Bawah Reserve, Anambas Islands | Exclusive Villa Collection

Pulau Bawah, Anambas Islands · Riau Islands, Indonesia: six islands, three marine reserve lagoons

Bawah Reserve

Six islands in Indonesia’s remote Anambas archipelago: thirty-six suites and villas among three marine reserve lagoons and a hundred hectares of primary forest, reached by seaplane from Batam and held by Exclusive Villa Collection as inquire-only.

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The house

In stills

A first reading of the stay: rooms, light, and the quiet between them. Each still is a note, not a catalogue.

Aerial view of Bawah Reserve beach suites between primary forest and a clear lagoon — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Cushioned daybeds in an open-sided timber pavilion among the trees at Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

A candlelit ceremonial setting with woven decorations and cushions at the Aura wellness sanctuary, Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Couple walking the wooden pathway to the west overwater bungalows at Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Aerial view of Tented Beach Suites along the sand and lagoon at Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Canopied bed inside an Overwater Bungalow at Bawah Reserve opening to the lagoon — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Private verandah of an Overwater Bungalow at Bawah Reserve above the lagoon — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Interior of a bamboo Tented Beach Suite at Bawah Reserve with canopied bed — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Canopied king bed framed by forest views in the Two-Bedroom Treehouse Lodge at Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Timber-beamed attic den with floor cushions in the Two-Bedroom Treehouse Lodge at Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Private infinity pool of a two-bedroom Infinity Pool Villa at Bawah Reserve overlooking the lagoon — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Private pool and covered pavilion of a two-bedroom Deluxe Pool Villa at Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Canopied king bed in the primary suite of a Two-Bedroom Deluxe Pool Villa at Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Freestanding bathtub, twin basins and round mirrors in a Two-Bedroom Deluxe Pool Villa bathroom at Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Long dining table beneath jellyfish lights at Tree Tops, with the lagoon beyond, Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Bamboo-vaulted bar and lounge chairs at The Grouper, Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Wine poured for guests at The Boat House, Bawah Reserve, with Sanggah Island beyond — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Indonesian sharing plates, sambals and garden salads laid across a timber table at Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Rattan bar stools and wine collection at Jules Verne bar, Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Daybeds in the forest garden at Aura Sanctuary, Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Twin treatment room with batik-draped beds opening to the forest canopy at Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Timber pavilion with a tall shingled roof glowing at dusk among the trees at Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Wellbeing ritual laid out on an open-air deck overlooking the sea at Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Thatched balé on a rocky point reached by a timber boardwalk above clear water at Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Guest walking to a yellow kayak on the sand in front of the beach suites at Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Aerial view of breakfast served on a wooden paddleboard in the shallows of a Bawah Reserve beach — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Lemongrass, fresh turmeric, ginger, red chilies and limes on batik cloth, laid out for a jamu workshop at Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Thatched clubhouse and private beach at Elang Private Residence, Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Saltwater infinity pool on the rocks above the sea at Elang Private Residence, Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Timber lodge set on a forested rocky headland above a turquoise lagoon at Elang Private Residence, Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Covered bamboo walkway with stone steps and timber handrails through the forest at Elang Private Residence, Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Stone bathtub, stone basins and backlit round mirrors in a bamboo master bathroom at Elang Private Residence, Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Thatched clubhouse and stone terrace above a pool, lit at dusk, at Elang Private Residence, Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Couple dining by candle lanterns on The Lookout deck at Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Outdoor cinema screen and dinner tables set on the sand at sunset, Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Lantern-lit deck of a Two-Bedroom Infinity Pool Villa at dusk above the lagoon, Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

The Experience

How the days feel

Six islands in Indonesia’s remote Anambas archipelago: thirteen beaches, three marine reserve lagoons, and a hundred hectares of primary forest around just thirty-six suites and villas. Bamboo, timber, and canvas sit lightly on the islands; the house calls it Earth first.

Mornings might begin with a sunrise hike, a forest trail to a 500-year-old Keruing tree 50 m tall, or the wild swim to Sanggah. Afternoons go to the reef, a batik or jamu workshop, or the Wallace Library above Tree Tops; evenings to cocktails at Jules Verne, the Starlight Cinema on the beach, and a sky without light pollution. All meals, non-alcoholic drinks, a spa treatment each night, and more than fifty activities are part of the stay.

The seaplane is arranged with the resort; your advisor confirms suite and dates with Bawah Reserve on inquiry. Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve.

Why EVC loves it

Why we would send you here

Six islands, thirty-six suites Thirteen beaches, three marine reserve lagoons, and a hundred hectares of primary forest, shared among just thirty-six suites and villas.
The week, already included All meals, non-alcoholic drinks, a spa treatment each night, and more than fifty land and sea activities, with no running tab.
A reserve, not only a resort Resident marine biologists work on reef and turtle conservation; join a nest patrol in season or walk the permaculture gardens.
Aura as the island’s slow heart A thermal Sanctuary, a Scent Bar created with Maison 21G, and spa balés reached by boat.
One journey, Singapore to lagoon The seaplane is arranged with the resort; your advisor arranges the suite, spa and celebration dinners around it.

Inside the stay

The house, in notes

Where you sleep, what you eat, and how you arrive: the essentials, in brief.

Tented Oceanfront Suites above a turquoise lagoon with forest behind, Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Rooms / Suites / Villas

Where you stay

Thirty-six stand-alone suites and villas in bamboo, timber, and canvas, each with an air-conditioned canopied bedroom, a bath and rain shower, and a private covered verandah.

