NatGeo’s Top 25 Destinations: Indonesia Cracks the Top 5!

National Geographic has released its Best of The World 2025 list of the top 25 destinations worldwide. The scientific, cultural, and travel brand has presented locations deemed must-visits for 2025, with selections made by the magazine’s explorers, photographers, and editors.

Some locations are recommended for their timely relevance, like hikes to active volcanoes, new museum visits, flourishing ecosystems, and decade-only festivals. Others are hidden gems that are often overshadowed by popular tourist hotspots.

Included in this list is one of Indonesia’s premier travel destinations—the famed Raja Ampat archipelago.

• Antigua, Guatemala

• Ocala National Forest, Florida

• Bangkok, Thailand

• Raja Ampat, Indonesia

• Guadalajara, Mexico

• Monastic Hostels, Italy

• Los Angeles, California

• Greenland

• Kanagawa, Japan

• Eastern & Oriental Express, Malaysia

• Brașov, Romania

• Cerrado, Brazil

• Northland, New Zealand

• Senegal

• Haida Gwaii, British Columbia

• Barbados

• Suru Valley, India

• Boise, Idaho

• Abu Dhabi, UAE

• Murray River, Australia

• KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

• Stockholm Archipelago, Sweden

• Cork, Ireland

• Outer Hebrides, Scotland

• Tunisia

Raja Ampat is a paradise located in southwestern Papua that continues to capture the attention of travelers worldwide with its stunning landscapes and rich underwater world—a dream for divers. To reach it, one can fly from Denpasar to Sorong, followed by a ferry ride.

Facts about Raja Ampat:

• The archipelago includes over 1,800 islands, with four major ones: Waigeo, Misool, Salawati, and Batanta.

• Raja Ampat is at the heart of the Coral Triangle, one of the best diving destinations. The Coral Triangle is a tropical marine zone in the Pacific, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, and East Timor. Known for its unparalleled marine biodiversity, it’s home to most of the world’s coral species and tropical fish. Studies show that Raja Ampat contains over 600 types of coral reefs and more than 1,200 fish species, attracting diving enthusiasts from around the globe. Famous dive spots include Cape Kri, which holds the world record for fish species diversity, and Manta Sandy, where manta rays gather.

• Unique historical and cultural heritage of the archipelago. A remarkable archaeological discovery in Raja Ampat is a millennia-old human handprint found on Misool Island, evidence of ancient human presence. Additionally, the waters around Batanta contain World War II shipwrecks.

• The local population still follows ancient rituals and traditions.

Raja Ampat is also a habitat for diverse flora and fauna. Many endemic species can only be found here. On land, there are exotic birds of paradise and tree kangaroos.