Bali done well, and the seventeen thousand islands most travellers never reach
Bali is only the entry point — Sumba, Flores and Raja Ampat are where Indonesia becomes a genuinely remarkable trip. We plan Indonesia for travellers who want diving, surf, and island culture that has not been packaged — with the timing, the routing and the rooms decided before you leave, and someone reachable while you are away.
A typical Third Door itinerary here leans on a liveaboard through Raja Ampat's reefs, Sumba's cliffside coastline and ikat villages, Ubud's rice terraces and temple ceremonies away from the crowd. We book direct with the properties we know, hold the details that matter — the room with the view, the table that is hard to get, the driver who knows the road — and keep the plan flexible enough to change once you are in it.
May – September
The main season across Bali and Nusa Tenggara: dry, sunny and best for diving in Komodo.
April & October
Fewer travellers, warm water, occasional showers. Very good value.
November – March
Afternoon rain in Bali; Raja Ampat is actually at its best from October to April.
July – August
Busy and priced accordingly, particularly in Bali's south.
Ubud's interior and the quieter east and north coasts, rather than Seminyak.
Dramatic and barely developed; home to one of Asia's finest hotels.
The richest marine biodiversity on earth. Liveaboard or a single remote resort.
Volcanic lakes, dragons and pink-sand beaches, best reached by boat.
Sumba
Surf, horses on the beach, and a spa safari; among the best hotels in the world.
Ubud, Bali
Above the Ayung River gorge, with the calmest pool in Bali.
Anambas Islands
Six islands, thirteen beaches, reached by seaplane.
Land, unwind, and get your bearings with a private guide who sets the context rather than reading a script. Ubud's interior and the quieter east and north coasts, rather than Seminyak.
Dramatic and barely developed; home to one of Asia's finest hotels. This is where most of the trip's character lives, so we give it the most room.
The richest marine biodiversity on earth. Liveaboard or a single remote resort. A deliberate shift in rhythm before you travel home.
Private transfers, late checkout where we can arrange it, and a single point of contact from the day you land to the day you leave.
Ubud
Indonesian ingredients only, and the most ambitious kitchen in the country.
Ubud
Suckling pig at lunchtime; go before noon or it is gone.
Ubud
Will Goldfarb's dessert tasting menu, and unexpectedly the highlight of many trips.
May to September for Bali, October to April for Raja Ampat is the window we recommend most often. The main season across Bali and Nusa Tenggara: dry, sunny and best for diving in Komodo. We will steer you by what you actually want from the trip rather than by peak season alone.
10–14 nights across two islands. Shorter is possible and we plan it regularly, but the pace changes: fewer bases, less driving, one region done properly instead of three done quickly.
Wide range; Bali offers extraordinary villa value, remote islands cost more to reach. Once we understand your dates, party and the standard of stay you have in mind, we come back with a costed proposal rather than a range.
Visa on arrival or e-visa for most nationalities. Inter-island travel needs generous buffers; we avoid same-day connections onto international flights. We flag entry requirements early, arrange ground transport and private transfers, and keep the day-to-day logistics off your plate.
Pet travel here needs more lead time and, in some cases, a different destination. We will tell you honestly what is workable and what is not, and suggest alternatives if the regulations make it unfair on the animal.
Tell us your dates, party and the feeling you want. We will come back with a first proposal built around this destination.