Suites. Eleven Overwater Bungalows (105 m²) stand above the shallow lagoon. Eleven bamboo Tented Beach Suites line the southern shore, four Tented Oceanfront Suites have steps straight into the west lagoon, and a single Tented Garden Suite sits in the forest, all 70 m².

Villas. Two-Bedroom Infinity, Deluxe, and Garden Pool Villas (200 to 203 m²) each come with a private pool; the Two-Bedroom Treehouse Lodge (140 m²) adds an attic den among the trees; the Four-Bedroom Infinity Pool Villa (750 m²) suits families traveling together.

Elang Private Residence. Six villas, a clubhouse, a saltwater infinity pool, and a dedicated butler team on an island of its own, taken as a whole.

Breakfast table on a treetop deck above the lagoon and overwater walkway at Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Dining

The table

Two restaurants and two bars, cooking with what grows in Bawah’s own permaculture gardens, and private dining almost anywhere across the six islands.

The tables. Tree Tops, in the forest canopy, for refined continental and Indonesian cooking; The Boat House for local seafood with sand underfoot and the ocean at every table; The Grouper, the all-day heart of the island above the infinity pool; Jules Verne, at the summit, for garden-to-glass cocktails after dinner.

Beyond the restaurants. Dinner for up to eight at The Lookout above Tree Tops; a boat to a secluded beach for a Twilight Island Dinner; breakfast on a paddleboard; a sensory wine tasting with the sommelier; Indonesian Night and the Night Market BBQ; and cooking classes that begin with a harvest in the garden.

Winding garden path beneath tall trees and palms at Aura Sanctuary, Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Spa & Wellness

Quiet hours

Aura Spa works Earth-first, with handmade scrubs built on local sea salt, turmeric, and aloe vera alongside Bali’s Sensatia skincare. One treatment per guest each night is included.

Treatments. Six wellbeing pathways (restore, protect, balance, purify, pamper & glow, and beyond) run from a Garden-to-Glow facial with aloe from the gardens to an island sand and herbal compress massage, each closing with jamu and healthy snacks. Aura Spa Explorer goes by boat to a secluded balé above the sea.

Sanctuary. Sauna, steam bath, cold room, and a cold-immersion pool; two group classes daily, from yoga to Pilates, on the open-air Aura Wellbeing deck; and a Scent Bar created with the perfume atelier Maison 21G. Thermal areas are for guests 16 and over.

Guests at a picnic on the white sand of a beach at Bawah Reserve, Anambas Islands, Indonesia — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Beach / Pool

Water, when it is the point

Thirteen beaches, three marine reserve lagoons, and a half-moon freshwater infinity pool, 22 m at its longest. Snorkel from the beach or jetty over reefs visited by Green and Hawksbill turtles, bumphead parrotfish, and giant clams.

On the water. Kayaks (transparent ones included), paddleboards, Hobie catamarans, and a complimentary daily boat snorkel safari; night paddleboarding and night snorkeling by arrangement.

Below the surface. A PADI five-star dive center with four marine biologists on staff, thirteen dive sites within fifteen minutes by boat, and no more than two divers per guide. Coral restoration and turtle nest patrols run with the resident team.

Guests resting at a forest lookout above the lagoon, jetty and a neighboring island at Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Who it is best for

Who feels at home here

Well-traveled couples and honeymooners who want somewhere quieter and more natural, including proposals and anniversaries.

Families and groups. Families with children five and over, in the two- to four-bedroom villas; multigenerational families and small groups who want Elang to themselves.

Purpose-driven travelers. Guests drawn to reef and forest conservation, who would rather spend the week on a reef, a forest trail, or a spa balé than in a scene.

Wellness seekers. Guests who want a nightly treatment, twice-daily movement classes, and the Sanctuary’s contrast therapy woven into the week rather than added on.

Boat crossing a clear reef lagoon toward rocky islets in the Anambas Islands, Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Getting there

The arrival is part of the stay

From Singapore, a car to Tanah Merah, a 30-minute ferry to Batam with a Bawah travel host, then an 80-minute amphibious seaplane that lands in the resort’s main lagoon: about four hours in all. Guests starting in Batam, or flying privately into Hang Nadim (BTH), join the seaplane there.

Good to know. The seaplane is arranged with the resort, with up to four flights a day. Luggage is strictly 15 kg per guest, hand luggage included. Early departures make a night in Singapore or Batam beforehand the easy choice. Private yachts are welcome with a suite booking and mooring reserved in advance.

Covered bamboo verandah with woven chairs looking over a calm turquoise sea at Elang Private Residence, Bawah Reserve — Photo courtesy of Bawah Reserve

Seasonality

When the house is open

Open year-round, with the calmest seas and most sunshine from March to November. July to September is turtle-nesting season; December brings the Twelve Days of Christmas and a New Year’s Eve gala.

Annual closure. The Reserve closes for maintenance from 14 November to 18 December 2026 and from 1 November to 20 December 2027. Festive and peak weeks are best reserved early.

In season. Nesting months bring turtle nest patrols with the resident marine biologists, and the calm-sea months suit snorkel safaris, diving the outer reefs, and the wild swim to Sanggah.

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Bawah Reserve

Bawah Reserve

In stills

How the days feel

Why we would send you here