The original article was published by TheTimes.co.uk. Read HERE.
Writer: Lee Cobaj
For most visitors of Indonesia, their first encounter with this country — a geological jigsaw of 17,500 islands extending more than 3,000 miles that stretches from Malaysia to Australia — comes via Bali. The teardrop-shaped island, known for its deep-rooted spirituality, fantastical Hindu temples, luxe hotels, louche beach clubs and lively surf scene, remains Indonesia’s centre for tourism – although the relentless march of development, particularly on the island’s south coast, is not always appealing.
Bali really is just the tip of the Indonesian iceberg though. This predominantly Muslim nation has an embarrassment of riches for travellers. You’ll find the busy, steaming capital city, Jakarta, on the island of Java, once home to some of the greatest kingdoms in antiquity — the 8th-century Medang, which laid temples in the Dieng Plateau; the Buddhist Shailendra Dynasty, responsible for Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist temple complex; and the medieval Majapahit Empire, whose lands stretched from Bali to New Guinea, to what is now Singapore, the southwestern Philippines and Timor-Leste.
In the present day south, Lombok, Sumba, Flores and Komodo are links in the Lesser Sunda Islands’ chain, where the effects of this region’s explosive evolution are writ large in the form of Komodo dragons, endemic birds — owls, whistlers, honeyeaters — deciduous forests, arid savannah and pink beaches. Move west to the island of Sumatra and find the verdant Riau archipelago, which brushes up against Singapore and Malaysia. In the north, Borneo is where you’ll find orangutans, part of a mind-blowing biodiversity that also includes hundreds of mammals, birds, amphibians and fish, as well as thousands of plants, with new ones still being discovered (27 new plants and animals were recorded in 2021 alone). While to the east, the surreal landscapes of Raja Ampat, West Papua and the Spice Islands are a bona fide paradise for sailors, divers and snorkellers.
Each of these destinations merits at least a month’s exploration, but as few of us have that kind of time to spare, most travellers tend to descend on two or three destinations as part of a bigger tour, criss-crossing the country on domestic flights. Here, region by region, are some of the places to stay.
Hotel Tugu, Lombok
Flamboyant bungalow hotel in lavish grounds
A dream scene of serpent-topped pavilions, stepped pyramids, fantastic oversized statues and stone elephants spraying water into an opal-coloured swimming pool, Hotel Tugu is a maximalist fantasy. Equally flamboyant bungalows are scattered around the gardens and on Sire beach, each with alfresco bathrooms with copper tubs, leafy outdoor space, plus a few with private swimming pools. A bountiful breakfast buffet fuels you up for the day, afternoon tea is complimentary and zingy Indonesian dinners are served by candlelight. Things to do include sunset boat charters through the Lombok Strait, private picnics and Zen-ing out at the spa.
Details Seven nights’ B&B from £2,049pp, including flights (kuoni.co.uk)