Indonesia is a vast tropical archipelago offering visitors anything from superb beaches, great dive sites, and golf courses to remote rainforests, active volcanoes, and indigenous cultures. As the home of some 300 ethnic groups and many big cities as well as tranquil rural areas, unexplored wilderness and beautiful island destinations, Indonesia has plenty of things to occupy your senses with.
A massive archipelago located in Southeast Asia between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, Indonesia consists of some 18,000 islands that span more than 4,000 km apart. They include some of the largest islands in the world, over 400 volcanoes, and second-largest amount of rainforests in the world. Ultimate in diversity, Indonesia is also the fourth most populous country and the largest Muslim country in the world. It is home to both popular tourist destinations such as Bali, bustling cities such as Jakarta, and many hidden touristic gems, although the infrastructure in much of Indonesia remains relatively poor.
The Island of Gods, Bali is the most popular travel destination in Indonesia. This island on the East side of Java is home to stunning beaches, great scenery, excellent dive sites, and traditional Hindu culture. The island of Lombok next to Bali has much of the same to offer as Bali does, but as a quieter destination it lacks the touristic bustle of Bali. The small island of Komodo between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores is famous for the large Komodo dragons as well as its rich marine life. Close to Singapore, Bintan, the largest of the Riau islands is nice for beach holidays as well as shopping, and hosts some world-class golf courses.
Tropical forests still cover approximately 60 % of Indonesia, and nature lovers will find great opportunities for trekking, wildlife viewing, and birdwatching in the vast forests of Kalimantan (Indonesian part of the island of Borneo), West Papua, and Sumatra. These huge island regions are culturally diverse and great for adventure tourism. Indonesia is home to as many as 300 different ethnic groups. The island of Sulawesi also offers jungles and interesting indigenous cultures, as well as some of the world’s best diving along its northern coast around the city of Manado.
Travel to Indonesia can be done in a variety of ways. The main international airports in Indonesia are in Jakarta and in Denpasar on Bali, but many other Indonesian cities also receive flights to Indonesia from the neighboring countries. You can also travel to Indonesia by ferry from Malaysia or Singapore.
Getting around. Distances in Indonesia are long and the only fast way to travel within Indonesia is by air. There are also ferries between practically all inhabited islands and they are the most popular means of inter-island travel. However, Indonesian ferries are neither very fast, comfortable nor safe.
A massive archipelago located in Southeast Asia between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, Indonesia consists of some 18,000 islands that span more than 4,000 km apart. They include some of the largest islands in the world, over 400 volcanoes, and second-largest amount of rainforests in the world. Ultimate in diversity, Indonesia is also the fourth most populous country and the largest Muslim country in the world. It is home to both popular tourist destinations such as Bali, bustling cities such as Jakarta, and many hidden touristic gems, although the infrastructure in much of Indonesia remains relatively poor.
Tourism attractions in Indonesia: beaches, islands, diving, cities & historical sites
So, where to go in Indonesia? You’ll have plenty of choice depending on your preferred activities. Java, the densely inhabited main island of Indonesia offers big city bustle of the capital Jakarta with excellent shopping and nightlife, mighty temples and World Heritage Sites of Borobudur and Prambanan around the city of Yogyakarta, and great nature attractions like Ujung Kulon National Park.The Island of Gods, Bali is the most popular travel destination in Indonesia. This island on the East side of Java is home to stunning beaches, great scenery, excellent dive sites, and traditional Hindu culture. The island of Lombok next to Bali has much of the same to offer as Bali does, but as a quieter destination it lacks the touristic bustle of Bali. The small island of Komodo between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores is famous for the large Komodo dragons as well as its rich marine life. Close to Singapore, Bintan, the largest of the Riau islands is nice for beach holidays as well as shopping, and hosts some world-class golf courses.
Tropical forests still cover approximately 60 % of Indonesia, and nature lovers will find great opportunities for trekking, wildlife viewing, and birdwatching in the vast forests of Kalimantan (Indonesian part of the island of Borneo), West Papua, and Sumatra. These huge island regions are culturally diverse and great for adventure tourism. Indonesia is home to as many as 300 different ethnic groups. The island of Sulawesi also offers jungles and interesting indigenous cultures, as well as some of the world’s best diving along its northern coast around the city of Manado.
Indonesia travel information and practical tips
Indonesia enjoys a tropical climate with a lot of variation depending on location and altitude. There are distinct rainy and dry seasons, and in most of the country the dry season is between April and October while the rainy season is between November and March. In highland areas of Indonesia the temperatures are somewhat cooler than in the coast, and there are even some snow covered peaks and glaciers in the high mountains of Papua.Travel to Indonesia can be done in a variety of ways. The main international airports in Indonesia are in Jakarta and in Denpasar on Bali, but many other Indonesian cities also receive flights to Indonesia from the neighboring countries. You can also travel to Indonesia by ferry from Malaysia or Singapore.
Getting around. Distances in Indonesia are long and the only fast way to travel within Indonesia is by air. There are also ferries between practically all inhabited islands and they are the most popular means of inter-island travel. However, Indonesian ferries are neither very fast, comfortable nor safe.
Photo: bonbongirl, used under Creative Commons License (By ND 2.0)
The public transport on the islands is handled mainly by buses, although there are also railways in Java and Sumatra. In cities and towns, public transportation is available in form of minibuses, tricycles, and motorcycle taxis. Renting a car in Indonesia is cheap, but local roads are often in bad condition.
Visitor services in Indonesia vary depending on the region. Bali offers a wealth of tourist services including beach resorts and nightlife options, and many larger cities in Indonesia have very good services as well. However, if you visit smaller destinations or remote islands of Indonesia, expect to find a limited amount of basic services. Note that Indonesia is mainly a Muslim country, and alcohol is not available everywhere. Many educated people in Indonesia can understand and speak English.
Safety. Indonesians are generally very friendly people. However, the safety situation in this large country varies greatly depending on region. Some areas, particularly Central Sulawesi, Papua and Moluccas islands, as well as parts of Borneo are experiencing political unrest. Seek local advice before traveling into these areas. Travel permits are required for travel to certain conflict areas such as Poso, Palu and Papua. Indonesia has experienced several natural disasters in recent years, as well as terrorist attacks against foreign targets in Bali and Jakarta. However, such events are unlikely to affect your trip. Indonesia has some problems with crime such as robbery, theft and pick-pocketing. This is good to keep in mind especially when going into crowded places and traveling with public transport. Indonesia also suffers from high level of corruption, so some officials may ask you for bribes.
Short history of Indonesia: from ancient kingdoms to a vast archipelago republic
Indonesia has been home to many civilizations in different parts of the vast archipelago. Some of the largest kingdoms were Srivijaya in Sumatra between 7th and 14th century and Majapahit that united Java, Sumatra, Bali, and Borneo during 14th to 16th century. Arab traders brought Islam to Indonesia and it became the dominant religion in Java and Sumatra in the 16th century. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive in the early 1500s, followed by the English and the Dutch. The Dutch took over the control of Java in the early 17th century, which led to 350 years of colonization.More recent times. After the Japanese occupation in World War II, Indonesia declared its independence. The former colonies of West New Guinea and East Timor were annexed by Indonesia, which caused armed resistance in both areas. The major hostilities between the socialists and nationalists in 1965 caused over 500,000 victims. After four decades of military leadership, Indonesia returned to democracy in 1998. Independence of East Timor and a peace agreement with the government and separatists in Aceh soon followed. There has been fighting between Muslim and Christian groups in Sulawesi and the Moluccas and separatists continue their fight in West Papua.
