Known as an archipelago with stunning underwater beauty, it is no wonder that many local and foreign tourists are interested in diving in Indonesia. But did you know that Indonesia is not only known as the best diving destination but also the best destination for island hopping?

Island hopping, or "jumping" from one island to another, is a travel activity that many tourists are interested in. Interestingly, we don't just ordinarily going to certain islands but also try island hopping with the concept of living on board.

In short, living on board is a tourist attraction by staying on a ship. So far, living on board has become a unique tourist trend that is interesting to try. The reason is that we will experience staying in the middle of the high seas while diving and visiting various tourist attractions on the islands we visit.

There is no need to worry about choosing because Indonesia has many of the best island hopping and live-on-board spots you can try. Here are some of them:

Bali-Lombok

With many beautiful beaches, it's no wonder that Bali and Lombok are among the most popular tourist destinations, rarely empty of tourists. In addition to surfing and relaxing on the beach, Sobat Parekraf can also experience the sensation of island hopping in Bali-Lombok.

The island hopping route starts from Sanur Harbour to Nusa Lembongan on Nusa Penida Island. After that, Sobat Parekraf will continue to Gili Trawangan and then "jump" to Gili Meno and Gili Air. While island hopping in Bali-Lombok, we will be amazed by the condition of the seawater, which is very clear. It is so clear that you can try various exciting activities such as diving, snorkeling, or canoeing.

Photo: Bird's eye view of Komodo Island (Shutterstock/Prawat Thananithaporn)

Labuan Bajo

Suppose Sobat Parekraf are looking for an anti-mainstream vacation experience, then you can do island hopping while living on board using a phinisi ship in Labuan Bajo, one of the Super Priority Destinations (DSP). This time, we can experience staying on board while traveling around the waters of East Nusa Tenggara for several days.

In addition to enjoying the natural beauty from aboard the ship, we can also make stops at the beautiful beaches in Labuan Bajo. One is Pink Beach, where the combination of pink sand and clear turquoise water creates a peaceful ambiance.

Island hopping in Labuan Bajo is incomplete without diving and snorkeling. Make sure to take the time to dive at Manta Point, where Sobat Parekraf might be lucky enough to interact with mantas and sharks.

Likupang

As one of the Super Priority Destinations (DSP), Likupang offers a lovely underwater beach. That's why many tourists make Likupang an island hopping spot that is still "virgin” and rarely touched.

One of the must-visit islands when island hopping in Likupang is Lihaga Island. Here, Sobat Parekraf can enjoy the underwater beauty that is still very well preserved. After a satisfying dive, we can continue our journey by boat to Gangga Island. Not only it has the charm of untouched underwater nature, but Gangga Island is also famous as an exotic sunset spot in Likupang.

Raja Ampat

Another one of the best island hopping and live-on-board spots in Indonesia is Raja Ampat. There are many world-class diving and snorkeling spots in Raja Ampat. One of them is visiting Misool Island to see hundreds of ornamental fish species and beautiful coral reefs.

Besides diving, Sobat Parekraf also has the opportunity to stop at Warkesi Village while island hopping in Raja Ampat. Sobat Parekraf can observe Papua's endemic bird, the Bird of Paradise.

These are four island hopping spots you can visit while living on board. Let's take a vacation, Sob!

Cover: The Gili Islands, Lombok (Shutterstock/Wonderful Nature)