The height of seclusion and luxury on a private island
Reasons to reserve Elang Private Residence, Bawah Reserve
For Bawah's out-of-the-way location and its ethical environmental practices, and now for the opportunity to entirely escape at the recently opened Elang Private Residence, the owner's vacation house offered as a full buyout, great for gatherings and multi-generational families to toast being together again, after a pandemic that closed down Bawah for more months than it has been open (the dormancy period implies the secret isn't fully out yet).
"The epitome of secluded luxury on your very own private island" @cntravellerhttps://t.co/K1FoWgKs4F
— Bawah Reserve (@bawahreserve) January 26, 2023
At Bawah Reserve and Elang, there are overwater suites
Prepare the scene
It feels like a return to a more romantic period of travel as we travel here from Singapore by ferry and amphibious plane, which takes off on wheels and landings on floats. The pilots provide a brief security briefing while walking barefoot on the rudder, saying things such as, "If you feel like swimming, there's a life jacket beneath your seat." It's a pretty way to get there.
The largest of the six islands in this little archipelago, Bawah splashes to shore. There are 36 villas here, several dining options and bars, walking paths through the forest, outdoor treatments, a spotless grass tennis court, two spas, and a store. The most difficult choice of the day may be determining where to have a picnic or in which lagoon to go snorkeling.
With only six villas, a restaurant next to a saltwater pool and waterslide, a clubhouse, a spa, and an additional grass tennis court, Elang is yet more secluded. In this marine reserve, four other deserted islands are all near one another.
Bawah Reserve & Elang serves breakfast while paddling aboard.
The background
Tim Hartnoll, a shipping mogul from Singapore, came upon these verdant island outcrops and their protected lagoons while on a sailing vacation. So started the process of developing an eco-friendly hideaway resort and a marine reserve to restore coral reefs destroyed by dynamite fishing.
Bawah Reserve & Elang bedroom
The rooms
Five one-bedroom villas with indigenous palm thatching can be seen on Elang: Ficus, Lychee, Yucca, Cycad, and Satigi. There is also a two-bedroom Longhouse. Tropical blues are used throughout the interiors, along with hand-hewn rock, repurposed teak and copper, and flotsam-and-jetsam furnishings. Stone steps descend to the sea, where the visibility is so good that no mask is necessary to observe the aquatic life.
Others of the homes on Bawah's main island are set back in the forest, some are over-water, and some face the beach. Sim Boon Yang, a Singaporean architect who managed the building of both islands, built using sustainable bamboo, driftwood, and recycled materials.
Bawah Reserve & Elang Dining
Food and beverage
Elang's dining options include dishes like lamb satay on sugarcane skewers, shrimp with mango sambal, and slices of rare beef with miniature pots of rendang sauce. Visitors can eat anywhere, even on a sandbank or an empty beach, including The Club House, The Beach House, on Bawah, and in-villa.
There is The Grouper, a laid-back poolside bar on Bawah itself, or the Jules Verne for sundowners up the hill. Either on the beach at The Boat House or under the canopy at Tree Tops are options for dining. A private dinner option is also available for visitors to the islands. The island's permaculture gardens are where a large portion of the organic food supplied is cultivated.
A spa
There are three spas where visitors may sign up for daily massages: two on Bawah (Aura and the Hill spa), and Kayu on Elang (included in their stay). Retno Pardengganan, the primary deep-tissue expert who also performs reflexology and head massage, gave me one of the most intensive massages I've ever received. In place of branded goods, there are traditional masks, cleanses, compresses, and wraps made with local ingredients like coffee, chocolate, and raw honey. Aloe vera, ginger, lemongrass, turmeric, and organic coconut oil are combined with the essential oils of ginger, tonka bean, and lime. Along with treatments, there are daily Pilates and yoga courses (as well as SUP yoga), two gyms (one a jungle gym and the other air-conditioned), and guided meditation. The hotel is focused even more on health and wellness, so this is an area to keep an eye on.
