INDONESIA & BALI

The islands of Indonesia are one of the most beautiful yet comparatively unexplored regions in the world. Though Bali has a well-developed resort culture, the rest of the country is largely untouched by tourism and ripe for explorations and discovery. With over 13,000 islands, Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelagic country and best explored aboard a yacht or cruise ship. A cruise of the Indonesian islands takes visitors from the beaches of Bali and Sasak villages of Lombok, to the dragons of Komodo and the stone spires of Raja Ampat, not to mention the volcano-studded Spice Islands and the remote isles of Southeast Sulawesi.

INDONESIA
Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world, range from Sabang in Aceh to Merauke in Papua, which is made up of thousands of large and small islands, which are connected by the strait and sea.

BALI
Bali is one of very few islands that manage to combine spirituality and hedonism; visitors can witness coming-of-age ceremonies, as well as enjoy sundowners, first-rate dining and chic shopping. At Ubud, the island’s cultural capital, there are frequent musical and dance performances, as well as galleries selling woodcarving, silverware, textiles, paintings and sculpture. There is trekking around terraced rice fields and two volcanoes in the north, Agung and Batur. Bali Barat National Park is a haven for deer, boar and macaques, and the offshore Menjangan Island has dive sites with schools of batfish, giant trevally and jacks. Add a warm tropical climate and great beaches and it is little wonder why Bali is such a popular destination.

KOMODO & LOMBOK
Komodo dragons are just one of many highlights to be had on a visit to Komodo and Lombok, with bat caves, pink beaches and traditional local villages bound to conjure up a few more. Sailing to coral hotspots coveted by clownfish, parrotfish and turtles will send snorkellers into seventh heaven, although it’s often the experiences on the driest of dry savanna hillsides that will have adventurers, accompanied by park rangers, quivering in their sandals.
However, due to Komodo dragons and wild deer (the dragons' main natural food supply) being illegally poached and sold by smugglers, the Indonesian government has plans to close Komodo Island to tourists. This is an attempt to halt the wildlife trafficking process and to allow the Komodo dragon population to 'rewild' after many years of close contact with humans. It's thought that the closure could last a year, from January 2020, so check before you visit. At time of writing, it is believed all other islands will remain open.