Discretely opened in February 2018, Bawah Reserve is a barefoot luxe resort located in the remote Anambas archipelago in Indonesia. Recently I had the opportunity to explore this remote island paradise….and whilst it’s not Fiji, Thailand, Cook Islands or Vanuatu this gem is worth adding to our bucketlist destinations!

On paper the journey to Bawah from Singapore appears tedious, but in reality it flows seamlessly, commencing with a limousine transfer to Tanah Merah ferry terminal, followed by a 35 minute ferry to Batam and an 80 minute scenic journey on the resort’s private seaplane. In each port we are met and escorted by a resort representative to fast track the immigration process and ensure all of our comforts are met.

The beautiful images I had seen pre-departure do little to prepare us for the magical sight as the seaplane draws close. We are greeted with a picture perfect postcard of azure waters surrounding the 6 jungle covered islands that make up Bawah Reserve, encircled by reef forming 3 expansive lagoons that shimmer invitingly. As is custom, the pilot circumnavigates the island before we commence our descent, a spectacular visual teaser of the adventure that awaits.

We are escorted to our Beachfront Suite, where hand carved wooden name plaques welcome us. Essentially a safari style canopy draped over an elaborate bamboo frame, the entire structure is elevated above the foreshore to capture the amazing sea views and minimise the environmental imprint. The understated elegance of the Robinson Crusoe styled furnishings teamed with copper and marine themed lighting lends itself well to the natural beauty of Bawah.

There are 36 stand alone suites on Bawah, all well spaced and set amongst tropical foilage to ensure guests privacy. Aside from the Beachfront Suite which we occupy, there is a Deluxe Beachfront Suite with an adjacent pavilion featuring a living & dining area, Overwater Villas and the Jungle Lodge, currently the only 2 bedroom villa on the island. All rooms are essentially the same style and layout, it’s only the location that varies and the addition of the pavilion with the Deluxe Suites and extra bedroom in the Jungle Lodge.

Equipped with air-conditioning (a true blessing given the humidity) and canopied King or twin beds, each room has a separate bathroom enclosed behind sliding glass doors featuring a circular rain shower, majestic copper bathtub, generous double vanity, walk in wardrobe and separate toilet.

The mini bar is stocked with home-made crisps, cookies, juice and plentiful water, replenished daily.

As lunchtime beckons we meander the sandy paths towards the Boat House, a rustic beachfront bar (complete with Insta-worthy swing chairs) serving an amazing array of modern a la carte treats for lunch, snacks and dinner. It’s difficult to narrow down the choices so we select a plentiful combination of our preferences to share tapas style – Thai style green papaya and prawn salad, Vietnamese fresh spring rolls, prawn and avocado poke bowl and natuna fish served with organic brown and Japanese rice, coconut & lime dressing, spring onions and pickled vegetables.

In keeping with the Islands sustainability practice the ingredients are grown either in the Island’s garden or on neighbouring island farms where a large portion of Bawah’s staff originate from. Fish is caught locally, whilst meat is generally imported from Australia, New Zealand or the USA to ensure premium quality.

Bawah’s nightly rate includes all meals and non-alcoholic beverages. There is a tempting selection of elixirs & fresh juices as well as an enticing list of mocktails. We haven’t yet asked to see the wine list or choice of cocktails but instead choose a “Sun Healer” consisting of pineapple, lychee & lime juice which is just the right mix of sweet & refreshing for a sunny afternoon lunch with our toes in the sand.

Bawah’s rates are also inclusive of spa treatments at the resort’s Aura Spa & Wellness Centre, and a 30 minute welcome massage sits atop our afternoon schedule post lunch. Anticipating our spa requirements, the resort has already conveniently arranged a 1 hour massage the following day and a pre-departure 30 minute foot & leg massage for our final morning.

Post lunch & a sleep inducing massage we decide an island trek is in order to re-energize  so we set off to explore the jungle trails on a quest to reach the North East Lookout at the far end of the resort. The paths are so discretely signed to blend with the jungle landscape that we take a few wrong turns but are eventually rewarded with a panoramic view of neighbouring Batu Tokong & Barrier Islands framed by a magnificent Blue Lagoon spotted with perfectly circular atolls.

Our afternoon ends with a leisurely kayak to neighbouring Sanggah island to enjoy the sunset on our own private beach. It’s a relaxed & peaceful setting with comfortable beach lounges placed on the sand in prime position.

For our evening meal we choose to dine at the resort’s signature restaurant “Treetops”, an elegant open air pavilion with spectacular views over the reserve and a commanding signature octopus inspired chandelier as the restaurant’s centerpiece.

