Top 5 Indonesian Hidden Gems Islands

After spending over 5 months living in Indonesia exploring this beautiful country and its unreal islands and wonderful culture, I am sharing my personal top 5 Indonesian hidden gems islands in this article.

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General Facts About Indonesia

Indonesia Islands

Indonesia is a country that consists of 17,504 islands in Southeast Asia, 6,000 islands are inhabited.  Indonesian Islands are separated by the equator line, the Northern Islands are located above the equator line, and the Southern Islands are located below the equator line.

Jakarta the capital of Indonesia is located on Java Island, one of the biggest islands in Indonesia.

Indonesia Climate

Given Indonesia’ s unique positioning on the map, Indonesia climate is divided into 2 seasons per year that are called the dry and pleasant seasons and the rainy season.

Northern Indonesia Climate

Northern Indonesia enjoys the dry season from November/December until April and the Rainy season starts from May until October.

Southern Indonesia Climate

Southern Islands, enjoy the dry season from May and lasts until October and the rainy season starts from November and lasts until April with noticeable heavy thunderstorms in the months between December and February.

Indonesia’s Most Popular Island

Indonesia’s most popular island is Bali, the so-called Island of Gods and the surfers and expat haven alike. Probably Bali is not famous for its pristine blue beaches, but the lifestyle and the lush vegetation makes it number one destination in Indonesia.

Top 5 Indonesian Hidden Gems Islands

Top Indonesian Hidden Gem Island Number 1: Bali Island – The Gem but Not the Hidden Gem!

You would probably ask yourself, why do I list Bali as the number 1 hidden gem island despite Bali being a popular Tourist Island and very packed during the high season?

Despite Bali being a famous island for tourism, many tourists who visit Bali stay in limited areas on the Island or just stay at one of the luxury hotels for pampering and unwinding.

How to get to Bali

To get to Bali you have options of taking either international or domestic flights, Bali’s airport is called I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, and the airport is very well connected between the capital Jakarta with over 10 flights daily, other Indonesian Islands, and internationally.

Bali Popular Areas

Most people stay in Seminyak, Canggu, and Ubud areas when visiting Bali. In those areas, you will find everything you need as an expat visiting this island from fancy restaurants, world-class gyms, top beach clubs, a nightlife scene, and many more to ensure the expat’s comfort.

In those areas you would expect high traffic and a very bustling all-day and night scene.

Top 5 Things to Do in Bali

It is worth keeping in mind that Bali is a big island and has so much diversity in its land. If your holiday is limited, Bali can be a great place to explore its beauty and hidden gems. Some of the top things to do in Bali and have less tourist traffic, are:

Number 1: Exploring Bali’s Hindu Ancient Temples

The main religion in Bali is Hindu and therefore, you will find over 1,000 temples in Bali alone. Some of the beautiful temples to visit are:

Main Temples to Vist in Bali

• Tanah Lot Temple is beautiful for watching sunsets.
• Uluwatu Temple is located by the cliffside in Uluwatu and offers mesmerising views of the ocean and blue waves crashing into the white cliffs.
• Tirta Empul Temple is the holy water temple where your soul is said to be purified by the sacred and holy water.
• Besakih Temple is the Volcano temple that sits below Mount Agung volcano, the highest Volcano in Bali Island.
• Ulun Danu Beratan Temple is the temple you will probably have seen in the advertisement campaigns for Bali, the temple that is next to the lake up in the mountains of Bali.

Number 2: Trekking Bali’s Rice Terraces

My top choice of rice fields is Jatiluwih rice terraces, just over 1 hour and 30 minutes’ drive from Canggu area, you will arrive to the lush and beautiful Jatiluwih rice terraces. I suggest going there either very early morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat.

You can book your private trip to Jatiluwih Terraces here.

Number 3: Sunrise at Mount Batur

Watching sunrise from another volcano, called Mount Batur is another special activity that guarantees giving you views for life. If you enjoy hiking, trekking Mount Batur is a must. However, if you prefer more comfort ride, you could always do the jeep tour. In both ways make sure you keep wrap up as the temperature at late night into the early morning hours are below 2 digits.

Number 4: Hiking Waterfalls in Bali

Bali is the home to over 100 known waterfalls, some are easy to reach, and some require some hiking experience and gear. Two of my favourite waterfalls where they are less crowded and offer an easy to non-hike are:

Main Waterfalls in Bali

• Nungnung waterfall is a very beautiful waterfall, no hike is required, and suitable for all fitness levels.
• Leke Leke waterfall, which is 5 minutes’ drive from Nungnung Waterfall. Leke Leke waterfall requires hiking down and up 400 steps. At the top of the waterfall, there is a lovely restaurant and a bar offers delicious refreshments after your hike.

