Island Guide
Java Island Guide: Cities, Temples, Volcanoes and Getting Around
Java spans Jakarta's sprawl, Yogyakarta's temples, Bromo's crater, and Borobudur's Buddhist terraces. Overland and air routes between the main cities.
Islands
Indonesia's Islands
Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago: 17,000+ islands stretching 5,000km from Sabang in northern Sumatra to Merauke in Papua. No other country has this density of distinct island experiences: Bali's Hindu temples and rice terraces, Lombok's empty white beaches, Komodo's prehistoric dragons, and Raja Ampat's underwater world: the most biodiverse marine ecosystem on earth.
Most travellers start in Bali. From there, Lombok and the Gili Islands are a 2-hour ferry ride; Komodo is a 1-hour flight to Labuan Bajo. Deeper into the archipelago, destinations like Raja Ampat, Banda Islands, and remote Maluku require dedicated planning. Each island feels like a different country.
Featured Islands
Complete guides to Indonesia's most-visited and most rewarding islands, from well-trodden to genuinely off the radar.
Bali
Temples, rice terraces, surf breaks, and a world-class villa scene
Lombok
Less crowded alternative to Bali: Rinjani volcano, Gili Islands, surf
Komodo
Komodo dragons, world-class diving, pink beaches
Raja Ampat
The world's most biodiverse marine ecosystem, in remote Papua
Nusa Penida
Dramatic cliffs, Manta Point diving, day trip from Bali
Flores
Gateway to Komodo, traditional villages, tri-coloured crater lakes
Sumba
Megalithic culture, deserted beaches, luxury surf resorts
Sulawesi (Bunaken)
Renowned marine park with wall dives and pristine coral in North Sulawesi
Island Guides
Island Guide
Nusa Lembongan Travel Guide: Mangroves, Surf and the Yellow Bridge to Ceningan
Nusa Lembongan is a car-free island 30 minutes from Sanur by fast boat. Devil's Tears, Dream Beach, the Yellow Bridge to Ceningan, and dining options.
Island Guide
Togean Islands Travel Guide: Remote Sulawesi Diving and Sea Bajau Culture
Complete guide to the Togean Islands, Sulawesi: ferries from Ampana, accommodation on stilts, world-class diving, and Sea Bajau village visits.
Island Guide
Bali Travel Guide: Beaches, Temples, Trekking & Nomad Life
Bali splits into clear zones: Seminyak for nightlife, Ubud for culture, Uluwatu for surf, Sanur for families. Top temples, rice terraces, and transport.
Island Guide
Bangka Island Travel Guide: Chinese Heritage, Beaches & Tin Mining History
Bangka Island guide: Pantai Parai Tenggiri, Chinese-Indonesian culture, tin mining heritage, and outstanding seafood with Bangka pepper.
Island Guide
Belitung Island Travel Guide: Granite Boulders, White Beaches & Lighthouses
Belitung travel guide: white sand beaches, giant granite boulders, a Dutch colonial lighthouse on Lengkuas Island, and clear tropical water.
Island Guide
Derawan Islands Travel Guide: Mantas, Jellyfish & Turtles in East Kalimantan
Plan your trip to the Derawan Islands - 31 islands off northeast Kalimantan with manta rays, stingless jellyfish, whale sharks, and loggerhead turtles.
Island Guide
Flores Travel Guide: Komodo, Kelimutu & Untouched Indonesia
Travel guide to Flores island - Komodo gateway, Kelimutu crater lakes, Wae Rebo village, traditional Ngada culture, and Trans-Flores Highway.
Island Guide
Gili Islands Guide: Gili T, Gili Meno & Gili Air Compared
Gili Trawangan for diving and nightlife, Gili Meno for romance, Gili Air for balance. All three compared: prices, snorkelling, and fast boat access.
Island Guide
Karimunjawa Travel Guide: Islands, Reefs & Sharks off Central Java
Karimunjawa: 27 national park islands in the Java Sea with reef sharks, coral reefs, mangroves, and white-sand beaches reached from Jepara.
