Indonesia is a tropical paradise archipelago where you can have the holiday of a lifetime.
With many stunning islands to visit, world class scuba diving, mountain hiking, white and pink beaches, Indonesia has something for everyone.

If you want to explore the Spice Islands known for their impressive history, check out the Komodo dragon at Komodo National Park, or scuba diving with the majestic manta ray, Indonesia has it all. A blend of rich culture, unique sea life, white sand beaches, and impressive volcanoes, Indonesia is a must-visit Country.

Whether you want to watch an unforgettable beach sunset, walk amongst the palm trees, hike a volcano or view cultural heritage sites, Feet Do Travel share 7 of the best islands to visit in Indonesia.

The aim of World Ocean’s Day is give us an opportunity to honour, protect, and conserve the ocean.

Right now, our Oceans need all the help they can get.

Oceans are swimming in plastic. It reaches every single part of our world, from the depths of the Mariana Trench to the remote Cocos and Galapagos islands. We have all heard about the Great Garbage Patch!

Humans and all marine life are eating and ingesting plastic. Plastic becomes wrapped around animal’s mouths so they suffocate. Plastic they eat becomes stuck in their stomach and they choke. Huge whales are washing up on our shores from Indonesia to Italy, their guts filled with plastic.

Cigarette butts litter our oceans even more than plastic. Some people believe the butt will biodegrade. It doesn’t. 

46% of the plastic in our ocean comes from fishing nets, and our oceans are over fished to brink of extinction. Huge trawlers scrape the ocean bed killing coral and everything in its path.

Bycatch is killing dolphins, turtles, whales, sharks and birds. As fisherman target a specific fish, these marine species are unintentionally caught in their nets, but because they are useless to the fishing industry, they are discarded. Sometimes they are dead, sometimes they are half-dead. Either way, they died so you can eat fish.

Sir David Attenborough pleaded with us all on "The Blue Planet" to do something before it’s too late.

How can you make a difference on this World Oceans Day? Feet Do Travel have listed easy, practical solutions to help you make a start TODAY. The time for change is NOW.

The Sardine Run in Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines is better than South Africa. Whoa! Now that is a bold statement to make – what can possibly be better than seeing billions of sardines?

The (almost) guaranteed sighting of millions of sardines every single day of the year is the answer.

The Sardine Run in Moalboal is a year round natural phenomenon. It’s completely ethical - they are not fed by humans and are marine protected. As filter feeders, they stay close to the surface which means you can snorkel the sardines by walking out from the shore at Panagsama Beach.

Nothing can prepare you that first glimpse; a giant sardine ball so thick it blocks out the sun. If you are a scuba diver because you love seeing fish, Moalboal is the place to add to your bucket list.
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But does it live up to the hype? Will it meet expectations? Feet Do Travel show you their experience of swimming with millions of sardines in the Philippines, at the Sardine Run Moalboal, Cebu.

Where is the best diving in the Philippines? Those who have visited Southern Leyte dive sites around Sogod Bay say this is some of the best diving they have ever done. Described as an undiscovered divers’ paradise, there is something to suit all divers’ preferences; pristine coral reef wall dives at Napantao, muck diving and super macro at Maltibog Lembeh, shore dives at Max Climax, incredible night dive at Padre Burgos Jetty/Pier and everything in between. 
However, Southern Leyte’s biggest draw is November to May when you can swim with whale sharks. 

If you like your dive destinations off the beaten track, and to be the only boat at a dive site, Southern Leyte is the place for you. 
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Still largely unheard of, a trip to Southern Leyte provides divers and underwater photographers with a special experience. The journey in itself is an adventure, but when you dive the marine protected waters, the rewards are worth it.
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Feet Do Travel take you to one of the best word-of-mouth destinations we have discovered, and show you the fantastic diving at Sogod Bay, Southern Leyte; an undiscovered paradise.

Sitting on my balcony in Leyte, listening to the waves gently lapping against the shore, I looked out over Sogod Bay. Somewhere out there are whale sharks. The gentle giant of the ocean and the largest fish in the world.

In the Philippines you can swim with whale sharks in Oslob, Cebu where sightings are 100% guaranteed, but as a responsible traveller, we chose to visit Southern Leyte. 

The reason? They offer the best place for whale shark watching in the Philippines in a natural, sustainable way. No feeding, no touching, no ticket numbers, no queuing up on a beach for two hours with hundreds of other people in the blazing sun waiting for your allocated slot, no man with a mega phone yelling that your 30 minute time is up. 
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Swimming and snorkelling with whale sharks in the Philippines is big tourism, and Oslob, Cebu has the most un-natural, circus style experience you can have. In contrast, Sogod Bay in Southern Leyte offered the most sustainable swimming with whale shark experience in the Philippines.

