Indonesia Cruises

The islands of Maluku have many forms of dance, including the cheerful, colourful saureka-reka dance and the ‘crazy bamboo dance’. This mystical ritual involving a piece of bamboo that’s apparently possessed is a fascinating performance to witness.

A national heroine of Indonesia, Martha Christina Tiahahu was a Moluccan freedom fighter who joined in the war against the Dutch colonial government. An eight-metre-tall, spear-wielding statue of her stands on a hill overlooking Ambon and the Banda Sea.

With its palace, art galleries and yoga studios, Ubud is steeped in Balinese culture. You can barter for handcrafted wares at the bustling market, or stroll the moss-coated pathways of Ubud Monkey Forest in search of ancient temples and long-tailed macaques.

The most distinctive features of Bali’s landscape are the rice terraces. Part of a centuries-old heritage, these scenic, emerald-green fields blanket the island’s steep hillsides and deep gorges. Those at Jatiluwih are a fine example and well worth a visit.

No visit to Bali would be complete without visiting at least one of the island’s beautiful temples. Among the most iconic are the cliff-top temple of Uluwatu, believed to be one of Bali’s six spiritual pillars, and the ancient sea temple of Tanah Lot.

Strong and stealthy yet endangered, the Komodo dragon is dinosaur-like in appearance, with rugged, armoured scales, a long, forked tongue and up to 60 serrated teeth. With the assistance of a park ranger, you can observe them in their natural habitat.

Renowned for its beautifully coloured sand tinted by fragments of red coral, Pink Beach is one of Komodo’s most visited and beautiful beaches. It’s a popular spot for swimming, snorkelling or simply for relaxing and soaking up the surroundings.

This large temple is the holiest in Lombok, built in 1741. The complex includes a temple for Balinese Hindus and one for followers of Wetu Telu, a syncretic form of Islam that is the traditional belief of the indigenous Sasak people of Lombok.

This stunning water park is inspired by both Mount Rinjani and the Segara Anak crater lake. Within the park, the Bale Petirtaan (Fountain of Youth) is a wellspring at the confluence of three sources. Hindus consider this water to be sacred..

Local wooden boats await to take you across on a tour to Rubiah Island, which is well-known for its coral reefs that are overflowing with marine life. Be sure to reap the rewards during a snorkelling adventure within this idyllic slice of paradise.

This dramatic, enigmatic monument, which looms above rice fields and tropical forest, is one of Asia’s cultural icons and is also the world's largest Buddhist monument. The main temple is built in three tiers, including a monumental stupa at the top.

This exquisite temple complex, which can be visited independently, testifies to the peaceful co-existence of Hindus and Buddhists on Java. There are three temples dedicated to the great Hindu divinities – Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma – and three dedicated to the animals who serve them.