I have been lucky enough to visit Indonesia twice over the past five years and I don’t even feel like I’ve scratched the surface of this beautiful and varied nation.
To call it a country seems almost absurd – made up of 17,508 islands and stretching across three time zones, it is more like a continent than a single country.
From lush rainforests to surf strewn beaches, kalaedoscopic corals, colourful temples and misty mountains, Indonesia has everything a visitor could want. Aside from the scenery, Indonesian people are amongst the friendliest I’ve ever met, and I’m sure it won’t be long until I return to this beautiful land.
These are just a few of my recommendations when visiting Indonesia:
1.Borobudur, Java
Arriving at sunrise is undoubtedly the most magical time to experience this ancient monument. Climbing the stone steps in the pitch black early hours, following only torch light, you wait in darkness until light begins to appear in the sky. As the sky gradually infuses itself with a navy blue, you begin to see the sillouettes of the 72 stone stupas dotted around the main temple platform. There is a pre-dawn silence as a magical mist hangs above the jungle carpet beyond the temple walls. As birds begin to chirp, and the sky turns from a deep blue to musky shades of purple, the outline of a volcano appears on the horizon.
Despite the early wake up time, and being surrounded by many other tourists, I stood in a trance for several hours, as each few minutes of the sunrise took on a new and more enchanting appeal.
Top tip: DEFINITELY GO FOR SUNRISE! Although it is more expensive than other times of day- it is 100% worth it, and hands down the best sunrise I’ve ever experienced.
2.Bali
Bali is undoubtedly the destination in Indonesia that most tourists have probably heard of. Unfortunately it sometimes gets a bad rap due to the brash appeal of places like Kuta and Seminyak which are full of big hotels, bars, restaurants and shopping malls. Travel only a hour or so away from the hussle and bussle and you will reach a more authentic side of Bali – rainforests and rice paddy fields speckled with Hindu temples.
The hippy chic town of Ubud, is a must visit for some of the best plant-based food you’ve ever tried, and the famous – Monkey Forest. Although I give a fair warning – DO NOT get too friendly with those monkeys, they are not as harmless as they look!
Top tip: If you’re confident riding a scooter, then this is the best way to get around in Bali. The roads are fairly safe and you can hire one anyway for a cheap price – plus you get to see all of that stunning countryside from the back of a bike!
3.West Papau
Clear warm waters with some of the most diverse marine life in the world. Untouched beaches. During my brief 3 night stay in West Papau I had to pinch myself several times as a precautionary reality check.
And the jewel in the crown – Raja Ampat the turquoise encrusted archipelago of islands
If paradise had a name, West Papau would have a good shot at the title. To the far west of Indonesia, bordering Papau New Guinea, these two tropical peninsualas are a province of Indonesia not often visited by tourists. It’s not difficult to see why - a flight from the capital city of Jakarta took 5 hours in itself, add to that two further boat journeys and you finally arrive at your postcard destination.
4.Yogyakarta
If you want to experience traditional Javanese culture and arts, you can’t do much better than visiting ‘Yogya’. Intricate traditional Javanese architecture, fine art and culture such as batik, and puppet shows, make it the ideal place to soak up everything Javanese. You can’t throw a stone without hitting an ancient temple and they don’t come much bigger than Prambanan temple, the largest Hindu temple site in Indonesia.
From the ancient to the traditional, a walk around Yogya will bring you to the colourful houses of Kampung Cali Code – a riverside settlement painted in bright colours (and a perfect photo opportunity)
Top tip: If you fancy a taste of opulence then pay a visit to the Phoenix Hotel, a heritage hotel set in a colonial building dating back to 1918 – you can have tea and cake in the regal reception rooms!
5.Lombok
Surfers – you’ve found your home! Lombok is the more chilled out brother of Bali, where the waves roll in as you sit under a palm tree sipping a mojito. With long rugged beaches and the mighty Mount Rinjani (the active volcano) at its centre, Lombok is a place of wild beauty.
As a more laid back version of Bali, it is easy to get around the island by moped stopping to admire the views with a coconut in hand when you feel tired.
Top tip: If you get bored of surf beaches and volcano,(who are you?!) you can get a short boat ride to the Gili islands – a backpackers paradise island where giant sea turtles float lazily in the water, and sun seekers sip on their cocktails as the sun goes down and fire poi artists hit the beach for their nightly performance.
6.Flores
If you’re looking to get away from the tourist trap and head to somewhere a bit more off the beaten track in Indonesia, then Flores is a more adventurous option.
A lush green island to the west of Bali and Lombok, there is natural beauty around every corner. With a laidback island vibe, you will hear the sounds of reggae as you pass through the windy roads of hillside villages. By far one of the most impressive sites of natural beauty, is the Kelimutu Crater lake –a volcano with three crater lakes each a more vibrant shade of blue. You can drive around the island by hiring a driver, or your own car or moped (if you’re brave)
On the west side of the island is the gateway to the Komodo National park – the town of Labuan Bajo – and some of the best diving spots in the world. Mantarays, sharks, and turtles can be spotted in world class dive spots in this marine park. Definitely some of the best diving I’ve ever done, although not for the faint hearted due to the strong current in some of the dive spots.
Top tip: Experience land, sea and dragons all at once by booking a two night boat trip from Lauben bajo back to Lombok or the Gilis. The one I booked took me to the famous pink beach, several snorkel spots, twilight bat watching, and to see the famous Komodo dragons up close. Be sure to check the weather before though – the sea can get pretty choppy at certain times of year!
And I've only scratched the surface of what Indonesia has to offer! I have no doubt I'll be back, so if you've got any great places you think I should know about, let me know in the comments :)