Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Indonesia - Bali - Sidemen - Sumba - Lesser Sunda Islands
100% customisable for you
Head to the airport today, speed through security and relax in the lounge before your overnight flight to Denpasar, Bali. The flight will take around 18 hours (including a quick stopover), arriving the following day.
Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted at the airport and assisted with customs. A private transfer will then take you to Sidemen, where you’ll be staying for the next two nights. Spend the rest of the day relaxing after your long journey, then enjoy a tasty dinner in the hotel restaurant.
This morning, wake to birdsong and mist drifting over the fields. Sidemen is made for wandering, so head out on a gentle walk through rice paddies, vegetable gardens or flower-filled paths (depending on the season).
While Sidemen is generally stunning, the most beautiful routes follow narrow tracks beside the paddies or trace the subak irrigation channels that tumble down from Mount Agung. Along the way, you might stumble across the local market, the bright yellow Tukad Yeh Unda bridge, a ceramics workshop or a weaver’s studio where the secrets of traditional Sidemen songket fabric are passed down thread by thread.
If you’d like deeper insight into your surroundings, we can arrange a day exploring the area with a knowledgeable local guide.
Start today off exactly as it should be started: with an hour-long massage in a traditional house tucked between river and rice fields. Using a blend of Asian techniques, it’s deeply grounding and wonderfully relaxing.
Later, return to Denpasar Airport for a short one-and-a-half-hour hop to Waingapu on the island of Sumba. From here, travel to the northeast of the island, stopping en route at Walakiri Beach to watch the sun set against the mangroves.
Once you reach your destination, check in and drop your bags in y our base for the next two nights. Enjoy a perfectly crafted sundowner to toast your arrival before tucking into a tasty dinner at your hotel.
After a hearty breakfast this morning, set off to explore one of this part of Sumba's natural gems: the stunning Waimarang Waterfall. The path leading to the falls is steep and the hike challenging, but the surrounding scenery is more than worth the effort. Once you make it to the foot of the waterfall, take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of a natural pool before settling down for a picnic lunch.
Afterwards, head to the village of Prayiawang, where you'll explore its renowned megalithic tombs. These impressive structures speak to the power and prestige of Sumba’s former kings, offering a fascinating glimpse into the island’s enduring traditions.
Today is all about exploring the island's interior with a local guide. The first natural treasure on your journey is Tanggedu Waterfall, where crystal-clear water cascades from a cliff into tranquil natural pools – perfect for cooling off after the short hike up.
Next, explore the vast savannah of Puru Kambera, where golden grass sways beneath the bright sky, offering breathtaking panoramas. The day concludes in the Tanau Hills, where you’ll stop to watch the golden sunset over the surrounding countryside.
Once you’ve been suitably wowed, make your way to tonight’s hotel, set near Waingapu. You’ll likely be tired after all that walking, so settle in and enjoy a good night’s sleep, ready for more exploring tomorrow.
Today, hop on a bike and explore the Kambera region at your own pace. Along the way, stop at an ikat workshop to meet a master weaver and learn about the intricate symbolism behind traditional Indonesian textiles, before cycling on through rice paddies, valleys and small hamlets.
Later, you’ll be privately transferred west to the Kodi region, where you’ll settle in for four nights by the ocean.
Kodi remains one of Sumba’s most unspoilt corners, dotted with small hamlets and linked by dusty tracks. The region’s beaches are pure postcard material, all powder-soft sand and luminous turquoise water.
Today, head out snorkelling just off Kodi’s shores. The reef here is remarkably well preserved, so dive into the water and spend the morning drifting above coral gardens and swimming alongside tropical fish.
The next two days are yours to enjoy Kodi at your own pace. Lay out a towel on Mandorak Beach, cycle the coastline straight from the hotel, paddleboard across the mirror-like waters of Waikuri Lagoon or try your hand at surfing.
If you’d like to explore further, we can arrange a private tour through western Sumba, visiting cascading villages and dramatic waterfalls and meeting local communities along the way.
Today, it’s time to say goodbye to Sumba as you’re privately transferred back to the airport for your one-and-a-half-hour flight back to Denpasar. Once you touch down, another transfer will take you further south to Jimbaran, a former fishing village on Bali’s Bukit Peninsula.
Spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing, whether you’d rather sunbathe on the sand or take a dip in the bath-warm waters. As evening falls, dinner will be served on the beach itself, so enjoy a traditional Balinese meal with your feet in the sand to round off your time in Indonesia.
It’s time to begin the journey home today, but don’t worry: there’s time to squeeze in just one more activity. This morning, rise early for a visit to Jimbaran’s lively fish market, where you can choose your catch, before taking it to a nearby warung to be grilled for a simple but utterly delicious breakfast.
Later, pack your bags for the private transfer to the Denpasar Airport for your international flight home. The overnight flight will take around 19 hours with a quick stopover, so you’ll arrive in the UK the following day, sun-warmed and full of stories.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
