15 Hidden Indonesian Islands Beyond Bali: Worth the Extra Effort?

Indonesia Has 17,000 Islands. You've Seen One.

Bali is magnificent. The rice terraces, the temples, the surf, the food — it deserves every superlative it receives. But Indonesia is not Bali. It is an archipelago of 17,000 islands stretching 5,000 kilometres, encompassing more marine biodiversity than anywhere else on earth, more active volcanoes than any other country, and cultures so distinct from each other that they might as well be different nations.

Most tourists land in Denpasar and never leave. Here are fifteen islands that will change that.

1. Raja Ampat, West Papua

Raja Ampat is the best diving destination on earth. The numbers are staggering: 1,500 species of fish, 600 species of coral, and more marine biodiversity per square kilometre than anywhere else in the ocean. The islands themselves — limestone karst formations rising from a turquoise sea — are among the most beautiful in the world.

The name means "Four Kings" — a reference to the four main islands of Waigeo, Batanta, Salawati, and Misool. Each has its own character. Waigeo is the most accessible; Misool is the most remote and arguably the most beautiful, with extraordinary underwater caves and a manta ray sanctuary.

Stay at a liveaboard for the full diving experience, or at one of the small eco-lodges on Waigeo or Misool. The best time to visit is October to April, when the seas are calm and visibility is at its best.

2. Komodo Island

Komodo is home to the Komodo dragon — the world's largest lizard, up to 3 metres long and capable of killing a water buffalo. Watching a 2.5-metre dragon stalk across the savanna is one of the most primal wildlife experiences available anywhere. The dragons are genuinely dangerous; guided walks are mandatory.

Komodo is also home to Pink Beach — one of only seven pink sand beaches in the world. The pink colour comes from red coral fragments mixed with white sand. And the diving in Komodo National Park is world-class: manta rays, sharks, and extraordinary coral walls in the channels between the islands.

3. Flores

Flores deserves far more time than most visitors give it. The island's name means "flowers" in Portuguese — a reference to the bougainvillea that covers the hillsides.

The Kelimutu volcano has three crater lakes that change colour — from turquoise to green to black — due to volcanic activity and changes in the chemical composition of the water. The colours change unpredictably; no two visits are the same.

The Bajawa highlands are home to traditional Ngada villages where animist ceremonies are still performed. The village of Bena, with its traditional houses and megalithic tombs, is extraordinary.

Labuan Bajo is the gateway to Komodo National Park and has developed rapidly into a tourist hub with excellent restaurants and accommodation.

4. Lombok

Lombok is Bali without the crowds — a Muslim island with Hindu temples, a volcano (Rinjani, 3,726m) that offers one of the finest trekking experiences in Southeast Asia, and beaches on the Gili Islands that are genuinely among the best in the world.

Mount Rinjani is the second-highest volcano in Indonesia. The three-day trek to the summit passes through extraordinary landscapes: forest, savanna, and the crater lake of Segara Anak, with a hot spring on its shore.

The Gili Islands — Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air — are three small islands off the northwest coast of Lombok with white sand beaches, turquoise water, and no motorised vehicles. Gili Trawangan is the most developed; Gili Meno is the quietest; Gili Air is the best compromise.

5. Nusa Penida

Just 45 minutes by fast boat from Bali, Nusa Penida feels like a different world. The cliffs at Kelingking Beach are among the most photographed landscapes in Indonesia — a T-Rex-shaped headland with a beach at the bottom accessible by a steep, slippery path.

Crystal Bay is the best snorkelling site on the island — the mola mola (ocean sunfish) is regularly seen here between July and October. Broken Beach and Angel's Billabong are extraordinary geological formations on the west coast.

6. Sumba

Sumba is one of Indonesia's most culturally distinct islands. The Marapu religion — an animist belief system involving ancestor worship and elaborate funeral ceremonies — is still practised widely. The traditional villages, with their high-peaked clan houses and megalithic tombs, are unlike anything else in Indonesia.

Sumba also has some of the best surf in Indonesia — the left-handers at Nihiwatu are legendary — and the Nihi Sumba resort is consistently rated among the best hotels in the world.

The Pasola festival — a ritual horse battle held in February and March — is one of the most extraordinary cultural events in Indonesia.

7. Banda Islands, Maluku

The Banda Islands were once the only source of nutmeg in the world — a spice so valuable that the Dutch massacred most of the indigenous population to control the trade. The history is dark; the islands are extraordinary.

The diving on the walls around Banda Neira is among the best in Indonesia: walls that drop hundreds of metres, covered in soft coral, with sharks, tuna, and barracuda in the blue water beyond. The colonial Dutch forts and nutmeg plantations give the islands a haunted, beautiful quality.

