Indonesia's next chapter in luxury is unfolding – and it’s not in Bali, but on its lesser-known islands.

At the southern edge of the archipelago, where the coastline meets the famed Bo'a Barrel surf break, NIHI Rote has opened with 21 villas and duplex estates alongside a hospitality academy training local talent. Meanwhile, Belitung – just an hour's flight from Singapore – is also gaining traction as travellers look beyond Indonesia's best-known island.

Rote and Belitung are part of a wider movement. Sumba, Rote, Lombok, Komodo and the Riau Archipelago are too drawing resort investment once reserved almost exclusively for Bali.

Mark Wong, senior vice president Asia Pacific at Small Luxury Hotels of the World, frames the shift simply: "Bali has been the gateway. Now travellers are walking through it." The reason, he says, is partly about density. "In Bali, even at a high-end property, you are aware of the density of mass tourism around you,” he explains.

What guests are chasing instead is "that sense of having a landscape to yourself," something Wong calls "increasingly rare globally" and worth "a significant premium”.

Australia, he adds, remains the most consistent source market for Indonesia island destinations thanks to proximity, established air links and cultural familiarity.

Telunas Private Island, a few hours by ferry and boat from Singapore.

Riau: the easy escape

For travellers from Singapore, the Riau Islands are proving that remoteness doesn't have to mean long-haul travel.

Andrew Dixon, co-founder of Cempedak and Nikoi Private Islands, says guests are increasingly seeking places where they can disconnect.

"There's a growing appreciation for destinations that feel unspoilt, where you can genuinely slow down and spend time in nature without the distractions that often come with more established tourism hotspots."

David Krishnan, director of sales and marketing at Telunas Private Island, agrees. Reachable within a few hours by ferry and boat from Singapore, Telunas was designed around a quieter, community-focused island experience.

“For Telunas, luxury is about feeling looked after, having space to slow down and being surrounded by nature," he says.

The Samara Lombok opens 2028.

Sumba and Lombok: raw and untamed

Further east, Sumba has become shorthand for raw, culturally intact luxury.

Martha E Booke, founder of The Asa Maia, says what drew her to the island was its remoteness and authenticity.

"It feels like you are a million miles away from Bali, yet it is only a one-hour flight away."

She believes today's travellers are no longer satisfied with beautiful hotels alone, but want destinations that leave a lasting impression.

Lombok is following a similar path. Steve Ebsworth, co-founder of Samara Lombok – opening 2028 – and owner of Rascal Voyages, believes travellers who experience the island quickly understand the appeal.

"Bali took in over seven million visitors last year," he says. "Once you experience the alternative, you don't want to give it back."

The Ayana Komodo Waecicu Beach

Komodo: discovery with responsibility

Komodo, meanwhile, is pulling in guests who've already done Bali several times, says Michi Sonoda, EAM sales and marketing of Ayana Hospitality. "We are seeing a stronger appetite for places in Indonesia that feel more spacious, private, and full of discovery," she says.

China currently leads demand for the destination, followed by domestic Indonesian travellers, Australia, the United States and Japan.

But she cautions that growth must remain balanced.

"This is not a destination where luxury can exist separately from the place itself,” she says. “It needs to be rooted in respect for the surrounding environment, local culture, and the communities who call the region home.”