Hilltop Sunrise

Hilltop Sunrise is one of the two kinds of bungalow at Hilltop Komodo Resort, our second property on Sebayur Island, set high on the ridge above the water rather than down on the sand. The Sunrise bungalows run along the ridge facing east across the channel, which means the first light of the day arrives through your glass wall rather than somewhere you have to walk to.

Each bungalow stands on stilts so the floor sits level with the tree canopy, and the front of the room is glass from end to end, opening onto a private deck with a railing and nothing between you and the sea. The view runs out across the islands in a long panorama that will look familiar to anyone who has climbed Padar, except that here you are looking at it from your own bed with a coffee in your hand.

Inside, the rooms are quiet and uncluttered: warm timber floors, woven wall panels, a long desk running under the window, a deep sofa, and a walk-in wardrobe area. The bedding can be arranged as a double or as singles, and there is room for an extra bed for a child or a third guest. The bathroom is finished in stone with a walk-in rain shower and a window into the greenery.

Hilltop has its own restaurant, spa, swimming pool and front office, so it functions as a complete resort rather than an annexe. Komodo Resort and its dive centre are a short walk down the hill, so guests can use both properties freely during a stay.