Bawah Reserve has unveiled six new cliffside lodges
Adults-only Elang Private Residence elevates the private island experience, offering an even more exclusive accommodation option at Bawah Reserve for the ultimate exclusive and private getaway.
The private six-island archipelago Bawah Reserve in the remote and uncharted Anambas Islands, Indonesia, has unveiled six new cliffside lodges on the nearby island of ‘Elang’. Elang offers the ultimate private island playground, available for exclusive hire for groups of family and friends of up to 19 people. Guests will have the run of the island, staying in one of six thoughtfully designed lodges and have exclusive use of an open-air, two-storey Club House restaurant and bar, the Beach House restaurant with the breath-taking views of the private beach and lagoon, the Kayu Spa, a dedicated activities lawn and tennis court as well as a saltwater infinity pool, refreshed with every tide. Guests of Elang also have the luxury of full, all-inclusive access to everything on Bawah Reserve’s main island, a three-minute boat ride or 10-minute kayak away, including its two restaurants, two bars, two spas and white sand beaches.
Each lodge comes with its own private butler
Perched on the slopes of Elang, the new lodges are named after indigenous trees found on the island; Ficus, Yucca, Lychee (which grows up through the balcony of the named lodge), Cycad and Satigi. The final lodge, Longhouse, is a two-bedroom lodge and is known as the owner’s residence. Each sustainably minded lodge has been built with as little carbon footprint as possible with construction done by hand. Created by Singaporean architect Sim Boon Yang the design seamlessly blends the ‘outdoor’ natural environment with beautiful interiors. Mirroring Yang’s work on Bawah island, the interiors have been created from recycled natural materials, bamboo, driftwood and hand-cut stone. The use of these, alongside floaty, textured soft furnishings, offers a sense of escapism and adventure to the design. Each lodge comes with its own private butler, just a WhatsApp away from guests’ personal in-room mobile phone, and boasts spacious living areas with traditional hand-woven panelling and carvings by artisans from Java. Each lodge has a spacious balcony with sparkling ocean views, some with outdoor bathtubs, and most with private paths leading to hidden rocky coves and into the sea.
Elang’s dining experience is completely bespoke for each guest and group, the island’s ‘dine by design’ concept is inspired by the Earth’s essential elements: fire, water, nature and air. Executive Chef, Michael Pataran and his team use fresh, local ingredients including produce grown at Bawah’s permaculture gardens and traditional cooking methods such as wood-fired ovens to impart smokiness from the forests, island clay used for plancha cooking and fresh-caught seafood prepared with salt from the surrounding sea.
The Kayu Spa
The Kayu Spa offers guests daily treatments (included in the inclusive rate) with true indulgence at the core of the Kayu concept. Each well-being experience is specifically tailored to each guest’s needs, from skin rejuvenation, detox pathway stimulation and muscle repair to stress balancing and emotional equilibrium restoration. Only the purest ingredients are used, sourced on the island or as locally as possible such as organic coconut oil, freshly picked aloe vera and island spices like ginger, lemongrass, turmeric, and cinnamon.
Through a pre-treatment consultation, therapists distinguish one of six wellness goals; Rejuvenate, Invigorate, Equilibrium, Revitalize, Radiance and Purity, and design a bespoke treatment designed to achieve it. Not to be missed is daily meditation, yoga or Pilates on the Kayu Spa’s Rock Bale, a beautiful open-air Indonesian platform protruding into the ocean and surrounded by the blue lagoon.
Explore The Surrounding Islands & Beaches
Named Elang, meaning Eagle, in honour of the eagles that nest on the island, guests of Elang Private Residence can explore the other five islands, 13 beaches three lagoons and 100 hectares of forest that make up the remote reserve with a host of nature-led experiences. From paddle boarding, kayaking, sailing, snorkelling and diving to on-land activities including hiking, tennis, croquet, birdwatching and star gazing, residents’ dedicated Island Host, available 24/7 in person or via WhatsApp, can pull together an itinerary to suit all needs. Activities are included in the inclusive rate, in addition to full board dining and daily spa treatments.
How To Get There
Only accessible via private seaplane from Singapore and Batam, Bawah Reserve combines high-end design with sustainability and a “back-to-nature” concept and Elang Private Residence is further elevating the private island experience. Known for introducing the Anambas Islands to the discerning traveller, Bawah Reserve offers a unique off-the-beaten-track experience in this far-flung part of Indonesia.
Elang Private Residence is now open. Rates to hire Elang Private Residence start from $25,000 USD (approx. £21,771) per night for 14 guests. Rates include full board, daily spa treatments, laundry, in-room minibar and a host of land and water-based activities. The island can accommodate up to 19 guests at an additional cost.
