[Review] Club Med Cherating’s family and nature activities in 2025

45 years after opening their resort to the public in 1979, Club Med Cherating has introduced some new nature-focused offerings to their Gentils Membres—or guests, for those unfamiliar with the resort group’s terminology. 

Called “Journey into the Wild,” this is Club Med’s response to travel enthusiasts’ desire for more “enriching and experiential getaways.” Promised to be immersive and educational, their new programmes are thus designed to “deepen one’s connection to nature.” 

But enough of this PR talk. What’s the real reason for releasing these activities, and do the refreshed experiences actually deliver?

Luckily for you, we were invited to try out some of the new offerings ourselves. 

Nature’s calling 

After four hours on the road, the first sighting of the glistening South China Sea was nothing short of breathtaking. 

It’s my third time at the resort, but arriving on the 80-hectare property doesn’t get old. 

From the friendly double-handed wave from the Gentile Organisateur (Gentle Organisers) to the distant sound of the beckoning waves, a laidback vibe permeates the ambience—an ambience that just screams: “Your holiday has begun.”  

But of course, we’re not just here for any holiday. We’re here on a mission—to experience the new activities available. 

Namely, there were six new programmes. The first is the Nature Quest Programme. Dubbed a favourite among families, this multi-day programme is designed by experts from Shanghai Chen Shan Botanical Garden. 

Essentially, this programme turns the jungle into a vast, interactive classroom where children and families can embark on a series of challenges. 

These challenges teach useful outdoor skills like building a water filtration system and recognising first-aid kit elements, as well as how to orient yourself in nature, amongst other things. 

Unfortunately, we weren’t able to build upon our outdoor skills this visit, which was quite the shame. 

Next up, there’s the Wildlife Discovery Trail that lets visitors explore Malaysia’s biodiversity. Leveraging Cherating’s lush rainforest, this nature trail is designed for both adults and children over 8. 

Throughout this “moderately challenging” trail, we got to spot animals such as monkeys, snakes, and monitor lizards. We also learnt a lot about indigenous plants found in the rainforest. 

Overall, it was quite a rewarding experience, though at one point I might’ve been a bit too winded to really appreciate my surroundings. 

Another activity is The Botanist Adventure, which is a bit more specific to the 3,000+ plant species in Malaysia’s rainforests.

Unlike the previous trail, this one is a self guided trail, equipped with a booklet and a map that reveals the medicinal and ecological importance of the local flora. 

Next up is the Turtle Scavenger Hunt, a family-friendly scavenger hunt that’s supposed to simulate the search and rescue of turtle eggs. If you really want to see real turtles, March to September will be the best season for you.

With various puzzles and activities incorporated into this experience, there’s no real turtle egg to be found at the end of the hunt. It’s more of a metaphorical thing. 

There’s also an all-new Stargazing Experience available, where guests are invited to gather  around as they’re guided through constellations, lunar landscapes, as well as folklores and myths of the night sky. 

Sounds magical, right? Unfortunately, this experience wasn’t ready for us during our visit, either. 

Finally, check in at The Insect Hotel. For budding entomologists and nature lovers, the “hotel” is created using natural, sustainable materials like twigs, bamboo, and leaves that are supposed to attract bugs. 

Emphasis on “supposed.” During our visit, we were told by our guide that the current design is a bit too Western to really work in our local context. As such, occupancy rates were at an all-time low. Hopefully, they’ll give that hotel a well-needed renovation soon. 

We also caught wind about some activities that we were super excited about, such as paddle yoga. Sadly, we were told it’s not quite ready yet. 

All walks of life 

All along, Club Med has been presented as a family holiday destination. With it being all-inclusive, it’s ideal for the elderly as well as children, especially with the Mini Club Med offerings that helps parents take care of and engage with their little ones while still enjoying their vacay. 

However, there’s typically been a kind of division between adults and children. As mentioned, kids can be sent off to the Mini Club Med to hang out with their peers, while the parents can head off to suntan at the adult-only Zen Pool. 

While this sounds like a win-win opportunity, it may be counterintuitive for a family trip at times. 

Thus, this new Journey into the Wild programme brings a reinvigorated attempt to get adults and children engaged in mutually enriching activities. 

But, we have to admit, some activities did feel a little too… youthful. While great to engage with the childlike wonder, for us childfree visitors, it was a bit too kid-centric for our liking. (We’re looking at you, Turtle Scavenger Hunt…) 

Honestly, though, the myriad of other activities offered at Club Med kept us super engaged and entertained. From sailing on a windy day to playing beach tennis through a light drizzle, we didn’t have any complaints about not having enough fun things to do during our 3D2N stay. 

Refreshed and relevant 

Still, though. While the beautiful views and exciting activities from trapeze to kayaking are oh-so fun, there comes a time when regular visitors exhaust all entertainment options at Club Med Cherating. 

Perhaps that’s one reason why these refreshed nature-centric activities have been introduced at the resort. 

While these outdoorsy experiences might not be for everyone, it was a welcome reprieve for us city folks who spend too much time sitting down in front of a computer. It makes sense why corporates choose Club Med Cherating as a team-bonding getaway. 

To be candid, with Club Med Cherating being over four decades old, certain parts of the stay have become rather rundown. The rooms, for one, are clearly on the older side. With monkeys and critters abound, opulence and luxury are not key words I’d use to describe this resort. 

However, these new activities actually lean into that. Instead of trying to offer some luxe, five-star experience, these nature programmes tap into the strengths of Club Med Cherating. Just keep that in mind when you’re thinking of booking a stay. 

A club unlike any other 

Founded by a former Belgian water polo champion Gérard Blitz, Club Med was established in 1950. It’s considered a pioneer of the all-inclusive resort model. And yes, all-inclusive means activities as well as food and drinks (including alcoholic beverages) are all covered. 

Club Med Cherating, in particular, is a pioneer by its own right too. It was the very first Club Med resort in Asia.

“At Club Med Cherating, our connection to the unique biodiversity of Malaysia’s rainforest runs deep,” said Olivier Monceau, General Manager of Club Med’s Singapore and Malaysia markets.

“Our founder discovered this hidden gem during one of his journeys to Southeast Asia and was immediately captivated by its beauty. He founded the resort here in 1979, creating a place where guests could fully immerse themselves in nature.” 

Guided by Club Med’s Happy to Care ethos, the Cherating resort strives to integrate sustainability into every facet of its operations. For instance, they use chemical-free mosquito treatment, reuse wastewater for irrigation, and compost garden waste. 

Plus, guests can enjoy sustainably sourced seafood, cage-free eggs, and local produce at the buffet. Food waste is monitored with Winnow Solutions, a commercial food waste management solution. 

Having maintained its Green Globe certification for 10 years, Club Med Cherating got its Green Globe Platinum accreditation this year.

All this is to say that the new range of activities isn’t just some ploy to tap into the eco-tourism industry—rather, it’s something that Club Med has been doing all along. 

This effort to pay homage to Mother Nature is something that the resort will likely continue to do. So more than hoping that continues, we hope that modern travellers actually appreciate and engage with these offerings. 

• Learn more about Club Med Cherating here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about hotels here.

All Image Credits: Vulcan Post