Indonesia
Seventeen thousand islands of volcanoes, reefs, and temples — the most varied country in Southeast Asia.
Indonesia is less a country than a continent of islands — more than 17,000 of them, strung along the equator, holding everything from Bali's rice terraces to Komodo dragons, Javanese temples, Sumatran orangutans, and the best diving on earth. It's vast, cheap, and staggeringly diverse, which is both the appeal and the catch: you don't 'do' Indonesia, you pick a corner of it.
Most trips start with Bali — the famous, easy, beautiful introduction — but the country opens right up from there. Neighbouring Lombok and the Gili Islands trade the crowds for quieter beaches and the Rinjani volcano. East, the dragons and pink beaches of Komodo sit above some of the world's richest reefs. On Java, the giant Buddhist temple of Borobudur rises out of the dawn mist, the sultan's city of Yogyakarta anchors the culture, and the blue fire and sulphur miners of Ijen and the caldera of Bromo draw the volcano-hikers. Further out lie Sumatra's jungle orangutans and Sulawesi's highland funerals, and — for divers — the reefs of Raja Ampat, arguably the most biodiverse marine spot on the planet. Prices are low and the warmth of the welcome is constant.
The honest part: the scale defeats people who try to see too much. The islands are enormous and spread across three time zones, so island-hopping means flights and ferries and real travel time — cramming Bali, Java, Komodo, and Sumatra into one trip is a recipe for exhaustion. Bali's south is now heavily developed and can feel overrun, infrastructure thins fast once you leave the tourist trail, and the wet season (roughly November to March) closes some of the best hikes and dive windows. Come in the dry season, choose one or two regions rather than the whole archipelago, and Indonesia rewards you with more variety than almost anywhere on the list.
Highlights
-
Bali
The easy, beautiful gateway — rice terraces, temples, surf, and Ubud’s jungle-and-yoga scene.
-
Borobudur & Java
The world’s largest Buddhist temple at dawn, the culture of Yogyakarta, and the volcanoes of Bromo and Ijen.
-
Komodo
Dragons, pink-sand beaches, and world-class diving on a liveaboard through the Flores islands.
-
The Gilis & Lombok
Car-free island calm next door to Bali, with the Rinjani volcano to climb.
-
Raja Ampat
Remote reefs in the far east — arguably the most biodiverse marine environment on earth.
-
Sumatra
Jungle-trekking to wild orangutans at Bukit Lawang and the vast crater lake of Toba.
Practical info
- Visa
- Visa on arrival / e-visa for most Western passports (30 days, extendable). Verify before travel.
- Currency
- Indonesian Rupiah (IDR).
- Language
- Indonesian; English in tourist areas.
- Safety
- Generally safe; use reputable operators for boats, dives, and volcano treks, and dress modestly away from beach resorts.
- Getting around
- Domestic flights and ferries link the islands — build in real travel time; hire a driver or scooter locally.
- Tap water
- Drink bottled or filtered water.
- Plug type
- Type C Type F 230V
- Money
- Cash-based outside cities and resorts; ATMs in towns.
General guidance — visas, safety, and health change, so check your government's travel advisory and the official sources before you go.
Common questions
- When is the best time to visit Indonesia?
- Indonesia is at its best in April–September. It's best to avoid February.
- How many days do you need in Indonesia?
- Most trips run 2–3 weeks, depending on how much ground you want to cover.
- Is Indonesia expensive?
- Plan for backpacker – budget daily spend, depending on how you travel.
- Is Indonesia safe for travelers?
- Generally safe; use reputable operators for boats, dives, and volcano treks, and dress modestly away from beach resorts.
- Do you need a visa for Indonesia?
- Visa on arrival / e-visa for most Western passports (30 days, extendable). Verify before travel.
Compare Indonesia with
If you like Indonesia, also consider
United States
A continent pretending to be a country — cities, deserts, and the best national parks anywhere.
The Alps
The ski and alpine benchmark — every other mountain range is measured against this.
Australia
Vast, varied, relaxed. Reef, Sydney, and proper wilderness in one.
Not sure where to go
Take the 5-minute quiz
Answer a few honest questions and get matched to destinations that actually fit how you travel.
Start the quiz