Best Places to Visit in Indonesia for an Unforgettable Travel Experience

The best places to visit in Indonesia were not my intention to write about, but here we are. Initiated as an impulse holiday promotion, I came across it at 2 AM, when I was awake but unable to sleep, and it was available for £959. Why not, I thought, and checked more details with World Holiday Vibes to arrange a customised itinerary. So, I clicked ‘book’ for 2 weeks and panicked when I realised I had no idea where to go in Indonesia is, other than that there is a place called Bali and that they have nice beaches, which is most likely. That frenzy lasted three days during the trip. 

Then I was sitting on a beach in the Gilis, contemplating the sunset, having eaten fresh, grilled fish for less than the price of a London coffee, and feeling that this could be the best thing I had done in years. These Indonesian islands are located thousands of kilometres from the ocean, and they are totally different. You have temples in Indonesia that are 1,000 years old, beside rice fields that shine green in the morning light. Climbing volcanoes to visit. There are fake underwater worlds that are so colourful. Whether it’s adventure travel, cultural tours, or simply the desire to relax in luxury resorts and pretend you are somebody important, Indonesia has it all.

The holidays on which this guide is based are 4 in number. Had some serious errors on the way, wore the wrong shoes on a hiking trip (painful), ate dubious food in the street (unfortunately), missed trains because I couldn’t figure out the schedule on the ferry (infuriating). That is what where to visit in Indonesia is all about: having a vague plan but being loose enough to leave the place to amaze you. These are the finest spots in Indonesia that really stuck in my memory, not only the ones that make good photographs. Destinations that were not wasted, the ones I wish I could return to tomorrow. Not to forget, World Holiday Vibes guided me through it all.

Best places to visit in Indonesia

1.Bali – Still Worth It No Matter What They Say

Always starts with Bali. What are the best places in Indonesia? Everyone’s been there. Your hairdresser. That girl from school. Your gran’s neighbour. I know the eye-rolls. However, Bali is gaining popularity for good reason, and despite the influence of influencer culture, there is still something truly special happening, provided you know where to find it.

On the first morning, I was in Ubud and got up at half four because my body clock was completely exhausted. I couldn’t sleep, so I went out. No plan, no map, just walking. Went to the end of this small alley, clothes were hanging between the houses, at least fifteen motorbikes were parked out of them all, and there was a little family temple. This old maid was making her morning sacrifices. Flowers. Incense. The whole thing. She had seen me hovering around there like a decent Loafer, and she grinned. Signalled me to have a seat on her doorstep. So I did. We sat for about half an hour, and the neighbourhood was rousing about us. Not even a word between them. Didn’t need to. That is the Bali that remains there, should you be willing to rise stupidly early and go roaming around being nosy.

2.Ubud – Yoga and Smoothie Bowls-More Than Just Yoga

Where can we go in Indonesia to experience authentic culture? Ubud’s still got it, somehow. Yes, now there are more yoga studios than temples, and you can hardly move without overcharging acai bowls, but. The Tegalalang Rice Terraces are truly mind-bending to observe firsthand. The bright green stepped fields that are unrealistic in photos? They are literally real, and they are even better when you are standing there at 6 AM with only three other people in the place rather than at 11 AM with three hundred tour groups.

Sacred Monkey Forest is quintessential lawlessness, and I loved it. These monkeys are little proper criminals. Zero fear. Zero shame. One of them even saw how to unzip a person’s backpack, take out a pack of crisps, open it, and sit and chew them all the while staring directly at his victim. The lack of respect was really impressive. The real wood part, though? Beautiful. Ancient trees everywhere. Statues of temples with moss. That damp, stuffy smell of green, should there be any sense in that? The Indonesian temples scattered throughout are quite beautiful, particularly Pura Tirta Empul, the sacred spring. Was the purification-rite affair–in the beginning, rather ridiculous, to be standing in a queue of sightseers going through the temple pools. Still, there was something very touching about it when I stopped thinking about it.

