Here are 15 reasons to visit Indonesia, home to more than 17,500 islands, including Bali, Borneo, Java, Sumatra and Papua.  

1. Jakarta

Indonesia’s sprawling capital, home to 10 million people, is a melting pot of cultures. So many cultures have passed through Jakarta over the past 300 years, that it has acquired a world-class collection of old sailing ships. The ships are in an area known as Sunda Kelapa, the old Dutch port. In addition to a variety of well-preserved colonial vessels, it also has several examples of native Buginese ships.

With Dutch rule expanding across the Indonesian archipelago during the 19^th and early 20^th centuries, the importance of Batavia (Jakarta) increased. To maintain control and maximize tax revenue, the Dutch required nearly all exports from anywhere in the region to pass through the city, which established an overwhelming political and economic dominance that Jakarta retains today.

“The old town of Batavia will transport you to Indonesia’s Dutch colonial past while the fashionable Menteng district is a hive of live music venues, exclusive restaurants and hip hotels,” he added. “World-renowned restaurants, bars and nightclubs perch on top of towering skyscrapers, while shoppers can choose from dozens of gargantuan shopping malls.”

2. Komodo

The world’s largest lizards exist on just five Indonesian islands – Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang, and Padar. They are truly fearsome, weighing up to 150lbs and possessing toxic bites, allowing them to hunt and kill far bigger animals – even humans.

Komodo is a small island of 280 square kilometers. It is located between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores. The Island has about 800 human inhabitants and double that number of dragons. Most of the other islands where the dragons live have no permanent human population.

Visitors to this area also should see the island of Rinca, which is just south and east of Komodo. It’s also part of Komodo National Park, but offers a slightly different landscape and good dragon populations. Rinca is just a short boat ride from Komodo island and is even closer to the island of Flores. Visitors must pay a park entrance fee of 50,000 rupiah and the camera tax is an additional 25,000 rupiah.

3. Sumatra

Sumatra is a wild and beautiful island for adventure. Visitors can surf outrageous waves an the western side of the island, explore volcanoes, or search for endangered species, including tigers, orangutans and more.

Also known as Sumatera locally, Sumatra straddles the equator. It is heavily forested and rich with rare wildlife. Numerous large reserves and preservation areas have been set aside, which makes the island ideal for ecotourism.

The mountains in the west and the swampy plains in the east define Sumatra’s landscape. The backbone of the island is the volcanic Barisan Mountain chain, which runs the entire length of the island from north to south. The volcanic activity of this region produces fertile land and beautiful scenery, including the region around Lake Toba.

4. Diving

Nowhere in the world offers better diving than the Coral Triangle, an area of the Pacific Ocean that includes the waters around Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Timor Leste and the Solomon Islands. One of the best ways to explore it is on a liveaboard boat around the Raja Ampat Islands in Indonesia’s West Papua province. Divers will find 75 percent of all the world’s know coral species, and up to 2,000 species of reef fish.

5. Java

Java is the heart of Indonesia. It is the historical center of Buddhist and Hindu culture and home to the nation’s sprawling capital city–Jakarta. With more than 100 million people, Java (locals say JAH-wah) is the most populated island in the world. It is the thirteenth largest island on earth in terms of land size.

About 60 percent of all Indonesians live on Java, while the island only holds about 7 percent of the country’s land area. Java stretches from Bali to Sumatra, and it is framed by the Indian Ocean on its southern coast and the Java Sea to its north. Java has 38 volcanoes, including the very active Mt. Merapi.

It might be the most populous island in the world, but Java has plenty of places to escape the crowds. There are 12 national parks to explore – including Unesco-listed Ujung Kulon – and volcanoes – including Bromo and Merapi – to hike up.

The landscape of Bromo-Tengger is spectacular. The park is situated around a group of volcanoes that rise up thousands of feet from sea level. At 11,974 feet above sea level, Semeru is Java’s highest mountain. It erupts frequently.

Java is home to the world’s largest Buddhist temple, Borobudur, with its intricate lattice stupas set among paddy fields.

6. Bali

Bali is one of the most famous islands in the world — for good reason. The culture is a living demonstration of simplicity, elegance and harmony.

