Mostly uninhabited and rarely visited by tourists, Moyo lies off the north coast of Sumbawa, and the majority of the island is a protected nature reserve. Look out for long-tailed macaques, wild cattle, boars and 20 different species of bat, amongst a landscape of white sand beaches, savannah, forests, caves and idyllic waterfalls.

The tiny uninhabited island of Satonda was created by a volcanic eruption several million years ago, just off the north coast of Sumbawa. The island is surrounded by coral reefs teeming with colourful tropical fish, and was declared a protected Marine Nature Park in 1999.

Komodo Island is situated within an area of spectacular natural beauty, home to the famous Komodo dragon. The stunning beaches are tinged with pink thanks to the high concentration of red coral just offshore, and the waters draw intrepid divers from all over the world.

The island of Flores is home to some of the most staggeringly beautiful scenery in the Indonesian archipelago, a lush landscape of smouldering volcanoes, spectacular lakes and verdant paddy fields. Flores is also culturally distinct from the other islands, with a population that is 95% Catholic.

The Alor Archipelago is a fantastic destination for snorkelling and diving, much less well known than Raja Ampat and Komodo. On the main island, also called Alor, you can learn about the traditions of the Takpala indigenous people and visit the Museum of a Thousand Mokos in Kalabahi, with its collection of bronze kettle drums known as mokos.

The Banda Archipelago is a group of ten small volcanic islands, better known as the Spice Islands thanks to the nutmeg and mace produced here. The only significant settlement is on Banda Neira, with its hotchpotch of European colonial buildings, while off the coast you can enjoy some fantastic diving and snorkelling.

Gam is one of the larger islands in the Raja Ampat archipelago, with a landscape of steep limestone peaks cloaked in jungle, home to bird species including the spectacular red bird-of-paradise. Visitors receive a friendly welcome from the local villagers, while offshore lie some superb snorkelling spots.

Sparsely populated and spectacularly beautiful, the Raja Ampat archipelago is a treasure trove of jungle-smothered islands, white sand beaches and some of the best diving in the world. The crystal clear waters are teeming with tropical fish, while on land you can see parrots, hornbills and birds of paradise.

The Kai Archipelago, part of the Maluku islands, is known for its idyllic beaches. The ancestors of the Kai people are believed to have come here from Bali, but there is no written history, with an oral tradition of stories known as Tom-Tad that are passed down from generation to generation.