Indonesia is a treasure trove – open an island and every one of them holds a different jewel
The Reason You Have to Take Indonesia on your Travel ListMust-See Indonesia Tourist Places You Can’t MissThe Gili Islands: My First Cruise to ParadiseRaja Ampat: In earnest Out of this WorldBest Places to Visit in Indonesia Besides BaliKomodo National Park: Dragons Are RealLake Toba: Everywhere Slows DownBeautiful Beaches That Made Me Breath takingNusa Penida: Wild and BeautifulLombok: Better Than You ThinkCulture and History That Blew My MindYogyakarta: The True Heart of JavaUbud: Art EverywhereHopping Between IslandsThe Banda Islands: Before the TimeFlores: Every Mile Tells a StoryWhat I Found out About Travel in IndonesiaFrequantly asked questions
This was what one of my local guides in Jakarta told me, and frankly, he could not have been mistaken. Before I booked my trip to find the best places to visit in Indonesia, I thought I knew what to expect. But World Holiday Vibes created an itinerary that literally mind-blowed me. Even each of the stops was more than I expected.
The Reason You Have to Take Indonesia on your Travel List
Imagine the following: over 17,000 islands that are spread in the ocean. Some have volcanoes. There are all others that have fake looking beaches, they are so perfect. The temples of ancient period are placed adjacent to the cities of modern times. That’s Indonesia for you. The best places to visit in Indonesia aren’t just the famous spots everyone talks about. The corners are hidden and not many people know them, they are unbelievable.
Must-See Indonesia Tourist Places You Can’t Miss
The Gili Islands: My First Cruise to Paradise
When we landed on the Gili Islands, it did not seem like it was real. The water? So blue it hurt my eyes. The sand? White and soft like sugar. These three tiny islands off the coast of Lombok contained all I desired, incredible snorkelling locations, beach bars that are chilled, and not a single car or motorcycle. I also had the experience of swimming with sea turtles, and World Holiday Vibes planned our activities quite well, such that when we came to see them, they were feeding.
Raja Ampat: In earnest Out of this World
If you’re wondering where to go in Indonesia for jaw-dropping views, Raja Ampat is your answer. In West Papua, miles away, it is a place you cannot believe where there are marine life. I also went snorkelling and there were more fish than I could enumerate. These great limestone rocks simply jump out of bright green water. It is another planet except that it is better.
Best Places to Visit in Indonesia Besides Bali
Look, Bali is great. Everyone knows that. But my trip showed me tonnes of other Indonesia places to visit that don’t have the crowds and still feel authentic.
Komodo National Park: Dragons Are Real
It was nuts to be ten feet off a Komodo dragon. These are dinosaurs which have not reached extinction. Nevertheless, the dragons are not the only thing about the park. It has pink sand beaches yes, really pink ones – and some of the best diving I have ever had. Padar Island perspective is something that should be on the postcards. World Holiday Vibes had a sense of time when they needed to be there and the shots I took were fantastic.
Lake Toba: Everywhere Slows Down
In North Sumatra is lake Toba, and it is huge. This lake of volcanic origin is not like the beach locations. Mountain air, willful Batak settlements on Samosir Island in the centre and scenery that I felt like never leaving. It’s definitely one of the best places to visit in Indonesia besides Bali if you want something completely different.
Beautiful Beaches That Made Me Breath taking
Nusa Penida: Wild and Beautiful
This is a T-Rex cliff that is right in front of Kelingking Beach. I’m not exaggerating. Then there is the Billabong of Angel, the infinity pool of nature cut into rocks. This is what to see in Indonesia if you’re into adventure. We arrived early in the morning as World Holiday Vibes had taken us there, and we had these places practically to ourselves.
Lombok: Better Than You Think
Lombok is directly adjacent to Bali but it is much more relaxed. The crater lake at Mount Rinjani resembles the act of somebody placing a huge blue jewel on the mountains. Surfing has the perfect waves in the southern beaches. In addition, the experience of meeting local Sasak people and getting acquainted with their culture was one that I will never forget. This island is a confirmation that Indonesia has a lot of beautiful sites to be discovered.
Culture and History That Blew My Mind
Yogyakarta: The True Heart of Java
Any list of Indonesia tourist places needs Yogyakarta. It was enchanted to observe the sunrise at Borobudur Temple. The largest Buddhist temple in the world, and I had the time to see the sun illuminating bit by bit. Hindu temples are as impressive as nearby Prambanan. The downtown Sultan Palace informed me a lot about the culture of Javanese.
Ubud: Art Everywhere
Ubud is located in the centre of Bali and is encircled by rice fields and forest. The Tirta Empul water temple also allowed me to perform a traditional purification ceremony that was very special. Streets are covered with art galleries and the Sacred Monkey Forest was unbelievable. Those monkeys have zero fear
Hopping Between Islands
The Banda Islands: Before the Time
These distant islands in Maluku brought me directly back to the time when everybody was competing over spices. Diving in crystal clear water, shipwrecks of the old WWII to see and nutmeg growing everywhere. World Holiday Vibes introduced me to people living in the area who made me feel at home and their hospitality was amazing.
Flores: Every Mile Tells a Story
When we were driving over Flores, it seemed like time travel. Old villages where nothing has changed in centuries. Volcanoes, volcanoes all around. And Kelimutu, three crater lakes which do switch. The lakes are of varying shades and no one can be able to explain why.
What I Found out About Travel in Indonesia
World Holiday Vibes took care of all. Shipments between islands, hotels, everything was perfect. Their knowledge about creating Indonesia holidays meant I saw everything I wanted without feeling rushed. They advised me on the most appropriate months to visit each place; therefore, there was no problem with weather.
Indonesia is too large to be seen within a single visit. You’ve got to pick your spots. I combined adventure and relaxation, beaches and culture. And since all was cheap I was able to indulge in some of the extras in traditional massages, cooking lessons and hiking to the volcanic summit early in the morning.
Markets buzzing with energy. Temples so silent that you may hear yourself think. Hiking volcanoes and plunging into coral reefs. The best places to visit in Indonesia gave me memories I’ll carry forever. There was nothing the same on each island.
For official travel advice and entry requirements, see the UK government’s travel guidance for Indonesia: Foreign travel advice — Indonesia (gov.uk).
Frequantly asked questions
Most of the spots have the driest weather during May through September. However, Indonesia happens to be on the equator meaning there are places that work throughout the year. World Holiday Vibes was spot-on with every location I went to.
At least two weeks to visit some of the islands well. Three weeks was just enough and it felt like it. You get to actually experience every place, unlike the box-checking.
Totally safe. I felt welcome everywhere. Human beings make an extra effort to assist you. The additional peace of mind booking with World Holiday Vibes provided me particularly in the remote places.
Depends where you’re from. A lot of countries receive 30 days of visa-free or you can obtain a visa at the landing. See what your country needs. World Holiday Vibes had me guided on all that I required.
Long jumps, flights, boats to neighbouring islands. World Holiday Vibes blended both of us depending on what it would make sense and what would be picturesque. Certain such trips on ferries were adventures in their own right.
