THOSE SEEKING NATURAL HIGHS NEED NOT LOOK FAR AWAY – NATASHA DRAGUN FOUND 10 OF THE FINEST, RIGHT HERE IN INDONESIA

1 RICE TERRACES, BALI

Away from its beaches, Bali’s incredible rice terraces steal the show. Covering more than 20 percent of the island, these terraced fields sustain much of the island’s agricultural needs, and are a photographer’s dream. From Pupuan in the west to Tabanan in the south, Bali’s dramatic mountains and deep ravines are ringed by endless fields of rice, changing color from a silvery green to emerald and then a rich golden brown as the grains ripen over the course of the year.

2 ORANGUTANS, SUMATRA

The Sumatran orangutan is one of our closest relatives in the animal kingdom, sharing more than 96 percent of our DNA. These “forest people” are the only great apes in South-East Asia, and the only strictly arboreal ape, spending much of their lives in the forest canopy. Orangutans are now confined to just two islands, Sumatra and Borneo, the former the rarer of the two. Thanks to poaching and loss of habitat, they are now only found in the rainforest at the northern tip of Sumatra.

3 MOUNT BROMO, EAST JAVA

Arguably one of the most photographed sites in Indonesia, Mount Bromo (2,329 meters) is recognized for its huge crater and constant belch of sulfuric smoke. Set inside the massive Tengger Caldera and surrounded by the Sea of Sand (a layer of fine volcanic sand), the volcano is not the highest in the region, but it’s definitely the most impressive, particularly at sunset and sunrise. Set your alarm clock for around 3am, hire a jeep and head to the watch point at Mount Penanjakan. You won’t be disappointed.

4 CORAL WALLS, BUNAKEN ISLAND

Set in northern Sulawesi’s Bay of Manado, Bunaken is surrounded by one of Indonesia’s finest marine parks, marked by stunning steep coral walls, pocketed with small caves alive with thousands of colorful reef fish species. Home to some of the highest levels of marine biodiversity in the world, the park has some 70 varieties of coral, a mind-blowing range of fish, white-and black-tip sharks, and even dugongs.

5 SURF BREAKS, MENTAWAI ISLANDS

Surfers, take note: from March to November, the reef breaks around the Mentawai Islands should not be missed. A chain of 70 islands and islets off the western coast of Sumatra, the Mentawais are one of the world’s hottest surfing spots. Conditions are fine year-round, but the best swells are in June and July. Jump onto waves at spots like Lance’s Left and Right, Macaronis, and Gilligan’s.

6 DRAGONS, KOMODO NATIONAL PARK

If you mistake Komodo dragons for crocodiles, you’re not alone. The world’s largest species of lizard is more akin to a prehistoric creature, growing to more than three meters long and weighing around 70 kilograms. With 60 serrated teeth and a top running speed of 18kph, little escapes these gigantic creatures – which eat everything from birds to large mammals.

7 MOUNT RINJANI, LOMBOK

The third highest of Indonesia’s 129 active volcanoes, Rinjani rises 3,726 meters above sea level on Lombok Island. Surrounded by national park, Rinjani is characterized by lush rainforest clinging to its slopes, and a huge caldera, today a crater lake thought to be 2,000 meters deep. Trekking to the rim is a great way to get an overview of the island, but it’s not without risk – the volcano from time to time spits out plumes of ash and lava.

8 RAFFLESIA FLOWER, KALIMANTAN

The Rafflesia is infamous for its wild odor and vivid color. The gigantic parasitic plant has the largest single flower in the world - some can measure more than one meter in diameter and weigh 10 kilograms. Another reason not to pick the ruby-red flowers is their smell: they give off the aroma of rotting flesh, a survival tactic to attract flies and beetles. Finding flowers in bloom is extremely rare as their blossom lasts for just a few days.

9 LAKE TOBA, SUMATRA

Given Indonesia’s prominence in the Pacific Ring of Fire, it’s little wonder South-East Asia’s largest lake is an immense volcanic body of water. Set in northern Sumatra, Toba was formed by a gigantic volcanic eruption 70,000 years ago. Today, its waters cover 1,707 square kilometers and the lake is 505 meters deep at its deepest point - with picturesque Samosir Island in the center. Dive right in, or hire a boat and cruise the lake as the sun sets over the water.

10 ULUWATU TEMPLE, BALI

While Bali has its share of dramatic temples, perhaps the most impressive is Uluwatu, perched on a steep cliff 70 meters above the sea on the Bukit Peninsula’s southwest coast. One of Bali’s “directional temples”, thought to guard the island from evil spirits, Uluwatu owes much of its current splendor to Javanese sage, Empu Kuturan, who built most of it in the 11th century. Watching the sunset from here is an experience you will likely never forget.