Categories: TRAVEL

Bawah Reserve x Jyotsna Shankar

Being a remote island enthusiast and someone who loves bespoke sustainable luxury, Indonesia’s Bawah Reserve has always been on the top of my bucket list. My husband, Anush, and I recently traveled to Singapore and knew we had to go one step further to make a dream trip to this nature refuge a reality.

ISLANDS AND BEACHES AND LAGOONS, OH MY

While most luxury private island resorts usually span one island, Bawah Reserve is an entire nature reserve that spans six islands, three lagoons and thirteen beaches in Indonesia’s Anambas Archipelago. The journey to get to this unspoiled paradise is quite the adventure but is made seamless, thanks to Bawah’s door-to-door concierge service. We’re picked up from our hotel in Singapore at the break of dawn in a luxury transfer and dropped off at the Singapore ferry terminal. From here, a Bawah representative accompanies us to ensure a smooth border crossing from Singapore to Batam in Indonesia. Once in Batam, another luxury transfer whisks us away to the nearby airport where Bawah’s private seaplane awaits us. The journey from Batam to Bawah is a quick 75-minute seaplane ride. As the plane glides over the Bawah archipelago and lands directly on the most pristine lagoon, our excitement intensifies.

As we make our way down the long pier and the warm staff welcomes us, we have a moment to admire the idyllic landscape all around. The blue lagoon teeming with corals against the lush forested hills is truly breathtaking. We meet our guest experience manager Rian who guides us to our room. He mentions along the way that the entire resort is handcrafted using eco-friendly bamboo and other locally sourced natural materials.

We’re in a chic overwater bungalow with panoramic views of the lagoon. At first glance, I notice how the design of the villa blends seamlessly with the natural surroundings—adorned with pieces from local artisans, such as woven hand fans, beaded storage bins and a copper bathtub. I loved the open airy layout and the large outdoor deck. One of our favorite little details of the villa is the personalized name boards on the exterior, which we can keep as souvenirs.

After settling in, we make our way to the jetty for a whimsical sunset cruise along the lagoon. It’s the perfect introduction to the reserve as the cruise takes us along the shores of the six islands. For dinner, we head to the clifftop restaurant Tree Tops. The first thing that catches my attention, as we walk into this gorgeous hideaway nestled in the trees, are the panoramic views of the jetty and lagoon. The handcrafted jellyfish chandeliers are the crowning design detail of the restaurant. We love when a hotel not only pays attention to design details but also celebrates the work of local artisans at every turn. A dish that stands out from our feast is the Indonesian flatbread served with chicken curry and wrapped in banana leaves.

GLASS KAYAKING TO CATCH-OF-THE-DAY

Waking up to the sound of the waves, while sipping on some delicious local Indonesian coffee on our private deck is something we could sure get used to! We decide to explore the main island for the day. We always seek out destinations that make us reconnect with nature and Bawah Reserve is right up that alley. We start with a hike to Bawah’s most pristine beach, Coconut Beach. This turns out to be our personal favorite of the entire reserve, with its surreal Robinson Crusoe vibes. While there are no facilities on this beach, it was absolutely my style of beach—raw and unspoiled. Making our way back to the resort’s main beach, we explore the house reef on glass kayaks. The clear, warm waters provide excellent visibility and we spot a turtle, black tipped sharks and stingrays gliding along the vibrant coral gardens.

As dusk falls, we head to the beachside restaurant Boathouse for a barbeque dinner. Both Anush and I love seafood, so we’d eagerly anticipated this meal. Here, we get to choose from an array of the fresh catch and what we want grilled for us. The prawn and calamari stand out as favorites. The whole ambiance of the dinner is so romantic, with a sorbet-colored sky, gentle ocean breeze and our toes in the sand.

PRIVATE DINING, SUNUP AND SUNDOWN

We kick off our final full day with a bucket list experience: breakfast on a standup paddleboard on a sandbar. It was a dream to sit on the sandbar’s edge and enjoy our delicious breakfast while the occasional stingray or reef shark glided along the shore. Once again, we went with our go-to, Bawah’s health bowls—dragonfruit smoothie, matcha chia and tropical granola are all delicious options.

With an afternoon tropical downpour, we head to their spa for some much-needed relaxation and rejuvenation. As part of our all-inclusive reservation, we’re pleasantly surprised to learn that we get to have a spa treatment per person, per day. Bawah has two spas on property, Aura Spa and Hill Spa. At the latter, we both opt for the “Barely There” massage which is the perfect mix of Balinese- and Swedish-style massage.

As evening sets in, we enjoy a private sundowner and beach dinner organized on Elang, Bawah’s own private island. A private dinner on a private island in a private reserve? This really ought to be a dream! On the deck of Elang’s most prized villa, the Lychee, we sip on our spritz and sample hors d’oeuvres while watching the sky soften into pastel shades. Just when we thought that vibe couldn’t be beat, we’re awestruck by the dinner setup along Elang’s lagoon. The menu is entirely personalized to our preferences—all coastal Indonesian favorites in small portions so that we can sample a number of delicacies. Our favorites are the Sate Lilit Ikan (coral trout satay), Otak Otak Udang (banana leaf wrapped tiger prawns) and Ayam Rendang (chicken in roasted coconut and rendang spices). Everything about the dinner—the enchanting ambiance, the exquisite menu, the company—made it a culinary experience we’ll cherish for years to come.

NOT GOODBYE BUT SEE YOU LATER, BAWAH

Our stay at Bawah Reserve is most memorable because of the sense of peace and seclusion. With a limited number of guests, there’s never a crowded feeling, which allows us to fully immerse ourselves in the beauty and tranquility of the environment. The staff’s genuine hospitality and attention to detail makes us feel right at home. Leaving Bawah Reserve is so bittersweet, but we depart with a deep appreciation for the natural beauty of the islands and their commitment to sustainability. It’s a place that captures the heart and leaves a lasting impression—we hope to return someday to experience its magic once again.