Tailor-made Indonesia: Introduction

Strewn across the coral-rich waters of Southeast Asia, Indonesia is an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands.

Unified by a common currency and a basic trade language, the Indonesian people are a mixture of many different cultures and religions whose costumes and customs vary between islands and even between valleys. From the Stone Age tribes hidden in Sulawesi’s remote forests to the devout Hindus making their daily sacrifices at Bali’s countless temples and shrines, life here proceeds at a different pace among lush, verdant landscapes of great beauty.

The country’s attractions are endless. Fringed by wonderful beaches, Bali also has a fascinating interior, sloping up through terraced rice-fields to the sheer slopes of its central volcano. Lombok and Sumba are less visited, with natural untouched beauty and beaches creating perfect tropical hideaways. Java’s regional cities are bright with dance and music and the towering peak of Mount Bromo smoulders over an otherworldly, volcanic landscape. Sumatra’s jungles offer refuge to the endangered orang-utan, while remote Sulawesi is almost a country in itself, with ancient tribal cultures and great diving. Kalimantan in southern Borneo is for the true adventurer. All manner of flora and fauna are here just waiting to be discovered.

Selected Highlights

Our specialists have travelled the length and breadth of the country to research the best places to stay and things to do. Here they list a few of their favourite “unmissables”. Click here for more highlights

Admire the scenery of the Ijen Plateau

Ijen's turquoise sulphur lake surrounded by the volcano's sheer crater walls combined with views of Gunung Merapi and Gunung Raung in the distance make Ijen...  [more]

Dive in Sulawesi

There are many fantastic dive spots around Indonesia, but one of the best has to be Northern Sulawesi. The reef around this area is very unspoilt and...  [more]

Experience the funeral culture in Sulawesi

This may sound a bit morbid, but one of my favourite experiences in Indonesia was witnessing two funeral ceremonies on Sulawesi. When someone dies...  [more]