Explore Indonesia’s Hidden Gems: Uncharted Landscapes and Vibrant Cultures Await!

Thanks to their remote locations, there are a few spots in Indonesia that still possess that rare trait in travel - they remain relatively unexplored. Happily, the hoteliers who have ventured to these further-flung parts of the archipelago are also embracing this very quality by celebrating culture and designing in harmony with nature.

Lost Lindenberg, Bali: Connect while Disconnecting

Intertwined with its East Bali setting – not just the trees it’s built between, but the Hindu village in which it’s located - LOST Lindenberg is a space where culture and connection have been woven in from inception.

Designed by Bali-based Alexis Dornier and Studio Jencquel, LOST’s elevated treehouses are connected by high walkways, creating a sense of floating in the jungle, with sustainably sourced wood and Bali green stone echoing the environment. ‘By blending traditional and vernacular elements and balancing the familiar with the nuanced, we celebrate the rich heritage of Indonesian craftsmanship, and offer guests a deep connection to place,’ says Maximilian Jencquel.

This extends to cuisine and leisure, which further connect guests to context - plant-forward dishes are enjoyed around a long communal table, guests surf with local instructors or gather around bonfires. ‘By emphasising nature and offering collective experiences, we hope to reflect the unique magic of Bali,’ says LOST’s managing director Denise Omurca.

Innit, Lombok: One with the Setting

Espousing ‘analogue’ travel (unwind and switch off) in its very make-up, Innit Lombok quite literally merges with the beach for a full ‘sand under your feet’ experience. The design is minimal not only in form, but also in footprint. ‘The goal was to keep the land as untouched as possible, and limit impact on the community,’ says owner Michal Tyles. The limited materials palette (concrete, wood, glass and Lombok stone), sourced locally, blends seamlessly with its surroundings.

The isolated location also necessitated self-sufficiency, and the chef crafts dishes using fresh ingredients: sourdough from scratch, the local fishermen’s ‘catch of the day’ and produce bought from farmers or grown at Innit. Leisure, too, brings you back to the here and now – surfing, kayaking or a picnic on Pulau Pasir (a tiny island a short boat ride away). ‘We want guests to feel that sometimes doing ‘nothing’ is the best thing to do,’ adds Tyles.

Alamayah, Sumba: Full Cultural immersion

Built with conscious, mindful and sustainable travel at its core by founders Jessica and Daniel Baldock (architect and builder respectively), Alamayah taps into the millenia of living history all around it. The hotel is located in Sumba, one of the most remote and culturally preserved areas of Indonesia, and the vision was to ‘create a gateway’ for people to explore the rugged and traditional beauty of Sumba while experiencing a 100% locally built and operated luxury boutique hotel.

With its design and activities all informed by social sustainability and cultural preservation, and the surrounding Sumbanese scenery, it embodies the core reason people travel in the first place – to seek authenticity, and discover something new. ‘Alamayah facilitates everything you would need to fully immerse yourself comfortably within the Sumbanese culture and landscape,’ says Jessica Baldock.

Text by Julia Freemantle