 Number 5: Staying in a Unique Accommodation in Bali

Staying at unique accommodations such as a tree house or bamboo design in central Bali where you will experience authentic vibes mixed with the beauty of the lush jungles, my top accommodation recommendation is staying at Veluvana Bali.

At Veluvana Bali, you can choose from different designs of your stay, from octopus shaped house to treehouse and others. The unique feature of Veluvana Bali is their accommodation respects the nature and built from the local materials to blend with the surrounding environment. It is definitely a unique experience when you are in Bali.

Top Indonesian Hidden Gem Island Number 2: Nusa Penida Island

Nusa Penida Island is a hidden gem island that belongs to Bali. It is a special Island due to its beachs, rock formations and the spectacular marine life that divers from all over the world visit this island to see the sunfish “Mola Mola”.

How to get to Nusa Penida Island

Nusa Penida Island is reached within 50 minutes by speed ferry from Bali’s Sanur port. Many tour operators offer full-day trips to Nusa Penida.

How long to stay in Nusa Penida Island

To explore Nusa Penida and unleash its full potential, I recommend staying at least 2 nights in the Island. This way you will have the chance to visit Nusa Penida top attractions with less crowds.

Best times to visit the attractions are before 9:00 am and after 3:00 pm, which is when the one-day tourists leave the island back to Bali.

Places to stay in Nusa Penida

Top 5 Attractions in Nusa Penida

Number 1: Klingking Beach – T Rex Dinosaur Rock Formation

If you are visiting Klingking Beach, make sure you wear suitable footwear. From the top will be able to spot the T-Rex rock formation, and if you hike down to the beach, you will enjoy the sandy beach.

Tip: Because of the high waves and strong currents at this beach, it is forbidden to swim at Klingking beach, it can put your life at risk.

Number 2: Crystal Bay Beach

After visiting Klingking Beach, you can head towards Crystal Bay Beach to chill by the beach and have lunch from the many local vendors at the beach.

Number 3: Scuba Diving Nusa Penida

If you are into scuba diving, Nusa Penida offers one of the best diving spots in Bali.

At Manta Point you will encounter the Manta cleaning station and at Crystal Bay beach you will come in close contact with the sunfish that is called locally “Mola Mola”.

The top diving centre in Nusa Penida is Pure Dive, they follow safety measures and are friendly.

Tip: Diving in Nusa Penida can be challenging due to strong currents and rough seas, therefore make sure to communicate with your dive instructor about any concerns you have before your dives and if you get seasick, take the seasick tablets before you board the boat.

Number 4: Diamond Beach

 Another famous beach with sandy sands and beautiful crystal-clear waters, perfect for quick dips and chilling vibes, it is Diamond Beach. Wear suitable footwear as there is steps to hike down and up and it can be a little bit challenging

Number 5: Broken Bridge Bay and Billabong

It is a beautiful natural seawater pool formed under a natural bridge made of sea cliffs, it is a beautiful trek and the perfect spot for taking photos and perhaps trying the small swings from the local retailers.

How to get around in Nusa Penida

Once you arrive Nusa Penida, you could either rent a scooter and wander around, just be mindful Nusa Penida is not a flat island and it has many hills and tight roads.

Or you can rent a car with a private driver that will cost you around £35 for full day tour.

Top Indonesian Hidden Gem Island Number 3: Gili Islands – Lombok

Gili Islands are 3 Islands that are offshore of Lombok Island, Lombok Island is located to the South of Bali Island. Those Islands’ names are Gili Trawangan (The largest island), Gili Meno (The smallest Island), and Gili Air.

How to get to Gili Islands?

You can fly either to Bali International Airport or Lombok International Airport and take a taxi to the port to get the fast ferry to Gili Islands.

From Bali to Gili Islands the ferry takes under 2 hours and from Lombok to Gili Islands it takes less than 30 minutes.

How to get around in the Gili Islands?

What is unique about these 3 islands, is that there are no cars and no scooters as a way of transport. To move around in the Gilis you have a choice of using a horse cart, renting a bicycle, or using your feet!

To get from one island to another, you can use the local boats. At the main harbour in each island, you will find tickets office. You would need cash to pay for the tickets.

Gili Islands

Gili Taragawan – The Party Island

The largest island of the Gili’s is Gili Taragawan, and it is popular amongst the younger generation as it is famous for its party scene.

