Strung like a beaded necklace over 5,000 km along the equator, Indonesia has a staggering array of experiences. There’s tongue tickling cuisine that will have you loosening your pants and beaches that will put you firmly in a tropical state of mind. Then there are the temples, timeless Hindu and Buddhist structures that will make you wonder if you’ve unwittingly stumbled onto the set of an Indiana Jones movie.
The biggest pull though is Bali. Bali gets along with everyone, has a sunny disposition and is all round fun. Great for any kind of traveller, it can accommodate a honeymooning couple, a family with tiny kids and groups of friends. Shopaholics will have a field day trawling through the many local designer stores that line the streets, marvelling at the sun filtering through colourful dream catchers and the famous Uluwatu lace. Seminyak is where the cool kids head for their fix of night time partying by the beach, and also for that much sought after coffee, the famous Kopi Luwak. In Canggu, the perfect waves break against the shore, drawing surfers in with their foam and tides. Ubud sits like a glowing emerald in the crown, its verdant rice terraces and thriving art scene proving irresistible to anyone who sets foot on the land. In Nusa Dua, relax in luxury resorts that seem to shut out the chaos of the outside world. Pass through the gates to enter a world of pure, unabashed relaxation.
On the nearby Gili Islands in Lombok, snorkelling and diving are the biggest draws, the clear water creating the perfect conditions for some stellar underwater sightings.
Komodo Island National Park offers stunning underwater encounters, and its wild terrain is a hiking haven.
Java, considered by many to be the heart of the nation, is steeped in prehistoric antiquity, and the island is scattered with haunting temples like the ones at Borobudur and Prambanan. Yogyakarta, the soul of Java, is a hub of traditional ways, where the Javanese language is at its purest.
And finally, there’s the Sumatran rain forest, a mysterious overgrowth where a raw, natural power throbs underfoot. Home to tigers, rhinos and also elephants, it also hosts another kind of resident. So, keep your eyes peeled, and if you see a flash of orange and a tuft of flaming hair disappear behind a tree trunk, consider yourself lucky!
GREAT FOR
HIGHLIGHTS
Orangutans and Komodo Dragons
Idyllic beaches and dramatic volcanos
Surfing, snorkeling and trekking
Balinese dance and music
Great shopping and local food