Jeeva Beloam
LOMBOK, INDONESIA
On the beautiful volcanic island of Lombok, part of the Lesser Sunda Islands, a magical and secluded spot awaits the traveller seeking peace and quite. Described as a ‘beach camp’, Jeeva Beloam has very little of what I consider a ‘camp’ feel, and more of a boho-luxury resort vibe to it. Tucked away on a dune within the greenest natural reserve, it faces a beautiful little sandy beach onto the Timor sea.
Getting here from Bali is a fun trip which involves flying in with a local propeller plane (operated by Lion Air - if you’re brave enough!). After landing, a 90 min drive from Lombok International Airport awaits . The transfer is a complementary, one-way service included in the package, with a friendly employee picking visitors up on arrival. All in all, a very smooth trip.
Once arrived, the landscape is nothing short of breathtaking! I believe the bungalow I staid in, no. 11, to be one of the best: last in the row, the hut is slightly removed from the others, feeling more private. It is also surrounded by greenery (I once woke up to wild monkeys sipping water from the amphora by the entrance!).
It is worth saying that if you are not a nature lover, this might not be the right place, as smaller animals can easily access the pagoda e.g. through the gap between the roof and the walls, and the sounds of nature get loud at night (one of the highlights, if you ask me!). For example, on my second night, I noticed my pack of paracetamol had been opened and all pills eaten by what I suspect was a wild mouse…all I can say is poor thing!
With the only worry being that of selecting your preferred menu for the next meal, Jeeva nourishes the perfect cycle of idleness. Because of its isolated location, JB offers a full board, served in the evocative Tenda restaurant. Room-service is available and breakfast on the terrace overlooking the sea is simply bliss (the fresh watermelon juice and nasi-goreng are just👌).
A special mention goes to their wellness packages, which includes the famous Sasak massage. Passed down from generation to generation, this traditional technique is performed in the Jeevaniya Massage Beruga parlour by a local who is also know as ‘Magic Fingers’. As the nickname suggests, he is considered a master masseur and comes from a family of 6 practising generations. Their promise is ‘to improve your blood flow and enhance your “Qi” or centre of energy’, so I booked the massage to start my day with first thing in the morning. Although it being very though and at times painful - it involved stepping on my back, amongst may other things! - at the end of it I felt reborn (and completely relieved of my daily scoliosis-related aches). Note that if you do not like deep tissue massages and are more of a relaxation type, this is NOT for you!!
Needless to say that Jeeva Beloam nourishes the perfect cycle of idleness, with the only worry being that of selecting your preferred menu for the next meal. Because of its isolated location, the package includes a full board, served in the evocative Tenda restaurant. Room-service is available and breakfast on the bungalow’s terrace overlooking the sea is simply bliss (the fresh watermelon juice and nasi-goreng just being👌).
There are a variety of activities available, including snorkelling, soft trekking, day trips to Pink beach, boat trips to neighbouring fisherman islands, traditionally themed campfire roasts and beach barbecues dinners, so you are sure to never get bored - that is, if you are planning to do something other than laying on the beach all day!
Address: Jalan Pantai Beloam, Tanjung Ringgit, Sekaroh, Jerowaru, East Lombok – Indonesia
Website: https://www.jeevaresorts.com/beloam/