Have you ever had a place saved on your travel bucketlist based off something you saw on Instagram and then finally when you make it there, it surpassed your expectations beyond comparison? Bawah Reserve was that place for us, and it is easily one of the most beautiful places we have ever travelled to thus far.

Bawah Reserve is a sustainable luxury resort located in the remote Anambas Archipelago in Indonesia. It spans 6 islands,13 beaches and 3 lagoons making it a destination all in itself. The reserve offers pristine natural beauty, including lush rainforests, white-sand beaches, and vibrant coral reefs.

Bawah has repeatedly been voted as one of the best private island resorts in the world and its hard not to see why! Straight on first glance it looks like the kind of place you would imagine if Maldives and Bora Bora had a baby. The perfect spot for a honeymoon, special occasion trip or an immersive and unique tropical getaway.

How to get here?

Sustainability

Bawah Reserve is committed to sustainability and environmental conservation, ensuring that its luxurious offerings are eco-friendly and responsible. These efforts truly make Bawah Reserve a model for sustainable luxury tourism.

Here are some key aspects of sustainability at Bawah Reserve:

1. Eco-Friendly Architecture and Design : The entire resort is constructed by using sustainable bamboo and other locally sourced natural building materials.

2. Energy Conservation : The resort utilizes solar panels to generate renewable energy, reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources.

3. Water Management : with efforts such as rainwater harvesting, water recycling and they also have a desalination plant.

4. Waste Management : Recycling programs, composting and a plastic free policy.

5. Marine and Terrestrial Conservation efforts of their unique ecosystem

6. Community Engagement : They hire locally and also engage with local communities through educational programs, healthcare initiatives, and infrastructure development.

7. Environmental Education : The resort educates guests about sustainability practices and encourages eco-friendly behavior during their stay.

8. Sustainable Food Practices : They have organic gardens to grow produce and also source their ingredients locally.

9. Eco-Friendly Amenities : Biodegradable toiletries and guests are also provided with reusable Items like water bottles, straws, and other items to minimize waste.

The best kind of All Inclusive

When you stay at Bawah Reserve – the resort is truly a destination by itself ! This is why all guests have all meals, non alcoholic drinks, activities and even spa sessions included in their stay. They will even have a loose itinerary set for you based on your preferences, so you can get a flavor of everything that Bawah has to offer.

Stay

The resort offers various types of accommodation, including overwater bungalows, beachfront suites, and garden suites. Each unit is designed to blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings while providing modern comforts and luxury. We stayed in a one bedroom overwater bungalow. These bungalows are perched on stilts above the clear, turquoise waters, providing direct access to the lagoon.

Overwater bungalow

We loved the spacious private deck with stunning ocean views, luxurious interiors with king-sized beds and modern amenities, tasteful decor adorned with all local handcrafted pieces and the large en-suite bathrooms with eco-friendly toiletries.

Love the personalised details!

Dining

Jellyfish shaped chandeliers made by local artists

Bawah Reserve features several dining options that emphasize fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. The cuisine often includes Indonesian specialties as well as international dishes.  Our dining experience overall was nothing short of spectacular – we loved all the local flavors, attention to detail and culinary diversity across all meals. They have two restaurants and 2 bars on property :

Boathouse :

casual beachside, toes in the sand restaurant. The perfect spot for lunch or a barbeque beach dinner.

Boathouse lunch

Treetops :

Elevated among the trees of the rainforest canopy, offering panoramic views of the island and ocean. This is where the daily breakfast is served and the place is transformed to an enchanting dining area for dinners.

Treetops breakfast

Grouper Bar :

Overlooking the lagoon, providing a perfect spot for watching the sunset while sipping on a cocktail.

Jules Verne Bar :

Perched on the hillside with sweeping views of the island.

Destination Dining

The resort also offers resort also offers many private dining options that are exclusively tailored with personalized menus and are perfect for celebrating special occasions or enjoying a quiet meal. Locations can be in-villa or at specially designated private spots around the island.

SUP Breakfast on a Sandbar

Breakfast served, Robinson Crusoe style! A must do bucketlist experience at Bawah Reserve is the SUP breakfast experience. Whether you have it “toes in the sand style “ at the sandbar edge or “floating breakfast style” in the lagoon, this is a dreamy experience you will never forget.

SUP Breakfast

Private Sundowners and Dinner at Elang

Elang Private Residence is an exclusive addition to Bawah and is located on its own private island. It is only available for buyouts and has its own villas, spa, restaurants and staff. Since no guests were staying at the time we went they were able to organize the most dreamy private sundowner and dinner for us here.

Activities

Water Activities :

Guests can indulge in snorkeling, diving, kayaking, and paddleboarding in the clear, warm waters. They have daily snorkeling trips or you can even snorkel at their incredible house reef. We went kayaking in the lagoon and saw reef sharks, rays and even turtles!

Kayaking on the lagoon

Sunset Sailing :

A must do at Bawah is to go on their sunset sail that takes you around the 6 islands and 3 lagoons, while sipping on some delicious drinks.

Sunset sailing

Hiking :

The reserve offers hiking trails through lush rainforests, providing opportunities to explore the rich biodiversity of the islands. There are several well-marked trails lead through different parts of the island, offering varying levels of difficulty and scenic viewpoints. We absolutely loved going hiking on different days to explore more of Bawah island. They also offer guided hikes on some of their other islands.

Hiking Views – Coconut Beach (above) our favorite hike; and Jetty View hike (below)

Spa and Wellness :

The resort has two spas (Aura and Hill Spa), a gym and daily yoga classes too. My favorite part of our stay was that we each got a spa treatment per day, I mean who can complain about a massage a day! The resort’s spa offers a range of treatments, including massages, facials, and body wraps, using natural and locally sourced ingredients.

Aura Spa (above) and Hill Spa (below)

Pool :

There is a main pool area close to the jetty area and plenty of lounge chairs around.

Beach :

With so many pristine corners, the beach was honestly my favorite spot to hangout at Bawah! Powdery white sands, crystal clear waters and idyllic views at every corner, it really dosent get better than that.

Sandbar at the beach

Beach area

Other Activities :

The resort also has many other activities such as cooking classes, sustainability tours, etc.

Conclusion

Overall Bawah Reserve offers a unique combination of luxury, sustainability, and natural beauty, making it an unforgettable destination for travelers seeking an exclusive and eco-friendly retreat. We absolutely loved our stay at Bawah and can’t wait to be back one day. If you are planning to visit the property I recommend booking via Kiwi Collection to get the best perks out of your stay.

Thanks for stopping by. xx

Jyo

Disclaimer : This stay was in collaboration with Bawah Reserve and Kiwi Collection, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.