If it were located anywhere else in the world, Lombok would be on everyone’s bucket list. But because it’s just east of Bali, fewer people have heard of its secluded coves, endless string of cream-coloured beaches, and waterfalls crashing through its impossibly lush foliage. Fine with us, because that means it’s also less crowded. You can spot wild macaques in the trees of Baun Pusak or float with the green and hawksbill turtles around Gili Meno without feeling like there’s a line behind you. This Indonesian island has a high point that Bali can’t match: Mount Rinjani, an active volcano with a massive lake inside its caldera. An early morning hike lets you watch the sun rise over the sea.

This East Bali beach town is known for excellent SCUBA diving and snorkeling. New hotels are springing up on this coast, especially in Candidasa, a scenic 40-minute drive to its south. Amed is also a great place to admire Bali’s colorful outrigger boats.

Bali is a living postcard, an Indonesian paradise that feels like a fantasy. Soak up the sun on a stretch of fine white sand, or commune with the tropical creatures as you dive along coral ridges or the colorful wreck of a WWII war ship. On shore, the lush jungle shelters stone temples and mischievous monkeys. The “artistic capital” of Ubud is the perfect place to see a cultural dance performance, take a batik or silver-smithing workshop, or invigorate your mind and body in a yoga class.

The postcard-perfect beaches of Sanur are truly idyllic, the realization of all those daydreams about Bali beach vacations. More laid-back than neighboring vacation destinations, Sanur is the type of place where hip Europeans who have outgrown the party scene come to recharge. Every year, the endless blue skies are peppered with flecks of vibrant color during the International Kite Festival.

Kuta boasts the best beaches in Bali, a five-mile stretch of clean sand that is a magnet for surfers and sunbathers. When that golden sun goes down, the animals come out—the party animals, that is. Kuta nightlife is almost frantic, as global tourists bounce from restaurant to nightclub in an effort to soak up the Kuta experience like a well-dressed sponge.

Home to ultra-cool vegan cafés, beach bars, and boutiques, Canggu is a hipster’s paradise. The black sand of Echo Beach contrasts starkly with turquoise Indian Ocean waters, which are invariably peppered with surfers enjoying some of Bali’s best waves.

White-sand beaches set the scene for a romantic tete à tete in Jimbaran, a quaint fishing village in Bali, Indonesia. Luxury hotels mingle with simple seafood shacks on the waterfront. Feed your paramour succulent chunks of freshly-prepared fish, then amble along the beach under the Indonesian moonlight before retiring to your five-star accommodations for the night... and the next morning.

Coastal paths wind lazily around Nusa Lembongan, inviting travellers to explore the island on foot. Mangrove forests, seaweed farms, and tranquil beaches like Jungut Batu and Dream Beach are prime ways to experience Nusa Lembongan’s natural beauty. The clear blue waters are perfect for surfing and drift diving. Walk the suspension bridge over to neighbouring island Nusa Ceningan and take in a spectacular sunset from Ceningan Ridge for maximum romance.

Puerto Princesa’s claim to fame goes way beyond its swanky beach resorts and dolphin-watching cruises. The UNESCO-listed Underground River wows visitors with its low-hanging stalagmites and stalactites, and a cave that—due to its sheer size and rock formations resembling religious figures—is likened to a cathedral.

There are many different reasons to add Yala National Park to your must-see list: the chance to go on safari and see a wild boar or majestic Sri Lankan leopard, the winding trails, and the fact that in some places the park even touches the Indian Ocean. However, two of the most popular reasons to visit are Sithulpauwwa, a Buddhist rock temple, and Magul Maha Viharaya, where folklore says an ancient king wed an abandoned princess. The history and artifacts found here transport you back to those ancient times.

Dubbed "Little England" due to its cool climate and colonial-era bungalows, Nuriwaya Eliya boasts a landscape far more dramatic than Britain's. Mist-shrouded mountains and terraced tea plantations surround the former hill station, while world-class brews are abundant.

A coastal resort complete with hot springs, Atami has been a favorite vacation spot for Tokyoites dating back to Tokugawa Ieyasu. Though the city's main draws are its beach boardwalk and spas, visitors can take in some history staying in early 20th-century private villas converted to inns and catching the afternoon Geisha dance performance at Geigi Kenban.

One of the Seychelles’ most popular destinations, Praslin is home to fantastic beaches and intimate hotels and resorts. Soak up the sun in style while you keep a sunglassed eye out for the very rare bird species that dwell on Praslin, including the Seychelles bulbul and the black parrot. Praslin National Park in the island's south contains the spectacular palm forest of Vallée de Mai. Divers love the ancient coral reefs off Praslin's shores.