Is Bawah Reserve a family-friendly island?

We’re often asked if Bawah is a good holiday spot for families?

Here is the honest truth. Bawah Reserve is a wonderful family-friendly resort if your children are over five years old and come from a family that loves and values nature.

Please don’t expect kids’ clubs and kids-only events; our activities are designed for all ages to have fun together. A holiday here is designed to get kids (and adults) off their screens and into the fresh air, to bring families together to create experiences, memories, and laughter. One thing you will never hear here is: “Mum/Dad, we’re bored.”

But don’t take our word for it!  We share some of the activities we offer that are ideal for the whole family including feedback from the people that count - the kids!

Bawah, all you need to do is just relax and have fun. You are surrounded by only water and the beautiful Bawah island's.  No one is annoying you, it's just you and your family and  friends.  If you need time to connect to yourself Bawah is where you should be."

Noam, 11, Read more here

In the water:

1) Snorkelling

Part of an archipelago with rich marine life, Bawah's six islands and three lagoons are surrounded by a coral reef that makes the perfect sanctuary for busy underwater activity. Mask and fins will be in your suite on arrival, so whether you choose to snorkel straight from the beach or join us on an escorted trip, the whole family will enjoy spotting the rich marine life around our islands.

Here are our top 5 amazing underwater creatures to look out for.

More information on snorkelling here: https://www.bawahreserve.com/play

I loved the snorkeling at Bawah! You can go on a guided snorkeling tour or straight from the beach.  We spent most of the day in the sea snorkelling and spotted so many fish and corals, we even saw baby sharks...!”

Bertie, 11

2) Diving

Diving around Bawah Reserve and the Anambas islands is an exceptional experience for families with older kids. Whether you are already a confident diving family, looking for a refresher or first-time learners, our professional PADI diving team has got you covered.

For the kids, The Bubblemaker Experience is a fantastic way to introduce young ones to scuba diving. Our team will help you the whole way: from equipment to getting into the water and mastering a fun dive that goes no more than two meters deep. " Mum/Dad we found Nemo!" 

More information on diving here: https://www.bawahreserve.com/play

Of all the various activities available in Bawah, from snorkeling to hiking, my all-time favorite is diving. Diving can be perceived as frightening or scary to many but that couldn’t be more far off. As soon as you descend into the clear Bawah waters, a sense of tranquility and peace envelops you as you enter a different world. A myriad of vivid corals and aquatic life everywhere you look. The variety of life is majestic. I have almost 20 recorded dives in Bawah and the exhilaration never wears off."

I have a passion for diving and marine conservation. The ocean thrills me with all its life and wonders which is why I want to protect the coral reefs. Many of the dives I’ve done have been conservation dives where we remove harmful trash from the reef, maintain the coral nursery, coral trees, and coral spiders and collect pieces of stray coral and plant them in the nursery so they can continue to grow. A few of my favorite aquatic life I’ve seen on my dives have been clownfish, sea turtles, eels, angelfish, batfish, parrotfish, pufferfish, huge spotted groupers, cuttlefish, and blacktip reef sharks! Every dive is special and without a doubt an experience worth having."

Avalon, 15 

More information on diving here: https://www.bawahreserve.com/scuba-dive/

3) Sailing

Make waves and set sail on our easy-to-use catamarans. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced sailor, our activities team can take you out and show you the ropes.

Our sheltered lagoons make the perfect conditions for a relaxed family sailing experience.

More information on sailing here: https://www.bawahreserve.com/play

4) Stand Up Paddleboarding

Image @Alexaablett

Standup paddle boarding (SUP is a fun and fab way to see the lagoons and sea life around Bawah Reserve. Kids can sit on the front of the board and make mum or dad do all the hard work – or take out a board and explore on their own.

More information on SUP here: https://www.bawahreserve.com/play

We have so many lovely memories from our Bawah adventures”

Alexa, 8

5) Kayaking

Image @Alexaablett

The gentle waves around Bawah Reserve make excellent kayaking routes. With single, double, and triple kayaks available, kayaking here is a family sport.

Why not order a picnic to be delivered to one of our thirteen beaches and work up an appetite while rowing to it?

More information on kayaking here: https://www.bawahreserve.com/play

6) Swimming

From the beautiful saltwater infinity pool to the lagoons surrounding Bawah splashing and swimming is a family favourite.  Kids love jumping off the floating platform by the Boathouse. Endless hours of fun! 

More information on the pool here: https://www.bawahreserve.com/play

On land:

7) Beach Sports

Football, volleyball, badminton, petanque, frisbee or sepak takraw (a kick volleyball game native to Southeast Asia) – there’s nothing the Bawah team enjoys more than rallying for an afternoon of games on the beach. Sunset football is a common sight here, but be forewarned: the losing team buys the sundowners (and mocktails for the kids)!

See more on beach games here: https://www.bawahreserve.com/play

My favourite part of going to Bawah Reserve was the delicious breakfast muffins. I don't know how they made them taste so good without any preservatives. I looked forward to breakfast every morning. Another thing I loved doing at the Bawah resort was going to the beach, normally I don't like some beaches because there is so much junk and sharp shells or gross seaweed but somehow at Bawah they maintain the beach to feeling like you stepping of flour and I mean that in a good way. It is the by far the best quality sand I have ever felt. I can’t wait to go back there. (wistful sigh)"

8) Batik Art

Batik is an Indonesian art technique that uses wax and colourful dyes to create beautiful patterns for fabrics and art. Kids will enjoy creating their own designs and taking their masterpieces home to hang in their bedrooms as a souvenir of their time at Bawah.

More information on batik classes here: https://www.bawahreserve.com/play

9) Cookery Class

Enjoy a morning in the permaculture garden learning about the fruit and vegetables we

grow, then harvest the ingredients for a fun-filled cookery class. The best part: you can eat the delicious dishes for lunch and take home new recipes and skills too.

I loved learning how to make Indonesian food. I don’t like things too spicy so they helped me make it with less chilli and I loved it. My favourite part was grinding the herbs and spices to make the paste”

Esme, 9

More information on cooking classes here: https://www.bawahreserve.com/play

10) Movie Night

Enjoy a memorable cinema experience, watch a movie under the moonlight on our outdoor screen. We have a selection of family favourites that everyone will enjoy. Popcorn is provided, of course!

More information on movie night here: https://www.bawahreserve.com/play

We had such a fun time at Bawah. My favorite part was watching the movie out on the beach. My brother and I had one giant sun lounger to ourselves and they brought us popcorn. Afterward, I walked over near the ocean where they had a big telescope set up to see the stars. Andi was there explaining the different stars - I learned so much that night."

Wyatt, 14

11) Stargazing

With no light pollution, Bawah Reserve is a fantastic place to see the night sky in all its glory.

Look on your own or use our beach telescope to see the stars and planets in more detail.  The sun sets here around 7 pm, so it doesn’t have to be a late-night event. And the kids will love the chance to spot famous constellations in the sky.

More information on stargazing here: https://www.bawahreserve.com/play

12) Sustainability

For a full list of our experiences, have a look through our e-brochure to help plan your stay. 

Top Tip for the family: Don't forget to stop by the ice cream cart for delicious homemade ice cream in between all your activities!