Indonesia

Where on the world map is Indonesia, first things first?

There are more than 17,000 islands in the Southeast Asian nation of Indonesia. Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo), Sulawesi, and the Indonesian portion of New Guinea are the main islands (known as West Papua or Irian Jaya). Indonesia is surrounded by Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and Australia

Travel to Indonesia is at its most authentic, undiscovered. It offers everything you might desire in an adventure: volcanoes, waterfalls, jungles, underwater coral reefs, and a ton of unusual fauna above and below the sea. This group of 17,000 islands is mainly untouched by tourists.

The island of Bali, with its lush rice paddies, opulent resorts, and regional cuisine, is Indonesia’s most well-known travel destination, but there are also some other intriguing locations there. While less well-known Sumba boasts white sand beaches and rolling green hills, the islands of Komodo, Sumatra, and Sulawesi are fantastic locations to witness unique animals.

The most populous island, Java, is home to Prambanan and Borobudur, two historic Hindu temples, as well as some amazing volcanic landscapes. To learn more about what to expect, read this entire travel guide to Indonesia!

Due to Indonesia’s tropical location, the country experiences hot, humid weather all year round.

Despite some regional variations in climate, Indonesia generally has two seasons: a wet season from November to April and a dry season from April to November. Visiting Indonesia during the wet season is still highly likely, so allow yourself a few more days just in case.

The ideal time to travel to Indonesia depends on your objectives. The dry season has the best weather, which is typically sunny and breezy. This is a fantastic time to go hiking on a mountain (or volcano) and explore the rainforest for animals.

The rain is typically not too disruptive because it comes largely at night or in the evenings, when it is best to witness waterfalls and vividly green crop terraces.

According to a yearly research conducted by the United Nations, Indonesia is among the safest nations in the world, with a murder rate of just 0.5 per 100k people (92% lower than the global average).

Although traveling throughout much of Indonesia, I haven’t actually seen any crime. Just exercise typical caution. It’s crucial to wear modestly because Indonesia is a Muslim nation and outside of Bali, the culture is quite traditional. There is little threat of terrorism in this country, and people are generally kind to visitors.

Transportation and environmental hazards including animals, mosquitoes, volcanoes, and earthquakes pose the greatest safety dangers. However, unless you have prior Southeast Asian driving expertise, I would advise against riding a motorbike here. Nevertheless, during a boat trip in Sumatra, where we encountered a severe storm, I perhaps came the closest to dying there.

Always use insect repellent and use bed nets, especially if you’re outside of the city or during the rainy season. In West Papua, the Mentawai Islands, some areas of Kalimantan, Sumatra, and Sulawesi, malaria is still a significant issue. Here is a useful map showing the key malaria risk locations. Although the areas where malaria is still a risk have significantly decreased, you should still consider taking anti-malarial medication in a few Indonesian locations. Even if you go hiking, you won’t often see venomous snakes or other harmful animals in Indonesia’s well-known tourist destinations.

Budget

With hostels starting at $10 and private hotels starting at $20, Indonesia is a very accessible travel destination for those on a tight budget. The price of meals ranges from $2 to $5, depending on where you are.

In Indonesia, cars and motorbikes are the most common modes of transportation; however, hiring a driver is often less expensive and more convenient.

The loveliest people are from Indonesia!

We have stayed in homestays in Indonesia without any issues because the nation has one of the lowest rates of violent crime in the entire globe. The locals are incredibly warm and welcoming.

You’ll undoubtedly receive a lot of amusing photo requests from the locals eager to see a rare “bule” if you travel outside of Bali, especially in isolated areas of Java or Sulawesi (foreigner).

Indonesia’s islands and provinces each have their own distinct cultures. Sumba, Tana Toraja, Wae Rebo, a lonely mountain village in Flores, and of course Bali are some of the top cultural sites in the nation. Tana Toraja is home to one of the world’s strangest cultures.

Bali may be a tourist destination, but there is still a ton of fascinating culture there. Since Bali became well-liked by tourists, the language, clothes, traditions, and architecture of the Balinese people have remained largely unaltered.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure may be lacking if you venture outside of Bali and the major cities in Indonesia. This frequently entails no WiFi, limited air conditioning (fan only), and occasionally, it necessitates using a simple water scoop to wash yourself rather than a shower. You could not have any electricity at all on more isolated islands (like the Banyaks) unless you use a generator in the evening. It takes some getting used to living without these conveniences, but it’s worth it to see some of Indonesia’s most off-the-beaten-track locations (and not just Bali). The infrastructure will eventually catch up as tourism expands into new regions. Take advantage of the outdoors experience for what it is right now!

Indonesian cuisine

The cuisine in Indonesia is excellent and is comparable to that in Malaysia and Singapore.

Satay Ayam (chicken skewers), Rendang Sapi (hot beef rendang), Nasi Goreng (fried rice), Martabak (omelette pancake), and for dessert Pisang Goreng are other delectable dishes to try (fried bananas).

Apart than the occasional Pizza Hut or KFC in major cities, don’t expect to find much Western cuisine outside of Bali, but that’s good.

Activities in Indonesia

It’s difficult to know where to begin because Indonesia has so many incredible things to do.

