Bawah Reserve: The Remote Indonesian Island Escape Built for Travelers Looking Beyond the Maldives

Hidden in Indonesia’s remote Anambas Archipelago, Bawah Reserve offers a very different kind of tropical escape. Spread across six private islands within a 1,000-hectare marine conservation area, the resort combines overwater bungalows, beaches, jungle, wellness experiences and marine conservation in one secluded destination. Getting there is part of the adventure: travelers arriving from Singapore cross by ferry to Batam, continue by private vehicle to Hang Nadim Airport, then board a roughly 75-minute seaplane flight directly to the resort’s lagoon. Bawah currently has 36 accommodations ranging from tented suites to pool villas. The property’s chief of operations, Paul Robinson, described its target guests to CNN as travelers who may be “bored with the Maldives” and want more activities alongside the privacy and luxury of a remote island stay.

The experience extends well beyond lounging on the beach. Guests can join yoga and meditation sessions, snorkel, hike, kayak and take part in selected marine-conservation activities. Bawah’s marine team monitors nesting beaches used by green and hawksbill sea turtles and relocates vulnerable nests to protected areas when necessary. Guests may sometimes witness hatchlings making their way toward the sea, although sightings depend entirely on the nesting and hatching season. The resort also offers turtle monitoring, coral-restoration experiences and reef-health programs led by marine specialists. Wellness is another major part of the stay: room rates include one spa treatment per person for each night booked, along with access to sauna, steam-room and cold-plunge facilities. Meals, non-alcoholic drinks and many land and water activities are also included.

This level of seclusion comes at a premium. Bawah’s published 2026 rates start at US$1,980 per suite per night for a Tented Garden Suite during off-peak periods, while larger villas can cost well above US$10,000 per night. A standard booking generally requires at least three nights, and the round-trip transport package from Singapore currently costs US$1,050 per person, excluding a fuel surcharge. Rates can change by season, and alcohol, scuba diving and some bespoke experiences cost extra. For travelers willing to make the journey, Bawah offers something increasingly difficult to find: a tropical resort where luxury, outdoor adventure and conservation are designed to coexist rather than compete for attention.

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