6 hidden paradise beaches to discover in Indonesia

1. Long Beach - Banggai Laut, Sulawesi

Probably one of the most beautiful beaches we’ve ever seen 🥹. It’s clean, covered with white sand, lined with palm trees, and surrounded by crystal clear turquoise water. Honestly, it really feels like a beach straight out of the Maldives. And on top of that, the snorkeling right in front of the beach is amazing.

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2. Sera Beach – Togean Islands, Sulawesi

It’s probably our favorite beach in Indonesia. Sera Beach, in the Togian Islands, is exactly what we imagined a paradise island would look like before traveling to Asia 😭. White sand, palm trees, turquoise water, nobody around… it really felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.

The craziest part is that this beach belongs to a tiny homestay lost on the island. There’s almost nothing around, just a few simple bungalows facing this incredible beach.

And it was also the very first beach we discovered in Asia… already 8 years ago 🥹. We definitely started very, very strong. Since then, we’ve seen so many beaches around the world, but this one still gives us the exact same feeling.

The beach is only accessible by boat, which is probably why it still feels so untouched. It takes quite a bit of effort to get there, but honestly, it’s 100% worth it.

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3. Gretek – North of Bali

A huge black sand beach lined with palm trees, with nobody in sight. This is Gretek, in the north of Bali. Still very unknown to most travelers, it’s the perfect stop between Munduk and Amed.

The sunrise there is absolutely beautiful, and we really recommend spending a night at the hotel right next to the beach. Swimming pool, total peace and quiet, affordable prices… definitely one of our favorite spots in Bali, and we even included an exclusive discount for it in our Bali guide.

Small downside though: depending on the season, there can sometimes be a bit of trash on the beach. Unfortunately, it’s something quite common in Indonesia in places that are still not very touristy and not really maintained or developed yet. Despite that, the place still feels stunning and incredibly peaceful.

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4. Pantai Merah – Komodo, Flores

You’ve probably already heard about Komodo’s Pink Beach… and honestly, it deserves the hype. Yes, it’s a famous spot and it can get a bit busy depending on the time of day, but the beach is huge and most people don’t stay very long. We went there twice, and both times we still managed to enjoy the place pretty peacefully.

Here, the sand is genuinely pink across the whole beach, especially when the sun hits it. The color comes from tiny pieces of red coral mixed with the white sand, which is also why you really shouldn’t take any with you. In Lombok, some pink beaches have already lost a lot of their color because of that…

The hills around Padar are stunning and make the whole place feel even more unreal. Small downside though: there’s unfortunately sometimes a bit of trash around the area, even if the beach itself stays relatively clean.

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5. Pulau Pototoga – Îles Mentawai, Sumatra

We completely fell in love with this wild and untouched beach on Pototoga Island, in the Mentawai Islands. A perfect beach lined with palm trees, beautiful waves, and absolutely nobody around. This place was a real favorite for us. We had the whole beach to ourselves.

It’s still a very preserved destination, mostly known by surfers. Accommodation options are quite limited, charming, but also a bit expensive.

You’ll find all our tips for exploring the Mentawai Islands in our Sumatra guide.

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6. Secret Beach - Misool, Raja Ampat

We could see this beach in the distance from our homestay in Misool, so we asked to be dropped there! That’s how untouched this region still is, this beach doesn’t even have a name… it’s just one random island among the countless gems of Raja Ampat ✨

You’ll find the exact location in our Raja Ampat guide.

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Indonesia is full of breathtaking beaches. But the most beautiful ones are often the ones nobody talks about. The kind of places you reach after hours on the road or on a boat. Still preserved spots where you truly feel alone in the world.

If you want to experience places like this, our travel guides include all our itineraries, tips, favorite spots, and local recommendations to help you plan your trip.

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