Elite Traveler Spring 2019

EXPLORE TOP SUITES

Overwater Bungalow BAWAH RESERVE, INDONESIA

The journey to Bawah Reserve in Indonesia is an indication of just how remote the resort is: Arrive in Singapore, where a Bawah representative will take you to board a ferry for a 30-minute ride to BatamCenter. Then board the hotel’s seaplane to soar through the sky over the South China Sea for an 80-minute flight to the island. This alone makes you feel like you’re leaving the real world behind. The seclusion continues as you take your first sandy steps on the island. The reserve is comprised of six islands, three lagoons and 13 beaches, all surrounded by gorgeously clear turquoise waters and lush tropical foliage. At the end of a jetty, an Overwater Bungalow is suspended above the brilliant blue lagoon, which you can wade into directly from the suite (there’s snorkeling and diving equipment available, too, if you want a closer look). There’s an ocean-facing, canopied, king-sized bed, and the interiors have an aquatic theme with jellyfish-shaped chandeliers and lots of soothing blue tones. We love the murals on the walls that depict the surroundings. The covered veranda is a dreamy spot to unwind or, for a romantic evening; arrange a dinner on the suite’s open-air sundeck. Other dining options include the lofty Treetops Restaurant with a private lookout spot and the Boat House Bar & Restaurant for casual dining with the sand between your toes. For a nightcap, visit Grouper Bar for cocktails, champagne and vintage wines, or Jules Verne Bar (named for the French author and keen explorer) which sits above the tree line. If that doesn’t relax you enough, hit the spa —daily treatments, frommassages to facials to hair treatments, are included in the price. As the resort is set in the Anambas archipelago, one of Indonesia’s first marine conservation areas, sustainability and eco- awareness are taken seriously. All waste is recycled; the sunscreen is ocean-friendly; boats are solar powered; buggies are electric; rainwater is harvested and treated; wastewater is treated and used on the organic fruit and vegetable gardens; and, of course, any tampering with the marine life is strictly forbidden. The resort also works with the Bawah Anambas Foundation, which filters funds back into the land, sea and local community — so rest assured your visit is not only ‘preserving paradise,’ but giving back to it, too. Off grid Grab one of the two-person kayaks and glide through the clear waters — the kayaks are transparent so you can see the ocean below. Paddle to Sanggah Island and head ashore where a picnic awaits. Be sure to search for turtle nesting sites while on the island.

Rate $2,400 per night Contact Thomas Blachere, general manager, reservations@bawahreserve.com, +33 652 930 785, bawahreserve.com

Photo Stevie Mann