Indonesia

Cruising Indonesia: Don’t set sail without these 7 things.

If Indonesia is new to you, it’s difficult to know just what you’ll need, want and wish for once you start cruising here. A year into our second Indonesian sailing adventure, these are the items we stocked up on before checking in: everything from spare..... . .

Cycling Java’s Secret South Coast

Escaping Jakarta Cycling out of Jakarta is pure madness: the surging crush of motorbikes and buses, trucks and taxis, all racing and suddenly braking through impossibly slender streets. We dive into the mayhem before we lose heart, hoping like hell that nobody clips us..... . .

Maratua Island – Indonesia’s Paradise Found

Snorkelling along the edge of the reef, Maratua’s sheer wall of coral disappears into the blue, a swirling mass of tropical fish dazzling me at every turn. Suddenly the turtles sense my presence and peel off the wall in synchronised succession, one, two, three….I..... . .

Underwater statue s Gili Meno Indonesia

The Gili Islands: Bali’s best escape

Why we love the Gili Islands As Bali’s most popular island escape, the northern Gili Islands’ trio of tropical isles – each with a distinctly different personality – is where travellers find their perfect fit. Each island caters for a different kind..... . .

It’s said that when children die in the mountain village of Moni, their spirits soar high towards Mount Kelimutu, settling in the warmest and bluest of the volcano’s tricoloured crater lakes. Image Credit - David Bristow

Climb a volcano: Mount Kelimutu’s Tricoloured Lakes

Climbing Kelimutu It’s said that when children die in the mountain village of Moni, their spirits soar high towards Mount Kelimutu, settling in the warmest and bluest of the volcano’s tricoloured crater lakes. Known as Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai, this sacred turquoise lake..... . .

Sailing Komodo Islands

How to book the best deal and Cruise Komodo

Komodo National Park It’s the single best thing you can experience in Flores, but choosing a cruise through Komodo National Park can be a bit of a head-trip. We’ve nailed down all the information we were looking for (but couldn’t find) to help you avoid the..... . .

Turtle of Maratua © DAVID BRISTOW

Budget Guide to Kalimantan

How to explore Kalimantan on the cheap. If you are looking for the road less travelled, you’ll find it Indonesian Kalimantan: the bigger, wilder and much less travelled chunk of Borneo. What you can do here on a budget (with a bit of grit and determination) is..... . .

The wild Orangutang of Indonesian Borneo

Borneo’s Wild Orangutans: Kutai National Park

Tracking Orangutans It’s hot and steamy away from the Sangatta River but a distant boom lures us deep into the forest where wild orangutans roam. The air thickens as the canopy closes overhead and we sweat along skinny foot trails, craning our necks skyward at every..... . .

Cycling Southeast Asia with Kids

Our guide to cycle touring Malaysia, Southern Thailand and Java (with your kids on board). Why cycling? It’s difficult to describe the inescapable freedom of travelling the world by bicycle: of waking up and packing your gear, throwing a leg over your trusty bike and..... . .