Lifestyle Mirror

For our monthly check in with travel expert Tom Marchant, co-founder of London-based online travel outfitter Black Tomato, Marchant takes Lifestyle Mirror to both Bali and Java for a dose of rugged landscape and timeworn temples. Here, he smartly suggests taking in the sights of the historic Borobudur Temple in Central Java before unwinding on the shores of the Kura Kura Resort. Marchant and his ace team are big on experiencing a destination by pushing your personal boundaries, and their site is chock full of tailored experiences to prove it. Check this space regularly for more of his picks for where you should be heading this summer, as well as Lifestyle Mirror’s take on what should be your in your bag once you get there. —Nandita Khanna (@dresslikenan)

THE LOCATION: Indonesia. THE VIBE: Rugged Zen. IT’S THE NEXT: Caribbean. WHERE TO STAY: At the beach in Java, the Kura Kura Resort which is nestled in the midst of the Archipelago, or Amanjiwo Hotel, which is opposite the Borobudur Temple. In Bali, stay at The Ubud Hanging Gardens Resort, which is deep in the Indonesian Jungle..WHERE THE LOCALS EAT: Learn to cook traditional food with a cooking lesson from one of the on-site head chefs who will gently guide you through the ins and outs of Indonesian cookery. SOUVENIR TO BRING BACK: Traditional clothes from the Batik Factory in Penang. WHAT TO GO ALL OUT ON: A private sunrise tour of the incredible Borobudur temple before it opens to the public. Climb to the top to witness the sun rising over the volcanoes in the distance. TOM'S TIP: Spend an evening enjoying a private dinner in the ancient temple nestled in the jungle below.