Active volcanoes, terraced rice fields and 17,000 islands: Indonesia to explore with expertise.

Complete Guide to Indonesia

From our office in Jakarta, we track daily ferry rotations between islands, Bromo's eruptions and Bali's ceremony calendars. Indonesia stretches 5,000 kilometres east to west along the equator, and each island guards its own language, cuisine and rhythm. Java concentrates half the population, its volcanoes (Bromo, Ijen, Merapi) and the Buddhist temples of Borobudur. Bali, smaller, lives to the beat of Hindu offerings, the rice terraces of Jatiluwih and the beaches of Bukit to the south.

Further east, the Lesser Sunda Islands open another journey: Komodo and its dragons, Flores's volcanoes, Alor's coral beds. In Sumatra, the jungle of Bukit Lawang still shelters wild orangutans, and Lake Toba occupies a caldera 100 kilometres long. Sulawesi (the Celebes) keeps the Toraja villages at its centre, where funerals last several days. For diving enthusiasts, Raja Ampat in West Papua concentrates the highest known marine biodiversity.

A first trip often combines Java and Bali over 12 to 15 days. To venture further (Komodo, Sulawesi, Sumatra), plan for 3 weeks, including unavoidable domestic flights. Dominic and our team build the itinerary according to your interests and your chosen season.

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The regions of Indonesia

Each region has its own personality: climate, landscapes, pace of life and ways of traveling. Our local team helps you choose the combination that suits you.

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Java

Java brings together the country's most accessible volcanoes. At daybreak, Mount Bromo reveals itself from the Penanjakan viewpoint at 2,770 meters, with temperatures between 5 to 10°C during the dry season. Further east, Kawah Ijen is explored at night to witness its blue flames and its striking turquoise acid lake. In Yogyakarta, a student and cultural city, you can visit the Sultan's Palace, Borobudur (the world's largest Buddhist temple) and Prambanan. Travel between these sites is time-consuming: distances are short but heavy traffic significantly slows progress. Allow 5 to 7 days to cross the island from west to east.

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Bali and Lombok

Bali can be crossed from north to south in 3 hours but requires at least a week to grasp its contrasts. Ubud, in the center, revolves around the Tegallalang rice terraces and Hindu temples. The villages of Amed and Pemuteran, to the north, offer peaceful diving far from Kuta's crowds. Lombok, its eastern neighbor, features Mount Rinjani (3,726 meters, 3-day trek) and the Gili Islands for snorkeling with sea turtles. The dry season from April to October brings 28°C and little rainfall. Avoid the Nyepi period in March, a day of silence when everything comes to a standstill, including the airport.

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Sumatra

Sumatra requires more logistical commitment but rewards you with pristine nature. At Bukit Lawang, the Gunung Leuser National Park is home to approximately 14,000 wild orangutans, observable during 1 to 3-day jungle treks through humid rainforest. Further south, Lake Toba occupies the caldera of an eruption that occurred 74,000 years ago: 100 kilometers long, with the island of Samosir at its center, and Batak culture featuring houses with boat-shaped roofs. The road from Medan to Bukit Lawang takes 4 hours, while the route to Lake Toba takes 5 to 6 hours. Plan for a minimum of 8 to 10 days for a coherent itinerary.

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Sulawesi

Sulawesi (formerly Celebes) maintains a strong identity in its heartland, the Toraja country. In Rantepao, you can witness funeral ceremonies that can last several days and gather hundreds of guests. The troglodyte tombs of Lemo and the villages of Kete Kesu can be explored on foot. In the north, around Manado and Bunaken Island, diving reveals coral walls plunging to 1,500 meters. In the southeast, the Togian Islands offer a rare anchorage between mangrove forests and atolls. A complete circuit requires 12 to 14 days, with a domestic flight between Makassar and Manado.

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Komodo and Flores

The Komodo National Park is organized around Labuan Bajo, on the western tip of Flores. Komodo dragons—lizards measuring 2 to 3 meters and weighing up to 90 kilos—can be observed on Rinca and Komodo islands while following ranger guides. A 3-day pinisi cruise (traditional sailing vessel) allows you to combine Padar, Pink Beach, and snorkeling with manta rays at Manta Point. Flores itself deserves 4 to 5 additional days to reach the three colored lakes of Kelimutu, at 1,600 meters altitude, and traverse the Manggarai villages. The season runs from April to November, with calmer seas.

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Raja Ampat and Papua

Raja Ampat, at the far east of the country, concentrates 75% of known coral species across 50,000 km² of sea. The archipelago is accessed from Sorong, reachable by domestic flight via Jakarta or Makassar (8 to 10 hours total travel time). Accommodations range from village homestays to 7-night liveaboard cruises. Piaynemo viewpoint offers the classic view over the emerging karsts. On land, the Baliem Valley in the central mountains allows you to meet the Dani people. This region requires a higher budget and a minimum of 10 days on site.

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South & Beaches

Southern Bali brings together mythical beaches like Seminyak, the breathtaking cliffs of Uluwatu and its temples perched above the Indian Ocean. It is also Bali's gateway, where nightlife, the Bukit's surf spots and coastal ceremonies coexist in a constant energy.

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Ubud & the center

Ubud is the cultural and spiritual heart of Bali, surrounded by the UNESCO-listed terraced rice fields of Tegallalang and Jatiluwih, ancient temples, and craft workshops. The Sangeh Monkey Forest and traditional painting galleries make it a territory where every path leads to discovery.

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East Bali: Amed, Sidemen & Mount Agung

East Bali unfolds beneath the watchful shadow of Mount Agung, a sacred volcano dominating the horizon, while the dark waters of Amed reveal shipwrecks and coral reefs of remarkable richness. Between the royal water gardens of Tirtagangga and the cascading rice terraces of Sidemen, this region embodies Bali in its most authentic and unspoiled form.

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North: Munduk & the Lakes

The North surprises with its altitude and cool climate, featuring Lake Bratan and Lake Buyan nestled in volcanic calderas, and Munduk waterfalls hidden within coffee and clove plantations. Far from the crowds of the South, this region offers a rural and contemplative Bali, dotted with ancient temples overlooking the waters.

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Wild West

The West is home to Bali National Park, the last refuge of the Bali starling and one of the island's most pristine wilderness areas. Off the coast of Pemuteran, the coral gardens restored by the Biorock project offer one of Indonesia's most unique snorkeling and diving experiences.

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