The island offers everything from luxurious spas to the simple beach life. You can spend the morning on the beach and the afternoon near the top of a cloud-covered and chilly volcano. Choose world-class golf or world-class arts. You can find it all on the island of Bali.

Bali is the gateway to Indonesia for millions of tourists each year. The Balinese people value spirituality, the arts and overall harmony. The Hindu religion, its beautiful forms of worship, and the simple elegance of the Balinese people represent one of the most beautiful cultures in the world. The exotic arts, ancient temples, and thousands of smiles will delight any visitor to this island paradise. Surf, golf, snorkel and more on Bali.

7. Lombok

Lombok is often compared to Bali. The neighboring islands have many similarities and many differences. They are only about 20 miles apart. Both islands have Hindu and Muslim influences, but in opposite proportions. Both islands have beautiful highlands and white sandy beaches, but Lombok is quieter and dryer than Bali.

Until 1987, few visitors made the trip. Today, Lombok is growing in popularity among international tourists.

Tourism is already the second-largest industry on Lombok. Mount Rinjani, beautiful coastlines, coral reefs, and stunning waterfalls highlight the list of popular destinations on Lombok.

The island’s topography is dominated by Mount Rinjani, a massive volcano that rises 12,200 feet out of the ocean. It is the second-largest volcano in Indonesia and it often is shrouded in clouds. The most recent eruption of Rinjani was in 1994. The volcano, and its sacred crater lake, is protected by Rinjani National Park, which was established in 1997. The towering volcano collects a great deal of rainfall, which tumbles down the mountain through a series of cold and cascading waterfalls below.

8. Kalimantan

Borneo is the third-largest island in the world. Three countries share boundaries on this large island, including Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia. Indonesia governs the southern two-thirds of Borneo, while Malaysia and Brunei control smaller northern and western sections of the large island.

Indonesia calls its part of Borneo Kalimantan, which is divided into four provinces:

• Central Kalimantan;
• East Kalimantan;
• South Kalimantan; and
• West Kalimantan.

Borneo is home to the world’s most dense and remote rainforests, as well as about 12 million people, 75 percent of whom live in Indonesia’s Kalimantan region. Given the harsh nature of Kalimantan’s interior and lowlands, most settlements are along the rivers and coasts.

Kalimantan is an adventure paradise. Borneo is dominated by a tall mountain range in the center of the island. Borneo’s highest point is Mount Kinabalu in Sabah (Malaysia), which reaches a stunning elevation of 13,300 feet above sea level.

The drainage of rainfall from these highlands flows and collects in areas below that are continuously drenched from rainfall. The result is a harsh island that is difficult to navigate by land. Riverboats, airplanes, and helicopters are required to navigate the island. The largest rivers are the Barito, Kahayan, Kapuas, and Mahakam. Be sure to visit Camp Leakey to see the orangutans and world-renowned conservationist Birute Galdikas.

9. Papua

apua is the western half of New Guinea, which is the second-largest island in the world. It stretches from warm equatorial sands to icy glacial peaks. Indonesia shares the island with the country of Papua New Guinea, which controls the eastern half of the island. It was formerly referred to as Irian Jaya.

Papua features abundant natural resources, including the second-largest tract of rainforest in the world. About 75 percent of Papua is covered by forests, which contain more than 2,500 species of orchids and 600 species of birds. Papua is also rich in culture, with as many as 800 different languages spoken among the various tribes and ethnic groups. Papua also is famous for its various art forms and its unusual flora and fauna.

Puncak Jaya, is the tallest mountain between the Himalayas and the Andes.

There are 123 mammalian species and 630 species of bird, including many that are endemic to the region. But much of the park remains unexplored – so scientists believe more are waiting to be discovered.

10. Yogyakarta

Java’s second city, Yogyakarta, is the cultural and spiritual hub with all-night shadow-puppet performances, concerts and art exhibitions. It is also the best base for exploring the aforementioned Borobudur and the vast Hindu temple complex of Prambanan, with its temples dedicated to Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma and hundreds of surrounding shrines.

Read The Full Story About Indonesia Destination’s

Indonesia is the fourth-largest nation in the world with more than 267 million people. The country has more than 17,500 islands, including Bali, Borneo, Java, Lombok, Sumatra and Sulawesi. Learn where to go, what do and what to say.

