Papua — Journey into the Heart of the Baliem Valley

Malasigi is a journey into a part of Papua where rare birds are still part of the everyday life of the forest. There is no need for staged encounters here: you simply step onto the trail early in the morning, listen to the jungle and wait for one of the birds you came so far to see to appear among the branches. For some, it is a long-held dream; for others, a first introduction to birdwatching. Either way, the moment itself often proves more powerful than expected.

Among the forests where birds of paradise live.

North Sumatra is one of Indonesia’s most remarkable destinations for experiencing wildlife. The main reason to come is the chance to see Sumatran orangutans in the forests of Gunung Leuser, but the journey goes far beyond a single encounter. Jungle trekking, gibbons and Thomas’s langurs, the river beside Bukit Lawang, tubing through the forest and time with local guides turn a few days here into a much broader adventure in one of Sumatra’s wildest regions.

Where the jungle begins right outside your door.

The main reason to travel to Sumbawa is the chance to swim alongside whale sharks in the open sea. An early start, the first light of day and the enormous, calm silhouettes moving beneath the surface create one of those encounters that makes the journey worthwhile. Sumbawa itself adds another dimension: wild coastlines, small islands and landscapes that still sit far beyond Indonesia’s usual routes.

A morning worth crossing the island for.