Indonesia is a tropical archipelago other worldly wonderland crying out to be discovered. On the Islands, particularly Java and Bali ― Sumatra and Madura too, don't be left bewildered by the crowds. The vast majority of Indonesia's 250 million population reside on less than 10% of their 8000 odd Islands. The locals are super friendly though, they'll make space for you so don't panic. Book your flights and hotel, come and enjoy this once in a lifetime adventure. Bali sunsets are to die for.
How can you not be entertained by Indonesia? A rich abundance in culture and tradition spread over 8000 Islands in paradise. There are 300 odd ethnicities and between them, speaking 700 languages. Journey to Indonesia and be utterly gob smacked with this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our guide covers four of the most popular festivals:
Our favorite is the Bali Arts festival held mid-June in Denpasar. For a whole month there are cultural street performances, art exhibitions, and so much more. There are the traditional ritual dances, the palace dance as well as contemporary dancing from the local school children. There were lots of small exhibitions and food stalls and shopping opportunities for souvenirs. One of Bali's top festivals and a crowd pleaser for visiting tourists and locals alike.
The Dieng cultural festival is unique with nothing like it elsewhere in Asia. Perhaps the whole world. As soon as the children reach a certain age ― usually puberty ― it's time for their dreadlocks to be shaved off. This peculiar festival is yearly in early August in central Java where the parents wait eagerly for this day. The festival ends on a high with puppet shows and a lantern ceremony comes at nightfall.
East Java plays host to the Jember fashion carnival. We're just not so sure when it'll take place this summer, 2023. The carnival celebrates Java's contemporary culture with parades showing off the many traditions from across Indonesia. The performances put on are magnificent in style and tempo with many really beautiful pieces worn. All this accompanied by the beats of drums and musical instruments.
Our final festival is Waisak. It celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha and as a religious celebration it has huge importance in Balinese life. The festivities usually take place in the middle of May. Days before, however, preparations decorate much of the Islands, small and large in light of the big day. It can be an astonishing sight, we've been told. Both Buddhist monks and pilgrims make a big deal of this time and an event not to be missed.
You'll find the traditional Indonesian Ayam Goreng convenient for an early afternoon snack in the hot Indonesia climate. When feeling a little hungry, continue to enjoy the festival from the outdoor seating area of a restaurant. The dish is light and healthy, comprising of mixed fresh vegetables topped off with barbequed chicken and rice. There's a vegetarian variant available, usually with shrimp replacing the meat.
We believe the incredible diversity of Indonesia may lie in its colonial past. Many countries in southeast Asia were colonized by European powers: Vietnam by the French, the Philippines by the Spanish. Indonesia by the Japanese. And the British, the Portuguese, and Dutch. The colonial turmoil brought hard times for local communities but also gave the wider world a greater insight into the beauty and wealth of the Islands we enjoy today.
There are many sights and sounds to explore and enjoy in the city: the best restaurants and bars and the luxury brands found in the malls. The nightlife as well is buzzing and you're happy to party into the night but Bali may feel so far away and out of reach. Don't fret. Closer to Jakarta are the Thousand Islands. An hour or so boat ride and you are on a tropical Island beach.
Not Bali but a quick fix that serves the purpose well. If shopping is your favorite pastime, we can point out to you:
There are over 20 shopping malls and retail centers spread across Jakarta. Take your pick and get ready to go on a spending spree. Many well-known international brands compete alongside Asian brands of the same stature ― we are positive your appetite will be whetted.
Make your way to Jakarta's Old Town and busy yourself with the historic values found in our recommended museums: Jakarta History Museum, the Museum of Fine Art and Ceramic and the Puppet Museum. Get around the Old Town by hiring a bicycle for a few hours. After tiring yourself out, head to Cafe Batavia for its coffee and contemporary interior design.
We're in west Java now. There are a lot of students in Bandung because there are a lot of universities ― 17 in fact. The students want their art and fashion, and they love to socialize, adding to the city's excitement. A growing exuberance in fashion and coffee house establishments is cropping up fueling interest from outside Indonesia.
