There are two certainties for your Indonesian holiday.
First, you will sunbathe on a beach and second, you will Island hop. This guide gives you the best Island holiday beach destinations for your vacation. Each handpicked Island we have visited, in our opinion a top-notch choice for you. Each item in the list has 5 most beautiful holiday beaches you could want. Want a different beach for each day? You've got it.
Our guide will cover those beaches on each of the five Islands. As some of the beaches have similar features, water sports-based activities and so on. It's safe to say our handpicked beaches are the best and better than the rest. There are so many beaches, bays and hidden coves all over Indonesia it is worthwhile your time to explore.
Asking locals where an Island's best kept secret beaches are does pay off because some do talk.
There are so many unforgettable things to see and do in Indonesia, it's unbelievable. You're unprepared for the tropical Island escape, yet that's exactly what you've dreamt about. Do dreams come true? In Indonesia, they do. The beaches featured in this travel guide are perfect in so many ways but there are many other attractions:
For a better idea of what to expect from an Indonesian holiday, read our travel guide below. This guide will help you plan ahead so not to miss out on any great adventure waiting for you and loved ones.
We have scribbled about Indonesia before. The Island archipelago the perfect honeymoon holiday destination. This guide is different. The focus is on the best holiday vacation beaches on Indonesia's Islands.
All the Indonesian Islands in our guide are well known and world renowned. But why? Bali has stunning beaches and crowded temples. All forms of natural beauty surround you. Plus, two very different, active volcanoes found on Bali. Mount Batur and Mount Agung add to the memorable drama you experience. Scenic lakes and waterfalls and rice fields complement your holiday fulfilment.
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Nyang Nyang Beach is little known which may explain its seclusion. If you find yourself in the south of Bali, then by all means hire a private taxi to take you there. The beach facing to the east enhances your experience of a Bali sunrise, by magnitudes. That's the best time to visit the beach ― early morning. Nunggalan Beach is by the way the east entry point to Nyang Nyang Beach, but it's seen as a separate beach. We urge you to take the west entry point, it's the easy option.
Kuta Beach is the most popular in Bali, there is no getting away from it. It's crowded, early in the morning all the way through to late evening. If you want to sunbathe and read a good book, then look elsewhere. But if you want activity then Kuta could be for you. The beach has a street that runs the length of it with all manner of shops, eateries and restaurants.
In our opinion, despite the crowds and noise, Kuta Beach is family friendly. Tourists not liking Kuta Beach find what they're looking for with Seminyak Beach. Seminyak Town is quieter, more peaceful and feels luxurious in comparison.
There are lots of boutique cafes and restaurants and there are rooftop bars. Being in the west of Bali you catch the best sunsets too. No more than a 45-minute taxi ride to the southwest of Bali, from Ngurah Rai international airport. The final destination makes a huge difference to your vacation holiday.
What you will love about Lombok is the three small Gili Islands off its coast. It is common knowledge that Gili Meno is the most idyllic for honeymooning couples. If you seek romantic solitude, then Gili Meno is for the two of you.
Want to party? Luck would have it, Gili Trawangan is the party Island for you. Each night one bar stays open and the others close early (around midnight). Also, each bar plays a different music genre or style. This ensures every night is a party extravaganza.
Lombok is less crowded and less commercialized what Bali can be and it's only a short boat trip from Bali. The summit of Mount Rinjani is the icing on the cake. The trek to the top isn't the easiest but if you are fit you should manage a 3-day, 2-night trek. If you are fond of camping, you will relish the adventure.
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The best sensation in Lombok for beaches is Selong Belanak Beach. It sits by itself in a bay with rolling hills to the back of it. With so much nature within easy reach it makes our top 25 best beaches of Indonesia. The one-kilometer beach can get busy by late morning. That's when you seek the sheltered areas and drown out the busy atmosphere. The beach is great for families because of the activities but you can lounge and relax too.
Whilst Selong Belanak Beach lies to the west, Tanjung Aan Beach lies to the south of Kuta Lombok. Rent yourself a scooter and journey the 20 minutes yourself, to the beach. Renting a scooter or motorbike is cheap. We paid US$5 to hire one for the day, and an extra US$1 for fuel.
One of the more popular destinations for tourists is this beach. Clean and the turquoise waters are what you dreamt of about, from a paradise Island. The beach does get busy at times but there is enough space for you to find somewhere quieter to relax. The waters are great for swimming because you don't need to swim out so far to enjoy the depth.
Nipah Beach is a favorite of ours because of the wide stretches of white sand. Getting there from Senggigi Town also gives you a peek into the coastal beauty of Lombok. It doesn't take long to get to the beach. Give yourself more time ― allowing for all the stops is our advice to you. You won't be in a rush anyway, for sure.
