Indonesia Encompassed

Navigating the winding rivers of Kalimantan’s Tanjung Puting National Park in traditional style, immersing yourself in the rainforest’s distinctive sights and sounds, is certainly near the top of a lot of wish lists. This is no luxury cruise, and the bijou boats are very simply equipped, but you’ll have the entire vessel to yourselves, complete with a skilled crew.

Watch the bank closely for glimpses of macaques, hornbills, crocodiles and the elusive ‘old men of the forest’, the orangutans. Visit three of the area’s inspirational conservation projects – Camp Leakey (a bastion of orangutan rehabilitation since the ‘70s) and the feeding stations at Pondok Tanguy and Tanjung Harapan Camp – where you’ll have the chance to see orangutans at even closer range. This is Indonesian rainforest wilderness at its best: unadorned, immediate and all-encompassing.

Contrasted against a surrounding sea of green fields and forests, the imposing and beautifully preserved 9th-century temple seems even more breath-taking. Get an early night at one of the region’s characterful properties in preparation for heading to the temple for sunrise. There are usually fewer visitors in the early morning, and the cooler temperatures mean you can walk between the rooftop Buddha statues in comfort as the day’s first rays hit the stones. After dawn, wander off the beaten path to some less-lauded landmarks from the same era, including the partially-restored Mendut temple and elaborately-carved Pawon temple, both of which add deeper context to Borobudur.

Spend time walking and cycling through the hills and between the rice terraces, watching Bali’s natural beauty rippling out around you. Several gorgeous retreats nestle in the surrounding green hills, while the villages and artisan communities have their own gentle buzz. Spend blissful hours unwinding at a spa, take a yoga class or two, find hidden escapes, and enjoy discovering the day-to-day rhythms of the real Bali.

Watch weavers demonstrate intricate textile techniques passed down through generations. Try your hand at crafting daily temple offerings, collecting coconuts from towering palms, or visiting a local blacksmith’s forge. Wander to Besakih Temple, Bali’s most sacred complex, on the western slopes of Mount Agung, the island’s highest and most revered peak.

Take a gentle walk through the rice fields as your guide explains the agricultural cycle and the vital role rice plays in Balinese daily life. Depending on the season, you can even join local farmers in the fields, planting or harvesting, and help prepare a classic Balinese lunch with instruction from a local home cook.