Don’t get me wrong, Bali is a lovely island, but for years it has been plagued by overdevelopment and overtourism.

The other Indonesian islands provide a wealth of natural wonders, including smouldering volcanoes, sulfur lakes, pink sand beaches, tropical jungles, unusual fauna, and much more.

In certain nations, like Indonesia, you’re not doing it right if you don’t get outside and explore. Spend as little time as possible in cities and as quickly as possible in the outdoors. Of course there are islands and beaches, but Indonesia also has a wide variety of other landscapes.

There are numerous lakes, mountains, caves, jungles, enormous rocks, sand dunes, and other natural features from Sumatra to Papua.

Although Java, Lombok, and many other islands also have picturesque agricultural terraces, Bali is known for its lush rice terraces. Look at the Majalengka terraces in West Java or the Dieng Plateau in the center of Java!
At the Rangko Cave in Flores, you can swim in a blue lake or explore the glistening limestone cave at Rammang Rammang in Sulawesi.

The world’s earliest known human-made cave art may be found in one of these prehistoric caverns in Sulawesi, which is absolutely intriguing to us!

Indonesian volcanoes

More than any other country in the world, Indonesia contains 400 volcanoes, 130 of which are active.

The majority of Indonesia’s volcanoes allow visitors to hike up them, and at some of them (like Mount Bromo in Java), you can even approach the rim of the smoky crater!

There are plenty of volcanic lakes and hot springs everywhere there are volcanoes.

Some of these hot springs are swimmable, while others provide for amazing photo opportunities. The Kawah Ijen crater in East Java, which is adjacent to Bali, is possibly the most well-known volcanic lake in all of Indonesia.

The three lakes of Mount Kawah Putih in West Java and Kelimutu in Flores are two more fantastic locations to visit.

Waterfall in Indonesia

Although though Sumatra and Java are home to many of Indonesia’s top waterfalls, smaller islands like Bali and Lombok also have some outstanding waterfalls.

If you do a little investigating, you may find beautiful waterfalls on almost every island in this nation.

The Ponot Waterfall in North Sumatra, which is a massive 3-step cascade close to the well-known Lake Toba, is one of the largest falls in Indonesia and rises more than 250 meters (820 feet) in height!

Indonesian Wildlife

There are many indigenous types of wildlife to observe in Indonesia that are unique to this region because it is home to about 20% of the world’s animal species.

Komodo Island’s giant monitor lizards, Sulawesi’s Tangkoko Reserve’s bug-eyed tarsiers, Sumatra’s Bukit Lawang’s wild orangutans, and of course Bali’s Ubud Monkey Forest’s famous macaques are all worth seeing.

Some of the most significant rainforests in the world are found in Indonesia, but tragically many of them are in grave risk due to widespread deforestation. Together with the incredible animals, there are also enormous banyan trees and the largest flowers on earth.

The Coral Triangle, a tropical ocean beauty that is home to most of the world’s coral and fish species, includes Indonesia as well.

You can witness a variety of unusual fish, vibrant coral, sea turtles, manta rays, and if you’re lucky, you might even get to swim with a whale shark! Needless to say, it’s a terrific area to go diving or snorkeling.

We’ve had fantastic success snorkeling in almost every region of Indonesia, but Belitung island in south Sumatra is certainly our favorite choice.

Indonesian Beaches

Not Indonesia, but the Maldives or Thailand come to mind when people think of beautiful beaches in Asia.

The beaches in Indonesia are excellent, but they are often overlooked because many of the best ones are tucked away in inaccessible locations. The upside is it increases the likelihood of having them to yourself.

The most spectacular white sand beaches, brilliant pink beaches, and black volcanic beaches, along with top-notch surf places, may be found with a little exploration. You can also occasionally locate some really photogenic cliffs, rocks, and shipwrecks.

Indonesian landmarks

The largest Buddhist temple in the world, Borobudur Temple, and Prambanan Temple, which resembles Angkor Wat in Cambodia, are two of Indonesia’s top tourist attractions.

They are both in the Javan city of Yogyakarta, and Borobudur is a well-liked location to watch the sunrise.

Bali is home to the majority of Indonesia’s photogenic temples. Uluwatu Bali, Tanah Lot, and Ulun Danu Beratan are a few well-known Balinese temples that you should see. Similar to Angkor Wat, the temples in Java were built from previous ruins, but they are still rather fascinating.

Go out the famous Kelingking Cliff in Nusa Penida Bali or the well-known Padar Island viewpoint in Komodo for natural landmarks. And if you have a plan to visit Bali you can check Gaia Bali for their service

Top Indonesian Islands

Get to island-hopping — Indonesia has more than 17,000 of them! Despite years of exploration, we have only just begun to touch the surface of Indonesia.

You can also rent a comfortable liveaboard boat in Komodo or Raja Ampat and spend several days exploring the oceans at your leisure.

Many of the best things to do in Indonesia are off the main road, and this wild and magnificent country is full with hidden jewels just waiting to be discovered.

Start your search in Sulawesi, Maluku, and Sumatra if you want a hint. There are countless breathtaking picturesque locations on each of these islands that have never been visited by international tourists.