Komodo, Flores & Raja Ampat

A remote frontier of unparalleled beauty and biodiversity, Komodo National Park and the far-flung islands of eastern Indonesia offer a rare blend of off-grid adventure and world-class diving, enjoyed either on land or aboard a luxury yacht charter.

Squeezed between Sumbawa and Flores, Komodo National Park stretches between Komodo and the nearby islands of Padar and Rinca. The islands are home to a few thousand fishermen and the legendary Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard, which can reach over three metres in length and wight up to 100kg. Hikes to spot the dragons are led by local guides, often as part of day trips departing from Labuanbajo on Flores, an island worthy of a visit in its own right, complete with empty white-sand beaches, a skyline of perfectly shaped volcanoes and the incredible multi-coloured lakes of Kelimutu National Park.

It’s also possible to visit Komodo aboard an expedition cruise or traditional phinisi yacht. These are hugely popular with divers and snorkellers, as the waters here are home to wonderful marine life, including whale sharks, manta rays and even blue whales. In fact, the only part of Indonesia that may top Komodo as a dive destination is Raja Ampat, a spectacular cluster of more than 1,500 islands off the coast of West Papua, many cloaked in jungle with pristine beaches and cliffs plunging into hyper-colour seas. Heralded as one of the most biodiverse marine habitats on earth, they’re best explored aboard a luxury yacht or small-ship expedition.