Bali

The Indonesian island of Bali has always been a firm favourite on the Southeast Asia travel circuit; land in Denpasar, experience nightlife in Canggu, travel inland and stop off at the  rice paddies of Ubud, before heading to the surf breaks of Uluwatu. Over time, the popularity of this route has led to rapid development around these hotspots, but adventure thirty minutes beyond these destinations and you could be in Bali thirty years ago – not a smoothie bowl or Bintang Bali tee in sight. Bali is a place where old and new coexist together in a way that (mostly) supports local communities, and the constant flow of people passing through in search of spiritual experiences, wellness, food and music has enabled the local-led creative scene to thrive, making it easy to skip the overdeveloped tourist hotspots. Expect open-air intimate club nights, holistic clinics reviving Balinese traditions, family-run warungs plating up foraged ingredients, local-owned record stores and ancient villages known for their evil warding.