Home of the mystical Komodo Dragons
This UNESCO World Heritage site encompasses three main islands – Komodo, Padar and Rinca. Below the water, multihued coral gardens are a diver’s dream. Expect to see manta rays, ribbon eels, sea turtles, and shimmering schools of fish.
The richest coral reefs on earth
More than 1,500 wild islands, cays and shoals make up Raja Ampat’s 40,000 square kilometer area, which lies on the northwest tip of the Bird’s Head Peninsula in Papua. Undwerwater, the marine habitats are among the most biodiverse in the world with 1,200 species of fish and 550 species of hard and soft coral.
The ‘great nutmeg island’
The volcanic Banda Islands are as rich in history and natural beauty as they are remote. Centuries ago, this tiny archipelago in Maluku was the world’s only source of nutmeg, the ‘gold of the spice trade.’ Today, only adventurous travellers make the trip—and are rewarded with bygone colonial architecture, buzzing spice markets, and postcard-pretty scenery.