The city isn't as mature as neighboring Jakarta but it's growing. For a bit of fun and enjoyment we cannot recommend the Lodge Maribaya Adventure Park highly enough. Dare you take the tightrope bridge on a bicycle? Very child friendly and there are many activities including (but not limited to) hot air balloon rides.
Elsewhere, spend an afternoon of relaxation at Dusun Bambu shopping complex. The site is located within a forested area comprising of a park and shops, restaurants and apartments. Get to Lembang by taxi and enjoy something to eat and drink whilst shopping. One for families is Taman Wisata Maribaya park. An "escape to the countryside" feeling on the outskirts of Bandung.
The park has bridges across waterfalls and paths through the forest perfect for trekking and getting the most from nature.
The capital city Banda Aceh has many attractions and there is an abundance of natural beauty throughout the province. Arguably, Indonesia's best national parks are found here, offering trekking and camping trips for backpackers and outdoor enthusiasts. And there is no better place to exercise your muscles than climbing Pantan Terong Hill.
From the summit of this 1,800m hill you can look down over the city below and further onto the freshwater sea lake. The views from the hill top of the lake in the early morning sunrise are quite stunning actually. Hire a motorbike and set off to be there for 06:00 hours. Hidden in amongst the jungle there is a tribal village holding the secrets to the whereabouts of Blang Kolam Waterfall.
This is one more adventure for you: if you are willing to travel some distance? A bus ride from Banda Aceh to Lhokseumawe on the coast, it can be done in under 6 hours. There are enough attractions in the coastal city to make spending a few days there worthwhile. This waterfall you're after is one of the best in our opinion, being over 70 meters tall. Around the waterfall and walking from the village of Sidomulyo, is serene beauty.
Being in the tropics there must be beaches and Islands, yes? Here are our favorites:
Bali grabs most of the attention over Indonesia but there are beaches to potentially rival those of Bali. Beaches in and around Banda Aceh offer all manner of water sports and activities including snorkeling and diving, kite boarding and surfing. The beaches are clean without any feeling of being crowded out, and the waters are pristine turquoise in color. You don't need to be in Bali to be in paradise.
We have fond memories of Lombok. The fondness stems from beautiful beaches and lush rainforest jungles teaming with nature. Lombok is for everyone: nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts and sunseekers. The most popular beach is Kuta but when that gets crowded then move onto Tanjung Aan for a little more peace and quiet with more space to yourself.
Situated at the base of Mount Rinjani is the geopark and a short walk from there you come across Benang Stokel Waterfall. The twin waterfalls are roughly 30m high with beautiful sights all around as you cool off in the pool. There's a second waterfall by the way. More distant from the car park from where you set off originally, Benang Kelambu Waterfall is 30 minutes' walk. Benang Kelambu is set among trees but there is a pool that's great for cooling off as well.
The city of Medan receives a lot of domestic tourists because the city is known for its charm and food. However, foreign tourists are prone to stopping overnight, only to leave for their final destination. A shame really, in our opinion. Because our guide focuses on the nature and the amazing beauty on Medan's doorstep:
What attracts you to Sumatra is the diverse range of attractions on offer. The rainforests, for example, are home to the Sumatran tiger. Elephants roam wild in the forests as do orangutans. Just outside of the Gunung Leuser National Park is a village, Bukit Lawang, with large parts of the jungle protected. The village's main attraction is the orangutans. You have a chance of seeing them at feeding times as they swing from tree to tree in search of food.
Seek out the town of Berastagi for Gunung Sibayak, a volcano that still smokes but is considered harmless. In any case the rocks beneath are hot enough to warm the water table providing hot springs on the surface. Wallowing in the hot strings has medicinal benefits due to the high percentage of minerals. Take a guide with you for the 7km climb to the top, giving yourself several hours at least, one way.
The Mentawai Islands. Off the coast of Padang is an archipelago of Islands with arguably some of the best surfing found in all of Indonesia. Quite a crowd come for surfing but holiday seekers come for the beaches, water activities and trekking through untouched rainforest jungle.
