Indonesia presents a unique challenge to the traveler (not to mention the travel writer). It consists of more than 10,000 inhabited islands spread across about 3,000 miles of ocean from the Asian mainland well into the Pacific. A tradition of trade stretching back nearly 1,000 years has given the many islands a diverse set of cultures to explore. Although events of the last few years may lead many to believe that Indonesia is a place rife with unrest, the fact is that in most of the country it's business as usual.
With so much area to cover, it can be difficult to know where to start. We've focused this guide on the main tourist centers of Bali, Komodo, Sulawesi and Java. To get really off the tourist trail, you might consider Flores.
Indonesia Tourist Destinations
Indonesia Highlights
Bali
Bali - The word is almost guaranteed to evoke a vivid image in people's minds, even among those that have never been there. The place has achieved an almost mythical status. Can any vacation destination possibly live up to such a reputation? Well, maybe. The Island of the Gods has a little something for everyone, so read the Bali overview page to help you decide which parts of it will appeal to you.
Java
The island of Java is the political and economic center of Indonesia. The country's capital of Jakarta is located at the northwest corner of this long narrow island. Almost at the center of the island is the cultural capital and primary tourist destination of Yogyakarta, generally just called "Yogya" by the locals. In east Java is Indonesia's second largest city, Surabaya along with perhaps its greatest natural wonder, Mount Bromo.
Sulawesi
Sulawesi is one of the most uniquely shaped islands you will find. The four peninsulas give the island an extremely long coastline. The interior of the island is quite mountainous, with not a few volcanoes scattered about. On the coast of the southwestern peninsula is one of the island's largest cities, Makassar. While high in the mountains near the center is Tana Toraja. Scuba divers head to the far north around Mando, which enough sights to keep non-divers interested as well.
Bali - The word is almost guaranteed to evoke a vivid image in people's minds, even among those that have never been there. The place has achieved an almost mythical status. Can any vacation destination possibly live up to such a reputation? Well, maybe.
For the geographically challenged, Bali is an island less than 100 miles long and 50 miles wide, and is one of more than 10,000 islands that make up Indonesia.
This page indexes our collection of tips and advice for Indonesia. Use the links below to find out more information to help you plan your trip.
Getting There & Getting Around Indonesia Visas Don't forget to get your visa! You probably need one to visit Indonesia, including Bali. Read this page for costs, including visa-on-arrival procedures. Getting Around Indonesia Indonesia is a big country. If you plan to see more than a tiny bit of it, then you'll need to know about the domestic airlines and cruise companies.
Map of Flores Flores is a huge island east of Bali and south of Sulawesi. Most people only pass through Labuan Bajo on Flores' western tip on their way to the Komodo National Park to see the dragons, but there's actually quite a bit to see on Flores, for the adventurous.
The travel infrastructure of Flores is rudimentary at best. There is only one, mostly two-lane, road that runs the 200 kilometer length of the island, and due to the rugged terrain, it takes 700 kilometers of road to cover the distance.
The island of Java is the political and economic center of Indonesia. The country's capital of Jakarta is located at the Northwest corner of this long narrow island. A string of volcanoes runs down the island's spine.
Almost at the center of the island is the cultural capital and primary tourist destination of Yogyakarta, generally just called "Yogya" by the locals. The area around Yogya has seen the rise and fall of Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim kingdoms, leaving a rich historical record of temples and palaces.
There wouldn't be much to attract you to the rather barren island of Komodo if it weren't for one rather unusual resident: the giant lizard dubbed the "komodo dragon." The reptiles, which grow to three meters (10 feet) long and 100 kilograms (220 punds), are found only on Komodo and it's neighbors Rinca and Flores.
Despite this singular attraction, and others, the Komodo National Park is not exactly over-run with tourists.
Sulawesi is one of the most uniquely shaped islands you will find. The four peninsulas give the island an extremely long coastline. The interior of the island is quite mountainous, with not a few volcanoes scattered about.
Sulawesi was called Celebes by the Portuguese, and some maps still carry that name. The island's largest city has also had a couple of different names. For many years at the end of the last century, Makassar went by the name Ujung Pandang.
