Six new adults-only lodges at Bawah Reserve in Indonesia offer a secluded escape for groups of up to 19 guests.
Bawah Reserve, the private six-island archipelago in Indonesia’s remote Anambas Islands, has revealed six cliffside lodges on the island of Elang, providing private residence-style accommodation for up to 19 guests.
The offering includes exclusive use of the open-air Club House restaurant and bar, the Beach House restaurant, the Kayu Spa, a dedicated activities lawn and tennis court, and a saltwater infinity pool. Guests can also access everything on Bawah Reserve’s main island, which can be reached on a three-minute boat ride.
Each lodge is equipped with a private butler or ‘Island Host’ who can be reached by WhatsApp from a personal in-room mobile phone. Island Hosts can build bespoke itineraries for guests to make the most of their surroundings, with activities such as paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing, snorkelling, diving, hiking, and star-gazing.
Design notes
Singaporean architect Sim Boon Yang conceptualised the design of the new lodges, which are named after indigenous trees found on the island — Ficus, Yucca, Lychee, Cycad, and Satigi. Longhouse is ‘owner’s residence’, with two bedrooms. The structures were sustainably constructed by hand, with a design that merges the natural outdoor features with the interiors.
Recycled natural materials including bamboo, driftwood, and hand-cut stone were matched with textured soft furnishings to complement the design on Bawah Island (also conceived by Yang). Spacious living areas feature traditional hand-woven panelling and carvings by artisans from Java. Generous balconies offer ocean views, some with outdoor bathtubs made of stone.
Communal areas like the two-storey Club House take inspiration from the Rumah Adat or ‘ceremonial house’, which is the village focal point of local Indonesian tribal communities. A natural rock formation has been preserved with the open-air dining room constructed around it, while the saltwater infinity pool was created from a natural hollow and is refreshed with each tide.
Dining
Bawah Reserve’s Dine by Design program offers bespoke culinary experiences inspired by the elements. Executive chef Michael Pataran and his team make use of produce grown at the reserve’s permaculture gardens in the food created for guests, using traditional cooking methods such as wood-fire ovens and island clay used for plancha cooking. Memorable private dining experiences can be arranged on secluded nearby islands.
Rates for the Elang Private Residence start from US$25,000 (about AUD$37,293) per night for 14 guests including full-board, daily spa treatments, laundry, in-room mini bar, and land and water-based activities.