Top 7 Things to Do in Gili Taragawan

Other than partying in Gili Taragawan, Gili Taragawan offers nice beach clubs, beautiful sunsets, and colourful coral reef, the top things to do are:

• Partying at the beach clubs and pubs.
• Eating at the night market that is at the beach and enjoy local dishes.
• Joining a local food cooking class.
• Watching the sunset by the beach at Malibu Beach Club.
• Snorkelling off-shore Gili T beaches.
• Scuba Diving with the turtles, and my recommended diving shop is From Zero to Hero, they are very professional and friendly diving team.

Places to Stay at Gili Taragawan

My top places to stay at Gili Taragawan are:

• For Instagram lovers and pink vibes, the ultimate accommodation is PinkCoco Gili Trawangan. It is for adults only and prices range around £50 per night. They also have another facility on Gili Air for those who seek slow travelling vibes, check it out here.
• For those who seek luxury and quality stays, Pondok Santi Estate is their destination.

Gili Meno – The Sea Turtle Island

Gili Meno is the smallest Island of the Gili’s and it is the quietest and can be reached by local boats from Gili Taragawan or Gili Air.

Top Things to Do in Gili Meno

Gili Meno offers the best snorkelling spot to swim with the sea turtles and visit the underwater statue museum.

Snorkelling in Gili Meno

You don’t have to stay at Gili Meno to enjoy the snorkelling or diving, you can book a private local boat from Gili Taragawan which costs around £35 for the boat for 2-3 hours hire.

Tip: if you want to visit the underwater statue museum without bumping into the crowds, I recommend booking a private local boat from Gili Taragawan and start the snorkelling at 6:00 am, as after 7:00 am the spot will be super crowded with over 20 boats hovering around this spot.

Gili Air – The chill Island

Gili Air is the third Island and the closest to Lombok Island and is the perfect Island if you want to chill and relax away from the party scene.

Top things to do in Gili Air

• Booking a massage appointment or a spa treatment at the lush Slow Spa. Ensure you prebook your treatment ahead of time as it is difficult to secure an appointment on short notice.
• Book a local Indonesian cooking class at Warung Sunny Cooking School to learn some of the tasty Indonesian dishes such as the Nasi Goreng (Chicken with rice), Chicken Sate, and much more.
• Watching magical Sunsets from Mowie’s Gili Air Bar.
• Enjoy authentic Indian mixed with Indonesian Dinner at Ruby’s restaurant, it is considered one of the top restaurants on the Island.
• Snorkelling from Gili Air beaches.

Places to Stay at Gili Air

My absolute favourite place to stay at Gili Air is Flow Rumah Jay EI Permaculture Boutique Hotel owned by a lovely family and offering daily fresh breakfast from their garden to your table.

Every detail is looked after at Flow stay, quiet place, easy walks to everywhere in the island, very clean and comfortable bed with outdoor shower to ensure your comfort and tranquil stay is met.

Also, if you stay at Flow, you can get a special discount to use their Slow Spa facility, its lush and perfectly blended with your slow stay at Gili Air.

Top Indonesian Hidden Gem Island Number 4: Komodo Islands – Komodo National Park

Komodo Islands or Komodo National Park is a cluster of Islands located South of Bali and belongs to East Nusa Tenggara main Island.

How to get to Komodo Islands?

To arrive at Komodo Islands, you can take under 1-hour direct flight from Bali to Labuan Bajo, or you can take flights from the capital Jakarta.

Once you arrive at Labuan Bajo, you can either stay in this city and take daily snorkelling or scuba diving trips to Komodo National Park, or you can book your 3 days/2 nights stay at one of the sailing boats to enjoy a nice sail around the Komodo National Park.

Top Things to Do in Komodo Islands:

Scuba Diving at Komodo Islands

As a scuba diver, I spent 2 nights at Labuan Bajo and took a full-day scuba diving trip at Komodo National Park, we did stop at Manta Point and Batu Bolong for amazing diving spots and I was able to see over 20 Mantas swimming at Manta Point.

Sailing Komodo National Park – Komodo Boat Tour

I booked my trip with Sail Papiton to spend 3 days at the heart of the National Komodo Park, it was a small boat that take up to 10 passengers.

The trip included all meals, snacks, photography, drone shots, and activities. This trip was a highlight of my trip to Indonesia.

The Key activities onboard Papiton Boat were:

First Day Activities – Manta Point, Pink Beach, and White Sandbar

• We stopped by Manta Point to snorkelling with the Manta Rays and it was so beautiful to swim with at least 5 Mantas.
• Next to the Manta Point there was a white sandbar in the middle of the sea, we stopped there to refresh and take some amazing drone shots.
• Just before sunset we sailed towards Pink Beach. Pink beach during sunset time was so magical where the sky colour matched the beach colours.

