🇮🇩Indonesia

Tanah Lot & Uluwatu temples, Bali

Tanah Lot sits on a rock formation just offshore, accessible on foot only at low tide, and is one of Bali's most photographed sunset spots. Uluwatu, perched on a clifftop further south, adds dramatic ocean views and an evening Kecak fire dance performance. Both are relatively easy to combine with a day of temple-hopping.

Tegallalang Rice Terraces

Steep, stepped rice paddies near Ubud built using a centuries-old subak irrigation system still managed communally today. Walking paths wind between the terraces, offering views that shift with the light throughout the day. It's a short drive from Ubud's art markets and yoga studios.

Mount Bromo

An active volcano in East Java, its smoking crater rising from a vast sea of volcanic sand inside an older, larger caldera. Most visitors arrive before dawn to a nearby viewpoint for sunrise over the surrounding peaks, then descend on foot or horseback to the crater rim. The otherworldly landscape feels far removed from Bali's beaches.

Komodo National Park

Home to the Komodo dragon, the world's largest living lizard, found in the wild only on a handful of islands in this park. Multi-day boat trips combine dragon-tracking with snorkeling over some of Indonesia's healthiest coral reefs and stops at pink sand beaches. It's a serious undertaking to reach but widely considered worth it.

Borobudur

The world's largest Buddhist temple, built in the 9th century on the island of Java as a massive stepped pyramid decorated with thousands of relief panels. Climbing to the top, past rows of bell-shaped stupas each containing a Buddha statue, is meant to mirror the path to enlightenment. Sunrise visits are especially popular, with mist often settling over the surrounding volcanoes.

Gili Islands

Three small, car-free islands off Lombok known for turtle snorkeling, white sand, and a relaxed pace built around bicycles and horse-drawn carts. Gili Trawangan is the liveliest of the three, while Gili Meno and Gili Air stay quieter. They're a common add-on after Bali for travelers wanting fewer crowds.