BALI

Famous for its stunning beaches, excellent surfing, and world-class dive sites, Bali is the best known of the 17,000 islands that make up the exquisite Indonesian archipelago. Commonly referred to as the ‘Island of the Gods’, Bali’s diverse landscape is characterised by lush rolling hills dotted with satisfying rice terraces, towering volcanic mountains, rugged coastlines and gorgeous stretches of both black and white sand beaches. Culture enthusiasts typically head to the bustling cultural hub of Ubud to explore its various museums, arts and crafts shops and its thriving live music venues, while those seeking a boisterous party usually head for Kuta Beach for the booming social scene. With its world-renowned luxury spas and tranquil yoga retreats, impressive temples, extraordinary local cuisine and its wonderfully laidback locals, it is easy to see why Bali has long been ranked as one of the world’s most popular island destinations.

GILI ISLANDS

Situated just off the coast of Lombok in Indonesia, the Gili Islands are comprised of three lovely little islands: Gili Air, Gili Meno, and Gili Trawangan. These exquisite islands are best known for their vibrant nightlife and their wonderful live music scene. All three islands are the epitome of a tropical paradise with a laid back atmosphere and an array of beachside cafes, restaurants and bars. Best of all, there are no cars or motorbikes to disturb the peace. While the excellent snorkelling and diving are undoubtedly the main attraction, there are a number of other activities available including surfing, stand up paddle boarding, fishing, island hopping, and even visits to the local turtle sanctuary.

NUSA PENIDA

Dotting the Bali Sea just off the coast of mainland Bali, Nusa Penida is the largest of the three Nusa islands including Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan. The island boasts a blend of cultural influences with its rare cultural highlights and unique Hindu Temples. It is home to breathtaking landscapes featuring hidden coves, dramatic cliffs, fascinating caves and white-sand beaches lapped by crystal-clear turquoise water. Visitors can look forward to excellent diving off the coast of Crystal Bay offering pristine coral reefs which are home to an array of marine life including the giant manta rays, oceanic sunfish, and whale sharks. Other popular activities include: exploring the underground temple in the Pura Goa Giri Putri Cave, viewing the rugged cliffs encircling Atuh Beach and enjoying a float in the magical waters of the chrystalline Angel’s Billabong.

SUMATRA

Kota Kinabalu’s now-sleepy little sister, Sandakan was in fact the capital of British North Borneo until 1946. Today, the town functions as one of the main ports for oil, tobacco, coffee, sago and timber exports. Places of interest include the elaborate Puu Jih Shih Buddhist Temple on the hill and, just out of town, the fishing village of Buli Sim Sim, where residents live on stilt houses perched above the water. Further afield is the Sandakan Memorial Park, which is situated on the original site of a notorious WWII prisoner-of-war camp. With its small museum and leafy surrounds, it is a must for history buff as well as nature lovers.

KALIMANTAN

A visit to Kalimantan, an immense island that dominates three-quarters of Borneo, is like travelling back in time. The landscape is characterised by a lush jungle with endless opportunities for epic rainforest hiking, sliced through by rushing rivers and dotted with exotic wildlife and the odd remote tribal village. The highlight for novice and ardent adventurers is the Derawan Archipelago, which offers perfect conditions for snorkelling and diving. A visit to the world’s third-largest island wouldn’t be complete without visiting a national park to see orangutans in their natural habitat. Tourists are minimal, and locals are friendly, making it a dream destination for those who prefer to be off the beaten track.

FLORES

With its abundance of lush green forests, it’s not hard to work out how this island got its name. Add this to its white-sand beaches, temperate bays ideal for snorkelling and diving, a skyline rimmed by volcanoes, and countryside dotted with multi-hued lakes, and it’s easy to see why Flores has a reputation as a tropical paradise. Quieter and more remote than many of its counterparts, the island is still something of a hidden gem, although it is increasingly regarded as the country’s ‘next big thing’. A visit here wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Komodo National Park, where you have the opportunity to get up close and personal with magnificent, if somewhat intimidating, Komodo ‘dragons’.

MALUKU - SPICE ISLANDS

Maluku (otherwise known as the Moluccas) is an archipelago of tropical islands that rose to global fame as a centre of spice agriculture in the 16th century, when its yields of cloves and nutmeg were invaluable bartering commodities. When the region’s spice production was overtaken by larger global producers in the 1900s, it faded largely into international oblivion – but since then it has slowly started creeping back onto the itineraries of intrepid travellers due to its exceptional natural charms – endless stretches of pristine sand beach, flourishing coral reefs,and rugged volcanic peaks – and its historical architecture.

WEST PAPUA

Also known as Western New Guinea and formerly Irian Jaya, West Papua is an Indonesian province occupying the western half of the island of New Guinea, while the eastern half is the independent country of Papua New Guinea. Though no longer home to the cannibals and headhunters it was once famous for, West Papua still offers plenty of opportunities to go where few have gone before among some of the most exotic cultures, spectacular scenery and unexplored trekking terrain in the world. While the majority of tourists are drawn in by the world-renowned diving opportunities and spectacular island scenery of the Raja Ampat islands, there are also countless land based activities on offer including visits to Southeast Asia’s largest national park, buying wonderful local handicrafts from Arborek Village, and exploring the island’s vast virgin rainforest.

SEMINYAK

This upmarket Balinese village is characterised by mostly luxury accommodation, high-end spas, fashionable restaurants and bars and some lovely little boutiques. The atmosphere is much more sophisticated than the raucous party town of Kuta. During the day Seminyak’s Petitenget Beach offers a peaceful retreat away from the hordes of tourists common on other parts of this lovely little island. However, after sunset a livelier nightlife scene takes over with premier dining and entertainment venues such as Ku De Ta and the Potato Head Beach Club, all garnering international recognition. Seminyak has somehow managed to achieve that much desired balance between tranquility and a vibey atmosphere. If you are looking for a more elegant and laid-back alternative to Kuta and Legian, Seminyak is just the destination for you.

JIMBARAN

ULUWATU

Uluwatu is a popular beach destination on Bali’s spectacularly rugged Bukit Peninsula. The name Uluwatu, meaning “lands end rock”, was borrowed from the area’s famous Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple, perched on a cliff on the peninsula’s southwest tip. Renowned as one of the best surf destinations in the world for surfers of all abilities, Uluwatu attracts surfers from around the globe as well as travellers eager to experience the area’s exceptionally luxurious cliff-top hotels and villas. Whether you come just for the day to play a round of golf, explore the temple and hit the swells; or settle in for a few days at an elegant villa overlooking the sea, there is always something to stimulate the senses in exquisite Uluwatu.

MANGGIS

Idyllically situated on Bali’s unspoiled eastern coastline between the dramatic Mount Agung and the serene Lombok Strait, quiet Manggis is an ideal destination for travellers eager to escape the crowds and relax in a peaceful little pocket of paradise. The development of a number of quaint seaside villages along this stretch of coast has resulted in an increase in popularity of this once little known area. Manggis’s remarkable aesthetic appeal is matched by an equally impressive cultural allure with over twenty temples and shrines to explore including the exquisite Pura Besakih, one of Bali’s most important Hindu complexes. Other notable highlights include the spectacularly scenic rice paddies and terraces of the Sidemen Valley and some excellent local markets.