Get the most from your trip with the Language and Travel Guide to Indonesia. Learn where to go and what to say. Thousands of islands. Hundreds of cultures. One book. Watch our Indonesian tutorial.

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Two amazing countries, but very different. Indonesia is a relatively inexpensive destination known for beautiful tropical beaches, exotic jungles teeming with wildlife, and large urban areas full of culture and markets. Visitors to Indonesia are often surprised at the number of activities to do and places to visit, as once they step away from the beach, they find historic temples, eco-tourism adventures, jungle and mountain hiking, and more.

In the last decade, tourism has surged in Vietnam. The reasons are obvious, as this diverse and beautiful country offers much to do and see. While the beaches are nice, the real gems are the authentic local experiences, from floating markets in the Mekong Delta to trekking through the Hmong villages and rice terraces in the north. And don’t miss the stunning landscapes of Halong Bay.

Vietnam offers a terrific value to tourists as prices are cheap, accommodations are good, transportation is efficient, the food is amazing, and the locals are friendly.

Much of Indonesia is very close to the equator and quite tropical. Therefore, the seasons are divided between wet and dry depending on seasonal winds. The dry season is from May to September, while the wet season is from October to April. A few places have an exception to this (such as Sumatra), but you can expect warm tropical temperatures everywhere in the country.

Vietnam is very warm all year, so just accept that you’ll be in a tropical country. There is really no best or worst time to visit, as you’ll probably see the entire country during your trip, which spans multiple climate regions. At higher elevations, the weather is significantly cooler. Fortunately, some of the higher elevation towns are on the must-see list, so that should alleviate some of the heat during your trip.

In the north (Hanoi), summer months are hotter and have more rain, while winter months are dryer and cooler. In the central area, it’s dry but very hot from January to late summer, and rainy from the summer through December. In the south (Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta), it’s hot and dry in winter months, and hot and wet in summer months.

Other than the weather, local festivals in various cities might make you want to visit, or leave, a particular area for a short period of time, but this varies by location.

Is Indonesia more expensive than Vietnam

Indonesia’s economy is growing, as it is the world’s fourth most populated country. While the cost of living is generally cheap compared to other Asian nations, the large population means that demands for goods and services is on the rise. Imported goods from China, Australia, and other larger countries can be pricey, as can imported food. While budget travel options are very affordable, luxury services can get expensive, especially in more tourist-oriented areas such as Bali.

As a country on the rise, Vietnam as a whole is inexpensive. A large influx of tourists has led to a rise in the tourism business, but a pro-business government has allowed competition to flourish, leaving prices fairly low. This means that every mom and pop has opened a hotel or a restaurant catering to travelers. Quality might be inconsistent, but the options are plentiful.

Tourism has driven up prices in some areas of Indonesia, namely Bali, Lombok, and some of the surrounding islands known for their beaches and scenery. If other travelers are flocking to an area, then expect prices to be higher.

In the larger cities of Indonesia, it’s possible to find a wide range of accommodation, restaurants, and activities at a variety of prices. Budget hotels and hostels are often found not far from high-end luxury hotels. If you want luxury, you can expect to pay a fair amount more for it, but it is still usually of good value and quality.

In the countryside, prices can be very cheap, especially in off-the-beaten path locations.

As Vietnam is a highly populated country, even visiting the smaller towns or the countryside means that plenty of infrastructure, accommodations, and restaurants are available. This means that prices are fairly consistent even in more rural areas compared to other countries. Rural in Vietnam does not have the empty feeling that it does in other countries.

In the big cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Da Nang, and Hue, a variety of options are available for food and hotels. Prices can be higher if you want more luxury, but cheap options abound everywhere, too. Generally, the more touristy a destination, the higher one can expect prices to be for tourist-related activities. But food and other goods tends to stay consistent.

Negotiate. When you’re done, negotiate again. Vietnam is one of the most difficult countries in the world for bartering. It’s even worse than Thailand. Hold your line, stand firm, and be prepared to walk away if you don’t like the price. After that, you’ll be surprised at how prices will come down just a few seconds later. Read up on negotiating strategies such as “cut their offer by a third when you counter offer, and don’t pay more than half.”

