Indonesia blossomed as a destination for our clients in 2023.
Families and couples enjoyed beach holidays in the far east. Some clients explored the remote Komodo islands by private yacht. Others discovered the cultures of iconic islands.
17,000 islands, stretching 5,000 kilometres from the Indian Ocean to numerous seas, Indonesia is a country of endless possibilities. Beach or culture, pure relaxation or real adventure, it’s all here on a single trip.
So, what is worth your holiday time in Indonesia?
Different members of our team have their own experiences in Indonesia. We’ve also collated feedback from our clients and teamed up with local Indonesian partner Khiri Travel, to present this guide to Indonesia in 2024.
Indonesia is an Easy Summer Destination, for Families & Couples
Indonesia is a tropical island destination, so expect warm beach days and very pleasant weather during these months. While there are slight variations between islands, Indonesia is best visited between May and September.
The best flights are usually with Emirates or Qatar, who have connections to both the island of Bali and capital city Jakarta, on Java.
Domestic flights are an important way to connect different islands. Private yachts are great too. It’s better to explore one island region by yacht, with land and water activities, rather than sail too far across the seas.
Indonesia is a really good summer choice for families. You get loads of space, good resorts, and many interesting things to do. Couples enjoy the same, plus the opportunity to explore more adventurous, less developed islands.
Our Indonesia Recommendations: Where to Go & What to Do
Our most important recommendation is to embrace the beauty of slow travel. This is not a destination for ‘touring’ many places and ticking off sights.
You can visit a temple and take a photo that looks amazing on Instagram. But really, Indonesia is about experiencing the essence and story behind the image.
And remember, Indonesia is primarily a beach destination. So don’t rush. This is where you’ll get your tropical beach resort holiday, as well as many new experiences.
Bali
Bali evokes thoughts of paradise. It’s a mood, an aspiration, a tropical state of mind. And it has the best Indonesian flight connections to Europe.
But…and this is a big but, Bali is also a mass tourism destination, especially among Australians and the Chinese. We do not recommend the main beach areas in South Bali. Indonesia has much better islands for a beach holiday
The paradise images of Bali can still be found, when you venture a little from the main track. Bali is an island to explore.
Take your children on a treasure hunt, try canyoning and white water rafting, spend a day with an Balinese artist, eat a barbecue dinner in a beach cave or dine with Balinese royalty.
There’s surfing, hiking, snorkelling, volcanoes, and all the authentic culture that still thrives.
Thanks to our local contacts, we can privatise just about anything in Bali for our clients. For example, a private temple entrance and purification ritual with a Balian (Shaman).
Lombok & West Nusa
When people dream about Bali, the image they have is most likely to be discovered in Lombok or West Nusa. These islands are as beautiful as their neighbour Bali once was, yet they haven’t been overdeveloped.
We like The Oberoi Beach Resort on Lombok and the 12 jungle tents of Amanwana, by Aman on West Nusa.
We suggest you mostly avoid the Gili and Nusa islands, which are the better known extensions to a Bali holiday. They’re small and crowded, good for a day trip, not a longer stay. Lombok and West Nusa are bigger and quieter.
Our top recommendation is to travel from Bali by either a yacht or helicopter charter. Both are stunning ways to explore the region, from green volcanoes to deserted beaches, completely away from other people.
Sumba
Sumba epitomises Indonesia’s allure: a vast destination of rainforests and remote beaches, rich in animal life and unique culture.
Unlike Bali, Sumba island remains untamed. And on this island paradise, there are two outstanding beach resorts to match the island’s beauty.
NIHI Sumba is a sublime family resort on the beach. It’s consistently awarded among the top 50 hotels globally, by Travel + Leisure magazine. In fact, it was number one for two years running.
Cap Karoso is just as remote and beautiful. The Sumbanese villas feature private pools, open-air bathtubs and barbecue areas.
We love them both, partly because it’s so easy to explore local nature and culture from the resort, in a very authentic and non-touristic way. It feels like an adventure. Yet it’s a supremely comfortable beach resort.
Komodo & Flores
Komodo, Flores and Sumba are all part of the East Nusa Tengarra region, in Indonesia’s east.
Komodo is famous for the Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard. Flores is almost a mythical destination, with its lakes that change colour and untamed coastline.
Komodo gained international fame when it was voted as one of the New7Wonders of Nature. We absolutely don’t recommend flying to Komodo to take a photo of a famous lizard.
Instead, we recommend a private yacht charter in this region. It’s good value and a rare opportunity to explore places that few people have ever visited.
A one-week charter could include:
- Sailing through the Papangga and Tukohbele islands
- A traditional warrior dance welcome by the Modo Manggarai tribe
- Some of the world’s best dive sites in Siaba Besar
- Snorkelling around Lawa Laut and Lawa Darat islands, where the Pacific and Indian oceans meet
- Lots of manta rays. Innumerable turtles. Whalesharks.
- Exploring South Komodo as well as the most known sight of wild Komodo dragons on the beach at Motang island.
- Volcanoes, Bajau tribesmen and many more 70-kilo dragons.
Java
Java is the big island at the heart of Indonesia, home to the mega metropolis of Jakarta, which isn’t the nicest place for a holiday.
Java does have plenty of gems though. The volcanic craters of Bromo and Iljen are also worth your time.
Yogyakarta is the country’s most important historical city, where we know some private villas and can secure exclusive-use access to historical sights,
Borneo (Kalimantan)
Kalimantan is Indonesia’s name for its two-thirds share of Borneo. Visit Borneo soon, because deforestation is a real problem.
We don’t recommend Borneo for families. It’s not luxurious either. But you can have a comfortable adventure.
Orangutans are the main attraction and you can visit feeding stations, to spend time in the company of these amazing primates.
From Jakarta we would recommend two days and two nights in Kalimantan, with accommodation on a houseboat. This way you are completely immersed in nature for 48 hours – there’s a lot more than orangutans in some of the world’s oldest rainforests.
2024 in Indonesia. Is it for You?
Is Indonesia on your list? What is on your list for summer 2024?
We don’t believe it’s possible to know everything about a single destination, especially one as big and faraway as Indonesia.
That’s why we combine our own personal travel experiences in the country, with the expertise of our local partners, and the very important feedback of all our clients who have travelled there.
This way we can better create holidays that are both personal and never to be repeated.