With a blend of modern Asian fusion and Indonesian cuisine, the choices are once again plentiful. Our meals are exquisite, my local prawn curry is so enticing that my companion has food envy and rejects her choice of the “Special of the Day” to request the same.

Wine is well priced compared to Singapore standards and our choice of an Indonesian Sauvignon Blanc is surprisingly good!

Exhausted from our early start we retire to the comfort of our air-conditioned suite and sleep peacefully to the sound of the lagoon lapping the shore.

We begin the following day early eager to make the most of our only full day in paradise. After a plentiful breakfast at Treetops we embark on another trek to work off our indulgences. This time we reach the Main Lookout with a magnificent view over the resort’s front beach showcasing the amazing coral reefs & stunning natural lagoons.

We descend just in time to freshen up and prepare for our private beach picnic at Turtle Beach. Located on the opposite side of Sanggah Island the beach is completely remote with only a distant island on the horizon. The attentive staff set up our daybed and picnic tray and leave us with a walkie talkie. The romance is lost on us so we don our snorkel gear and venture out to explore the reefs. I am somewhat dismayed by the bleached reefs, virtually destroyed by illegal dynamite fishing and the colourful tropical fish I’m accustomed to seeing in Fiji & the Maldives are few and far between. Bawah is working towards regenerating the reef and the occasional patches of vibrant blue & yellow are testament to their efforts. In full colour it would be spectacular.

Our picnic is followed by a 1 hour massage and a light lunch beachside at the Boat Bar with chilled tunes playing in the background. We decide to spend our afternoon exploring Coconut Beach which we have been told is the prettiest beach in the reserve, surrounded by the Blue Lagoon with it’s perfect coral atolls. We approach the Activities staff with our request and boldly suggest that we would like a boat ride there towing kayaks so we can then paddle back through the lagoon and explore the exquisite coves. Nothing is too much trouble at Bawah and our request is met with smiles of approval and within minutes we are on our way.

This is one detail that really sets Bawah apart…every staff member we have encountered has not only been friendly, polite and professional but they are obliging, in a self-empowered way and I’m super impressed by their efficiency. Even though Bawah has its own Island time (1 hour ahead of local Indonesia time), there is no concept of island time slowing down the pace of our island adventure.

Before we know it we are maneuvering our kayaks through the Blue Lagoon marveling at the exquisite beauty of our natural surrounds and the magical seclusion of having this entire paradise to ourselves. Trying to savour the moment but carry momentum as we journey back to the main resort is challenging. I don’t know whether I want to be in the water or on top of the water, the crystal clear turquoise waters are so inviting.

We skim over the reef as we make our way back past the resort, drop our kayaks and head out to explore the house reef with our snorkeling gear.

Alongside the jetty the reef is more abundant with life and we are rewarded with a glimpse of rays, reef sharks and schools of tropical fish. The tide is against us though so we retreat to our suite to prepare for our Sunset Cruise.

Bawah’s luxe appeal should not be confused with pretentious extravagance. Our sunset cruise is no luxury catamaran (remarked upon by a fellow guest), instead it’s a modest timber boat scattered with comfortable cushions so we can sit back & relax whilst admiring the setting sun as we cruise the islands. It’s charming nevertheless! We sip on our pre-ordered wine and snack on fresh crisps and nuts as we get to know other “explorers” of the Island. I’m surprised to hear how far guests have travelled to experience Bawah –  one couple is from Germany, the other from Russia and a third couple we later meet are from Australia. All 3 couples indicate that the Maldives was on their shortlist but they chose Bawah instead seeking a unique experience.

We encounter a gypsy fisherman in a wooden canoe, fully clothed yet wringing wet as he free dives for fish with a small length of line and squid for bait. A staff member explains that Bawah has an 800m perimeter encircling the Reserve where it is illegal for fisherman to drift, yet anything caught outside this area is potentially on the table for dinner that night. Sustainability is a juggle between protecting the marine reserve as well as the livelihood of the local fishermen.

As the sun sinks over the horizon we return to the shores of Bawah and enjoy another delectable 3 course meal at Treetops.

Before we depart the shores of Bawah the following morning we are treated to one last massage to ensure we leave completely relaxed from our weekend escapade.

As I lay there I reflect on the elements of our experience that make Bawah so special. First and foremost it’s the remoteness of the location and spectacular natural setting…. six islands, 13 private beaches, 3 breathtakingly beautiful lagoons… combined with the understated yet charming bamboo resort structures that blend effortlessly with the jungle treescape, the exquisite culinary experiences, indulgent all-inclusive spa treatments and the warm, friendly & efficient staff that truly make Bawah an idyllic island escape.

Less than 2 hours travel time from Singapore I urge you to add Bawah to your bucketlist!