Kenawa Island

Kenawa: 15 Hectares of Everything You Actually Came For

No hotels. No permanent residents. No crowds on most days. Kenawa Island sits in the Alas Strait between Lombok and Sumbawa — a 15-hectare uninhabited island that has somehow stayed exactly as it should be.

The island is dominated by open savanna, which turns a deep gold during the dry season. A small hill rises at its centre — a 15-minute walk from the beach — and from the top you get a full 360-degree view: neighbouring islands, open ocean, and on a clear day, the distant cone of Mount Rinjani on Lombok. It's the kind of view that makes you stop talking.

The water around the island is exceptionally clear, with visibility of 3 to 5 metres in the shallows. Coral reefs start close to shore, making snorkelling accessible even without heading far out. The white sand beach on the northern side stays quiet enough that you'll often have it to yourself.

Some people camp here overnight to catch the sunrise from the hill. It's worth it.