Indonesia is an archipelago of roughly 17,500 islands. Any one of them is worth visiting. Not that I have seen them all—but what I mean by “worth visiting” is quite simple: they are tropical, green, and fertile. Some are wrapped in dense jungle, others open into scrub and prairie. All of them stretch in a long, loose chain from west to east, mostly south of the equator—though islands like Kalimantan and Sulawesi reach a little north, leaning toward Vietnam and the Philippines. Any of the less densely populated islands east of Java are worth the journey. Their beauty is often untouched, and their nature powerful. People come here to hike, dive, snorkel, or move their bodies—on land, water, or somewhere in between. After the vast human landscape of Java, with its 70 million inhabitants, there’s Bali—the first island to the east—home to four or five million people, depending on the day, the season, and the presence of foreign workers or tourists. And then, just beyond Bali, lies Lombok—the second island to the east. Between the two sits a small chain of islands—the Gilis. Little dots in the sea that have grown into their own reputations: party nights on Gili Trawangan, quiet beach days on Gili Meno and Gili Air. “Gili,” in the local language, simply means “island”—and around Lombok, there are many more of them, each offering its own version of stillness. These are places for retreats, barefoot walks, or afternoons drifting through fields of rice, corn, or grass, where water buffalo move slowly—as if time itself is less hurried here. Lombok, like most Indonesian islands, has its native people and its own language. With that come stories—about beginnings, about why we are here, and where we go after death. These older layers are now gently covered by a more recent one: modern, mostly moderate Islam. The main inhabitants are the Sasak people. On the west coast, facing Bali—clearly within sight—there are also Balinese communities, carrying their distinct Hindu culture across the water. Arriving in Lombok—whether by ferry or plane—you first land on what seems like an endless flat plain. Fertile land stretches toward the horizon: rice paddies, vegetables, watermelons, cornfields—all nourished by irrigation from the mountains. But don’t be fooled. The island is, in essence, one massive mountain.At its heart rises Mount Rinjani, reaching 3,726 meters into the sky. From there, everything slopes downward—toward the sea, every beach, bay, and cliff, and every perfect surfer’s wave. Imagine seeing Lombok from above—either from a bird’s eye view or an ultralight aircraft—circling outward from Rinjani’s crater lakes, waterfalls, and dense jungle slopes. The island would appear as a single, enormous mountain, continuing deep beneath the surface of the ocean. That perspective offers a certain clarity. You are walking on a volcano—a pearl in a long volcanic necklace known as the Ring of Fire. Development began on the west coast. Here, you find harbors connecting Lombok to Java, Sumatra, and beyond; the capital, Mataram, with its universities and agricultural trade; and Senggigi, the island’s first modest step into tourism. There was also the original domestic airport, now replaced by a modern international airport. In the early 2000s, travelers—followed, inevitably, by tourists—discovered the south. The fishing village of Kuta slowly transformed into a destination, while nearby Praya became home to an international airport. A two-lane highway now leads straight to the beaches of Central Lombok. And yes—the roads. I take quiet pleasure in mentioning Lombok’s roads: wide, well-maintained, often straight, and lined with tall trees offering shade, as if by design. Roads you rarely find on Bali. And, perhaps even more remarkably, roads with traffic that actually flows—no long frustrating pauses behind a line of motorbikes unless you wait until late at night in Bali to “get somewhere.” When I want to drive—really drive—I take my car or motorbike on the ferry to Lombok. Windows open, wind moving through the cabin, or helmet on, leaning into the curves. A biker’s adventure or a car driver’s luxury. The people—farmers, traders, fishermen—are friendly, grounded, and quietly hospitable. They don’t ask too many questions. They let travelers be travelers—whether in search of adventure or simply a place to rest. I greet them with a warm Assalamualaikum. I sit for tea with families. I eat freshly grilled fish on the beach, cooked over wood fires with fishermen. Over the years, friendships have grown. And there is a certain freedom here: a freedom to take off my clothes and swim at a remote beach or waterfall without raised eyebrows. A freedom to sit in a beach bar at night, listening to live music, drinking a beer. A freedom to talk—laugh, even flirt—with women in shops or on the roadside in front of their family homes, without tension or disapproval. Sometimes I hear travelers praise Lombok’s beauty, only to follow it with a slight tightening of the lips: “Yes, but it’s Muslim.” It is true—there are mosques, Ramadan, and the rhythm of daily prayer. But never have I, or anyone I know, been pressured into participation or judged for living differently. Living in Bali for so long, I have often heard a different phrase: “You don’t do that here.”Instructions, corrections, well-meaning reminders about what is appropriate, what is not, what should be said, and what should be left unsaid. The climate differs too. It is a little drier than Bali, with some Australian flora and fauna. There are open plains, dense jungles, and a beautiful chain of mountains running parallel to the southern coast—shaping its dramatic bays and beaches, adding beauty to the turquoise blue waters. Lombok is gentle where it is cultivated, especially in the central south. It turns wilder along the coastal mountains and toward the east.And around Mount Rinjani, it becomes something else entirely—raw, unpredictable, and challenging for the adventurous.

