The Essential Indonesia Travel Guide

Indonesia is the largest archipelago country on the planet. It’s no wonder then that it is full of so many different kinds of adventures. It’s a spiral of colours and cultures; sprawling with all sorts of animal and plant life, dreamy beach paradises and spiritual retreats. And with it being one of the most affordable holiday destinations on the planet, it’s the perfect spot for backpackers and honeymooners alike.

However, with 17,000 islands and copious things to do and see, you’ll want to do a bit of planning beforehand. Indonesia is vast and unless you plan to spend many months there you’ll have to shortlist your favourite places to go, see and do. The following is a simple but detailed guide to help you do just that.

When to Go

As soon as possible! Honestly you’ll enjoy yourself any time of year but if you’re looking for the best weather, then you’ll probably want to avoid the monsoon season.

For Bali and Nusa Tenggara, the dry season is from April to October. For Java, it will be from April to November and in Sumatra it will be from about May to October. Anything outside of these months, is the monsoon season. It will still be hot and humid during the monsoon season but a lot of rain may make it difficult to travel to some of the islands.

How to Get there

Plane: Obviously, this depends on where you’re going and what you’re itinerary looks like. A lot of people who just want a relaxing holiday in Bali will fly into Ngur Rai International airport. Jakarta’s airport, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport is the next best airport with the most international connections. There are international airports on other islands but if you’re coming a long way, you might need to take a connecting flight.

As a warning, a lot of Indonesian airlines have not made a great name for themselves in the past. Though the famous statistic says that you are significantly more likely to die in a car crash than a plane crash, Indonesia puts a dent in that statistic. They have had a crash almost every year except 2 for the past 20 years. Not all involving fatalities but the incidents have definitely caused more travelers to avoid traveling with them.

Ferry: There are various connections to Indonesia from Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. However, these are going to definitely shave off a lot more time than getting a flight. These connections are mostly just to Sumatra or Riau Islands Province.

Land: Countries which are connected to Indonesia include Malaysia (Borneo), Timor Leste, and Papua. There are regular buses that can take you from Malaysia but for the other border crossings, you will need a private car.

What to do and Where to do it

Beautiful Beaches and Marine Life

Gili Islands

Located Northwest of Lombok sits 3 awe-striking and very popular islands. Each of which come with their own personality for different kinds of travellers but equally beautiful white sand beaches.

Gili Trawangan is the most developed and cheapest place in the world to learn how to dive. It’s a bit of a party island, with lots of restaurants, hostels and upmarket hotels, so not really the place if you’re looking for a secluded paradise. If partying and water sports are your thing though, this could be your own kind of paradise.

Gili Meno has a more chilled personality, with only a few hotels, 2 hostels and not very many restaurants. Often considered the perfect spot for a romantic getaway, or anyone looking for a pensive few strolls along the beach and time-neglecting dips in the sea.

Gili T is sort of in the middle of the other two, although lately has become more and more like Gili Trawangan with a multitude of hostels, diving schools, bars and restaurants. The crystal blue waters are still magical and the party atmosphere isn’t too overwhelming. And there are plenty of spots for respite around the island. Most enticing maybe is its diverse range of marine life just waiting for you to discover it.

Bali

Nusa Penida Beach - Just an hour’s boat ride from the main land, Kelingking beach on Nusa Penida is a dazzling cove vista of huge lustrous cliffs overlooking a turquoise tide brushing against a perfectly smooth white sandy beach. I genuinely couldn’t believe my eyes when I arrived here. But it’s a place for adventurers only. While around the island you can find an array of local eateries, its mostly dirt-tracks and raw nature.

Seminyak/ Kuta - Kuta and Seminyak are different ends of the same beach. I had heard that Seminyak was the slightly more relaxed version of Kuta. When I first arrived at Seminyak though, I was taken aback by not only the traffic jam I was welcomed by but how it just seemed to go on and on. The beach is an endless row of umbrellas and beach bean bags. Kuta was much the same but perhaps more built up. The actual beaches are very wide with amazing surf, but most are drawn in for its reputation as a clubhouse in the sun.

Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat is said to have the most diverse coral reef life on the planet and a formidable amount of other marine life. Aside from this are the enchanting 1,500 islands or small shoals that are scattered about, poking out the water like backs of a tortoise. It almost looks as if Mother Nature painted this scene herself. Gam Island probably has the most pristine beach, but all over you will find lagoons, caves, weird wildlife and welcoming people.

This collection of islands is part of Papua, and therefore is a bit far to reach from the main hot-spots of Indonesia. Definitely worth it though. They weren’t going to make reaching paradise easy were they?

