Bawah Reserve’s Earth-First Mission

By AHL Editorial Team on 06.14.25

Bawah Reserve is on our radar. Tucked deep in Indonesia’s Anambas Archipelago, miles from the mainland and even farther from the ordinary, the private island retreat is surrounded by natural beauty and deeply committed to protecting it.

A destination that treats sustainability as a true compass and has marine conservation as its paramount effort — it is the undercurrent of its architecture and ethos. The reserve sits on protected waters and untouched forest, and the team operates more like stewards of a living ecosystem than hoteliers. This is a resort with a conscience and a sanctuary with a strategy.

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Bawah takes solar-powered energy to the next level. It runs on Swimsol’s patented SolarSea technology, made of 18 floating solar platforms that silently power nearly the entire island. It’s clean energy, with a view.

Bawah is tech-forward and also community-forward. A monthly “ECOmmittee” gathers staff to brainstorm and implement green practices, from handmade bamboo bins to sea turtle conservation to weekly shoreline cleanups. These are habit-forming rituals designed to embed sustainability into daily life.

The island also collaborates with the Anambas Foundation, a grassroots initiative that supports the surrounding community through education, employment, and local partnerships. The goal isn’t to impose change, but to co-create a future that respects traditional rhythms while introducing new, more sustainable ones.

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When it is expected that nearly 32 million tons of plastic will enter our oceans annually by 2040, places like Bawah feel less like luxury and more like a necessity. A template, perhaps, for what travel can look like when the destination gives back more than it takes. Sounds like paradise, but also like a promise and a way forward.

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And #StayPlasticFree!