The things that actually worked in Ubud

• Campuhan Ridge Walk, early in the mornings, there was no one, foggy prospects, just the right quiet.
• A cooking lesson in which we visited the market first and learned how to make rendang, which turned out fairly well.
• The Kecak dance in the evening may appear ridiculous on video, but it is a truly moving experience when performed live.
• Losing oneself in the back streets warungs, where there is a zero-English menu and unbelievable food.
• I went to the same cafe every morning until the owner started teasing me about my pronunciation.

3.Seminyak and Canggu: Two Beachy Feelings

What are the best Indonesian beaches? These two. Quite opposite energies, but quite different. Where do you go when you feel like being a bit flash? Seminyak beach clubs make lunch costing you at least 60 pounds, shops where you can buy stuff you absolutely do not need, and restaurants that could be located anywhere in the world. One afternoon had to go to Potato Head, and it is costly, but that sunset with the right music and a ridiculous cocktail? Sometimes you want that.

Canggu is more ragged at the edges. Surfery. Less polished. I liked it more, to be fair. Echo Beach was my hangout, where I would turn up most late afternoons with whatever book I was reading and a cheap beer, sit back, and watch people who really knew how to catch a wave. And those sunsets? The fishing boats on that golden water? Yeah. You understand why people give it all and come here.

Java – Where All of your Thoughts are

The best places to visit in Indonesia should always include Java, where some of the most incredible things can be found. The island has a funny split. Jakarta is a modern and chaotic city, with traffic that’s something to cry about, pollution, and millions of people constantly on the move. However, go two hours out of the city and you immediately find yourself in the villages, where the primary means of transport is still oxen, and where life seems to have not evolved much since roughly a century ago. Eeps, catching you off guard.

1.Borobudur – Worth the Agony of Rising Early

It wasn’t very pleasant to get up at half three in the morning. I suggest simply getting it off and then taking a nap. However, then you are standing on this giant 9th-century Buddhist temple and watching the sun burn through the fog, mountains gradually coming into view in the distance, and then the agony of not wanting to die before your flesh does not matter anymore. The monument of Borobudur was enormous, surprisingly large, a hundred per cent, until I laid my eyes upon it. The entire structure is adorned with intricate and elaborate carvings that depict Buddhist stories and legends. Obtained a guide named Ibu Sari, whom I had acquired through my guesthouse. She told all the stories, but I was generally standing there, wondering how in the world people built this a thousand years ago without any machines?

It is one of Indonesia tourist places where tourism is highly developed. There are plenty of people, alright. It is more expensive than other temples, yes. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most significant Buddhist monuments in the world. Book the sunrise tour. Take something warm, it is freezing before the sun comes out. And nothing but be duly amazed. It is one of the few places that live up to the hype.

2.Mount Bromo – Appears Like An Alien Planet

What are the adventure travel destinations in Indonesia? The mountain Bromo is entirely surreal. The entire experience makes you feel as if you have left the earth. Taken at 2 AM (yet another cruel early hour), rattling away in a jeep through this volcano desert which literally resembles Mars or even something worse and then hiking up to a point overlooking it in pitch black. I was absolutely shattered. My fitness was embarrassing. Definitely wish I hadn’t had that extra beer at dinner. These Japanese grandparents passed me as though it were Sunday and they were going on a brisk walk. Humbling, that.

Then the sun comes up. You are looking at this large smoking hole, surrounded by other volcanoes, and a pool of volcanic sand, which is all fake. All the agonised steps suddenly become understandable. The scenery appears to have been created by someone who forgot they were supposed to make it look realistic. Over the crater, sulphur clouds were floating. Weird alien terrain. This is the manner in which the morning sunlight illuminates everything. It cannot be captured in photos, and I tell you, everybody says so about everything except this time, and it is true. Just bring warm clothes, yeah? Everyone tells you this. Everyone ignores it. Everyone freezes. Don’t be me.

