Small-group Indonesia journeys for curious, culturally minded travellers
Bali, Sumba and Java through food, craft, design, landscapes and local connection, curated by Michelle Matthews and Fiona Brook.
“I’ve always said, ‘I hate Bali’. It’s time for a rethink.” Lee Tulloch, Traveller, The Age/Sydney Morning Herald , May 16 2026
“An hour talking to Matthews (of Rasa Voya) about only a fraction of what Bali has to offer has left me rethinking my inherent negativity towards it.” says Tulloch.
“If you hate Bali, you haven’t done it right,” Matthews says. “Many people…don’t want to be told about Bali because they think they know it so well,”
Curated by people who know how to open doors. Rasa Voya is led by Michelle Matthews, travel publisher, guide and founder of Deck of Secrets, and Fiona Brook, publicist, broadcaster and founder of Zilla & Brook. Together, we design small, thoughtful journeys shaped by decades of travel, hospitality, storytelling and local connection.
“Michelle's tips and attention to detail on hidden gems that make a holiday special cannot be surpassed. We’re sorry not to be able to join her every trip, but have frequently had the pleasure of Michelle's unique and local ideas to explore a place for its food, art, culture and people. She has this knack, be it in Indonesia or Europe, for finding those special places and experiences we still reminisce about.” Mette Schepers, Melbourne
"Sumba was a wonderful destination for our family trip. The landscapes, the culture, the places we stayed and the experiences woven throughout the journey were beautiful and culturally interesting and our guides and drivers were very friendly, full of valuable information and suggestions . Michelle and Fiona have an extraordinary feel for this island, and for travel done properly. We couldn't recommend Rasa Voya more highly." Peter and Lindy Hayes
Featured tour
The Sumba Odyssey
An Indonesian Roadtrip
11 days, 10 nights
Limited to 8 guests
July 20-30
Sumba isn't on the way to anywhere—it's a destination for travellers willing to venture beyond Bali's shadow to discover one of Indonesia's most dramatically beautiful and culturally distinct islands. This is a road trip in the truest sense: windows down, landscapes shifting from savannah grasslands to limestone cliffs, from hidden waterfalls to pristine beaches that feel like your own private discovery.
Ancient megalithic villages dot the hills, where traditional animist beliefs still thrive, and ikat weavers create textiles of breathtaking complexity. You'll witness ceremonial rituals unchanged for centuries, swim in turquoise natural pools, sleep under massive traditional peaked roofs, and drive roads that challenge and reward in equal measure.
Sumba demands more from its visitors—rougher roads, simpler comforts, genuine adventure—but those willing to meet the island on its own terms will find something increasingly rare: a place that still feels wild, authentic, and gloriously untamed.
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Why start Rasa Voya?
Michelle Matthews & Fiona Brook
Fiona and Michelle are relentless travellers whose shared love for Indonesia was uncovered and strengthened at the Ubud Food Festival. This festival became their ritual and the starting point for further adventures east, west, and north of Bali. Their trip to Sumba sparked Rasa Voya. Sumba is a stunning island and a stark contrast to Bali. Their in-depth research and road-trip-style exploration led to incredible discoveries and experiences across the island. They knew they would return and take others with them.
Indonesia isn’t a single destination so much as a whole universe strung across more than 17,000 islands — a place where volcanoes steam above emerald rice terraces, coral gardens glow beneath glassy seas, and rainforest canopies hide birds-of-paradise, monkeys, and the quiet drama of life in the tropics. It’s home to some of the richest biodiversity on Earth, from Komodo dragons to kaleidoscopic reef fish, and a staggering range of landscapes: surf beaches, crater lakes, highland farms, sacred rivers, and remote savannahs. Just as diverse is the human story — hundreds of languages, living traditions, and ceremonies that shape daily life, from temple offerings and shadow puppetry to weaving, carving, and cuisine that changes island by island. Indonesia rewards the curious: the kind of traveller who wants beauty with context, flavour with provenance, and encounters that feel personal — not packaged.
In the meantime, their journeys back to Bali became missions to explore further and go deeper. There was never any rush to start the business; it naturally grew from what they loved, how they travel, and who they are. Rasa Voya became inevitable.