Second Day Activities – Visiting Padar Island, Komodo Dragon and Bats Island

• We woke up early to enjoy watching the sunrise from Padar Island’s highest peak. It is recommended you wear suitable footwear and expect to hike around 800 steps. The view was so magical, the mix of blue waters, pink skies and yellow beaches was a memorable view.
• We went to Komodo Island to hike around the bare island and spot Komodo Dragons, and we were very lucky to spot 8 Komodo Dragons.
• After the Komodo Dragons we went for a beach and swim stop at another pink beach.
• At sunset we sailed towards Bats Island, where hundreds of Bats during sunset hour fly high into the sky, another magical sunset and another one to remember for life!

Third Day Activities (Last Day) – Snorkelling with Sea Turtles

• We went to snorkelling stop and swam with sea turtles, there were so many turtles of all sizes.
• Then we headed back to Labuan Bajo marking the end of this beautiful trip.

Places to Stay at Labuan Bajo

If you wish to scuba dive prior or after your sailing trip, I can recommend this homestay with locals who offer a basic but very clean accomodation that comes with free transfer to almost all key attractions in Labuan Bajo, the homestay is Danke Lodge.

It costs around £15 per night for 2 adults sharing or for single occupancy and Danke Lodge was the perfect stay for me. They also can help you with tours around the island.

Top Indonesian Hidden Gem Island Number 5: Raja Ampat – West Papua Guinea (The Best Hidden Gem Islands in Indonesia)

Saving the best-hidden gem island to the last, welcome to Raja Ampat in West Papua Guinea, is the ultimate paradise and absolute hidden gem island that beats the Maldives with its raw beauty of white sandy beaches, rich corals, and the abundance of aquatic life.

How to get to Raja Ampat?

• Options one: If you are travelling from Bali, the best way is to take a flight from Bali to Manado, stay overnight at Manado, and then take another short flight to Sorong, the capital of West Papua Guinea.
• Option two:  is to take a flight to Jakarta and then another flight to Sorong. As of 2024, there will be direct flights to Sorong from Bali.
• Finally, To get to Raja Ampat from Sorong, you either can take the speed 2-hour ferry from Sorong Harbour to Wasai Island (Main Island of Raja Ampat), or your accommodation will arrange for a private boat transfer from Sorong harbour.

What to see and do in Raja Ampat?

If you are seeking peace of mind and snorkelling with rich marine life or are a scuba diver, then Raja Ampat is your haven.

It is worth noting that most homestays and resorts in Raja Ampat offer full board meals and extensive diving packages.

Best Eco Resort to Stay in Raja Ampat

Kri Eco Resort – Raja Ampat

As part of Papua Guinea Diving resort, Kri Eco Resort is a scuba diving resort that offers eco-luxury stays with premium services to ensure your comfort and experience Raja Ampat to the fullest.

Top 6 Reasons to Staying at Kri Eco Resort

Kri Eco Resort is only 10 minutes by boat from Kri Island which is famous for spotting over 370 marine species in a single dive! Diving at Kri Island is a world-class diving spot and is ranked as one of the top 10 diving spots in the world.

Reason 1: Eco Resort and Sustainable Tourism

At Kri Eco Resort they care about the environment and offer bamboo over-the-water bungalows and they use marine-friendly products. They also employ locals to provide a complete authentic Papua Guinean experience.

Reason 2: Attention to Details and Premium Customer Service

Your comfort is a priority at Kri Eco Resort, they pay high attention to details and ensure your comfort comes first with a big smile drawn on the staff’s faces.

Reason 3: Premium and 5 stars Diving Centre

Kri Eco Resort offers 5-star diving experience and packages with their stay, they offer up to 5 dives per day. All the diving spots are within less than 30 minutes boat ride. The ratio is 1 instructor to 3 divers. Because I was a solo traveller, they dedicated 1 instructor for me without paying any extra fees for the private diving.

Reason 4: Weekly FAM trips to Piaynemo Island

One of the most magical points at Raja Ampat and the must-visit and see if you are in Raja Ampat.

Reason 5: Snorkelling and SUP activities from Kri Eco Resort Jetty

If you don’t feel like diving and want to relax at your bungalow for the day and perhaps trying non-motorised activities, Kri Eco Resort offer them as part of your stay with no extra charges.

Reason 6: Magical Sunrises and Sunsets

From every bungalow, you will be able to witness beautiful sunsets and sunrises.

To me, experiencing Raja Ampat was the highlight of my trip to Indonesia, I wouldn’t describe this experience as affordable, as it is on the pricy side, but it is indeed once in a lifetime experience in heaven.

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