Another hidden gem of Sumatra is Weh Island. A little paradise most tourists have never heard of. Kilometers of beautiful sand and pristine clear waters for the pleasure of swimming, diving and snorkeling. There is adequate accommodation and cafes on the Island so you can stay long enough to catch a sunset.
We love Bali. It's something we've said over and over again. Bali is an incredible holiday and honeymoon sensation. However, there are no Komodo dragons on Bali but there are on East Nusa Tenggara, which is why we're recommending Flores to you as a destination.
You may be thinking "What's the big deal with dragons?", well the big deal is this is the closest you'll ever get to the prehistoric period. The lizards are a species which predates the dinosaurs by almost 200 million years. Besides, some of them are quite large and intimidating. That said, it's still an amazing experience to be up close to them. When you lose interest in the lizards your attention will gravitate towards leisure and pleasure which on East Nusa Tenggara means swimwear and bikini time:
There are potential adventures caught up with prehistorical heritage sites and cultural events. Swim and dive with huge manta rays and dolphins off the coast of Flores. Explore the mountains for the waterfalls. Our favorites are Cunca Wulang Waterfall and Murudhaekale Waterfall, from Ende. Both are accessible without difficulty and offer you hours of enjoyment. And there are a multitude of caves on Flores Island, but our recommendation is to find Goa Rangko Cave.
Inside the cave, there are pools of crystal deep blue hued waters, but we would say to wait until sunlight has lit the inside up, which happens but once a day. There are steps to the pool but take care as the rocks are slippery all the same: wear suitable shoes. You can reach the cave from outside the town of Labuan Bajo.
Sumatra offers a lot but you wouldn't ordinarily know that. The Island jostles with Bali for the top spot holiday Island destination. Bali marginally wins out, of course but what we're saying to you is to give Sumatra a go.
The city of Bandar Lampung is one of two major metropolis areas on the Island. Much of the Lampung culture and heritage has been preserved in the old buildings and the city's museums happily showcase this proud history. The city is modern with a dependable, affordable public transport system in place, it's very easy to get around the city and bay area.
You won't have any bother getting from your hotel to the bay area further south. Beaches are incredible, and the soft pearly white sand is a cushion beneath your feet. There are several beaches by the way:
First up is Gigi Hiu beach and we recommend this beach only for the remarkable nature of the stones and boulders strewn everywhere. We grabbed many stunning photographs from this beach looking over the water, late in the afternoon and evening. The setting sun over the beach is quite remarkable but don't attempt to swim from this beach: it's far too dangerous.
Now we are talking. Tanjung Setia Beach is what you've come to expect from those on Lombok. A very easy place to fall in love with for proper relaxation. A spot that is ideal for those of you wanting to hone your surfing skills or even begin to learn to surf in fact. It's a little fun in any regard, isn't it? Our last recommendation is Mutun beach. It's perfect for families with gentler waves and a wider choice of water activities.
Hire a taxi to take you to Sukajaya Lempasing and ask the driver to drop you off at the beach. Lastly. If your favorite pastime back home is fishing, we suggest you go fishing on Kubur Island. Hire a small boat yourself to get there or hop on one of the larger fishing boats, that's quite possible too.
Even if you don't want the fishing, the Island is still spectacular for its feeling of being remote. It is an ideal getaway for a romantic couple wanting to explore on their own. Sunsets are pretty stunning too from any spot on this Island: book a bungalow, for a stay over. Either from your Bandar Lampung hotel or before flying out on holiday.
There are two towns you can approach the Island from: Besar and Poto Tano, the main tourist base reached by ferry from Lombok. The port town is small and plays in your favor for you have complete freedom to roam. It's the reason for venturing so far off the beaten track in fact. The secluded sandy beaches and the rich nature found in the rainforest jungles are a photographer's dream come true.
