BAWAH RESERVE PUTS ANAMBAS ISLANDS ON THE LUXURY MAP
In the remote waters of Indonesia’s Anambas Islands, Bawah Reserve is redefining what it means to blend barefoot luxury with environmental stewardship.
2 min
Until recently, the Anambas Islands were barely a blip on the radar of international travellers. Scattered between Singapore and Borneo, this little-known archipelago has become an emerging hotspot for high-net-worth travellers seeking privacy, nature and sustainable luxury. At the centre of this rise is Bawah Reserve, a secluded six-island retreat that can only be reached by private seaplane.
The Reserve is set within a marine conservation zone that protects coral reefs, lagoons and rainforest. With just 36 villas and bungalows, Bawah was never designed to be a mass tourism destination. Instead, it is positioned as a model of low-impact development: activities are curated to connect guests to their surroundings while ensuring the fragile ecosystem remains intact.
Nature as the main attraction
Days at Bawah revolve around the landscape. Guests can dive and snorkel in reef systems still teeming with marine life, trek through rainforest to elevated lookouts, or simply swim off one of the Reserve’s 13 beaches. Those after a slower pace gravitate towards the Aura Wellbeing Deck for sunrise yoga or the spa, where treatments use botanicals sourced from the islands.
Food and culture also form part of the experience. The resort runs Indonesian coffee workshops and even a “scent bar” where visitors can create perfumes using tropical ingredients. One of the most talked-about experiences is the Castaway Picnic, which ranges from a white-tablecloth meal prepared by a private chef to a stripped-back family beach outing.
Evenings are more communal, with stargazing, cinema screenings beneath the open sky, or traditional Indonesian beach barbecues.
A growing profile
Paul Robinson, COO of Bawah Reserve, frames the philosophy around connection. “Bawah isn’t just a place you visit – it’s a place that stays with you. Our activities are crafted to connect guests to the spirit of the islands, whether through adventure, creativity, or quiet moments of reflection”.
That approach appears to be working. In recent years, the Anambas Islands have gained attention among Asia’s luxury travellers, partly due to their proximity to Singapore and partly because of properties like Bawah that position sustainability as part of the drawcard. The Reserve’s ultra-private Elang Residence, available only for exclusive group stays, has further lifted its profile.
The bigger picture
Bawah is part of a broader trend in high-end travel: ultra-remote destinations that sell not just luxury but the sense of being among the last to experience an untouched landscape. Unlike the Maldives or Phuket, the Anambas remain largely under the radar — a fact that gives Bawah an advantage with travellers tired of crowded hotspots.
The challenge, as with many eco-luxury projects, will be balancing exclusivity and environmental responsibility as demand grows. For now, Bawah Reserve stands as both a sanctuary for travellers and a statement about the future direction of Southeast Asian luxury tourism.
A resurgence in high-end travel to Egypt is being driven by museum openings, private river journeys and renewed long-term investment along the Nile.
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A resurgence in high-end travel to Egypt is being driven by museum openings, private river journeys and renewed long-term investment along the Nile.
2 minAbercrombie & Kent says demand for Egypt is rising sharply across its key markets, with the destination now ranking among the company’s top performing regions for 2026.
The luxury travel group reports strong year-on-year growth across the UK, US and Australia, spanning private journeys, small group itineraries and high-end celebration travel.
Some Egypt itineraries in the US market have more than doubled compared with last year, while forward bookings already extend into 2027.
Industry observers point to a renewed confidence in Egypt as a destination, underpinned by significant cultural investment and a growing appetite for deeper, more personalised travel experiences.
One of the main catalysts has been the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, located beside the Giza Plateau.
The museum, the largest in the world dedicated to a single civilisation, brings together the full collection of Tutankhamun’s treasures for the first time and has reignited interest in Cairo as a standalone cultural destination rather than a gateway stop.
Abercrombie & Kent’s Senior Vice President, Egypt, Amr Badr, said: “The opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum has been transformative – we’ve seen a significant surge in enquiries since November, and the calibre of traveller is remarkable.
“These are culturally curious guests seeking genuine immersion rather than surface-level touring.
“They’re booking private after-hours access to the museum, arranging consultations with Egyptologists, and approaching Egypt with the same intentionality they’d bring to any major cultural pilgrimage.
“Egypt has always been extraordinary, but 2026 feels like a renaissance moment – the perfect convergence of world-class infrastructure and a new generation discovering why this civilisation has captivated humanity for millennia.”
According to Abercrombie & Kent, British travellers are increasingly pairing museum-led experiences in Cairo with classic Nile journeys, while demand is also rising for private dahabiya charters and bespoke river itineraries.
In Australia, repeat high-spend travellers are returning to Egypt for milestone celebrations, often opting for private touring and exclusive access experiences.
The company is responding with further long-term investment along the Nile. Later this year it will launch Nile Seray, a new luxury riverboat that will feature in a private journey debuting in 2026.
A second vessel has already been commissioned, signalling confidence in sustained demand for high-end river travel in the region.
Egypt occupies a central place in the company’s history. Founder Geoffrey Kent first introduced Nile cruising to the brand in the late 1970s with the SS Memnon, laying the foundations for what has since become one of its most enduring destinations.
Nile Seray is now accepting reservations for departures from October 2026, with four-night voyages priced from USD $3,125 per person.
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