The Republic of Indonesia is a country in SouthEast Asia and is made up of more than 17000 islands, but only around 6000 are inhabited. The most popular island is Bali, which attracts many tourists and digital nomads, but there’s so much more to Indonesia than Bali. This is a list of the best places to visit and top things to do in Indonesia, based on my own trip there, with tips on how to make your trip sustainable.
Alternatively, you can join an organised trip and save yourself some time. G Adventures organises really cool and sustainable tours to Indonesia.
Medan is a large city in the North of Sumatra, and used to be a swamp land. Around the late 1800s, Medan was the largest tobacco plantation in the Dutch East Indies, and many cruise ships carrying European tourists came to visit. There were many planters from Western Europe who lived in Medan at that time, leading wealthy lifestyles, and thus Medan became known as the “Paris of Sumatra”.
The Maimun Palace was the royal palace of the Sultanate, and is unique in its interior design as it combines Malay, Islamic, Indian, Spanish, and Italian designs and furniture.
Part of the Maimun Palace complex, the Great Mosque of Medan combines building materials from Italy, Germany, China, and France, with design and style elements of Morocco, Europe and the Middle East.
Medan is located close to the Barisan Mountains, a mountain range consisting of many volcanoes (35 active) surrounded by dense tropical forests. The largest volcano is supervolcano Toba, which is located within Lake Toba, the largest volcanic lake in the world.
Lake Toba is about 100 km long (about 62 miles), 30 km wide (18.6 miles), and 505 meters (1666 ft) deep. The eruption occurred about 70, 000 years ago, and according to the Toba catastrophe theory, had global consequences.
These include a population bottleneck in central east Africa and India, and means that a sharp reduction in the size of a population reduces the variety in the gene pool, leading to smaller genetic diversity. The eruption also led to a volcanic winter, with a global drop in temperatures, between 3 to 15°C (5.4 to 27°F). Studies in Lake Malawi in East Africa indicate that large amounts of ash from Toba was deposited there, which gives an idea of how enormous the eruption was.
Local tip: when we went there, there was no transport to get to the lake, though we did see some tourists who came by boat from somewhere. We had to ask a local man to take us on his motorbike and wait for us there. There were one or two restaurants and not much else, which made the place nice and relaxing, and not crowded, though there was a bit of plastic and waste pollution in some parts.
Indonesia lies on three tectonic plates (Pacific, Eurasian, and Australian), which tend to cause seismic activities when one plate moves. Seismic volcanic eruptions led to the creation of some of the small islands of Indonesia, and their volcanic ash contributes to the rich soil and natural resources. This is also why there are plenty of volcanoes to hike and other natural beauty to explore all over Indonesia.
Mount Sibayak is a common type of volcano, being a small stratovolcano (also known as composite volcano), built up by many layers or hardened lava, ash, and other things. Its last eruption was more than a century ago, but geothermal activity such as hot springs and sulphur still occur. It is relatively easy to climb, and is a popular tourist attraction. But beware, the sulphur smells like rotten eggs.
Mount Sinabung is a stratovolcano with four volcanic craters, one of which is active and can be seen erupting in the picture below. Residents around the volcano have been asked to evacuate previously, and as many as 17500 people left their home after the September 2010 eruptions. A deadly eruption occurred in May 2016, leaving 7 people dead.
Java is well known for batik, a traditional type of cloth that has been dyed using the batik method. It’s a method of producing designs by applying wax to parts of the cloth that are left to be undyed, and then dyeing the cloth.
“Batik” is a Javanese word, and although batik is also produced in other countries, the art of batik is most popular in Java, and is known for its designs, technique, and quality. Batik patterns can be symbolic to Indonesians, and can even play a role in ceremonial rituals.
Jakarta Known as Batavia under Dutch rule, Jakarta was established in the 4th century and was an important trading port for the Hindu Kingdom of Sunda. Now officially listed as an alpha-global city, Jakarta attracts domestic migrants and business investors, and is a melting pot of many cultures, but with the majority of the population being Muslim.
Jakarta is densely populated and it is a very busy, traffic-packed city. Many tourists prefer to skip Jakarta, as it does not provide much in terms of nature or landscapes.
The Indonesian government has decided to make Nusantara in East Kalimantan the new capital of Indonesia, due to the fact that Jakarta is heavily polluted, sinking, and vulnerable to flooding and earthquakes.
It’s worth a visit if you want to see the business centre of Indonesia and life in the city. However, you can also easily skip it without any regret. It can get very busy, messy, and chaotic.
Yogyakarta is most commonly known as Jogja among locals. It is said to be the cultural hub of Indonesia, as it is known for classical ballet, batik, drama, poetry, music, and puppet shows. While a large majority of the population is Javanese, the city has attracted a number of domestic immigrants and students, due to its universities and relative low cost of living compared to other Indonesian cities.
