Национальный парк Комодо

On Komodo and Rinca islands, mandatory ranger guides lead short walking loops to spot dragons, which are most active and easiest to find in the cooler morning hours. Rinca often delivers closer sightings with fewer crowds than Komodo island. These are genuinely wild, powerful animals, so stay with your guide and keep your distance.

The short, steep hike up Padar's ridge gives the postcard view of three curved bays below, each with a different shade of sand. Go early for light and to beat the heat, because there is no shade on the climb. The path is well-trodden but can be slippery, so wear proper shoes.

Pantai Merah gets its rosy tint from red coral fragments mixed into the sand, and the snorkelling just offshore is excellent. The wider park has world-class dive sites with strong currents, so divers should pick operators carefully and match sites to their experience. Even casual snorkellers see turtles and reef fish here.

Manta Point and Karang Makassar are cleaning and feeding stations where manta rays glide through, sometimes several at once. Currents can be strong, so drift snorkelling or diving is often the way it works. Sightings are seasonal and never guaranteed, but the odds are good.