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When Invest Islands, Lombok’s leading real estate investment company, started planning to develop Gran Meliá Lombok, the new five-star resort on the island’s south coast, it set out to create a resort so extraordinary that it would elevate Lombok’s travel and hospitality industry to new heights. In pursuit of this goal, the company’s co-founders, Kevin Deisser and Jack Brown, discovered a breath-taking plot of beachfront and hillside land at Torok Bay, a sheltered crescent-shaped stretch of sand overlooking the Indian Ocean and framed by emerald headlands and rippling rice fields. This stunning setting provided a beautiful blank canvas on which to produce an architectural work of art. For the project’s lead architect, Charlie Hearn, director of Bali-based Inspiral Architecture & Design Studios, the impact of Gran Meliá Lombok’s location was instant. Gazing out across this coastal scene for the first time, he was instantly struck by the area’s blissful serenity and endless vistas. “The first thing I felt was that it was a “millionaire’s view”’. It was absolutely spectacular with layers of different colors disappearing into the distance. It felt very special,” Hearn revealed. This exquisite natural scenery provided the inspiration for the design of Gran Meliá Lombok. Hearn and his team at Inspiral felt a responsibility to create a resort that blended seamlessly into the environment. The lines of the landscape are reflected in the flowing form of the villas and resort buildings, which roll and curve with the contours of the hills. Natural materials such as bamboo, reclaimed timber and different types of stone have been embraced throughout, with 75 percent of the building materials sourced from within Lombok and nothing imported from outside Indonesia. Lombok’s local influences also played an important role in the design ethos. Inspiral strived to deliver a project that looked and felt completely authentic, while also being highly distinctive.  “The masterplan was to create a series of individual villages, rather than buildings being carbon copies of each other. Different parts of Indonesia have their own unique architectural styles so we tried to incorporate elements of those. Not so much in terms of the look of the buildings themselves – we didn’t want to create a pastiche – but more in terms of the craftsmanship techniques, details and finishes,” Hearn explained. As a result, guests and investors can choose from a collection of beautiful hillside duplexes and one-, two- and three-bedroom residences, all fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology, luxurious interiors and private pools. Distinctive concepts include KAYMA Moroccan tented suites, AURORA minimalist villas, LA RESIDENZA Bauhaus-style residences and the company’s signature INSPIRAL eco-luxury villas, all of which are nestled among swaying palm trees and frame “millionaire’s views” from panoramic windows and alfresco living areas. As with every project co-created by Invest Islands and Inspiral, Gran Meliá Lombok will have a low carbon footprint. As well as using sustainable building materials, the design will harness sunlight and sea breezes to help heat and cool the property, and rainwater will be harvested throughout the resort. Using this approach, Hearn said he wants to “set a benchmark” for development on Lombok. “We want to set the standard and help to raise the quality of development on the island. Lombok will have more tourism and development in the coming years, so it’s important to do it in a way that is sustainable and respectful of the local culture and environment. This is one of the reasons I love working with Invest Islands; they set up foundations, build schools, do a lot of environmental projects and reinvest a lot back into their communities. I think that is fantastic,” Hearn concluded. “It is always wonderful to work with Inspiral as they share our vision for creating exceptional properties that are sensitive to their destinations. This is exactly what we aspire to achieve and it is great to see this architectural ethos coming to life at Gran Meliá Lombok. By blending the best elements of Indonesian heritage with 21st Century modernity, our owners and guests will be able to enjoy luxury and serenity in a truly unique setting on Lombok’s south coast,” said Jack Brown, Co-Founder of Invest Islands. Gran Meliá Lombok has already been named as the “Best Upcoming Hotel Development” in Indonesia and “Best Hospitality Development” in Asia at the PropertyGuru Property Awards. Currently under construction, the resort is scheduled to open its doors in late 2024. To learn more about Invest Islands, please visit invest-islands.com and for more information about Inspiral Architecture & Design Studios, please visit inspiralarchitects.com.

