Colmar Tropicale is a French-themed village located within the Berjaya Hills Resort in Bukit Tinggi, Pahang, Malaysia.
We visited the resort during the school holidays as part of our Malaysian road trip. It was the girls’ first trip there. The rest of us visited the resort more than a decade ago.
The resort had various room types including a two-bedroom French-themed suite that could accommodate families with 4-5 members.
The suite had a large living area, a kitchenette and a fabulous view of the hillside from the balcony. We booked the room through Booking.com.
After settling in, we headed out to explore the resort area. Colmar Tropicale was modelled after the beautiful 16th century Colmar town in the Alsace region of France.
It was a good way to get a taste of France without actually going there.
From knights’ shining armours and horses to swans gliding gracefully around the moat in front of the resort’s entrance, the resort exudes the charm of the medieval European city.
As the resort was 2,700m above sea level, the weather was much cooler than most parts of West Malaysia. Clouds were hanging below where we were.
There was a tower at the end of the resort that provided a good view of the resort.
When night fell, the resort was even more charming with strings of light stretching from one end of the resort village to the other.
What to Eat
There were several dining options available at the resort, from simple French Boulangerie to romantic French fine dining. In a French-themed resort, it was only fitting that we try out the famous French cuisine.
We tried the creme brûlée at Le Boulangerie for tea break and French roasted chicken at Le Poulet Roti for dinner. We also tried the pizzas at the sidewalk Italian deli.
Things to Do
There were several things to do within the Berjaya Hills resort area. This included golfing, outdoor activities at the Adventure Park, horse riding, exploring the botanical gardens, 6D motion ride and swimming. We managed to visit the Japanese Village and the Animal Park during this trip.
Japanese Village
The Japanese Village and garden was designed by a renowned Japanese architect and built by Japanese craftsmen.
There was a Japanese restaurant, and a place to experience the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Kimonos were also available for rental at a reasonable fee. My daughter enjoyed getting a chance to dress up in a kimono.
Animal Park
The highlight of the trip for the kiddos was playing with the deer and rabbits at the Animal Park.
We took the shuttle bus from the resort to the Animal Park.
The animals were very friendly and the rabbits were extremely cute. My favourite was the white one pictured on the right below.
My daughter enjoyed feeding the rabbits so much that she wanted to visit the Animal Park again. When we said no, she asked if she could have a rabbit or two as pets at home instead.
After Colmar Tropicale, we went to Kampung Dorani for a Malaysian homestay before driving further north to Penang. We then headed southwards to Kuala Lumpur before driving back to Singapore.
Getting there
The resort is located at KM 48 Persimpangan Bertingkat, Lebuhraya Karak, Bukit Tinggi, 28750 Bentong, Pahang, Malaysia
Tips
- We were able to get good rates on Booking.com. Alternatively, try Agoda.com.
- The drive from Singapore Tuas checkpoint to Berjaya Hills resort would take about 4-5 hours without traffic, or delays at the checkpoint. Although it would be possible to drive from Singapore directly to Berjaya Hills resort, you might end up driving up the hill with lower visibility when it gets foggy or dark. For us, we split our journey and stayed at Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort before making our way to Colmar Tropicale. You could also stay in KL before driving up.
- There were no grocery stores, minimarts or convenience stores within the Colmar Tropicale resort. You might want to grab any essentials from one of these before driving up to the resort.
- Apart from Colmar Tropicale, Berjaya Hills has another more luxurious hotel called The Chateau Spa and Organic Wellness. It was located within walking distance from the entrance of Colmar Tropicale. The Chateau looked very much like a castle from the exterior. Check details and rates on Booking.com or Agoda.com.
