Indonesia travel guides
Indonesia feels like a hundred different destinations in one, and no two trips to this elongated archipelago are the same. Every visit brings something fresh, making it ideal for repeat trips that combine old favourites with new horizons. See an otherworldly side to Java in volcanic Losari, dive into crystal clear waters off Sulawesi, wind your way down Kalimantan’s jungle waterways, and discover the true meaning of ‘remote’ amidst Raja Ampat’s untouched islands. Whether wandering through Bali’s resonant ancient temples, or the orangutan-sheltering wilds of Sumatra, you’ll marvel at the diversity of this multifaceted gem of a country.
Our big three in Indonesia
Obviously there's a lot more, this is just to get you started...
Coffee and volcanoes
Sipping a cup of Java on the slopes of Mt Merapi, you'd be forgiven for thinking you’d woken up on a different planet. The rich, volcanic soil provides perfect conditions for growing coffee, which is why a trek up the side of Java's most active volcano isn't quite as startling as it sounds. The whole of the Losari region in central Java is incredibly beautiful, and visiting a coffee estate gives great insight into one of the island's oldest and most successful industries. Open your mind to another area of Javanese culture with a visit to the ancient Hindu temples of Gedong Songo, strewn across the slopes of Mt Ungaran; a good excuse to pause during a challenging hike to the summit.
Klotok boats and riverbank wildlife
The sounds of the riverboat start to blend into the background and your senses, slowly but surely, tune into the jungle. Keep an eye out for signs of life within the mangrove thickets and tropical foliage bordering the narrow waterways. As the boat's engine idles, and then switches off completely, you realise you're not alone. There, on one of the small wooden feeding platforms hidden on the riverbank, is an orangutan, mesmerising and close. This is why you've travelled such a long way to get to Kalimantan. Tanjung Puting National Park is the place to see wild orangutans. Although nothing is guaranteed, journeying deep into the jungle in the company of an expert local wildlife guide stacks the odds firmly in your favour.
Coral gardens and untouched shores
As soon as you slip into the sea around Raja Ampat you'll be treated to one of the world's greatest underwater spectacles. Thousand-year-old corals, some the size of a house, can be found just offshore as well as thousands of tropical fish of all shapes and sizes. Island hopping by traditional phinsi, or longer excursions on live-aboard boats, provide endless hours of entertainment for anyone with a snorkel mask and flippers. You can dive here too, but many trips are centred around the region’s extraordinary snorkelling, which can be more inclusive than diving for beginners. Stay in stilted, thatched, over-water bungalows or exclusive spa retreats, both right on the water's edge. Exclusive, barefoot luxury, but not as you know it.
