This month’s update brings a range of exciting off-the-beaten-track experiences across Java and Bali, from wildlife encounters to cultural treks and community visits. Each destination offers a unique adventure, connecting you with nature and local cultures. We also introduce standout stays in Sumba, Lombok, Seminyak, and Ubud, where sustainability meets style. Plus, explore key destination news, hotel updates, and a lively calendar of festivals and events this May. Whether you’re seeking serene escapes or cultural immersion, this update has something for every traveler.
Key Takeaways:
- Products: A selection of off-the-beaten track experiences, offering wildlife encounters, connections with local tribes, visits to forgotten villages, and opportunities to help make a difference.
- Hotels: Explore our stylish eco-resort in southwest Sumba, a beachfront cultural retreat in North Lombok, a luxurious garden resort in Seminyak, and a peaceful riverside hideaway in Ubud.
- Destination News: Ongoing renovations are happening on some hotels over the next few months. However, May promises a vibrant travel experience with many festivals and international events.
Product updates
Wild of Sukamade Turtle Beach
2 days / 1 night
For nature lovers and ecotourism enthusiasts, especially those keen on marine wildlife conservation: Sukamade Beach is an excellent destination.
- Venture into the rainforest of Meru Betiri National Park on 4WD.
- Encounter a creature with a remarkable prehistoric lineage.
- Relax, swim and soak in the natural beauty of Green Bay.
East Java Ecological Experience
2 days / 1 night
This educational eco-tourism at Environmental Education Center Seloliman, offers a fantastic learning experience about environmental care for everyone, from children to adults.
- Visit Majapahit Museum.
- Experience organic-living.
- Learn the local medicinal plants.
- Explore a tropical forest in Penanggungan Mountain.
- Visit a historical site circa 977.
The Muntigunung Charity Trek
Full Day
A truly inspiring Bali hike, where every step, contributes positively to the livelihood and well-being of the island’s poorest, most neglected communities. The trails also offer breathtaking scenery and magnificent landscape.
- Spectacular sunrise over Lake Batur–incredible mountain and caldera views during your trek.
- Visits to basket-weaving, hammock-making, batik and cashew/rosella production social enterprises.
- Meet friendly villagers and help make a difference.
Discover Tengger Tribe, Guardians of Bromo
Half Day
Discover another charm of Bromo Tengger Semeru Mountain, gaining insight into the local culture of the Tengger Tribe and their daily activities.
- Explore a village located in an isolated Tengger Mountains.
- Discover a harmonious community of different beliefs in the village.
- Lunch with Tenggeresse’s family.
Hotel updates
Cap Karoso
Sumba
Cap Karoso is a stylish eco-resort located on the southwest coast of Sumba, seamlessly blending modern comfort with the island’s rich culture and natural beauty. Ideal for both couples and families, the resort offers spacious rooms and villas, a tranquil beach and a wide range of activities suitable for all ages. The warm, thoughtful design, strong commitment to sustainability and the seamless connection to the island’s unique culture makes this place truly exceptional, all without ever feeling overdone. Learn more
Hotel Tugu
Lombok
Hotel Tugu Lombok is located on the quiet, white sands of Sire Beach on Lombok’s northwest coast, about 15-minutes by boat from the Gili Islands. Guest accommodations are set in traditional buildings just steps from the beach, offering a setting that reflects the island’s cultural heritage. The clear, calm waters in front of the resort are suitable for swimming and snorkelling during the day, while evenings bring a peaceful atmosphere with moonlit waves and gently swaying palm trees. Framed by views of Mount Rinjani at sunrise, the resort carries the signature Tugu concept, with unique art and design elements throughout.
It is perfect for honeymooners and FITs looking for a quiet coastal stay.
The Oberoi Beach Resort
Bali
The Oberoi Beach Resort, Bali offers luxury beachfront accommodation in the heart of Seminyak, combining traditional Balinese style and architecture with modern comforts. Set within fifteen acres of beautifully maintained tropical gardens, the resort provides a peaceful retreat despite its central location. The design reflects authentic Balinese heritage, from intricate carvings to thatched roofs, creating a strong sense of place.