Feet Do Travel show you that it’s possible to swim with whale sharks ethically in the Philippines. 

If you love macro then you should go scuba diving in Dauin, it’s THE place for muck diving in the Philippines’ and equivalent to Lembeh Strait in Indonesia – a muck diver’s heaven. Underwater photographers come here to capture rare and unusual critters which can be seen all along the coastline of this municipality in Negros Oriental.

Dauin also offers the biodiversity of nearby Apo Island where turtles and a plethora of schooling reef fish can be seen on every dive. The Philippines is in the heart of the coral triangle – one of the world’s most famous scuba diving regions known for its marine diversity. If you like the small stuff or the big stuff, a trip to Dauin should be on your list.
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Diving isn’t just about the dive itself, if you want a fantastic experience, it’s about the professionalism of the dive centre, a competent guide to point out all the rare and unusual creatures, and where you stay. If you like the sound of nature, sleeping in a natural environment, and enjoy a social place to fill in your log book whilst sipping on an after dive beer, Bongo Bongo Divers is the place for you.

Feet Do Travel show you muck diving in the Philippines – Scuba Diving in Dauin.

Nusa Penida is one of the best places in the world to dive with Mola Mola, or Ocean Sunfish as it’s also known. That is exactly why we chose to visit for my birthday.

A large and still undiscovered island 30 minutes from Bali, Indonesia, Nusa Penida had been on our scuba diving bucket list ever since we were in Lembongan 18 months before.

Although there are many things to do on Nusa Penida, it’s a destination where divers have a chance of seeing two of the oceans giants; the weird fish Mola Mola and majestic Manta Ray. To see both has the potential for an amazing adventure.

But what is so fascinating about the elusive Mola Mola? Related to the pufferfish and triggerfish, the moonfish or headfish is the largest bony fish in the world. Its unusual shape makes it look like a floating head with wings.

However, Mola Mola and Manta Ray sightings are never guaranteed, nothing in nature is. Would we be successful in our quest of seeing the strangest looking fish in the ocean AND the most graceful? 

Sitting in the restaurant of our accommodation at Daniels Lagoon Resort, I reflected on our recent dives in the Lembeh Strait. Surrounding the lagoon were tall, lush green trees, and sounds of the jungle could be heard all around.

I’m torn between the jungle being my happy place, and the beach, I couldn’t believe my luck when I found both!

Lembeh is macro diving heaven for any discerning scuba diver, and is considered by many to be the best muck diving place in the world.

​Lembeh, Suluwesi should be on your scuba diving bucket list if you love weird and wonderful critters.

Scuba diving in Lembeh, however, is a whole different experience. It’s unlike any other diving we have done. But why? What is it about Lembeh that draws people here? Is it because the black volcanic sand creates mesmerising images?
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Let our photographs help you decide.

Raja Ampat is synonymous with scuba divers for being one of the most elite places to visit. With its warm temperatures, crystal clear waters, pristine coral gardens that seem to go on forever and literally millions of fish that cloud your vision in a single dive, it’s no wonder people want to visit. Other water based activities for non-divers are snorkelling, kayaking and freediving, and lets not forget the stunning nature surrounding his archipelago.

It is, however, notoriously difficult to reach which is a good thing, after all, if paradise is to remain that way, you don’t want it to be easily accessible. It is also expensive in comparison to other Indonesian destinations due to its location in the far east of the Country, next to Papua New Guinea. Is it possible to visit Raja Ampat on a budget?

Let me help you visit this slice of heaven on earth for only a fraction of the cost.

​As you cruise through Raja Ampat Marine Park, you are surrounded by the clearest, most crystal waters imaginable. Cobolt blue gives way to translucent jades and greens, if these waters were gem stones I would definitely buy them. The clarity is second to none and at times, the surface was so smooth it looked like glass.

​Dotted around are jagged karst limestone islands, little islets covered with lush trees, some have pure white sand beaches with palm tree fringed shores and others looked like they were floating on the surface. The views are simply stunning,

Raja Ampat is one of the world’s most famous regions for amazing scuba diving, freediving and snorkelling. We had heard stories of pristine coral gardens and prolific marine life so thick it blots out the sun, and that is why we wanted to visit.

We wanted to find out for ourselves if these stories were true or largely exaggerated.
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Boy oh boy, what an experience we had!