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With many countries across the world making plans to reopen travel, people have already begun thinking about the places they wish to visit after nearly two years of being cooped up. And while there is nothing wrong with the usual spots, the most underrated beach destinations in Southeast Asia offer truly unique experiences. This is no disrespect to places like Phuket and Bali which are wonderful in their own right. But those wanting something new or different would be wise to explore the opportunities on this list. One thing to note about what we mean by underrated. The focus here is on locations that are reasonably accessible but don’t always receive the attention or traffic they deserve. We chose beach destinations where there are developed amenities and infrastructure. Here are five underrated beach destinations in Southeast Asia and a look at buying property in each location. Because once you visit, you may never want to leave. Lombok Lombok’s amazing beaches are popular with everyone who has visited the island. It’s only a matter of time before Lombok is no longer considered one of the most underrated beach destinations in Southeast Asia. Anyone who has ever visited speaks glowingly of the island’s pristine beaches, laidback lifestyle and unspoiled beauty. The Indonesian government has worked to promote the island over the past decade while carrying out work on key infrastructure projects, including the international airport. These days there are now direct connections to Singapore, Perth and Kuala Lumpur from Lombok. There are also numerous flights between Bali and Lombok. However you get there, a seemingly endless supply of white sand beaches featuring sparkling, bluish green waters awaits. What more could possibly want? Bang Saray Bang Saray has become one of Thailand’s best-kept secrets. Situated along the country’s Eastern Seaboard, it is a seaside destination boasting pristine beaches and a relaxing ambiance with that quaint, community feel people love. The town’s humble beginnings as a small fishing village are still evident to this day. Situated just 90 minutes from Bangkok and 20 minutes from the resort city of Pattaya, Bang Saray is easily accessible. Additionally, all of the conveniences and entertainment options of the Eastern Seaboard are nearby but the town itself retains a peaceful charm. Nha Trang Vietnam has plenty of outstanding beaches that are all worth visiting. And Nha Trang is certainty up there with the country’s best. The city boasts a beautiful stretch of coastline that spans six kilometers. There is nothing quite like an evening stroll along the promenade. But what makes Nha Trang one of the most underrated beach destinations in Southeast Asia is the wealth of sights and activities to explore. You can visit Buddhist temples and gothic churches. There are hot springs and waterfalls to checkout. And, of course, Vinpearl Amusement Park is among the region’s best fun centers. Desaru Desaru in Malaysia has become a go-to weekend getaway location for residents of Singapore and Johor Bahru. It offers beautiful beaches, low-density living and plenty of recreational opportunities. And even though it feels like you’re a million miles away, it’s actually only a 30-minute ferry ride from Singapore. Its underrated status may not last much longer, however. Time Magazine included the Desaru Coast in its 2021 list of World’s Greatest Places. Apart from splendid beaches, Desaru is home to a wide range of biodiversity and outdoor excursions as well. There are your traditional options, like golf courses and waterparks. But there are also several interesting nature retreats, such as eco-tours at Belungkor Mangroves, learning more about endangered wildlife in the Sedili Wetlands and trips through Kota Tinggi Firefly Park, a protected firefly habitat. Mactan Island The Philippines has no shortage of underrated beach destinations. However, not all of these are as easy to get to as Mactan Island. It is home to Mactan-Cebu International Airport which means you go from terminal to sands in no more than 30 minutes. A lot of activity has taken place across Mactan in the past five years and the island has no shortage of entertainment options now available. Meanwhile, the close proximity to both Cebu and smaller islands opens up many other recreational opportunities for visitors.

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