Kiabu, Pulau Bawah, Indonesia

Bawah Reserve

1 / 10

The takeaway

Choose Bawah for a deliberately remote Anambas escape where reef time, island hikes and a seaplane arrival shape the stay as much as the accommodation.

About the hotel

Bawah Reserve spans six islands in Indonesia’s remote Anambas Archipelago, with three lagoons, beaches and forest forming the setting for a 36-unit resort. Accommodation ranges from tented suites to overwater bungalows and pool villas. The resort sits within a marine conservation area, and its seaplane arrival is part of the journey. Days here are oriented around the surrounding sea and island landscape, with options including snorkeling, diving, kayaking and hikes.

Choose it if

You want your days organized around lagoons, reefs and forest trails rather than a town or mainland itinerary.
You enjoy snorkeling, diving or paddling, with hiking as an alternative when you want to leave the water.
You’re comfortable building a trip around a ferry and a resort-arranged seaplane transfer.

Skip it if

You want a conventional fly-in hotel: reaching the resort involves onward transfers, including a ferry and seaplane when traveling via Singapore.
You’re traveling with a child younger than five; the resort states that it welcomes children aged five and above.

The property

In photographs.

Guest discussion

What real people are saying.

Reddit excerpts · separate from Rex’s editorial judgment

Guests describe open-air, tent-style rooms rather than sealed spaces, so tropical weather and insects are part of the stay. One guest praised the food but noted there is no venue that feels like fine dining.

Discussion is limited; these accounts offer a glimpse rather than a broad verdict.

“You have to be ok with open air, which means dealing with some tropical weather and insects.”

r/FATTravel ↗ · Feb 23, 2025

“Rooms are very much a luxury tent situation rather than an actual sealed to the outside room. We found the food to be excellent though there isn’t any venue that screams fine dining here.”

r/chubbytravel ↗

If you like this

Nearby, in Southeast Asia: Islands.

See all →

Notable

TA’AKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Labuan Bajo

Labuan Bajo, Indonesia

Beach70 roomsSea Views

On Wae Rana’s shore in Labuan Bajo, TA’AKTANA looks across the Flores Sea from a 16-hectare resort between forested slopes and the coast. Its 70 accommodations range from private villas to overwater stays, with local Manggarai and Bajo influences carried into the design. The property opened in May 2024. A private jetty connects the resort to sea-based outings, including island-hopping, snorkeling and diving around the Flores archipelago.

MichelinT+L· 6

Rate guidePrice on request

Notable

Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan

Sayan, Indonesia

Coastal60 roomsCountryside

In Sayan, about 15 minutes from Ubud, this 60-room resort occupies a hillside above the Ayung River, amid tropical greenery, gardens and rice paddies. Its signature arrival crosses a suspension bridge to a lotus pond atop the resort’s distinctive rice bowl-shaped building. The accommodation mix comprises suites and villas, including private-pool villas; the river valley shapes both the setting and the resort’s wellness and outdoor experiences. It is an inland retreat, not a beach resort.

MichelinCNT Triple Crown

Rate guidePrice on request

Notable

Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Kedewatan, Indonesia

Coastal60 roomsRomantic

Mandapa sits in a green valley beside the Ayung River in Kedewatan, within the Ubud area. Its 60 accommodations comprise 35 suites and 25 villas with private pools. The resort draws on Balinese village design, with rice paddies and tropical greenery shaping the grounds. Guests can dine beside the river at Kubu or spend time at the riverfront spa, where a yoga pavilion and vitality pool make wellness a substantial part of the stay.

MichelinThe 50 Best· 61T+L· 45

Rate guidePrice on request

If you like this

Same feel, elsewhere.

Notable

Baros Maldives

Baros Island, Maldives

BeachRomantic

Baros occupies a small coral island in North Malé Atoll, ringed by sandy beaches and a house reef just a short swim from shore. The resort pairs a leafy interior with beach and overwater villas, and sits about 25 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport. Open since 1973, it remains independently run and managed. Its 75 villas share the island with three restaurants, including an overwater dining room.

T+L· 2

Rate guidePrice on request

Photography unavailable

Notable

Wa Ale Resort Myanmar

Kawhdo, Myanmar

Beach8 roomsRomantic

An exclusive private island retreat set in the Andaman Sea, Wa Ale Resort offers a secluded escape with pristine beaches and untouched natural beauty. The resort seamlessly blends luxury accommodation with authentic Myanmar hospitality and sustainable practices.

Michelin

Rate guidePrice on request

Notable

Shinta Mani Wild

Prey Praseth Village, Cambodia

Jungle15 roomsUltra-Luxury

Shinta Mani Wild is a 15-tent camp set along a river in Cambodia’s Cardamom rainforest, on a 350-hectare forest property. Bill Bensley designed each tent as a distinct, raised retreat with a canvas roof, air-conditioned bedroom, antiques, and a riverside tub. The camp’s conservation work is closely tied to the place: it partners with Wildlife Alliance, supports an on-site ranger station, and gives guests the option to join patrols protecting the forest from poaching and illegal logging.

MichelinCNT Triple Crown

Rate guidePrice on request

Plan your stay

Take the next step.

Check current availability and booking conditions with the provider.

Visit listed hotel reference ↗

Opens bawahreserve.com in a new tab.