Find the beach behind many coconut palm trees you will need to walk through to the other side. The beach is the perfect spot for swimming and snorkeling, and you must swim further out to find coral. It is a nice beach to be on and in late summer it is quieter as there are fewer tourists.
Plus, you could (if you wanted to) take a 2-day or even a 3-day tour? That tour takes you on an adventurous jungle trek to Mount Rinjani, and back again. A thrilling holiday experience. It's great because you don't need to be a camping enthusiast to enjoy. The tour guides supply you all the necessary equipment, you only need to buy your food.
Indonesia Travel: 5 Best Volcano Treks in Indonesia
There are 150 million people on this Island. Quite a large chunk of Indonesia's 280 million total population. One attraction for many is Java's great antiquity and ancient temples. The bustling cities. Perfect for backpackers on their gap year. Students are young, energetic and eager to explore.
Java is the real deal, the real Indonesia. Authentic through and through. There are volcanoes, tea plantations and temples. And then there is Jakarta City. You come to Java to experience the life of real Indonesian people and culture.
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Quiet and even quant, you don't care, with far fewer foreign tourists the Island is more attractive. Everyone coming to Indonesia is after a beach and there are some beautiful beaches on Java.
Cimaja Beach is a hedonistic surfing destination. The beach is usually occupied by locals, and the surfing fraternity of course. If you are more than a surfing novice this is your beach. Other than surfers the beach offers little more to anyone.
For our next beach you must take yourself on a boat trip to Karimunjawa Island. Earlier we said Java is authentic Indonesia: the real deal. You sense that the moment you step on the Island. One beautiful location is the location of Tanjung Gelam Beach. We cannot emphasis that enough. The entrance fee is ridiculous:
Accommodation and food by the way are cheap and quality does not suffer either. The location has two other beautiful beaches accessible on foot making it three in one. This beach has excellent restaurants and vendors selling soft drinks and miscellaneous. Both domestic and foreigners find and use the beach, especially before the sunset.
It's a great beach to be on and in fact it's three rolled into one actually. The beaches are clean and litter free as you would expect. The sand is perfect and the waters warm and pristine turquoise in color.
Java's best kept secret from international tourists is Pangandaran Beach. Known by and popular with locals, the small fishing village hides its beach well. You'll be jolly glad when you find it yourself. We singled out this particular beach as the location is ideal for nature lovers.
Before heading off out of the village we suggest you spend time with:
The reserve has sightseeing opportunities for wild buffalo, deer and monkeys. The village is closest to Bandung at 5 hours by bus and 8 hours from Jakarta by bus too. Choose a bus with air conditioning and relax, you'll soon arrive before you know it.
Not only for Tanjung Gelam Beach but the Island do you want to make the extra effort to travel further. This Island is worth it. Coming from Jakarta City you arrange for a domestic flight to Semarang City. From there, arrive by bus or taxi at Kartini Harbor, Jepara for a boat.
Or a 6-hour bus ride from Yogyakarta City will take you to the same harbor. The fast boat takes two hours to get you to the Island. If the boat is full then your ticket will buy you a seat on the floor. Yes, you did read that correctly. You accept that because the boat journey is once a day and not every day.
Read Also: Bandung Guide, why you should Travel to west Java
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Flores is becoming best known as a refuge for those wanting to distance themselves. It is peaceful (for now) with clean pristine clear waters and white sands. Perfect tranquility for lounging on the beach and swimming. Lush green scenery and wildlife for those of you wanting to explore.
And the Island is close to Komodo Island, where you can find the Komodo Dragons. In fact, if you are lucky, you may even come across one of these giant lizards on Flores. Far east from the popularity of Bali, Flores Island is remarkable. It's another part of Indonesia that's a secret paradise, worthwhile seeking out. Stroll on the rich pink and pitch-black sandy beaches of the Island because you can ― alone.
We picked out Mbuu Beach for its bizarreness. The beach itself you cannot sunbathe or go swimming. You are visiting for a very one-off experience. The beach looks like something from another world ― a fantastical land. The rounded stones are green in color, and it is common for clouds of mist to cover over the stones. Until you see it for yourself you won't believe it.
We struggled between picking Oa Beach and Kota Beach. Oa Beach won out because its far more accessible. On first impressions Oa Beach is completely void of life. It's not, there are people but they're local to the Island, which is okay.