Looking back towards Coconut Beach from Batu Tokong
In the neighborhood
The property is located in the Anambas archipelago, an 80-minute flight from Singapore's Batam, an Indonesian island. Flights, ferries, and shuttles may seem like a logistically challenging excursion, but the Bawah personnel managed everything flawlessly. It takes between three and four hours to get there from Singapore.
These islands have a disproportionately strategic position since they are situated between Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo; in fact, Bawah was once a military outpost of the Indonesian army (you can still see the red and white stripes of the Indonesian flag painted on rocks around the shoreline). The closest inhabited islands are many hours distant by boat, and the local economy is centered around farming and fishing.
Bawah Reserve & Elang private residence balcony
The service
The crew is kind, but also humorous, smart, and happy. Examples include Rini, who can answer nearly any question about the property or its initiatives; Nintya, who manages landscaping and permaculture; and Julian, the waiter, who enjoys practicing his British accent ("butt-ah with your bread?"). Everyone appears interested in providing you with the best vacation possible, including the boat captains, cleaning staff, and gardeners. I'll admit that I started WhatsApping Danu, my butler, in a tense manner. "What's the name of that amazing red bug? Do not hurry. I typed. The answer quickly followed: "The Scarlet Lily beetle." Which didn't do anything except bolster my confidence: "The white birds over the Grouper bar?" Pied imperial pigeons in response. "Please, could Retno give me another massage?" What time, please? Are the names of the nearly translucent butterflies known to you? Emigrants who are ragged and lemon. Flawless.
View of Bawah Reserve and Elang from the deck
Eco effort
Overdevelopment, palm oil plantations, plastic garbage, and water pollution have destroyed many of Indonesia's 17,000 islands, which is why Bawah and its tenacious environmental program seem so essential. The hotel has made conservation a priority, as seen by a dazzling field of floating solar panels, one of the biggest installations in Southeast Asia, according to my source. A plastic-free policy, a zero-waste initiative, and water desalination devices are also present. The Bawah Anambas Foundation collaborates with neighborhood groups to fight harmful fishing practices, emphasizing reforestation and providing skill development. During a dive, I saw new polyps emerging from made-up frames on the seafloor as a result of a program to regenerate coral. Here, the coastal mangroves are allowed to grow and the beaches are constantly being cleaned. The seashells put under glass cloches throughout the hotel, demonstrating the regard for nature here, may best illustrate the hotel's attitude.
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Living area for Elang at Bawah Reserve & Elang
Accessibility for people with disabilities
Not advised for those with impairments due to the amphibious plane approach the numerous unsteady stone stairs and sandy pathways on the islands.
Bawah Reserve & Elang Spa
For families
From snorkeling (black tip reef sharks, hawksbill turtles, and sting rays) to a thorough diving program, it is a paradise for younger and older kids. The best time to see hatchlings being released is between July and October. There is also a turtle nesting initiative.
Additionally, they may arrange guided meditations, movie evenings on the beach, and treasure hunts with the help of wireless, silent disco-style headphones. Boat excursions, culinary and painting workshops, and Indonesian batik creation are all offered. Bawah Survivor will soon be available, with levels ranging from an entry-level escape room/scavenger hunt to an advanced one where visitors travel to distant islands and spend the night.
Bawah Reserve & Elang's lounge
Seven nights at the Elang Private Residence are available via Scott Dunn for $23,820 full-board based on two sharing, which includes round-trip airfare from the UK, lodging, and local seaplane transfers. Visit scottdunn.com or dial +44 20 8682 5060 for further details.
Bawah Reserve offers full board lodging starting at £1,446 a night for two people sharing, which includes daily spa services, laundry, WiFi, a minibar, and some land- and water-based activities. Rates to rent Elang Private Residence start at £20,310 per night for a full board of 14 guests. Up to 20 visitors may stay on the island for an extra fee.
The following address is for the hotel: Elang Bawah Private Residence, Bawah Reserve Anambas Kiabu, Pulau Bawah, Kec. Siantan Sel., Kabupaten Kepulauan Anambas, Kepulauan Riau 29791, Indonesia.