Island Sanctuaries

The Caribbean. On Providenciales, Amanyara looks over the reefs of the Northwest Point marine park in Turks & Caicos. Mandarin Oriental, Canouan sits on Godahl Beach in the Grenadines (see Canouan), and Amanera faces the Atlantic above Playa Grande in the Dominican Republic. Mustique remains a private-villa island, arranged by conversation.

Indonesia. Bawah Reserve spreads across six islands and three marine reserve lagoons in the Anambas Islands, reached by seaplane. On Bali’s east coast, Amankila looks across the Lombok Strait from its three-tier pool toward a beach club below; see East Bali. In North Sulawesi, Siladen Resort & Spa keeps a 600 metre white beach inside Bunaken National Marine Park, and Coral Eye sits between the jungle and the reef on Bangka Island; our North Sulawesi dive journey joins the two by private boat.

Thailand, Vietnam and Sri Lanka. On Phuket, Amanpuri is Aman’s founding beach house above Pansea Beach, and Keemala sets rainforest pool villas in the hills above Kamala. In Vietnam, Amanoi holds pavilions above Vinh Hy Bay in Ninh Thuan, and Six Senses Ninh Van Bay keeps sixty-two pool villas on a bay reached only by boat. Near Tangalle, Amanwella sits on a cliff above a crescent bay on Sri Lanka’s south coast.

The Pacific. In Fiji, Kokomo Private Island sits on the Great Astrolabe Reef off Kadavu, with manta rays in season. In New Zealand’s Bay of Islands, Paroa Bay & Sage keeps villas and off-grid cabins on a private peninsula estate. And on Baja’s East Cape, Amanvari faces the Sea of Cortez at Costa Palmas.

Arriving. Access shapes the choice as much as the beach. Phuket, Bali and Providenciales are a short drive from their airports, while the Anambas, Canouan and Kadavu add a seaplane, a small aircraft or a boat, which is part of why they stay quiet. We plan the last leg in daylight and keep to soft bags wherever small aircraft are involved.

Choosing by season. The Caribbean is at its best from December to April, as are Phuket and Sri Lanka’s south coast. Bali, the Anambas and Fiji are drier from about May to October, and Vietnam’s south-central coast is usually settled from January to August. Christmas and New Year are reserved first everywhere.

For houses held on islands of their own, continue to Private Islands or Overwater & Lagoon. Our Journal covers Christmas and New Year in the Caribbean and the world’s best private island resorts, and the Caribbean Water journey links three of these houses in one trip.