5 Not-your-typical beach retreats in Southeast Asia

Misool Eco-resort

Why it’s different: A serious schlep to get to, this private island in southern Raja Ampat lures divers with world-class diving, nearby caves housing ancient petroglyphs and swimming in a lake with jellyfish but no sting.

How to get there : From Jakarta or Manado, take the early morning flight out to connect to Sorong. From Sorong, the transfer to Misool is by private speedboat, a 4-5 hour transfer.

Sumba, Nihiwatu

Why it’s different: Sumba , until relatively contemporary times, was known for an active headhunting practice. The antithesis of Bali, the island is almost synonymous with Nihiwatu, a luxury resort and a leading example of how luxury travel works in creating form of sustainable high-value, low-impact tourism.

The island has elaborate funerary rites, lively works of Ikat and a festival called Pasola , the date for which is determined each year by the lunar calendar and a shaman monitoring the movement of earthworms and where participants, mounted on horseback, try to kill each other by throwing spears. Bloodshed is necessary in order to guarantee a good year of crops and it is considered an honour to die during Pasola. The surf in Nihiwatu is legendary and all the more desirable since access to it is controlled by Nihiwatu.

How to get there: From Bali, it is a flight away either by scheduled flights or the resort’s weekly charter.

Andaman Islands, Barefoot

Why it’s different: Profiled by Jacques Cousteau in his documentary ‘Andaman, les îles invisibles’ (Andaman Islands: Invisible Islands) and described by Ptolemy as ‘the Cannibal Isles’, the Andamans received international attention again after the 2004 Asian Tsunami when Indian Air Force Pilots, surveying the area for survivors of the tsunami, found the islanders firing arrows aimed at their helicopters. Fiercely protective of their isolation, the Andamanese are thought to have survived the tsunami by relying on ancient knowledge and understanding of the land, oceans and animal reaction to the earthquake tremors to react accordingly. These people are believed to be the descendants of the first humans that came from Africa.

The closest you will get to these tribes though, would be on your flight into Port Blair where you might notice an ‘anvil-shaped’ North Sentinel Island which the Sentinelese inhabit.

Barefoot, the eco-luxe resort where you’ll be staying in the Andaman Islands though, offers interesting activities; from swimming with the resident elephant(who might or might not co- operate), spa treatments to turtle and dugong sightings from January to March. Beach no.7 on
Havelock was voted ‘Best Beach in Asia’ by Time Magazine, not to mention excellent dive sites, some of which were first discovered by Jacques Cousteau.

How to get there: Fly to Port Blair from Chennai, Calcutta or Delhi.

Dedon Island

Why it’s different: Dedon Island , located in Siargao, sets the products of outdoor furniture maker Dedon to beautiful advantage, leading it to be dubbed ‘(part) World’s best furniture showroom’ by Financial Times. One of the most popular images of Dedon Island is of its iconic nest rest hanging from a tree whose angles have been moulded by a typhoon, set against the beach and sea.
Dedon Island is managed and run by the furniture company itself and its owners are in residence certain parts of the year. A host of activities, from SUP to surfing is available.

How to get there: From Manila, take a connecting flight to Siargao.

Song Saa

Why it’s different: The most luxurious in the conventional sense in this list – replete with infinity pools, excellent food and seaviews – Song Saa is private island is a luxury retreat in every sense of the word. Go snorkelling, explore the rainforests with a conservation expert, practice yoga, take a trip around the nearby village on traditional bullock cart, kayak through the area’s mangroves, spotting rare species of lizards, orchids and an abundant variety of birds or book a Cambodian cooking class.

How to get there: From Siem Reap, a 50-min flight to Sihanoukville and then a transfer to Sihanoukville Airport followed by a transfer by luxury speedboat.

From Phnom Penh, a 3-4 hour drive to Sihanoukville Port followed by luxury speedboat.

Hajar Ali

An eternal traveller – and the first woman to ever cross the Empty Quarter – Hajar Ali is also the founder of Urbane Nomads, a travel company specializing in luxury travel to remote places, combining cultural authenticity with adventurous activities.