Indonesia Travel Highlights
Indonesia is such a vast and diverse country that it's hard to summarize its highlights into a few paragrapsh. If you like to lie on the beach and relax, the Gili Islands north of Lombok, or Maluku's Banda Islands will not leave you disappointed. If you're into mountaineering, you'll find plenty of volcanic mountains waiting to be climbed. If you love the architecture of old temples, you can see the biggest Buddhist temple on Earth in Borobodur.
Indonesia offers plenty of chances to take a relaxing vacation, whether you choose a pristine beach, a primordial forest, or a remote village. On the other side of the coin, you can also find vibrant nightlife, great tourist spots, and luxury hotels there. The only problem is that Indonesia is so big, you may not have time to see it all!
To see all the highlights in Indonesia, you would probably need to take a months-long vacation. However, you can see all the big attractions on Java in about two weeks; to do Bali would take about the same amount of time, and Lombok slightly less. The longer you stay in Indonesia, the more time you'll have to explore.
As we mentioned, Indonesia is dotted with beautiful beaches. They're all different, and only the ones in the south of Bali are crowded. Wherever you are, you're never too far away from a stunning beachscape. However, due to the lacking infrastructure, some of the more isolated beaches require a boat charter for access.
For those looking to really get away from it all, the Karimunjawa and the Banda Islands are a must-stop. Both of these island locales are home to pristine beaches; however, facilities are very scant there. The few area hotels are often empty, so they're unstaffed. In more isolated areas, being conversationally fluent in Indonesian is key.
If you like your beach life with all the creature comforts, the Gili Islands are a great destination. These are a group of three white-sand islands and each has its own distinct character. The most luxurious hotels and the best nightlife can be found on Gili Trawangan, and the most peaceful ambience is found on Gili Meno.
Many people go to Indonesia to surf; good surf is common around both Lombok and Bali. Other surfing areas are west of Java, south and east of Bali, and some spots in Nusa Tenggara. The most touristy surfing spot is in the Kuta area; as it is so popular, expect it to be crowded with other tourists. If you want to surf, you should bring your own board because rental boards are often of poor quality.
Indonesia offers some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world. Three of the top five worldwide diving sites are found there: the Banda Islands, Nusa Tenggara's Alor, and Sulawesi's Pulau Bunaken. Water clarity is generally great, although the wet season can muddy it a little. Divers should bring their own equipment as rentals are not common.