Then there is Kenawa Island. Carpeted in sand and lush green grasslands making it ideal for a day trip to escape from the dense population found on the larger Islands. You're going to enjoy snorkeling offshore for the marine life: starfish and crabs and seahorses. Sumbawa by the way, is a popular haunt for those who are serious about surfing.
The surfers gather at Lakey, which has perfect waves for surfing. Because it's a regular hangout for surfers, and travelers arrive to sunbathe, there are numerous beach bars serving fresh food. Other areas of the Island surfers will congregate on Maluk and Tropica beaches. Popular too, is Moyo Island to the north, off the coast of Sumbawa and famed for its national park.
Natural beauty can be found inland where bats, wild boars and lizards are plentiful. It is also known that there are beautiful coral reefs beneath the waves. As with Flores there's waterfalls on Sumbawa. We'll let you discover those on your own.
This is Indonesia's hidden corner of paradise that so few consider as a holiday paradise destination ― because it's not convenient to get there. First you must fly into Sorong from elsewhere in southern Asia only then to take a ferry. It usually involves you staying one night in Sorong, because the ferries leave early in the morning.
Your ferry takes you as far as Waisai only. That means your hotel must make arrangements to pick you up on arriving in Waisai.
But once you get there, you'll be glad of it: for there are far fewer people to share it with. World renowned for the Island beauty and the marine and coral reef biodiversity. You are coming to an entirely different world altogether for a life changing experience:
And that's what it is: life changing. We love Bali but this could be better than Bali were it not so darned difficult to get to. Yet you are grateful for the seclusion. As soon as you wake up in the morning you head out into the water for a swim before breakfast. The sea water is warm and the sounds of gentle waves are mindful.
Late in the morning you go snorkeling. You do a lot of this and it's because of the underwater world below the waves. Having the pleasure of swimming with tropical fish, pufferfish, turtles, dolphins and sharks is indescribable. What truly blows your mind is not only the diverse range of tropical fish but the size of shoals giving way to you.
And the people are so friendly and helpful. You'll see that immediately you arrive on the Island of Arborek. Children come running to greet you in amazement and delight. They're just pleased to see new faces: there is not such a large population on the small Island. You will want to go snorkeling on this Island and without a doubt the east coast has the best coral for tourists to see.
You will also want to Island hop and there are four Islands to know about:
You will at some point want to explore your surroundings and there are chartered boats that can take you to all the major Islands. Because those Islands have incredible limestone karst mountains and inside there are lush rainforest jungles teaming with rare bird species.
There are many hidden aquamarine pools and lagoons for cooling off in. Raja Ampat is famous for its biodiversity and that's inclusive of bird species. In Alyui Bay in the late evening watching the sun go down you are listening intently to the songs of parrots and hornbills settling in for the night. Few other places on Earth do you get this once in a lifetime experience.
It's your reward for troubling yourself to come to Raja Ampat. For experienced trekking enthusiasts we could suggest Pulau Gam which has hilly terrain carpeted over with thick dense rainforest jungle. We were told it's very difficult to navigate through the interior so that's one for those who relish a grand challenge.
An archipelago off the east coast of Indonesia, Maluku are known collectively as the Spice Islands. If you've made it this far into the guide then you'll know what to expect from these Islands:
The Islands are small ― most are tiny ― with a few active volcanos. High up the landscape is green and wild but lower down there are swamps and idyllic white beaches with an unimaginable marine life calling the coral reefs their home. You are going to Maluku for the dramatic scenery and lush tropics and the rare wildlife.
Peering out the window of your plane, down onto Indonesia before your pilot makes his final approach, your heart beats harder and harder. It's difficult to put into words the anticipation, the excitement of arriving in paradise. In southeast Asia, paradise is everywhere, yes that is true but Indonesia has a thing about grabbing you, and refusing to let go. And you're still on the plane, not having landed yet.
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Hello, we are George and Elle Mae Melyre.
Over the years, amidst work and family life, we have traveled extensively throughout Asia. Any chance to briefly escape or properly holiday in our beloved Asian destinations is eagerly seized, motivated by the enduring dream of leaving behind the UK's dreary cold for tropical climes.