Eat the street food. In Indonesia, small street stalls are everywhere in urban areas. They offer delicious food at a cheap price. Also, buying food at local markets is significantly cheaper than at restaurants or larger stores.

Flying between the islands of Indonesia can get expensive. Instead, pick just a few islands and stick to them, or look for the less expensive ferries. Use public transportation whenever possible.

Shop around. Don’t go for the first thing you see, whether it be a small souvenir, a hotel, or an all-inclusive tour. Whatever it is that you’re looking at, chances are there’s another right next door. This might sound comical, but once you’re there, you’ll understand.

Overall, if you want to save money in Vietnam, go local. Eat local food, as it’s not only yummy and healthy, but also very cheap. Locally owned hotels and hostels are also very cheap. Think small and your wallet will thank you – and you’ll have a more authentic experience, too.

Take local transportation and avoid the multi-day tours that prey on tourists and backpackers. In Vietnam, buses go everywhere. Taxis are not too bad, either. With the conveniences of the tours comes the higher prices and less authenticity. Overnight buses are a good way to get around, while avoiding paying for a hotel room along the way.

While Indonesia is mostly a Muslim country infused with some hints of animism there are also islands and areas following Catholicism and Hinduism. It is a dynamic melting pot spread out over the 1700+ islands that Indonesia is home to. Vietnam mixes Buddhism with Confucianism and Taoism, known as Tam Giáo, which translates to ‘triple religion.’ Buddhism, influenced by the Chinese culture, is leading in the country.

Vietnam has more than 20,000 pagodas. Indonesia has many Hindu and Buddhist temples. When entering a pagoda or a temple, remember to take off your shoes to be respectful. In Indonesia, it is appropriate to wear a sarong covering your knees as well as something to cover your shoulders and breasts.

Borobudur Java: This ancient temple complex, located in ‘special region of Yogyakarta’ on the island Java is probably the most famous tourist attraction in all of Indonesia. While most people go to see the sunrise at Borobudur, I enjoyed going a bit, avoiding the crowds and really allowing myself to get enchanted by the beauty of this impressive archaeological site.

Lake Toba Sumatra: This is the world’s largest crater lake and the island in the middle, Pulau Samosir, is home to the indigenous Batak Tribe. Nature is beautifully untouched, the culture and architecture of the Bataks are unique and intriguing and you can be sure to find peace of mind here at Lake Toba in the north of Sumatra.

Orangutans: These human-like apes are native to Indonesia and they are living in the dense tropical rainforests of Sumatra and Kalimantan. You can go on a jungle trekking to spot them in their natural habitat, alongside other monkeys and creatures of the forest. Head towards the national parks of these islands and be amazed!

Bali: Though Bali attracts millions of tourists every year, this little Hindu island doesn’t lose its magic and the advantage of being a popular tourist hub is that Bali is home to beach clubs, world-class restaurants, and boutique shops. Traveling away from the busy tourist towns brings you to beautiful beaches, holy temples, mountains and rice paddies.

Komodo Island: During the boat trip to see the Komodo Dragon, the largest lizard in the world that only lives on Komodo Island near Flores, you will sleep on the boat deck beneath a million of stars, you will see hundreds of bats fly over during sunset and sunrise and you will get to go snorkeling with the magical manta rays.

Gili Islands: No traffic whatsoever. Only horse carts, bicycles, and beaches. The three Gili Islands, located just offshore at the island Lombok have something for everyone; nature and tranquility, beaches and parties and snorkeling and diving.

Volcanoes: All the islands in Indonesia are volcanic and they feature majestic holy mountains that you can climb or admire from a distance as the sun rises. If you are up for a good hike, put Mount Bromo (Java), Mount Agung (Bali) and Mount Rinjani (Lombok) on your bucket list.

Indonesia has more than 17,500 islands, including Bali, Borneo, Java, Lombok, Sumatra and Sulawesi. Learn where to go, what do and what to say.

Get the most from your trip with the Language and Travel Guide to Indonesia. Learn where to go and what to say. Thousands of islands. Hundreds of cultures. One book. Watch our Indonesian tutorial.

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