Kura Kura Private Island Resort

Just a thirty-minute light aircraft flight from the north coast of Java, the Karimunjawa archipelago is a collection of 27 verdant islands in a sparking blue sea, each ringed by white sand and azure lagoons. A short speedboat journey delivers you to the most exclusive of these: Kura Kura Private Island Resort.

Covered in tall palm trees swaying in the breeze, Menyawakan Island is home to Kura Kura. This luxury, barefoot-chic resort has no Wi-Fi or televisions, which makes it the perfect place to shed everyday stresses and distractions, and completely unwind.

The pool villas afford space and privacy, with large outdoor living rooms, which are perfect for unwinding in after watching the sunset and before you stroll off to the pool restaurant for a candle-lit dinner. For those who prefer to wake to the sight of the sea, the Superior and Superior Deluxe rooms are just a short hop from the crystal-clear water.

Snorkelling, diving and island-hopping are the order of the day here, and there are daily trips that leave from Kura Kura that take guests to nearby islands and reefs where they can swim with shoals of tropical fish and laze on ice-white beaches. Guests can also make use of the kayaks that are lined up along the island’s shore.

‘Kura Kura’ means ‘sea turtle’ in Bahasa Indonesian, so it is no huge surprise to find a turtle sanctuary here during hatching season. Over the summer, you can watch them grow stronger in their safe haven just by the shore, until they’re released into the open sea.

About forty minutes away from Kura Kura, Krakal Island presents your chance to be a ‘castaway’ for a night. This stunning, virtually untouched island has three simple cabins on the beach, each ornately carved in a traditional Indonesian fashion. The island is booked on an exclusive basis for adventurous travellers keen to experience true seclusion.