Indonesia

The Indonesian archipelago is the largest island country in the world, with over 17,000 islands and a population of over 280 million people. Indonesia is known for its countless treasures, thanks to its diversity of cultures and landscapes. It offers something for everyone, from major cities and tourist destinations to natural beauty, beaches, ancient temples, active volcanoes and diving in its largely untouched waters.

Jakarta is the capital city and is best known for its shopping scene. Whatever your budget, you will find something in one of the many malls throughout Jakarta. The city is also a cultural melting pot, with a diverse mixture of traditions, from Javanese and Malay to Arab, Indian and Dutch. It has a buzzing coffee scene, where you can socialise in one of the city’s trendy cafés. Sights to include on your visit are the National Museum; Kemang, Jakarta’s trendiest neighbourhood; Jakarta Cathedral; the Istiqlal Mosque, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia; and Merdeka Square. You can also take a day trip to the Thousand Islands.

When people think of Indonesia, they think of Bali, as it is arguably Indonesia’s most popular holiday playground. Bali, the ‘Island of the Gods’, is a bewitching island rich in natural beauty, culture and history, surrounded by azure seas and edged with golden beaches. Its most famous sight is Tanah Lot, a Hindu temple perched on a rock formation that is cut off by the sea at high tide and is a spectacle to behold at sunset. Inland, Ubud is the island’s cultural heartland, set amongst rolling rice paddies and filled with art galleries, the 19th Century Ubud Palace and the Sacred Monkey Forest, a nature reserve home to over 500 monkeys and three temples dating back to the 14th Century. Nearby, you can admire the emerald-green Tegallalang Rice Terraces, bathe in the sacred pools of Tirta Empul, browse the silver studios of Celuk and the stone carvings of Batubulan, or watch a traditional Kecak Fire Dance. Other highlights include the clifftop Uluwatu Temple, a sunrise trek up Mount Batur, the serene Ulun Danu Temple on Lake Beratan and the spectacular Sekumpul Waterfall.

For those seeking sun and fun, Kuta is Bali’s main tourist hub, with a famous surf beach and lively nightlife, while Seminyak offers a long strip of sand lined with bars, cafés and restaurants. Sanur is the place for water sports, from kitesurfing to stand-up paddleboarding, and Nusa Dua is known for its luxury resorts, perfect for a few relaxing days away from the crowds. Food lovers will be in paradise in Canggu, with its eclectic cafés, yoga studios and 8 km of golden sand, while divers can explore the dive sites off Padang Bai and thrill-seekers can go white-water rafting on the Ayung River. With so much to see and do, Bali truly lives up to its reputation as a tropical paradise.

A visit to Pura Tanah Lot is another must-see when staying in Bali. This temple compound is found on the southern coast, in Beraban Village, and you can walk out to the temple at low tide. Built on a rock formation in the sea, it is extremely popular with tourists at sunset, and once the sun goes down, you can browse the stalls at Tanah Lot market to purchase unique Balinese souvenirs.

The Jatiluwih Rice Fields are another major sight when coming to Bali. These lush terraces were designated a UNESCO Cultural Landscape as part of Bali’s Subak system. The meticulously cultivated and irrigated fields are a testament to the wealth of natural resources in Bali, as well as the carefully honed skills of the local farmers.

The island of Lombok has some of the most stunning white-sand beaches, with some of the best snorkelling, kayaking and diving opportunities to be found in Indonesia. It is also home to Mount Rinjani, where a trek to the summit to see the active volcano is a tourist drawcard. The Gili Islands, which have risen in popularity over the years, are also a major draw in Lombok. These picturesque islands offer beaches that rival those of Bali in their beauty, as well as opportunities for diving and even snorkelling at a turtle sanctuary.

Nusa Lembongan is famous for its crystal-blue waters and offers visitors an array of water sports, such as diving, snorkelling and swimming. There are also surfing opportunities, and the waters are home to a vast cross-section of marine life and pristine coral.

Java is another popular place amongst visitors, where you will get to see some stunning temples, active volcanoes, secluded caves and waterfalls. Yogyakarta is Java’s cultural capital and also a university town. Yogya, as it is known locally, is still headed by a sultan, who lives in his palace, known as the Kraton. Yogya has a thriving arts scene, which includes the famous batik factories; batik is a textile technique that involves dyeing fabrics that have been outlined using wax. The ancient 8th Century temple of Borobudur is one of the most famous and culturally significant landmarks in Indonesia and is located not far from Yogyakarta. It is shaped like a traditional Buddhist mandala and is one of the top UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

No trip to Indonesia would be complete without a visit to Borneo to see the beautiful and endangered orangutans. Tanjung Puting National Park in Kalimantan is home to one of the largest orangutan populations in the world, as well as other primates, birds and reptiles. Borneo is a real untamed adventure, where you can travel down the Kapuas River, the longest in Indonesia, visit villages of the indigenous Dayak people, go trekking in the rainforest and have the chance to see wildlife up close. Bukit Baka-Bukit Raya National Park is a conservation area in West Kalimantan that includes two of the highest mountains in Borneo, with wildlife such as orangutans, clouded leopards, slow lorises and sun bears, amongst other species.

Other places not to be missed in Indonesia include Mount Bromo, which sits on the Ring of Fire, an area with some of the most active volcanoes in the world. Mount Bromo is best known for its incredible views, particularly when seen from the edge of the caldera at sunrise.

Raja Ampat, a fairyland of lush, cone-shaped islands set against blue and turquoise waters, is one of Indonesia’s most spectacular sights. Hundreds of islands and cays make up this tropical paradise. Colourful fish and a diverse variety of marine life thrive in the warm, clear waters. In fact, the coral reefs here are some of the most biodiverse on the planet, making it a popular area for diving in Indonesia.

Komodo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the Komodo dragon, also known as the Komodo monitor, the largest and heaviest lizard in the world. The park encompasses three main islands (Komodo, Rinca and Padar) plus a number of smaller ones, as well as a surrounding marine area, which has some of the richest and most diverse marine life in the world.