Travel Tips For Indonesia

With over 13,000 islands, 252 million people, countless sprawling white sand beaches, towering volcanoes, and world’s second highest biodiversity, Indonesia has something to offer everyone.

Here are some of our top travel tips on making your way through this incredible archipelago:

Save Money

Indonesia has extremely low-cost food and cheap accommodation options, but since you probably busted your savings on free drinks for that well-toned Italian back in Vietnam, know there’s always a cheaper way. Tasty and belly-filling snacks, soups and noodles can be picked up on the streets for just 6,700 IDR cents (compared to the odd 30,000 for a full meal, or 120,000 for a Western one). Try markets for the best bet. And remember, don’t take price tags at face value. A little haggling can go a long way.

Most hotels start at 400,000 IDR for a double room, but a night in a hostel averages around 130,000 IDR. Ferries are fairly cheap (a ticket from East Java to West Bali costs around 6,500 IDR) but long buses can be pricey. Overnight buses start at around 130,000, which is great value, considering you’re combining travel and hostel costs.

Explore

It’s probably best to avoid the overcrowded capital of Jakarta and make Bali you’re first stop; it’s touristy, but there’s a reason. Take in the beautiful scenery, lie on the beach, see the Mother Temple and catch a performance of some traditional Balinese dance.

The UNESCO Komodo National Park is a must-see for nature buffs, as it’s the only place where you can see the Komodo dragon, the planet’s biggest lizard, in the wild. The island of Sumatra is also a fantastic place to visit the mysterious orang-utans in their natural habitat.

The Hindi Prambanan, one of Hinduism’s most magnificent temples dating back to the 10th century and stretching to 150 feet, is certainly an experience. But so is Brordudur, the 9th Century Buddhist temple complex even older than the Angkor Wat.

Be Safe

The only internationally required vaccination is Yellow Fever, but check with your doctor about additional medications you might need in the regions you plan to travel to. Insect repellent in a good idea, for comfort if nothing else. Pickpockets are the greatest danger for tourists, so make sure you’re aware of your possessions, and if walking alone at night in Jakarta, its better to take a taxi.

But above all, relax, have fun, and in the words of the sagacious Baz Luhrmann, wear sunscreen.

Indonesia’s Must Visit Sites

• Mount Rinjani – Lombok
• Komodo National Park – Komodo
• Hindi Prambanan – Central Java
• Mount Bromo – East Java
• Tana Toraja – Southern Sulawesi
• Yogyakarta – Java
• Tanjung Puting National Park – West Kotawaringin Regency
• Raja Ampat Islands
• Lake Toba, Northern Sumatra
• Harau Valley – Sumatra
• Lake Maninjau – West Sumatra
• Dieng Plateau – Central Java
• Borobudur – Java
• Ubud – Bali
• Anak Karakatau – Lampung

View Indonesia group trips here 

By Sarah Morland

Feature image courtesy of William Cho