Island Guide
Komodo Island Guide: Dragons, Pink Beaches & World-Class Diving
Complete guide to Komodo National Park - Komodo dragons, Pink Beach, Rinca, Padar Island, and the best boat tours from Labuan Bajo.
Island Guide
Lombok Travel Guide: Beaches, Rinjani Trekking & Gili Islands
Lombok pairs Rinjani volcano trekking with Gili Island snorkelling, Pink Beach, and Kuta's surf breaks. Ferries and flights from Bali take under an hour.
Island Guide
Nusa Penida Travel Guide: Kelingking Beach, Angel's Billabong & Diving
Nusa Penida is 45 minutes from Bali by fast boat. Kelingking's T-Rex cliff, Angel's Billabong, Broken Beach, Mola Mola diving, and manta ray sites.
Island Guide
Raja Ampat Islands: Marine Life, Wayag, Wildlife & Diving Guide
Raja Ampat islands guide - coral triangle biodiversity, Wayag and Pianemo karst viewpoints, birds of paradise, Misool diving, and West Papua wildlife.
Island Guide
Sulawesi Travel Guide: Bunaken Diving, Toraja Culture & Manado
Sulawesi spans Bunaken Marine Park diving to Tana Toraja funeral culture. Tangkoko wildlife, Togean Islands, and north-south transport options covered.
Island Guide
Sumba Island Guide: Wild Beaches, Pasola War Festival & Ancient Megalithic Culture
Sumba is one of Indonesia's least-visited islands. Pasola festival, Nihi Sumba resort, Weekuri Lagoon, megalithic tombs, and Marapu culture covered.
Island Guide
Wakatobi Travel Guide: World-Class Diving in Southeast Sulawesi
Plan your Wakatobi trip - four islands in the Coral Triangle with 750+ coral species, wall diving, and Southeast Asia's most respected dive resort.
More Island Guides
Island Guide
Belitung Beaches: Giant Boulders, Island Hopping, and How to Visit
Belitung's granite boulder beaches are unlike anything else in Indonesia. We cover the top beaches, island hopping logistics, and the best time to visit.
Island Guide
Best Beaches in Bali: A Practical Guide from Kuta to Nyang Nyang
Guide to Bali's best beaches - Seminyak, Padang Padang, Balangan, Nyang Nyang, Green Bowl, Melasti, Bias Tugel - with crowd levels and access info.
Island Guide
Day Trips from Bali: Nusa Penida, Uluwatu, Ubud & More
The best day trips from Bali - snorkelling islands, volcano sunrise treks, rice terrace walks, and cultural towns, with costs and transport logistics.
Island Guide
Diving Gili Trawangan: Turtles, Sharks & Where to Learn
Dive sites, PADI courses, best operators, and snorkelling spots on Gili Trawangan - the Gili Islands' top destination for underwater exploration.
Island Guide
Diving the Derawan Islands: Mantas, Jellyfish Lakes, and Whale Sharks
Derawan Islands offers manta rays, stingless jellyfish, whale sharks, and turtles. A complete diving guide to East Kalimantan's best sites.
Island Guide
Getting to the Gili Islands from Lombok: Fast Boats & Ferry Guide
Getting to the Gili Islands from Lombok - public boats from Bangsal Harbour, fast boat operators, crossing times, costs, and inter-island ferry options.
Island Guide
Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida: What to Expect at the T-Rex Cliff
Kelingking Beach's T-Rex cliff is Nusa Penida's most photographed viewpoint. The steep descent, transport options, tide timing, and essential gear to pack.
Island Guide
Komodo Dragons: Facts, Safety & Where to See Them
Komodo dragons grow to 3m and 70kg, making them the world's largest lizards. Biology, habitat, ranger safety protocols, and Rinca versus Komodo Island.
Island Guide
Wakatobi Dive Sites: A Complete Guide to the National Park's Best Reefs
Wakatobi National Park diving: sea fan gardens, pelagic walls, turtles, and 20-40m visibility. Dive site guide and best season to visit.
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Top island tours and activities
The best-rated day trips, snorkelling tours, and island-hopping experiences in Indonesia. Free cancellation on most bookings.
Start exploring Indonesia's islands