3.Yogyakarta – How The Food Makes You Feel

Yogya (also known by its real name) is a genius at identifying what makes places in Indonesia great. There is an artistic vibe in the city, with graffiti everywhere, batik ateliers and cool cafes side by side, people playing gamelan right at the doors, and so on. But honestly? The food scene is what drew me in. This is a sweet jackfruit curry that is so amazingly delicious, made here at Gudeg Yu Djum. Visited him six times during eight days. The owner rightly began to take the piss on the fourth visit. It was about two quid a plate and was much more palatable than any fancy restaurant food I have ever eaten.

The Sultan’s palace is worth visiting. So beautiful, Prambanan Temple in the evening, Hindu, not Buddhist, better than Borobudur as far as I am concerned. Nice that it wasn’t as crowded with tourists. The entire complex is enormous; it took almost three hours to roam around, and I could have spent much more time.

4.Komodo National Park – Where the World’s Largest Lizards Live

What are the best places to visit in Indonesia in terms of wildlife? Komodo National Park. No competition. It is brilliant and terrible to see real Komodo dragons in the wild. They are enormous three metres and more, and this does not sound like much until one is passing beside one, so suddenly that you bump into them (do not bump). And they travel quicker than you would imagine, either. The park rangers come equipped with these big, forked sticks, which help keep them away, reassuring you that they are actually dangerous.

Watched one take down a goat. Bit grim but fascinating. One moment, it is simply lying there in a daze. Then it goes in a second like lightning, and then it is over. Good nature film stuff right in your face. But honestly? The underworld here is totally mind-blowing, as amazing as the dragons are. The snorkelling and diving are of international standards. Manta rays are simply floating by. In brilliant shape, the coral she. Fish everywhere.

This is one of those beautiful places made of sounds at Pink Beach. It is the red coral’s colour that is truly the sand. Sailed three days in the park for about £350, which is good money, but it is worth it. Slept on deck, with stars that seemed unreal; they were so bright. Woke up to see dolphins playing around the boat. Scramble over some of the finest sites I’ve ever had. It is one of those journeys where you continue to believe that this is truly happening, that this is a reality.

5.Raja Ampat – The Diving Mecca

What are the best diving places in Indonesia? Raja Ampat. That’s it. That’s the answer. It is the finest diving in the world–not any exaggeration, that is what it is. The ocean’s biodiversity is mad. Approximately 75 per cent of the world’s coral species inhabit these waters. Each dive felt like you were in the best aquarium in the world, and it just did not end. Seahorses the size of fingernails. Manta rays in the size of you. Fisheries so dense you literally disappear in them.

It is the proper way to get there. Multiple flights. Ferry. Smaller boats. Took most of a day. However, then you come and find these limestone islands jutting out of the most bizarre turquoise water, and you know why people go to the trouble. The Pianemo perspective is fantastic at daylight, and I sat there as long as possible, attempting to assimilate the view. Failed. Your brain can not handle some things.

Visited the Kri Island homestay. Super basic. No WiFi. Sharing a bathroom that was more or less a bucket. Loved it. The owners who managed it were simply beautiful, and you are in the right place for these amazing diving spots. There are fancy resorts, alright; you have hundreds of dollars per night to toss around. But the homestay was more real? And paying less to stay means you get more money to spend on diving, which is why you are there in the first place.

6.Lombok and the Gilis – Bali With The Crowds Gone

Where should I go in Indonesia when I want to be in Bali but with fewer people? Lombok and the Gilis. Lombok seems like Bali must have been fifteen years ago, when it was small. Had that growing feel yet. Less polished. More authentic, maybe? Mount Rinjani literally reigns over the area. The trek up is brutal. Went to Crater Lake in three days. Nearly gave up on day two. The second day is simply the uphill straight until it feels like it’s over. Thought I was going to die. Multiple times.

But that crater lake on the top? Bright turquoise water. On the opposite side, there is an active volcano. Clouds below you. One of those perspectives is the reward that comes with it all. The state of my legs was completely ruined in the days after it, but would I do it again? Yeah. Probably. Eventually.