Ideal for FIT travellers, the resort offers a balance of cultural charm, privacy and access to Seminyak’s vibrant scene.
Four Season Resort Bali at Sayan
Bali
Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan is located in the highlands of Ubud, near well-known cultural sites such as the Antonio Blanco Museum, Ubud Monkey Forest, Neka Museum, and Ubud Royal Palace. Guests arrive via a suspension bridge that crosses above the treetops, leading into a setting surrounded by jungle and the Ayung River Valley. Villas and suites offer views of the river, with some including private pools. The property also includes spaces dedicated to wellness and spiritual activities.
The resort suits both FIT and incentive GIT travelers seeking a quiet, culturally rooted stay in Ubud. Learn more
Destination News
- Kuningan Festive Celebration, Bali (03 May 2025)
The vibrant Kuningan festival marks the joyful conclusion of the Galungan period, a time for Balinese Hindus to express gratitude to their ancestral spirits. The color yellow, “kuning,” is central to the day, reflected in the yellow rice offerings that honour the spirits as they return to heaven. Temples come alive with ceremonies, traditional music and dance, creating a truly festive atmosphere. Beyond the religious rituals, Kuningan is a cherished time for family and community gatherings, reinforcing the bonds of Balinese society.
- Mekotek Ceremony, Bali ( 03 May 2025)
In the village of Munggu, Mengwi, a traditional ceremony unfolds where men, adorned in customary attire, offer prayers at the temple before parading through the surrounding area, each carrying a wooden spear. The spears are then meticulously arranged to form a pyramid, which some of the men ascend. This ritual, steeped in history, originally served to welcome returning warriors who had bravely defended the Mengwi kingdom.
- BTR Ultra, Bali ( 09 – 11 May 2025)
Bali’s biggest trail running event. Runners will experience the thrill of running through the traditional villages of Kintamani, Bali, where sacred energy meets breathtaking natural beauty. Every step of the race offers a deep connection to the land, the people and the rich culture that surrounds you.
- Bali Spirit Festival, Bali ( 07 – 11 May 2025)
The Bali Spirit Festival embodies the core mantra of Balinese Hinduism – Tri Hita Karana – to live in harmony with our spiritual, social and natural environments. Through the traditions of yoga, dance, healing and world music, this Bali music festival attracts over 5,000 people from all over the world every year. This Bali Festival offers you a wide range of events to choose from, such as interactive workshops & seminars, a lively community market and healing centre, a children’s activity zone, yoga classes and vibrant night time programs of live Bhakti music concerts, ecstatic dance and DJs, set among the picturesque rice-fields of Ubud, Bali.
- Gelar Melayu Serumpun Festival, Medan – North Sumatra ( 20 – 24 May 2025)
The Gelar Melayu Serumpun is an event aimed at preserving Malay art and culture as an essential part of national heritage, while also serving as a platform to foster connections among Malay communities from different regions, both within the province and abroad, including neighbouring countries.
- Ngerebeg and the Painted Boys of Tegallalang, Bali ( 28 May 2025)
The Ngerebeg Festival, a vibrant tradition, transforms young Balinese boys into living canvases of colour and creativity. The boys, adorned with intricate body paint, become otherworldly figures, their faces masked with demonic expressions and vibrant hues. This transformation is not merely aesthetic, it is a ritualistic journey, a symbolic embodiment of the spirits that inhabit the Balinese cosmos.
- Aekhula Festival, West Nias – North Sumatra ( 28 May – 01 June 2025)
Through cultural arts performances, educational facilities for the millennial-generation, the creation of culinary treasures and regional handicrafts and the involvement of creative economy business actors, this event aims to preserve local wisdom and regional culture.
- Ubud Food Festival, Bali (30 May – 1 June 2025)
A renowned culinary event, popular across Indonesia and Southeast Asia, draws food enthusiasts from far and wide. Over three days, this festival showcases the best dishes and culinary creations from restaurants and food producers throughout Indonesia, with a strong representation from Bali. Attendees can indulge in these delectable offerings, enjoy live performances, watch cooking demonstrations and meet internationally acclaimed chefs and food experts.
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt=""> 
" alt="">