Indonesian Island Travel Guides

Superstar wildlife, endless islands, diverse cultures… and then there's the food!

Where to go in Indonesia

Indonesia feels like a hundred different destinations in one, and no two trips to this elongated archipelago are the same. Tailor-made trips to Indonesia always brings something fresh, making it ideal for repeat visits 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.

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Pick a place or click a pin to explore more…

a house in the woods

Bali

Java

a boat on a river

Kalimantan

Komodo National Park

Lombok & the Gilis

Sulawesi

Sumatra

a beach with trees and water

Sumba

The Moluccas

West Papua & Raja Ampat

Our big three in Indonesia

Obviously there’s a lot more, this is just to get you started…

Coffee & volcanoes in Java

Sipping a cup of locally-grown Java by 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 the most active volcano on Java isn’t quite as startling as it sounds.

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Batur volcano Bali Indonesia
Batur volcano Bali Indonesia

Sipping a cup of locally-grown Java by 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 the most active volcano on Java isn’t quite as startling as it sounds.

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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.

Kalimantan boats & riverbank wildlife

The sounds of the riverboat blend into the background and your senses slowly tune into the Kalimantan 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…

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Orangutan on tree
Orangutan on tree

The sounds of the riverboat blend into the background and your senses slowly tune into the Kalimantan 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…

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There, on one of the wooden feeding platforms hidden on the riverbank, is an orangutan, mesmerisingly close. This is why our tailor-made trips to Indonesia often lead to Kalimantan: Tanjung Puting National Park is the place to see orangutan habitat conservation in action. Nothing is guaranteed, but journeying into the jungle in the company of an expert local wildlife guide stacks the odds in your favour.

Untouched shores…

West Papua & Raja Ampat form Indonesia’s far eastern edge, and feel a world away from the everyday cosmopolitan energy of Java’s major cities or the high-end wellness retreats of Bali. This region is a different level of remote; the smooth sands and azure waters so perfect in places that they barely seem real.

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Raja ampat Indonesia
Raja ampat Indonesia

West Papua & Raja Ampat form Indonesia’s far eastern edge, and feel a world away from the everyday cosmopolitan energy of Java’s major cities or the high-end wellness retreats of Bali. This region is a different level of remote; the smooth sands and azure waters so perfect in places that they barely seem real.

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One of the best ways to see this region (and the only way to get to many of its farthest corners) is by boat, island hopping aboard a phinisi-style live-aboards on shared ventures, or private charter, offers a window into another way of life for anyone with a sense of adventure. Dive and snorkel from the boat, following in the wake of pods of manta ray and lone turtles, and stay on shore at sustainably-focused resorts which have conservation and community-led projects at heart.

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We’ve been on 5 trips to the Far East with Selective Asia over 17 years with the same consultant (Lionel). They take the time to tailor the holiday individually with invaluable local knowledge and once again got it spot on. Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.

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Have been to Asia with Selective Asia twice now, and we can't fault them. We had the most amazing holiday staying in 6 different locations throughout Thailand. Selective Asia did us proud by giving us a well thought out itinerary. The accommodations were first class. Our private guide called James was very knowledgable and made our holiday very memorable.

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We had had several discussions with Andrew, our agent, before booking the trip and he incorporated all the activities we were interested in plus recommending other activities that he knew we would be interested in. Much of our trip was self guided and SA provide an excellent app to help with this. It was intuitive, easy to use and had the option to be able to contact someone locally if necessary. The whole trip was seamless and managed at a thoroughly professional yet friendly level. I would travel with this company again (we have travelled with them before.)

Heather, Japan

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Linda Johnson, Borneo

Inspiring experiences and places to stay

Lean into the details of your bespoke Asia trip to discover rare experiences, exceptional hotels, local connections, inspiring conservation and much more…

Start planning your journey here...

Give us a call 9am-5pm UK time Monday to Friday, or make an enquiry online at any time.

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Every Asia trip we build is finely tuned to fit you, and that all starts with a chat. Let us know what you're hoping to see, feel and experience on your travels, and the places you're dreaming of, and your Asia Specialist will craft a route that includes everything you want and more.

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