic, Mike Harlow, managing director of luxury travel agency Scott Dunn, told me after I returned from my trip.

“Being in highly stressful environments, usually at work, we definitely see people wanting 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 in recent years, with several companies offering tenting services on public beaches and parks. Mandai Wildlife Reserve, which manages zoos in Singapore, even offers zoo-goers the chance to try glamping in the wild by a lake at the Singapore Zoo or near a penguin enclosure in its bird park — for about $1,300 per tent.

In the US, hotel chains have also gotten in on the 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. & Mrs. Smith properties, which include several glamping resorts around the world.

The trip to the toilet lacked luxury

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

The tents, for example, did not include a private toilet. Guests have to share a communal toilet three minutes’ walk away. It’s no hardship, but it’s an inconvenience – especially at the price of the resort.

“It reminds me of my army days,” one 50-year-old guest jokingly told me.

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 was a “soft touch” destination, so they didn’t want to disrupt its natural state by laying pipes and installing a sewage system.

Overall, In the Woods is a great option for those who want to try camping in Singapore without doing it outdoors. Don’t expect the luxury experience you’d get at a five-star hotel.

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

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