INDONESIA
Indonesia is a volcano on the horizon, clove smoke drifting from a warung at dusk, the gamelan in the courtyard next door — 17,000 islands somehow held together as one country. The temples of Borobudur emerge from Javanese mist at sunrise. The orangutans live in Sumatra, the dragons on Komodo, the sea-faring Bajau people in Sulawesi, the most biodiverse reefs in the world in Raja Ampat. Even Bali — yes, that Bali — still has its quiet corners, in the ricefield villages where ceremonies happen without commentary. Each island carries its own language, its own religion, its own way of making coffee. The shared thread is hospitality: being fed before you've quite finished saying hello, and asked five questions about home before the rice arrives.
A Taste of What's Possible
Rare and intimate temple blessing ceremony with a Balinese Hindu priest
Swim with whale sharks in the pristine and remote waters of Moyo Island
Traditional Javanese puppetry workshop with a master artisan in Yogyakarta
Where You'll Stay
We spend a lot of time obsessing over the perfect accommodations. Our favorites tend to be smaller, boutique properties with a unique sense of style and fantastic service.
Here are just a few of our favorites...
Three of Our Favorite Spots
RURAL BALI
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Bali's interior, away from the crowded south. Rural Bali trades the beach clubs for green river valleys, rice terraces dropping in steps from village shrines, and mornings that begin with incense and temple bells. The only traffic is roosters. Tabanan’s subak irrigation system, a communal network of water temples and channels, has been threading these slopes for a thousand years and is UNESCO-listed for good reason. Mornings at a temple ceremony, afternoons eating babi guling (Bali’s spiced spit-roasted pig) at a roadside warung, gamelan music drifting through palm groves at dusk.
FLORES
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East of Bali, Flores stretches 400 km of volcanic spine. Catholic by way of 16th-century Portuguese missionaries, defiantly animist beneath, and visually unlike anything else in Indonesia. Ancestor graves still marked by megaliths, thatched cone houses clustered in a highland valley, and three crater lakes atop Kelimutu that change color with the mineral chemistry. The Trans-Flores road winds west through rice terraces to the gateway to Komodo's pink beaches, dragons, and manta ray in the channels below.
WAY KAMBAS
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On the eastern coast of Sumatra, Way Kambas is one of the last refuges of the Sumatran rhino. Fewer than 80 remain worldwide, and the in-park sanctuary is one of the only places they can be seen at all. The country's main Asian elephant conservation center sits inside the park, too, working with rescued and former captive elephants. Lowland rainforest, mangrove rivers, hornbills, crocodiles, and the rare overlap of tiger and rhino habitat. A quiet act of witness and a serious wildlife destination with purpose.
"Hello from Borobudur. It has been a long day with a 4:30 departure to the temple for sunrise. It is definitely a “not to be missed” experience. The late morning bike ride and cooking class might have been the most surprising and most rewarding tour we have ever done. Our guide and driver here are wonderful. The bike ride goes through a very simple and very real village. We drove through back alleys, helped make tempeh from soy beans, played the village gamelan instruments with some local children, made a variety of chips - tempeh, taro,etc. - and assisted in making a very authentic lunch. Not everyone might be comfortable in the traditional home kitchen - no running water, wood brazier, nothing that looked vaguely familiar -but it was cozy, warm and spotlessly clean. The local village bike guide was excellent and very engaging.”
B.M. // Washington
Sample Itinerary
The Jungle, the Island, and the Sea: A Crossing of Indonesia
Day 1: On arrival in Jakarta, you will be met and transferred to your comfortable accommodations to recover from the long journey and prepare to go deeper into the archipelago.
Day 2: Fly from Jakarta to Borneo, where you will board a deluxe traditional houseboat for a two-night scenic adventure through Tanjung Puting National Park. Cruise from the Kumai River to the Seikonyer River, flanked by lush riverbanks and spotting wildlife like macaques, proboscis monkeys, birds, and orangutans along the way.
Day 3: Continue upriver to Pondok Tanggui to witness a morning orangutan feeding session, before sailing through the biodiverse Black River to Camp Leakey, where you disembark for a guided trek into the forest. Cruise downriver to the Nipa Palm area in the afternoon, and in the evening keep an eye out for the enchanting display of fireflies lighting up the trees along the riverbanks.
Day 4: After exploring Borneo, you'll board your houseboat and fly onward to Bali, where you’ll be transferred to your lovely accommodations in Ubud.
Day 5: Embark on a serene full-day journey to Mount Batukaru, celebrated for its untouched natural beauty. Trek through the forest with a local to learn about the herbs, plants, and fruits along the way before enjoying a lunch of homemade Balinese cuisine at his home.
Day 6: Enjoy a private car and guide at your disposal today to explore Bali's vibrant culture, natural beauty, and iconic landmarks at your own pace.
Day 7: Set off from Ubud by private transfer to the Tabanan area, renowned for its lush greenery and iconic rice terraces. Enjoy the evening to settle into your new peaceful surroundings.
Day 8: Journey to the north of the island with your guide as you go off the beaten path and down backroads to visit places most tourists don't reach such as the sacred Sangeh Monkey Forest and the majestic Nungnung Waterfall.
Day 9: Enjoy some final explorations of Tabanan this morning, including the emerald green hills in the Batukaru area, rice fields at Jatiluwih village, and Yeh Ho Waterfall. Later today you’ll fly to Sorong, the gateway to Raja Ampat.
Day 10: Today you will set off on a luxurious adventure at sea aboard the Aqua Blu. Settle into the pace of your luxurious cruise accommodations and sail to Mioskon Island.
Days 11-16. You’ll have six full days aboard the cruise, accessing the most awe-inspiring parts of the remote Raja Ampat area. Opportunities for adventure abound on this epic journey, including snorkeling, diving, kayaking, and hiking to best immerse in the region's rich biodiversity. You’ll also explore fascinating aspects of local culture, including visits to a Papuan village and a small pearl farm.
Day 17: Disembark in Sorong and private transfer to the airport to begin your journey home.