Natural Wonders and Adventures

Java

Mount Bromo - A fairly straightforward hike and serene at sunrise, Mount Bromo is a popular adventure out of Yogyakarta on Java. Many choose to go with a tour group but if you can rent a bike or reach it by yourself some way, then you’re more likely to beat the crowds.

I walked in pitch dark toward the volcano with only a puny flashlight, only just about finding the base of the hike by the glimmers of moonlight and found myself at the top with only 4 others. However, I visited in 2015, so the crowds have probably only increased since then. Regardless, the view is breathtaking and a peek into the heart of the volcano, heart-stopping.

Ijen Volcano – Not far from Mount Bromo in East Java is another volcano, which is certainly a bit more difficult but in my opinion, even more beautiful. It is famous for its beautiful turquoise sulfur lake set in a volcano complex that is 20km wide. As well as this, there is the blue sulfur flame which you can witness up close by actually hiking down a precarious hodge-podge of rocks to the inside of the volcano. Once you survive this, you can hike back up and hopefully make it in time for a spectacular (though very cold) sunrise.

Lombok

Mount Rinjani - is an impressive 3, 726m high. By no means a straightforward hike, it delivers on the adventure factor and equally as much on the breathtaking views factor. Due to its difficulty though, most people will stop at the crater. The 1000m left to climb to the summit is particularly strenuous.

Borneo

The island of Kalimantan is a splendorous assemblage of some 50% of the world’s species. It’s a remote jungle of some beguiling and perhaps scary wildlife, as well as some friendlier animals and vibrant fauna.

Tanjung Putting national park - is set amongst a network of heart-of-darkness-esque water ways, which lead you into thicker and thicker jungles. It is home to the endangered Orangutan where you can find an impressive conservation initiative, but also, unfortunately a lot of palm oil plantations which have killed off a lot of their habitat. You can also see gibbons, many monkey and bird species, alligators and if you’re lucky, a panther. Not hugely trodden by tourists but definitely an unforgettable adventure, this was my favourite experience in all of Indonesia.

Sumatra

Bukit Lawang - Sumatra and Borneo are the only places in the world where you can spot wild orangutan. Sumatra is probably the more visited of the two as the sanctuary in Bukit Lawang is easier to get to and more famous. Nonetheless it’s still a thick jungle of ruggedness and true nature. Plenty of trekking opportunities and freaky animal spotting.

Lake Toba - is the highest volcanic lake in the world. At 1,145km, it’s basically an ocean, with its own islands inside as well. Samosir Island is a popular place to stay where you can relax and enjoy the sublime scenery, explore an ancient village, visit the hot springs or simply explore this underrated gem.

Nusa Tenggara

Komodo National Park - This is the only place in the world where you can up close and personal with the Komodo dragon, not to mention hundreds of others species protected by the conservation site.There are also horses, buffalo, deer, wild boar, snakes, monkeys, birds and of course lots of marine life.

Cultural Wonders and Sightseeing

Bali

A lot of people go to Bali for the beaches but want to go back for the luscious inland of magnificent panoramas of rice paddies and gorgeous temples. There is so much to see and do in Bali, but at the same time the surroundings will just make you want to sit back and relax.

Ubud - is the cultural centre of Bali and an unmissable destination in Indonesia. You can find here the Monkey temple where macaques willingly jump all over you, which was thrilling for an animal lover like me. As well as this, there is the Kecak dance performance in which 60 saronged and masked men chant and dance and act out a ritualistic story. Very popular so make sure you arrive early but intensely fascinating. Ubud is also a great place for Yoga retreats and finding your inner calm.

Around the island there are many places you can visit, either by tour from Ubud or on your own by renting a motorbike. The Elephant Temple and Water Temple are 2 temples that actually ended up not just being another temple I saw while traveling. The Indonesian aesthetic is particularly unique and elaborate here.

Java

Borobudur - Probably the most famous landmark in all of Indonesia, it's hard to skip this one out of the itinerary. The Borobudur temple complex is a UNESCO Heritage site dating to the 8th Century. Its 72 beautiful buddhist stupas are set amongst a beautiful backdrop of green forest and mountains. This could be a contender for one of the wonders of the world.

Yogyakarta - Jakarta is famed amongst travelers to be one of the most culturally vacant of all capitals. So if you find yourself agreeing, then Yogyakarta will be next on your itinerary list. This was my favourite city in Indonesia. A beautiful palace, temples and some very aesthetically pleasing market streets, this place is steeped in tradition and culture.