Jogja is home to the famous temples Borobudur and Prambanan (known locally as Borobudur Candi and Prambanan Candi, “candi” meaning ancient temple).
A few kilometers south of Prambanan is the archaeological site known as Ratu Boko (circa 9th century), named after the legendary King Boko, from Indonesian folklore. Ratu Boko is not a temple; rather, it shows signs of occupation and settlement, possibly a palace complex. This site contained both Hindu and Buddhist artefacts and statues, indicating that these two religious groups were tolerant of each other, or were somewhat syncretised.
Another cultural site in Jogja is Taman Sari Water Castle, a royal garden belonging to the Sultanate of Jogja. The Sultan wanted a place to relax after the wars he experienced. Built in the 18th century, it has served multiple purposes: resting area, meditation, hiding place, defense area, and workshop. The complex consists of 4 areas: 2 artificial lakes, one on the east and one on the west, a central bathing area, and pools in the south.
The Lesser Sunda Islands include Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, and West Nusa Tenggara, on the eastern section of Indonesia.
Bali is both an island and a province. The province includes Bali island, and smaller islands nearby such as Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan.
Mount Batur (also called “Gunung Batur”) is an active volcano located in Kintamani District, and is a popular adventure among hikers. The hike takes about 3 hours and is relatively easy. You can also opt for a guided hike which usually includes eggs cooked by the steam of the volcano. The best way to do this hike for an amazing view is to start before sunrise, arriving at the top when the sun is rising, and then spend the afternoon with a trip to the popular Pura Ulun Danu Batur temple nearby. Wear layers for early morning hikes, as it gets cool at the top.
Aside from volcanoes, Bali is full of other natural landscapes and opportunities for fun activities. The Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary is not to be missed if you want to meet some cheeky monkeys that will most definitely try to steal anything they can grab on you. It’s located in Ubud and is also home to rare plants and temples.
Rice terraces are another popular Balinese destination, the most famous ones being Tegallalang and Jatiluwih Rice Terraces. You can enjoy some food and drinks at the restaurants overlooking the rice terraces. However you might encounter a lot of tourists there, and it might ruin the experience. If you’re travelling through other Asian countries that have larger rice terraces, skip these ones in Bali.
Local tip: these rice terraces tend to get overcrowded, but are beautiful nonetheless. The best time to go is early morning or late afternoon when crowds are sparse. If you plan on travelling to other parts of Indonesia (Lombok, Flores, West Sumatra) or other Asian countries such as Vietnam, Philippines, Nepal, you can skip the ones in Bali.
Bali is popular for its waves, and many surfers come for the swells and warm water. You will find surfable beaches at Canggu, Bingin, Padang Padang, Ulawutu, Medewi, Green Bowl, Keramas, Balangan, Suluban, and Nusa Dua.
However if you don’t want to surf and prefer to just enjoy a nice beach, head to Nyang Nyang Beach, or go up north towards Lovina. You can snorkel and even take boats out to see dolphins, although the motor boats seem a bit aggressive in chasing the dolphins. Kayaking is always the best option.
There are many museums to visit in Bali, such as Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) and the Neka Art Museum located in the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary. You can also buy local art and souvenirs markets such as the Ubud Art Market. Sukawati Art Market is an alternative to the touristy Ubud Art Market. Make sure to bargain, but not too much as a few dollars or euros might be insignificant to you but mean a whole lot to a Balinese person. Also make sure to check whether the art is actually locally made and whether they will benefit the artists.
There are also several beautiful Hindu temples in Bali. The most popular ones are the Pura Ulun Danu Batur temple which rests on a lake, and the Uluwatu Temple (Pura Luhur Uluwatu) where you can catch a performance of the Kecak dance. Another interesting temple to visit is Lempuyang Temple, known as “gateway to Heaven” because of its majestic view of Mount Agung.
The Komodo National Park is located between East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara, and includes the islands of Komodo, Rinca, and Padar, as well as 26 smaller islands. The islands are all of volcanic origin, and contain one of the world’s richest marine biodiversity.
Komodo Island contains the largest number of komodo dragons, and has a human population of about 2000, most of them descendants of former convicts who were exiled there and mixed with the Buginese people of Sulawesi. Aside from the dragons, the island of Komodo attracts many visitors because of its pink beach (there are only 7 in the world). The sand is pink due to the white sand mixing with red sand which has been formed from seashells and other organisms. Snorkeling and diving are also popular activities.
Rinca island is populated with a few komodo dragons, wild pigs, birds, monkeys, and buffalos. The island is inhabited, but living conditions are quite limited, and the inhabitants have to take care to avoid getting too close to the dragons. Rinca is ideal for hiking, with spectacular views.