The Gili islands are magnificent. No automobiles or motorbikes, all bikes or horse carts. Gili Trawangan has the party scene. The dead silence of Gili Meno and her romantic prospects (she received about four offers). Gili Air’s in the middle. Remained in the Air as it was the right thing to do, silent enough to unwind, yet with good restaurants and bars. Snorkelling is good here. Gnash Sea turtles every single day, simply munching seagrass like giant cows of the sea. These three are the hits when it comes to Indonesian islands that are not only easily accessible but also truly beautiful.

Sumatra – Proper Wild

Where do you find the real wilderness in Indonesia? Sumatra. This giant island receives almost no tourists, so there is more genuine stuff and significantly fewer crowds. Additionally, this translates to less developed infrastructure, so you must be flexible. Things don’t always go to plan. Buses depart whenever they choose. Commodification is not that fancy. However, when you are ready to do real adventure travel, it is brilliant.

1.Bukit Lawang – Orangutan in the jungle

Two-day jungle hike in Gunung Leuser National Park. Proper tough. Humid as anything. Constant mud. Leeches (then five on my legs after lunch–very nice). Several sharp ascents made me wonder about my existence. But then we saw them. Wild orangutans are having their way.

It is special to see them in the wild rather than in a zoo. The manner of their locomotion in the trees is very cautious. How kind they are towards infants. That is the look they give you, as though they are wondering what you are doing down there. One of them was eating a banana two metres away from me. Just sat there. Looking at me. Eating his banana. Completely unbothered. Bit of a moment.

They are in a very grave danger. Tourist money actually helps preserve them, so you feel better about marching into their home. The guides are also good; most of them were raised around these parts and are familiar with the local sounds and plants. Knowing about rainforest stuff in two days than years of nature documentaries.

2.Lake Toba – Great and Serene

Lake Toba is simply enormous. It is a volcano crater lake from the largest eruption in human history, which occurred some 74,000 years ago. Intellect to cogitate when you swim in it. Slept in Tuk Tuk on the island of Samosir (an island in a lake on an island–bit meta), and it was just what I had needed after wandering through the jungle. Just proper chill time. Swimming. Reading. Eating. Repeat.

A Batak here possesses interesting traditions. Conventional houses with these mad curved roofs.Cultural performances. Life is breathtakingly slow. Nobody’s rushing. Nobody’s stressed. Perfect for decompressing. We discovered this family restaurant, which serves fantastic grilled fish, including large tilapia fresh out of the lake, and sambal, which was also very good. They did not give me the recipe (they laughed; they did not tell me). Suppose it was on a fifth of a huge meal.

Sulawesi – Completely Different

What places in Indonesia are truly different as tourist destinations? Sulawesi. This strange-looking island receives few visitors. The culture here is intriguing, totally unlike that of Java or Bali. Different language. Different traditions. Different food. It was like exploring a new nation.

1.Toraja Highlands – Death Ceremonies

These are the most exquisitely elaborate funeral ceremonies the Toraja people have, depending on the day. Sounds sick, but it is beautiful; they feast upon death as a part of life and not this dreadful thing. The traditional tongkonan houses, featuring massive boat-like roofs, are beautiful. The cliff burial sites, which are ancient graves carved into the rock, are unique and remarkable. One of the culture tours that changes your mind.

The highlands are gorgeous. Rice terraces. Traditional villages. Proper countryside. Lived with a family in the community, even though we did not speak the same language. Much smiling and hand gestures. Their grandmother continued feeding me until I believed that I would burst. Grandmotherly trait Universal.

2.Bunaken – Wall Diving

Bakeken has a very serious dive towards Manado. The walls are psychological coral walls that drop hundreds of metres straight down. Tingling and a touch frightening to the same degree. Huge sea turtles. Reef sharks. Blind masses of fish that darken it. The marine park is heavily guarded, ensuring the coral remains in perfect condition.

