Savu, Rote, and Sumba: The Last Edges of the Map

In 2026, true remoteness is no longer about distance. It is about access and intention. While some Indonesian islands feel increasingly familiar, a handful in the east remain defiantly untouched, resisting the pace of modern travel. Savu, Rote, and Sumba sit beyond the usual routes, travel still feels like discovery.

These islands do not reveal themselves easily. That iswhere  precisely the point. Experiencing them in superb conditions, with a quiet sense of safety and comfort, transforms remoteness into privilege. It is the kind of journey few attempt, and fewer still experience well.

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Savu is raw and quietly powerful. Villages appear across dry landscapes, reached by simple local roads and open trucks. Its remoteness is cultural and deeply felt.

Rote sits at the southern edge of Indonesia, closer to Australia than to most of the archipelago. Its isolation defines the experience. Surrounded by clear waters and vibrant reefs, snorkeling becomes a quiet highlight, while life on land remains calm, grounded, and far removed from tourism.

Sumba is the most dramatic of the three. Vast beaches, hidden coves, and a rugged coastline shaped by Indian Ocean swells define the experience. Here, surf becomes a true highlight, with uncrowded waves along remote shores that remain largely unreachable by land. Sessions unfold without crowds, with waves shared with no one but the ocean. Inland, the island rises sharply. Cliffside excursions reveal sweeping ocean views, while ancestral villages and living traditions add depth. Time moves easily between surf sessions, quiet bays explored by stand up paddle, and memorable moments ashore.

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This is not travel designed to impress. It is a rare journey into places that remain largely unchanged, experienced and remembered as a trip of a lifetime. Timing plays an important role in how this journey unfolds, with the dry season months of May and June, as well as August and September, offering the most consistent conditions and the clearest expression of the islands’ character.

For 2027, rates are set at 29.500 during the festive season from 20 December 2027 to 5 January 2028, and 28.500 for the rest of the year. The updated rates will take effect for bookings made from March 2026, with all trips booked prior to this date honoured at the previous 2027 rate of USD 27.000.