An Indonesian Cool Combo: Diving in Raja Ampat & Sulawesi

When you arrive on Birie Island, disembark and check into your idyllic overwater bungalow, set right on the doorstep of the resort's lively house reef. Spend the rest of the day settling into your new surroundings, whether you'd rather dive straight into snorkelling on the house reef or simply relax on the deck of your bungalow. At some point this afternoon, pay a visit to the on-site dive centre, where you can organise your diving for the coming days.

Want to scope out the local wildlife? Head to Manta Sandy, a manta cleaning station, and watch as dozens of mantas glide around each other, or visit The Passage, where nudibranchs, shrimp and flatworms hide between mangrove roots. For more macro diving, dive down to Batanta, one of the region's best sites for spotting teeny-tiny critters.

If you're after a little more adventure, head to Wai Island, where you'll find a perfectly preserved World War II fighter jet, now home to colourful coral and tropical marine life. Other coral hotspots include Hidden Bay, a mangrove system coated in soft corals, or Fam Island, where kaleidoscopic gardens line underwater cliffs.

If you're not ready to venture out too far, the house reef offers a more beginner-friendly dive experience, boasting shoals of colourful reef fish, pretty anemones and even wobbegongs (walking sharks).

In between dives, relax on the beach, enjoy delicious meals in the restaurant or set off into the nearby jungle in search of rare birds of paradise.

When you touch down in Manado, you'll be met and privately transferred to the port, an hour's drive away. From here, you'll be whisked by speedboat on a ten-minute journey to Lembeh Resort.

On arrival at Lembeh Island, check in and spend some time settling into your new surroundings before treating yourself to a delicious lunch at the restaurant. Spend the rest of the day relaxing after your morning of travelling, whether you'd rather lounge by the pool or enjoy a rejuvenating treatment in the spa.

Both the house reef and the Lembeh Strait are home to an array of incredible marine life - in fact, scientists believe that Lembeh has the highest concentration of unusual marine animals in the world, making the area perfect for muck diving. Head out to local sites, including Bianca and Rojos, Nudi Falls and Aer Bajo, keeping your eyes peeled for hairy frogfish, banded sea snakes, cuttlefish and octopuses.

As if that wasn't enough, Lembeh Resort also has a full-time digital imaging centre. If you fancy brushing up on your skills, the resort's resident pro offers photography courses, so you can capture the critters you encounter in professional-quality shots.

Set at the base of the towering Dua Suadara Mountain, Tangkoko is one of Indonesia's oldest nature reserves, spanning over 20,000 acres of protected rainforest. Alongside your friendly expert guide, head out on a walking tour of the lush forest, looking out for cute tarsiers, crested macaques and a whole range of colourful tropical birds.

Back at the resort, savour one last tasty dinner and golden sunset before beginning your journey home tomorrow.

After a short layover, board your overnight flight to a Middle East transit airport, which will take around eight and a half hours. Then it's time for your final eight-hour flight back to the UK, which will arrive the following evening.