Practical Things to Know

I have learned some lessons the hard way after months of travelling around these destinations. I say very boring stuff, but I will save you the trouble. Something I wish somebody had told me

• The preferred time of year is the dry season (April to October). The wet season can be brutal. Caught trying to reach Flores in the monsoon. Rain is falling so hard that you can’t see. Ferries cancelled. Roads flooded. Nightmare.
• Visas: The majority of nationalities are eligible for visa-free entry or a visa on arrival. Review current requirements, as they are subject to change. A passport should have at least 6 months of validity.
• Budget: You can travel to Indonesia on a budget. £25-40 a day when you are eating street food and staying in a guesthouse. It is easy to spend much more if you want something nice. Mid-range accommodation costs between £32 to £95 per night.
• Transport: domestic flights that are necessary for island-hopping. Indonesia’s massive. Book ahead for better prices. Download Gojek and Grab in cities. Taxi motorbikes all around.
• Health: Get travel insurance. Don’t skip this. Medical facilities in tourism regions are generally good, though disparities exist in isolated locations. Pack Mosquito repellent and sun cream.
• Culture: Indonesia is a majority Muslim country. Wear decently, particularly in the temples and villages. Cover shoulders and knees. Learn a few Bahasa phrases. Individuals will admire your struggle, despite your horrible pronunciation.
• Money: ATMs are ubiquitous in tourist destinations. Carry cash for rural spots. There are plenty of warungs, small places that are cash-only.

Activities Worth Doing

In addition to sightseeing, other activities in Indonesia ensure my trips are not forgotten. Not checking attractions but experiencing things.

Diving and Snorkelling

Underworld here is that of the mind. More than 3,000 species of fish. 600 varieties of coral. It is one of the best diving places in Indonesia. Shipwrecks in Bali. Mantas in Komodo. Pristine reefs in Raja Ampat. All world-class. Intro courses are offered by loads of places even though you have never dived. Worth trying once.

Surfing

The surf scene of Indonesia is legendary. Consistent swells. Warm water. Waves for every level. Bali has got entry-level breaks. Nias and the Mentawais are for serious surfers. I am terrible at it, and I enjoyed myself. The society here is accommodating. No one makes one feel guilty about being useless.

Cultural Experiences

The best culture tours are not organised. They are haphazard encounters that you fall into. Temple ceremonies. Learning batik-making. Cooking with families. Homestays provided me with much more authentic experiences than the tour operator. Do not be afraid of invitations. People in Indonesia are very hospitable.

Where To Stay

Indonesia has it all when it comes to accommodation. Inns and simple guesthouses cost between £8 and £ 20 a night. Frequently, genius-clean, good, amiable places. Hotels in the mid-range and boutique categories are priced between £30 to £95. Much more comfortable without much cash. The luxury resorts are of global standard in Top-end Indonesia. Infinity pools. Incredible spas. Treatment that makes you feel like royalty. The Gilis and Bali offer breathtaking high-end options if you are splashing away the cash.

The simplest family guesthouses were among my favourite experiences, as I was able to bond with locals. It is a nice option to visit the posh resorts. But do not devote all your trip to them. You will be missing the actual Indonesia. My strategy? Mix it up. Not many nights out somewhere to restore. Then back to easier times, where you find people

Final Thoughts

The best places to visit in Indonesia offer such a wide variety that it’s impossible to cover them all in one visit. I’ve tried. This is where you get into your soul in the manner that I had never imagined. Indonesia has it all: ancient temples, stunning beaches, majestic volcanoes, and a diverse array of cultures.
Each journey along those scenic routes made some impression on me. About travel. About alternative lifestyles. About myself. The friendliness of the Indonesian people and the country’s natural beauty are truly special. One of those places that alters you.
If you are planning your Indonesia best places to visit and would like to know more, check out this guide, full of practical information and additional places of interest.
Indonesia is not merely a holiday. It is the kind of experience that you remember. The memories. The friendships. The stories. You will leave a different person after spending two weeks or two months. Pack light. Stay flexible. Say yes to random invitations. Prepare for adventure. You won’t regret it.

For up-to-date travel safety details and essential information before you go, you can also visit the official UK government travel advice for Indonesia

FAQ: The 10 best places to see in Indonesia- A Truthful Traveller Guide