Trips-of-a-Lifetime
Indonesia Unlocked: 20 new G Adventures trips launch in lesser-explored regions
In one of its most exciting and biggest product developments to date, small group adventure company, G Adventures, has launched 20 new trips in the beautiful islands of Indonesia. In line with G Adventures’ commitment to community tourism, the new adventures, which join the Classic travel style, give travelers the opportunity to discover untouched regions in the archipelagic country, while introducing them to fresh and impactful community initiatives that take them off-the-beaten-path in the more popular island hotspots such as Bali.
As always, the small group adventure operator is working closely with local communities to bring the benefits of tourism to the regions where it’s needed most, and highlight areas of the country that have remained unseen, without much access to the tourism chain. The new itineraries will immerse travelers in barely-known, underexplored islands such as tropical Sulawesi, where they’ll discover the culture of the Torajan people and may even have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a local funeral celebration. In Kalimantan, in Indonesian Borneo, they’ll spend time at a sanctuary for rescued orangutans, hike in the jungle and appreciate the unspoilt beauty of the region while staying in a traditional klotok boat. These experiences are carefully arranged and designed to create a positive impact on communities, while showing travelers the cultures and corners of the world that are often unseen.
The Indonesian island of Bali has experienced overtourism in recent years; to address this, the new G Adventures trips will continue to operate consciously in regions such as Bali, Lombok and Borneo, steering travelers away from popular sites, or ensuring the group experiences them in sensitive, locally beneficial ways, by spending time at community projects developed by G Adventures’ non-profit partner, Planeterra.
The 20 new trips join a handful of other new trips, launched earlier this year, straddling the Geluxe travel style (for those seeking one-of-a-kind accommodation and a comfortable yet active adventure) and Solo-ish, for solo travelers keen on the independence of exploring the world without existing friends or family, but with the chance for new connections and memories with people along the way. The new Classic trips can be combined back to back, giving travelers the chance to see more of the country if they choose several shorter week-long trips, while there are also longer 21- to 29-day itineraries to choose from.
20 new G Adventures trips in Indonesia are available to book now, and include:
Sulawesi Adventure: The Culture of Tana Toraja
This nine-day trip takes travelers truly off the tourist trail as they journey into the heart of Sulawesi, home to misty highlands and lush paddy terraces. In Tana Toraja, life, death, and the afterlife intertwine in ways that will challenge and surprise visitors. The group will explore villages where traditional cliffside tombs and elaborate funeral ceremonies honour loved ones for generations, and meet the Torajan people, hear their stories firsthand, and gain a deeper understanding of a culture that sees death not as an end, but as a sacred continuation. As part of the trip, the group will experience life through the eyes of locals and may even have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a Torajan funeral – a ritual steeped in tradition that symbolises the respect for ancestors passing to the afterlife and a celebration that’s a privilege to witness.
Indonesia: Borneo Orangutans of Tanjung Puting National Park
This seven-day adventure journeys deep into the wild heart of Indonesian Borneo in search of the elusive orangutan. Three nights are spent aboard a traditional klotok boat, with delicious local meals prepared on board, and there are treks through dense rainforest by day and night, exploring hidden corners of this remote paradise. A visit to the Tanjung Harapan Orangutan Rehabilitation Center for orphaned orangutans gives a unique opportunity to see these magnificent creatures up close in a semi-wild environment. A visit to Tanjung Harapan village gives insight into the local people and their relationship with the rainforest – something the group will appreciate all the more by the end of the adventure.
Highlights of Sumatra
This seven-day journey through Sumatra island in Western Indonesia immerses travelers in a side of Indonesia that few get to see. Travelers will revel in jungle treks, explore hidden villages and experience epic wildlife encounters, including a hike through the lush Gunung Leuser National Park to search for the elusive Sumatran orangutan. The itinerary includes exhilarating river tube rides and soaks in steamy hot springs under the stars, plus trips to several local villages, including the traditional Karo Batak village, Dokan Village.
