SAVU South Alor

Overview

Overlooking the Savu Sea, SAVU South Alor is the newest addition to Alor and has been created from a passion, love and care for the ocean. Surrounded by extraordinary natural beauty with white sands, volcanic rock and turquoise waters, this barefoot luxury dive hotel is a remote tropical hideaway for all types of ocean lovers from divers and snorkellers to whale watchers and conservationists. With direct access to some of the most pristine reefs on the planet and on the migratory route of blue whales, this meticulously crafted resort is a true gem and is the product of owners, Liliane and Johannes Hennicke, passion and dedication to the ocean.

In Depth

Powered by the sun and self-sufficient through its own permaculture farm and deep wells, SAVU South Alor is made up of just seven luxurious rooms all with panoramic views of the Savu sea. Five cottages are just set back from the beautiful white sand beach whilst the two cliff villas are perched on top of the bluff with their own private pools. All the standalone rooms are spacious, private and beautifully designed and furnished by Liliane. The central guest area is jaw-droppingly beautiful with an infinity pool and plenty of space to relax and unwind amongst yet more beautiful furnishings.

Being located so far from any civilisation, becoming self-sufficient is incredibly important to the team at SAVU South Alor. A wide variety of vegetables, fruits and herbs are grown in their organic garden which has been designed following permaculture principles as well as throughout the land that the luxury hotel is based on. Menus are planned weekly around the produce available, and the delicious creations are a fusion of traditional and western cuisine. Dining takes place either on the beach with feet in the sand or in the restaurant, family style. Guests will be captivated by Liliane and Johannes' stories of creating SAVU and their determination to protect their surroundings.

The Diving

Johannes and Liliane both come from a background of scuba diving tourism in Indonesia so diving and snorkelling is right at the heart of SAVU South Alor. With access to a wide variety of dive sites in South Alor as well as those further north including Kalabahi Bay, the abundant marine life ranges from the smallest critters in black sand to larger pelagics such as hammerheads and mola mola. Alor is home to some of the healthiest reefs we have ever seen at Reefscape, swept by unpredictable and strong currents so we recommend this region for advanced divers. Groups are always small at SAVU and Nitrox is available for those certified. All dive excursions begin at the jetty, at the gear shack where the team get everything ready and on to the boats so guests can just turn up, grab their wetsuits and go. The custom-made dive boats are extremely comfortable and get divers safely and efficiently to dive sites near and far.

Snorkellers are equally catered for with dedicated snorkelling tours either by speedboat or catamaran depending on the group size. Snorkelling opportunities are second to none on the shallow coral reefs around Alor Island, Panta Island or Pura Island and trips will include guides who will brief snorkellers on what they might encounter. All snorkelling trips are half days either in the morning or afternoon.

Beyond the Reef

The location of SAVU South Alor makes this an incredible spot for cetacean spotting. The giant inhabitants of the Savu Sea include pygmy blue whales, sperm whales and multiple species of oceanic dolphins which can either be spotted from the resort itself (listen out of the Swiss cow bell!) or on dedicated half day trips with expert guides. The 48-foot catamaran takes guests out on ‘whale patrol’ with the team who are specially trained on how to spot but also appropriately interact with these fascinating creatures. SAVU have a strict code of conduct to ensure not only guests' safety, but the comfort of the animals. There might even be the opportunity for in-water encounters for a truly unforgettable adventure. Dolphins tend to be year-round and can be seen in mixed species super pods, whilst whales tend to be more seasonal (though not limited to).

The team collect valuable scientific data during the excursions that contribute to strengthening the protection of the vulnerable species. Johannes, alongside cetacean expert and shareholder of SAVU Benjamin Kahn, have founded the nonprofit ‘Planet Deep’ foundation. The foundation focuses on the conservation of oceanic whales and dolphins, and the protective management of their deep-sea habitats. Johannes also works closely with the local authorities to protect other marine species in the vulnerable Pantar Strait marine park.

In between all the excitement in the ocean, guests can enjoy a massage at the Cliff Spa with the natural breeze and breathtaking views out to the Savu Sea.