With 17,000 islands in Indonesia, Bali’s just the beginning. This winter, take a timeout on a sun-kissed private island across the Southeast Asian archipelago.
Looking at Indonesia on the map, the sprawling archipelago splatters like paint across the eastern hemisphere. The transcontinental country is the largest island nation in the world, thought to stretch across over 740,000 square miles with roughly 17,000 islands in its domain—though the final tally is still being verified by the United Nations. Naturally, the collection includes a few private island retreats, some of which are kitted out with bamboo architecture, tented camps, and even fantastical tree houses. At these Robinson Crusoe-esque getaways clear water and white sands are a given. Meanwhile, welcome surprises come in the form of spa safaris, private beach picnics, Technicolor scuba diving, and spontaneous wildlife encounters.