11 Highlights for Your Vacation in Indonesia
Have you ever dreamed of wandering the busy streets of Jakarta, swimming in one the beaches in Bali, or taking a step back in time visiting Borobudur, one of the world’s most unique temples?
In case you are planning a trip to Indonesia and want to know more about what is there to see, that this text is perfect for you. To help you decide on the best spots, here is a list of 11 places that will make you fall in love with Indonesia.
Just know one thing.
Whichever place you choose, we promise you the experience filled with adventures that you will remember for the rest of your life.
So what do you say? Ready to discover Indonesia?
1. Beaches of Bali
2. Lake Toba
One of Indonesia’s natural wonders, Lake Toba will captivate you with its amazing sceneries. The lake which is 450 meters deep, sits on a crater formed between 69,000 and 77,000 years ago, as the result of a catastrophic eruption!
Volcanic activity is still regularly recorded here and has pushed some islands above the water’s surface. Here, you can go swimming, water skiing, canoeing, and fishing. And if you come with a family, there are plenty of places where you can walk enjoying one of the best natural sights in the entire country.
3. Borobudur
This amazing site contains 504 statues of the Buddha, alongside 1460 stone reliefs on the walls and opposite balustrades decorate the first four galleries, with an additional 1212 decorative reliefs augmenting the path. But maybe the most interesting part of the temple are relief sculptures of Buddha’s teachings and various events related to his past lives.
But check this out
During your visit to Borobudur temple, you will be able to use specially made audio guides to discover the most interesting facts about this temple. Walk around the site and listen to the history of the temple, how the unique stone carvings were made, and all the legends and stories that happened here.
Multilingual and very user-friendly, Cultural places app contains everything that you need to know about this place and the best thing of all is that it is super easy to use. All you gotta do is download, listen, and enjoy the stories we prepared for you.
Download
4. Orangutans of Borneo
Who here loves monkeys? Hmm?
It’s fearless to say that no trip to Indonesia would be complete without seeing some orangutans, and Borneo is a great place to visit these beautiful and endangered creatures. Though orangutans still live in the wild, several sanctuaries rescue and protect them as land development threatens to destroy their natural habitat.
Tanjung Puting National Park in Kalimantan is home to the largest orangutan population in the world. In case you can’t make it to Borneo, you can also see orangutans at the Bohorok Orangutan Centre in Bukit Lawang, a tourism village in the Sumatran jungle.
5. Jatiluwih Rice Fields
The beaches may be the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Bali, but the green rice fields are our second. So lush and life-giving are the terraces of the Jatiluwih Rice Fields that UNESCO decided to put them on their Cultural Landscape list.
The carefully cultivated and irrigated fields are a testament to the wealth of natural resources in Bali and the hard work of the local people. What we like most here is the breathtaking scenery of the village lying at the foot of Mount Batukaru. Perfect place to take a cool selfie from your trip to Indonesia.
The best about this place?
Peace and tranquillity are promised because the place is low in tourists.
6. Pura Tanah Lot
One of Bali’s most popular temples without a doubt, built on a rock formation in the sea. The story says that the original formation began to deteriorate at one point, so the local authorities had to make one part of the rock artificial.
But that did not harm its popularity as, Pura Tanah Lot draws people in droves, particularly in time to catch the sunset. The temple compound is found on the southern coast of Beraban village, and at low tide, you can even walk there!
Once the sun goes down, browse the stalls at Tanah Lot market to purchase unique Balinese souvenirs.
7. Gili Islands
The Gili Islands are a major draw in Lombok, which has risen in popularity among backpackers and tourists in recent years. These picturesque islands offer beaches that rival those of Bali in their beauty, as well as opportunities for diving and even snorkeling at a turtle sanctuary.
You just have to see turtle sanctuary.
And if you’re looking for even more turtle action, you can check out a turtle hatchery where hundreds of these creatures are born each year. Kayaking is also popular in the Gilis, and if you’re seeking a place to reconnect with your mind and body, you will find several options for yoga classes.
The Gili Islands are a true paradise for those who want a relaxing vacation. No doubt about it.
8. Ijen, East Java
Located in eastern Java, Ijen is one of the groups of volcanoes within a huge acidic blue-water crater. But this is not just an ordinary volcano. It is the tallest volcano in the entire Indonesia.
One of the biggest in the entire region!
It is also the perfect place if you wanna do some trekking up to the crater. It may seem like a hard journey, but once you arrive at the top, you will see that it was worth it.
9. Komodo National Park
Who hasn’t dreamed of seeing a dragon at least once in their life?
The komodos of Indonesia might look like ancestors of dinosaurs, but these super creatures are very much alive today. Most of them, you can find in Komodo National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The stars of the park, Komodo dragons are the largest lizards in the world, who can sometimes grow as tall as three meters long and weigh up to 70 kilograms! These incredible animals are one of the planet’s deadliest creatures and their saliva is so venenous, that it can paralyze you in just a few minutes.
Watch out!
10. Sacred Monkey Forest, Ubud
Again with the monkeys?
What can we say, you can’t come to Indonesia without seeing them?
Those funny furry faces with large eyes full of curiosity are hard not to like. And there is no better place in the country to see them in their true environment than in the Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal in Ubud.
The place is a home for more than 600 long-tailed macaques, walking freely among the curious tourists who are often unprepared for the clever little creatures.
What do they do?
They buy bananas to the monkey and feed them. But as soon as they ran out of bananas, they usually find them self in a problem. Monkeys tend to get a bit aggressive when they see you are out of food.
So, beware of the monkey business.
11. Mount Bromo
Be honest and say this is not one of the best views you have seen in your life?
Throughout the country, you will find many astonishing views like this, and many of them are located on a so-called Ring of Fire, an area with some of the most active volcanoes in the world.
Many of the country’s volcanoes, such as Mount Merapi, are famous for their stunning, but dangerous beauty, Mount Bromo is probably the best known.
There is truly nothing that relaxes people as nature does.
