Two Weeks in Indonesia
Indonesia is a country that remains surprisingly little known. Virtually everyone has heard of Bali, but few people realize that there are 17,507 other islands, which make up an archipelago 3,275 miles wide. (For context, it is 2,446 miles from New York to Los Angeles.) Indonesia is the world’s fourth-most-populous nation, with about 261 million inhabitants. And its biodiversity is second only to that of Brazil's. In the far east of the country, in the Papua province, there are still animist tribal groups, such as the Yali people, whose way of life has changed little since the Stone Age. In contrast, the country’s capital, Jakarta, is a vast sprawl of concrete high-rise buildings.
Despite having some of the world’s best scuba diving — in the exquisite Raja Ampat Islands — and exotic wildlife that includes the Komodo dragon and numerous birds of paradise, most of Indonesia receives few tourists. The country has a limited number of upscale hotels, and much of the archipelago is still best explored by boat. Wherever you go, one of the most consistent pleasures of a visit is the food. Indonesian cuisine is complex, vibrant and almost infinitely varied.
This itinerary combines relaxation, adventure and cultural interest. After a period of recuperation in Bali, you will head to the remote island of Sumba for an extended stay at a remarkable new hideaway. There, you can surf, fish, ride and hike, as well as lounge by the pool. On your return to Bali, you will transfer to one of the world’s leading spa resorts. The journey concludes in Java, where you will have the opportunity to visit one of the world’s great cultural monuments: the Buddhist temple complex of Borobudur.
For Andrew Harper’s full account from Indonesia, see the June 2018 Hideaway Report.
- Stay in private villas at Indonesia’s leading spa resorts
- Experience a “spa safari” in a pavilion overlooking the Indian Ocean
- Explore multiple UNESCO World Heritage sites, including holy temples and sculptured rice terraces
- Learn about Indonesian and Javanese cuisine through high-end dining experiences
- Participate in guided hikes to waterfalls, volcanoes and national parks
- Paddleboard along the Wanukaka River
- Visit Ubud, Bali’s cultural capital
Day 1 : Arrive in Bali
After your long flight to Denpasar via Singapore, transfer to the Alila Villas Uluwatu for three nights. The resort is situated on the southern Bukit Peninsula, which is connected to the main landmass of Bali by a narrow isthmus. At its southern edge, the land falls abruptly into the Indian Ocean in a series of 300-foot-plus cliffs.
Day 2 : Relax in Bali
After breakfast, and depending on the height of the tide and your degree of physical fitness, walk down the 600 steps to the resort’s idyllic private beach, which is protected by a fringing reef. Alternatively, you may prefer to relax beside the property’s spectacular 165-foot horizon pool.
Day 3 : Explore the Bukit Peninsula
Much of the Bukit Peninsula is arid and sandy, ideal terrain for golf course construction. Golf enthusiasts may wish to play a round within sight of the Indian Ocean, an excursion that can be arranged by the concierge.
Day 4 : Fly to Sumba
This morning, transfer to Ngurah Rai airport, on the outskirts of Bali’s capital city. The flight by regional jet to Tambolaka on the remote island of Sumba takes 55 minutes. Passengers seated on the left-hand side of the plane will see the islands of Lombok and Sumbawa slide past. The transfer to Nihi Sumba, in one of the resort’s air-conditioned vehicles, lasts about two hours. The road is bumpy in places, but it passes through an unspoiled landscape of mysterious forested hills.
Nihi Sumba is set on a 550-acre wooded estate that slopes down to the sea. It was originally a simple surfing resort, but in 2012 it was acquired by New York billionaire entrepreneur J. Christopher Burch, who has since invested a reported $30 million to build 27 villas with 38 rooms.
Day 5 : Relax in Sumba
Leave the hotel at about 7 a.m. for a “spa safari.” This begins with a guided three-hour hike through villages and paddy fields to the resort’s separate NihiOka spa complex. On arrival, have a light breakfast in an elevated pavilion, overlooking the crashing surf. Then head to your private spa pavilion for a range of pre-selected treatments. Later, you may wish to swim in the ocean and spend time lounging beside a horizon pool before being driven back to Nihi Sumba in a 4-wheel-drive vehicle.
Day 6 : At Leisure with Locals
Rise early and walk across to Nihi Sumba’s large and impressive equestrian complex — horses are an extremely important part of Sumbanese culture — and head out for a ride through local villages to a nearby beach for a gallop through the waves.
Day 7 : Explore Sumba
On your last full day at Nihi Sumba, take a guided hike to one of the local waterfalls. The “Blue Waterfall” excursion includes a 90-minute walk through a national park, to a spectacular lagoon surrounded by cliffs up to 900 feet high.
Day 8 : Return to Bali
After breakfast, transfer to Tambolaka, and from there fly back to Bali. A driver will be waiting to take you to COMO Shambhala Estate, an exquisite spa retreat set at the edge of the spectacular Ayung River Gorge, located a 20-minute drive to the north of Ubud, Bali’s cultural capital. Although much of Bali has been affected by tourism, the area surrounding the resort is unspoiled, and the property is within easy reach of the island’s most impressive sculptured rice terraces.
Day 9 : Spa Day
COMO Shambhala is one of the world’s leading spa resorts, so after breakfast head to the hydrotherapy spa to consult the resident nutritionist, physiotherapist and Ayurvedic doctor.
Day 10 : Explore Bali
Today, set out early with a private driver and guide for a full-day cultural excursion to visit some of Bali’s most important temples, all of which are adorned with intricate carving and decoration. The north of the island is dominated by volcanoes, the highest of which, Mount Agung, rises to nearly 9,500 feet. You will also be taken to see the spectacular Jatiluwih rice terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Day 11 : Fly to Jakarta
From Denpasar, fly to Jakarta and onto the central Javanese city of Yogyakarta. A driver will be waiting to transfer you to Amanjiwo for a three-night stay. The resort enjoys an exceptional setting, backed by the Menoreh Hills with a view of distant volcanoes. Enveloped by rainforest, it is set within a natural amphitheater.
Day 12 : Explore Java
This morning, one of the resort’s guides will take you to see nearby Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist monument and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its six platforms are decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 lifesize Buddha statues. Afterward, visit some of the venerable Hindu temples on the Dieng Plateau, dating from the seventh and eighth centuries, plus the ancient Hindu complex of Prambanan.
Day 13 : Indonesian Adventure
On your last day in Indonesia, go on a guided trek through the memorable landscape. If you are fit, you can ascend the steep flanks of Mount Merapi. The walk to Selogriyo, an eighth-century Hindu temple, high on the slopes of Mount Sumbing, passes through some of Java’s most sensational rice paddies. Alternatively, venture into lush Menoreh Hills, to visit local villages and clove plantations.
Back at the resort, spend two or three hours in the spa, to experience traditional Javanese healing and beauty rituals. Then, as it is your final evening, indulge in a private Indonesian feast, served in a gracious Javanese home close to Borobudur.
Day 14 : Return home
Return to Yogyakarta and from there fly back to Jakarta and then onto Singapore and home from there.
Two Weeks in Indonesia
Contact an Andrew Harper Travel advisor to book your custom itinerary.