Sabbatical & Experiential Travel to Indonesia
Holidays & Sabbaticals to Indonesia – In a Nutshell
An archipelago of over 17,000 islands, Indonesia is a land of staggering natural beauty. Idyllic white-sand beaches, virgin jungle, turquoise seas, emerald rice terraces and active volcanoes, it’s perfect for a tropical honeymoon, but also for an off-radar adventure. Only 6,000 of its islands are inhabited, and the further east you go, the fewer people you’ll see, in terms of tourists and locals. The poster islands are Bali (the cultural hub), Borneo (home to wild orangutans), Flores (land of the Komodo dragon) and Java (incredible volcanic scenery). But just as breathtaking are the blissfully unspoilt Gili Islands, Sumatra for its sparkling Lake Toba, Sulawesi’s mountains (home to the Torajan people) and the world-class diving around the Banda Islands. There’s so much variety here that any trip is utterly unique, island hopping at its most memorable. Expect to hike up volcanoes, admire 9th C Buddhist monuments, witness dazzling local festivals and relax on true castaway beaches. Heaven on earth.
How to Get to Indonesia
Most will fly here and arrive at Jakarta (Sukarno-Hatta) or Bali (Ngurah Rai), Indonesia’s 2 busiest airports. There are other international hubs too. Direct flights from the UK take approx. 15 hours; from the US, expect around 18 hours. You can also travel here by ferry from Malaysia and Singapore. Once here, you can island hop by ferry or domestic flights. Within the islands themselves, expect to travel by private transfer, bus, boat or train. Delays are common, whichever means of travel you choose, so keep your schedule flexible.
When & Weather – Indonesia
The whole archipelago is tropical, generally hot, humid and sunny. As a rule of thumb, May to October is the Dry Season and November is wetter. Temperatures range between 17°C (75°F) and 33°C (62°F).
Who will Indonesia Appeal To?
Indonesia’s stunning natural scenery and fascinating mix of cultures is particularly suited to:
- Honeymooners
- Culture lovers
- Adventure seekers
- Families
- Solo travellers
- Keen photographers
Accommodation
We work with luxury hotels and resorts, boutique guesthouses, villa rentals, beautiful beach resorts and simpler beach or rainforest cabanas.
Off The Beaten Path
- Boat Indonesia’s longest river, the Sungai Kapuas on Borneo. Cloaked in thick jungle much of it is untouched by tourism and you’ll go past traditional Dayak communities
- Dive amongst pristine corals at Raja Ampat
- There’s world-class surf at the tiny fishing village of Grajagan on Java
- Lake Sentani on Papua is surrounded by thick jungle, home to indigenous tribes with fascinating traditions
- Watch the Bajau people free dive in Kabalutan. Even young children can go as deep as 12m with no equipment at all
- Climb the active Gunung Batur volcano at sunrise; the view from the crater rim is otherworldly
Wildlife
- Indonesia is one of 17 ‘megadiverse’ countries in the world, meaning most of the world’s plant and animal species live here
- The world’s smallest primate, the nocturnal tarsier, clings to the trees in Sulawesi’s Tangkoko reserve
Spot wild elephants and tigers in the Sumatran jungles - Watch Komodo dragons wrestle in Komodo National Park
- Spot long-tailed Macaques in the Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal
- Swim with dolphins off the coast of Lovina, and hammerhead sharks in the Banda Islands
- Bukit Lawang offers some of the world’s best opportunities for seeing orangutans in the wild
Indonesia Experiences you shouldn’t miss:
- Visiting Bali’s rice terraces and artisanal shops in Ubud. The best time to visit Tanah Lot is at low tide, when you can wade over to the exquisite cave temple
- Climbing Gunung Rinjani rising above turquoise crater lakes (Lombok). Just offshore from Lombok are the blissfully unspoilt Gili Islands
Climbing Kelimutu at dawn, an ancient volcano with 3 vibrant colour-changing crater lakes (Flores) - Exploring the volcanic landscapes of Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park (Java)
- Admiring the mighty Komodo Dragon in barren Komodo National Park
- Watching a classic Javanese puppet show in Yogyakarta
- Visit ancient palaces and monuments in Yogyakarta
- Visit Borobudur, the biggest Buddhist stupa in the world (Java), and 9thC Prambanan, a UNESCO world heritage site
- Trekking through the jungle in Borneo to observe wild orangutans
- The Maluku province and Togean islands are Robinson Crusoe territory: utterly deserted white-sand beaches and simple beach cabanas
Giving back
Friends of the National Parks Foundation exists to protect Indonesia’s wildlife, restore forests and help local communities. Habitat restoration projects operate in Kalimantan’s Tanjung Puting National Park, the largest national park in southeast Asia, and in Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve. Donations and volunteers and welcomed by this organisation.
Start Planning
Our experienced team will guide you through a number of ideas based on how you would like to experience Indonesia.
Consider visiting Indonesia in combination with nearby countries Malaysia and Singapore.
Browse our gallery for inspiration and read the sample itinerary below to whet your appetite.
No matter how long you wish to travel, we’ll guide you through the planning process to ensure a trip is carefully pieced together to suit your interests, pace of travel and budget. Contact us to start planning a holiday or sabbatical to Indonesia.
