Five Remote Beaches in Asia
Imagine an empty horizon — white sand leading to a turquoise lagoon merging with a vast deeper blue sea which in turn stretches to define a crisp line where the the sky begins in the far distance. Hot sun, a cool breeze, a comfortable chair, and an umbrella. You and your companion are alone here, having chosen to take a small ice bucket a little further from the handful of other people on this remote island, but world class service is just a short walk away at the exclusive boutique resort. Sound good? Read on for four ideal island getaways for remote beach vacations in Asia and a fifth suggestion for the most exclusive and remote beach in the world — your own.
Gili Lankanfushi — Rustic Stilt Houses in the Maldives
The Maldives is home to a picturesque village of rough hewn bungalows on stilts, hovering over the brilliant blue water of a sparkling clear lagoon. The rustic exteriors belie the elegant décor within and the world class service here. Gili Lankanfushi Resort offers travelers exclusive access to a private island with white sand beaches and thriving marine life. A twenty minute journey by speed boat from Velena International Airport takes visitors to the remote 44 unit eco-friendly resort.
The resort offers great access to world class diving and snorkeling. You can also charter a boat for sport fishing or dolphin watching, and the resort offers surfing lessons. The resort’s spa program focuses on Aryuvedic medicine and has garnered accolades from such lofty judges as Conde Nast Magazine, which has chosen the spa twice for its Johansen’s Award.
The restaurant serves fresh seafood with a Japanese fusion theme. Guests can arrange to have meals prepared on their private deck. The resort also offers creative dining options with surprise trips around the island to natural locations for dining al fresco. We’ve heard of one particularly adventurous offering that involved a blind-folded buggy ride to a secret beach where the guests experienced most of the meal with their eyes covered.
You may prefer to visit between January and April for the best chance of sunny skies. Avoid the northeast monsoon season from May to November. The rustic rooms are not the best place to wait out a torrential rain.
Nihiwatu Sumba — A Private Wave in Indonesia
Looking for a completely exclusive beach that offers world class surf? Nihiwatu beach on Sumba in the Nusa Tengarra region is home to the Nihiwatu Resort. The remote enclave won The Conde Naste Travelers Award. And by that we don’t just mean they merely made in onto the prestigious list of best hotels. The resort’s impeccably decorated villas earned the coveted number one spot in 2016.
The resort is on the large island of Sumba, but it is still very private. The resort owns all the land between the cliffs in front of the famous wave. They control access by sea as well through an understanding with the local community. Only guests at Nihiwatu are allowed to surf. The waves there are truly expert level waves, so if you are not a super experienced surfer, you will want to stay on shore. Watching the pros take on this fast, heavy, heaving slab of perfection can fill an afternoon or two. It is viscerally exciting to watch the world class athletes put on a private show.
Song Saa Island Resort, Cambodia — Great for Families
If you have kids, Song Saa might be the place for you. This luxury resorts puts an emphasis on being kid and family friendly, going so far as to offer childcare. A dedicated playhouse filled with games and toys awaits your little ones. And you won’t be able to lose your kids on the two tiny islands of Koh Ouen and Koh Bong, the sweethearts (or Song Saa, in Khmer) connected by a footbridge.
Like Gili Lankanfushi, Song Saa offers a limited number of guests exclusive access to a private island. Some of their villas are also lofted on stilts above the bay while others are in the jungle, but all have private pools. The island is 20 minutes by speed boat from Sianhoukville.
Song Saa is surrounded by a marine reserve, so it’s easy to get to excellent snorkeling and diving, They can also take you on kayak tours of nearby mangroves. The resort is committed to sustainability and makes an effort to connect visitors to the local traditional community with cultural trips to nearby fishing villages. Yoga and meditation classes are available daily.
Gaya Island Resort and Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Malaysian Borneo
This remote island resort operates on a slightly large scale than the others. Pulau Gaya, the island where you will find this ecological gem, is one of the five islands that comprise Tunku Abdul Rahman Park in Borneo. The resort runs a Marine Conservation Centre that features a working Turtle Rescue Facility, a Coral Reef Restoration Program, and an Educational Exhibit Centre. The resort offers diving, snorkeling, and nature walks. The spa offers a unique local meditative breathing and stretching practice called Yahai Pupuan that incorporates Qi Gong energy work.
The Most Exclusive Beach — The One You Discover from Your Liveaboard Yacht Charter
All of the options we have considered are pretty remote. You won’t find big crowds anywhere near those tiny islands and private enclaves. But you will certainly see someone. If you really want to get away from it all, a charter yacht can take you to a completely uninhabited island. Watching the coast slip by from the deck of your sailing ship, you can find the perfect magical beach and have it all to yourself.
Just because you want to feel like Robinson Crusoe doesn’t mean you have to rough it. The launch can bring comfortable chairs, a bartender and a personal chef to prepare your favorite meal. Some luxury yacht charter operators offer live-aboard concierge service that rivals anything you’ll find on land. We’ll take a Rascal Yacht steward over a Four Seasons concierge any day, especially when it comes to sourcing fresh fish in remote corners of Indonesia where many of the islands are uninhabited.
Join Rascal on Our Virtual Voyage of Exploration
We’ve got practical articles on such things as the benefits of yoga and how you can use Bitcoin for luxury travel as well as more philosophical musings on non-being and its place at the root of luxury, or the conceptual art color the blackest black, Vantablack. We have also elaborated on the MCT watch made with Vantablack and the extremely rare Rolex Deep Sea Challenge watch. In another article, we invite you to consider a handful of fine dining restaurants in Bali that could be contenders for a Michelin star. Join us as we continue on our conceptual journey through the world of luxury. You can follow our articles here on Medium if you have an account, or simply bookmark our Medium page or follow us on Facebook.