8. Togean Islands, Sulawesi

The Togean Islands are one of Indonesia's most remote destinations — a three-hour boat ride from the nearest town on Sulawesi. The reward is a marine environment of extraordinary richness: coral gardens, mangrove forests, and a jellyfish lake where you can swim with thousands of stingless jellyfish.

The islands are home to four types of coral reef ecosystem — fringing reef, atoll, barrier reef, and patch reef — in a single location, making them one of the most biodiverse marine areas in Indonesia.

9. Morotai, North Maluku

Morotai was the site of a major Allied base in World War II. The wrecks of American and Japanese aircraft and ships lie in the shallow waters around the island, making it one of the best wreck diving destinations in Asia. The Japanese soldier Hiroo Onoda continued fighting on Morotai until 1974, unaware that the war had ended.

10. Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi

Wakatobi is a marine national park with some of the most pristine coral reefs in Indonesia. The diving is exceptional — visibility of 30–40 metres, walls covered in soft coral, and a fish diversity that rivals Raja Ampat. The name is an acronym of the four main islands: Wangi-Wangi, Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko.

11. Belitung, Bangka-Belitung

Belitung is famous for its extraordinary granite boulder beaches — huge, smooth rocks scattered across white sand beaches, creating a landscape that looks like a film set. Tanjung Tinggi Beach is the most famous, used as a location for the Indonesian film Laskar Pelangi.

The island was a major tin mining centre; the abandoned mining infrastructure adds an industrial counterpoint to the natural beauty.

12. Ternate, North Maluku

Ternate is a volcanic island dominated by the perfect cone of Gamalama volcano (1,715m). The island was the centre of the global spice trade for centuries — the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, and British all fought for control of it. The colonial forts, the sultan's palace, and the clove plantations make Ternate one of Indonesia's most historically rich destinations.

13. Alor, East Nusa Tenggara

Alor is one of Indonesia's most remote and culturally diverse islands — home to more than 50 distinct languages. The diving in the Alor Strait is extraordinary: strong currents bring cold, nutrient-rich water that supports an abundance of rare marine life, including pygmy seahorses, mimic octopus, and blue-ringed octopus.

14. Simeulue, Aceh

Simeulue is known primarily among surfers for its world-class left-handers. The local population's knowledge of tsunami warning signs — passed down through oral tradition as the story of smong — saved most of the island's residents during the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, while the mainland suffered catastrophic losses.

15. Tidore, North Maluku

Tidore is Ternate's neighbour and rival. The volcano (Kiematubu, 1,730m) is climbable in a day. The views from the summit — across the Maluku Sea to Ternate, Halmahera, and on clear days to the mountains of New Guinea — are extraordinary. Tidore was the destination of Magellan's expedition after his death in the Philippines.

How to Plan Your Indonesia Trip

Indonesia rewards slow travel. The distances are vast — flying from Bali to Raja Ampat takes 5–6 hours with a connection — and the best experiences come from spending enough time in each place to move beyond the obvious.

A two-week trip might combine Bali (3 nights) with Lombok and the Gilis (3 nights), Flores and Komodo (4 nights), and Raja Ampat (4 nights). A month allows you to add Sulawesi, the Banda Islands, and Sumba.

Getting around: Domestic flights are the only practical way to cover the distances. Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, and Wings Air serve most destinations. Ferries connect the main islands but are slow.

Best time to visit: April–October (dry season) for most of Indonesia. Raja Ampat is best October–April.

Budget: Indonesia is affordable. Expect €40–70/day outside Bali for comfortable travel.

Essential Indonesia Travel Tips

Visas: Citizens of most Western countries receive a free 30-day visa on arrival, extendable to 60 days. Check current requirements before travelling.

Health: Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for remote islands including Raja Ampat, Flores, and Maluku. Dengue fever is present throughout Indonesia; use mosquito repellent.

Language: Bahasa Indonesia is the national language and is spoken everywhere. English is widely spoken in tourist areas. Learning a few words of Bahasa — terima kasih (thank you), permisi (excuse me), berapa harganya? (how much?) — is appreciated.

Money: Cash is king outside Bali and the main tourist areas. ATMs are available in larger towns but not on remote islands. Carry sufficient cash before heading to places like Raja Ampat or the Banda Islands.

Diving: Indonesia is the world's best diving destination. A PADI Open Water certification is sufficient for most sites. Advanced certification opens up the best dive sites in Raja Ampat and Komodo. Liveaboard trips are the best way to access remote sites.

Responsible tourism: Indonesia's marine environment is under pressure from tourism, fishing, and climate change. Choose operators who follow responsible diving practices, do not touch coral, and support local conservation initiatives.