Remote Indonesian islands

With thousands of volcanic islands making up the country, Indonesia definitely has some hidden gems. On some of Indonesia’s more remote islands such as Sumba, Moya and Sulawesi, travellers can discover more pristine beaches, indigenous ethnic groups, untouched landscapes and some of the most exclusive and unique accommodation the country has to offer.

Remote Indonesian islands

To the east, the island of Sumba is a collage of rolling savannah, limestone hills topped with thatched roofed villages. Here locals still pay respect to their past and unique traditions are observed and guests to the island can stay at unparalleled Nihiwatu where luxury meets nature. It is one of the biggest islands on the East Nusa Tenggara region beside Flores and Timor and is famed for its ritual tribal life and ancient culture and giant megalithic tombs.

Meanwhile, just a one-hour seaplane flight to the east of Bali and on the north coast of Sumbawa, generally deserted (only six fishing and farming villages) Moyo Island has an abundance of isolated hideaways and immaculate reefs in the Flores sea waiting to be found. Wake up to the sound of Macaque monkeys and Rusa Deer who call this nature reserve home.

Although Borneo is the largest island in Asia and majorly identified as Malaysia, Indonesian Kalimantan offers epic wilderness and the Orangutans of Tanjung Puting National Park and to the east you will find Sulawesi. On maps, the island’s long peninsulas look to some, like a dragon and once on the ground the landscape is just as mythical. With a relatively impassable landscape, Sulawesi has remained shielded from the outside world; expect distinct architecture, violet peaks leading to jade valleys and rice fields dotted with conical-hatted farmers.