Forget everything you thought you knew about Kuta. Perched high above Kuta Beach at Mamaka by Ovolo is one of Bali’s most exclusive rooftop hangouts, Kuta Social Club. Your mission? To collapse (gracefully) into a cabana or daybed by the sleek infinity pool, enjoy a signature Reese’s Sour (a creative marriage of peanut butter and bourbon) and watch the waves roll in below as a resident DJ works magic on the decks.

Time travel (in this case, dropping in on a version of Bali of some 50 years ago) is as easy as flying 400 kilometres east to what is often called “the forgotten island” of Sumba. Dominated by undulating hills, the island is largely untouched by tourism, with the exception of a few pioneering resorts, including Nihi Sumba and Cap Karoso, a luxury eco-haven that recently opened to guests. Feel like opting out of modern life? This is the place to do it. Explore Indonesia’s spiritual and cultural heart – Indigenous art, megalithic tombs and ikat weaving – then spend long afternoons watching horses frolic on white-sand Nihiwatu Beach or taking advantage of Sumba’s pristine turquoise swim spots.

A new dining establishment 25,000 years in the making? It’s an irresistible calling card but hardly the most unusual element of The Cave by Chef Ryan Clift. Discovered in 2013 during the construction of a new villa at The Edge in Uluwatu, the ancient cave – a short buggy ride from the property’s foyer – is now home to a 22-seat restaurant serving seven- or 10-course tasting menus (plus optional wine or cocktail pairings), with projections on the cave’s walls to admire between courses. Clift, formerly head chef of Melbourne’s Vue de Monde, was drawn to Bali for the site alone. “It was an opportunity to create a world-class restaurant underground and the inspiration was simple,” he says. “Take what Mother Nature created for you, be grateful and do her proud.” Clift reimagines the menu quarterly, with options available for vegetarians and kids, but it’s the “halftime show” that gets our tick of approval: exploration of the cave, complete with hard hat.

Officially known as Pererenan Beach, a tranquil surf enclave just a short walk from neighbouring Canggu, think of this up-and-coming village as “having your cake and eating it, too”. Lock in a stay at one of the exquisite locations dotted around the area (Ministry of Villas has a solid selection) and immerse yourself in the local landscape of rice fields, temples and the dramatic black sand beach. When hunger calls, earmark Touché (Jalan Pantai Pererenan No.106; +62 813 5301 6991) for brunch and Woods for an afternoon or evening meal.

Why settle on a standard cruise liner when you can glide through pristine waters aboard a luxury 15-suite yacht? Boutique small-ship company Aqua Expeditions  offers itineraries in the region’s most prized destinations: Raja Ampat, Ambon and Spice Islands, and Komodo National Park. You’ll sail aboard the 30-passenger Aqua Blu – the first small ship expedition yacht to be based in the Indonesian archipelago – where the crew-to-guest ratio is almost one-on-one at full capacity. The itineraries, particularly the seven-night Bali to Komodo voyage, allow guests to explore untapped regions, says Francesco Galli Zugaro, Aqua Expeditions CEO and founder. “Whether you’re an adventurer excited to hike an active volcano, a diver longing to discover the impressive marine life of the Coral Triangle or a history enthusiast going back in time as you stroll around ancient forts, there’s something for everyone,” he says.

Leave traditional yoga holidays for the purists; Soulshine Bali – founded by musician Michael Franti and his wife, Sara Agah Franti – is all about wellness with a rock ’n’ roll edge. Surrounded by the rice fields of Ubud, this 33-suite wellness escape’s ethos is to be “100 per cent healthy 90 per cent of the time”, balancing yoga and sound healing sessions with live music, cocktails and… toasted marshmallows. “We believe happiness is the new healthy,” says Michael. “Whether it’s sitting around a camp fire at sunset or having a laugh over a Margarita, when you’re feeling a sense of connection, nothing is closer to being healthy or happy.”

Melasti Beach, on the southernmost tip of the island at Ungasan, is no stranger to a beach club but White Rock Beach Club could be its most impressive yet. Carved into the limestone cliffs and positioned to make the most of the sunset, the 7500-square-metre club offers an extensive selection of spaces to unwind, from lagoon beds and VIP cabanas to executive suites that allow private groups to murder rock and pop classics on a karaoke machine (or perhaps even just admire the view). A restaurant, rooftop lounge and pool with swim-up bar complete your ultimate day out.

Glittering ocean views will always have their place but little can compare to Anantara Ubud Bali Resort, a tropical paradise amid the lush jungle ravines and rice terraces of the region. Slated to open next month, the property offers guests a choice of 66 spacious rooms and pool villas (plus, 15 Anantara-branded residences for those who want something a little more long-term), a multitude of dining options, a spa, the chain’s beloved kids’ club and, of course, close proximity to Ubud’s temples and shrines.