The beach is sparse of tourists, which matters more. If you are after a beach you can have to yourself for tranquil peace and assured rest, this beach is for you. And because the beach is to the east of Flores you get a stunning sunrise. Such beautiful moments bring a tear to your eyes. You are so glad you woke up early and made a mad dash for the beach.
Little known and unheard of to the mainstream tourist, the beach is bliss. It lets you run away from life's stresses. You can get to the beach from Larantuka City. Hire a private taxi to drive you the 50km to Oa Village or hire a motorbike yourself if you prefer.
You're unable to escape Lake Toba. Borne out of a horrific eruption of this super volcano some 75,000 years ago. The attraction is like a powerful magnet. If you do come to Sumatra ― for its beaches ― you very well may lose sight of those, because of this lake. What pleases you more are the friendly locals greeting you with wide smiles. The lush rainforests, coral reefs and volcanoes are secondary.
Much of the Island has little development for tourism and that's not a bad thing. It only means traditions and the all-important heritage are intact. You don't miss anything you have elsewhere in Indonesia, not found here. The Island is budget friendly, as you discover traveling on the Island. Restaurants are cheap without loss of quality or service. The food is tasty and well presented. The Island is yet one more untouched paradise in southeast Asia.
On the Aceh coastal region is Iboih Beach. It is the most popular diving spot in Sumatra for marine life such as turtles, mantra rays and sharks. As nice though by our account is Tanjung Tinggi Beach. It has smooth white sands and turquoise waters, and giant boulders scattered around. Held within a bay the waters are calm and clear visibility to the coral beneath the waves.
You could lounge there all day. Go swimming in and around those boulders and be content with yourself as so few tourists are around. It's one of those beaches the mainstream tourist has yet to learn of.
Not so far away is Lengkaus Beach. The Lengkaus Island is a stone's throw from Belitung Island, where Tanjung Tinggi Beach is. From the Island's lighthouse you can enjoy magnificent views outwards. The Island is spot on for spending a half day away from Belitung Island. Gorgeous white sands, warm waters and coral marine life and have it all to yourself. There are no excuses for not hiring a boat and going off to enjoy yourself.
How far off the beaten track do you want to go? The Island is exotic and full of adventure yet remains one of the lesser-known parts of Indonesia. Covering the Island is lush, dense rainforests. Lore Lindu National Park is the finest example of what a paradise interior can be. Follow the trails with guide in tow for the deep gorges and raging rivers.
The beaches enjoy calm waters with beautiful corals and marine life. You will lose many hours snorkeling and diving in these waters. The north of this Island forms part of the Coral Triangle in the way of the Wakatobi Marine National Park. You arrive at the conclusion (as we did) Sulawesi revolves around nature in every sense of the word:
Taipa Beach is 20km north of the provincial capital of Palu. The 2018 tsunami almost destroyed this city. It took a 7.5 size earthquake to lay waste to the 18,000 inhabitants. A sour reminder of what nature can do and a sobering thought. Life has returned but speaking to the locals, the horrors are still fresh in their minds you'll find.
Getting back to the reason why you would want to come, Taipa Beach has rich corals. You can go snorkeling 50 meters off the shoreline to find the marine life. Lot of colored fish dart around you doing their best to avoid you, there is a certain humor to it. The swift speed in the way they move is startling to say the least. In comparison to yourself who is slow and cumbersome.
FREE Download! Get the low down on the best places for snorkeling in Indonesia
The beach can be relaxing. There is a pleasure you feel that may be exclusive of your location. It's how the green of the foliage blends with the blue of the sky and water. Thoughts of Robinson Crusoe flash before you. A day or two in the vicinity of Palu provides more than enough therapeutic mindful benefit to you.
The best time to travel to Indonesia for your summer holiday are the months of July and August. It is dry and for these months it is cooler, making it perfect for beach and inland activities. If you have hopes of swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving, make your travel plans for those two months. But July and August are also peak tourist months.
On deciding for sure you're going to go to Indonesia, book flights and accommodation. Don't worry about booking domestic flights in advance, there's no need to. Domestic flights are regular, every day to most internal airports. Book those flights a day before, or two days (during peak season) for when you're ready.
Read Also The Best Months to Visit Indonesia
You come to Indonesia looking for a superb holiday and you are going to get that. This huge archipelago has amazement written all over it. Indescribable, what goes through your thoughts once settled into your hotel. The Islands have it all:
Our guide covers the 25 best holiday beaches in Indonesia, but you will 100% want to get off the beaches and explore. And when you do that's when you'll be gob smacked by Indonesia. There you have it. Five very different Islands and handpicked beaches, each beautiful in their own way.
We love Bali but there is so much more to Indonesia, as you are about to see for yourself.
