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What to see in Indonesia was a question I had already asked myself in January 2020: in fact, I had booked a flight to Jakarta for May 2020, but due to Covid 19 this trip was postponed by a full two years. Therefore, I had the opportunity to visit this magnificent Asian country while working as a coordinator: in fact, I accompanied a group of nine people, and it was very nice to share the Indonesian beauty with them.
For this Indonesia travel itinerary you need to calculate at least three weeks of travel time.
What to see in Indonesia: Prambanan and Borobudur
Our trip to Indonesia began in Yogyakarta. Among the 34 states that make up Indonesia, the state of Yogyakarta is characterized by being governed under an ancient monarchical system: to be precise, the state of Yogyakarta is still ruled by a sultan. In the city center of Yogyakarta you can see the Kraton (the Sultan’s palace) and the Taman Sari (a kind of Sultan’s Spa). The wonders of Yogyakarta, however, lie outside the historic center.
In fact, about an hour’s drive away is the beauty of Prambanan and Borobudur. These two complexes share the same entrance fee but are not exactly close to each other: the cost of the combined visit is about 40 euros and it is possible to admire both temples by participating in a long day trip departing from Yogyakarta.
Prambanan is an architectural complex consisting of as many as 232 Hindu temples: its construction dates back to the 9th century AD. Soon after construction, however, the complex was abandoned: after centuries of neglect, it underwent renovations beginning in 1918. The three main temples are dedicated to Shiva, Brama and Vishnu: the former, in particular, is considered the most beautiful Hindu temple in Indonesia.
Borobudur, on the other hand, is a Buddhist temple. Its history is very similar to that of Prambanan: in fact, it was built in the early 9th century AD and was abandoned for a thousand years. The building consists of as many as ten terraces, divided into three groups: the first is dedicated to desire, the second to purification, and the third to the attainment of Nirvana. Unfortunately, it was not possible for me to reach the highest terrace as the temple is currently being renovated. Despite the closure, Borobudur is a true wonder! In my opinion, both architectural complexes must be part of an Indonesian travel itinerary.
Yogyakarta is a good base for visiting Prambanan and Borobudur: I recommend Legian Garden Restaurant and Sakapatat Brew House for food and drink! To visit Prambanan and Borobudur you need to calculate two nights stay in Yogyakarta.
What to see in Indonesia: Bromo volcano
Also on the island of Java, you can see a true natural wonder, the Bromo volcano. About six hours away from Yogyakarta, Bromo volcano is part of the Tengger caldera and is 2392 meters high.
The visit to Bromo Volcano begins at 3 a.m.: a jeep (cost 40 euros) takes you to the highest viewpoint. From here, despite an impressive human crush, it is possible to admire a spectacular sunrise! In fact, the smoke from the Bromo volcano, accompanied by the dawn lights, is an unforgettable sight!
After admiring the sunrise, you can reach the caldera: 250 steps allow you to get to the edge of the caldera. Walking here, with smoke coming out of the caldera, is a unique experience and is definitely an unforgettable moment of the trip to Indonesia.
The entrance fee is about 15 euros: I slept at Gubuk Ndeso Homestay, an hour’s jeep ride away from Bromo Volcano. A drone video can be seen here!
What to see in Indonesia: Ijen volcano
From the Bromo volcano it is possible to reach another volcano, Ijen: with my group we traveled by transfer, lasting about six hours.
Unlike Bromo volcano, to reach the summit of Ijen volcano one must undertake a hike. In this case we started from our guesthouse (Kampoeng Joglo Ijen) at 1:00 in the morning. After an hour we arrived at the base of the volcano: here begins a three-kilometer trail that leads to the top of the crater. The climb is steep in places and leads to an altitude of 2799 meters! Once you reach the crater, you can descend to the shores of the crater lake, which is considered the most acidic lake in the world (PH of 0.5). Sulfuric gas forms the phenomenon of blue flames: at night, in fact, sulfuric gas glows blue. The effect is peculiar: in fact, it looks like seeing cooking gas ignited in front of one’s eyes!
This effect, however, is affected by the human being who ‘forces’ the scene to make the spectacle more visible. In addition, the descent is formally discouraged because the fumes can be dangerous: it is mandatory to descend with a gas mask. To this day, sulfur miners descend to the crater every day: they can carry up to 75 kilos of raw materials (and the descent and ascent is not easy, as it takes at least half an hour). Honestly, I was not very impressed by the blue flame phenomenon, since, as mentioned before, it is forced by the human hand. I also witnessed a scene that I think was very sad: a Western girl shouted at one of the miners to move because it was ‘disturbing’ her selfie.
If the visit to the lower part of the lake did not impress me, the view of the lake from above, on the other hand, is sublime! In fact, admiring the Ijen volcano from above is a true spectacle of nature!
What to see in Indonesia: Munduk Falls
From the volcano Ijen you can quickly get to Bali. In fact, Java and Bali are connected by a ferry: in only half an hour you can go from one island to the other. Northern Bali is characterized by lush greenery. In particular, the Munduk area is rich in waterfalls: the Munduk Waterfall and the twin waterfalls of Banyumala stand out in beauty.
The latter, in particular, are really beautiful and allow for a short swim. Showering under the Banyumala waterfall is something rejuvenating! To get to the falls you have to walk about fifteen minutes: the path passes through the classic lush green of Bali and it is nice to admire the typical flowers of the area!
Also in Munduk you can see the Munduk Gate, which is meant to remind you of a volcano ‘open’ in the central part, as if to welcome you. Nearby is quesa homestay that can be a good choice for sleeping.
What to see in Indonesia: the rice fields of Jatiluwih
In the middle of the island of Bali are the rice fields of Jatiluwih, which are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. You have to pay an entrance fee (about three euros) to walk among the rice fields. There are several trails that allow you to take a closer look at the terraces: the longest trail is 2.5 km.
With the group, we walked the longest trail-it is wonderful to see the Balinese culture up close and appreciate the beautiful rice paddies. Just before the entrance to the rice fields there are some restaurants where you can eat with a panoramic view of the rice fields. Village above the clouds is, finally, a great place to sleep, again with a rice field view!
What to see in Indonesia: the temples of Bali
Bali is also world famous for its magnificent temples. Pura Ulun Danu Bratan is one of the most distinctive temples, as it combines Buddhist temples with Hindu temples. My favorite temples, however, are Pura Tanah Lot and Uluwatu. Pura Tanah Lot is built on an imposing rock formation: with the same entrance fee you can also visit the Batu Bolong temple, also built on a rock.
Uluwatu, on the other hand, is in the south of the island of Bali: this temple is located at the end of a rock overlooking the ocean. The sunset from Uluwatu is truly unmissable!
A short distance from Uluwatu is Bingin Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Bali.
Bali has been, however, quite disappointing. Ubud, in particular, is burdened with Western tourism and has lost its typicality. In Ubud, however, the monkey sanctuary is worth a visit: beware that they are quite expansive and jump on you ruthlessly! Among the disappointing places I also put Pura Tirta Empul, a temple sacred to Hindus. There are 14 fountains in this temple, the most important of which is the seventh, dedicated to eternal love.Unfortunately, the temple is stormed by tourism and the sacredness is, in my opinion, lost. On the other hand, there is very good food in Ubud! Batubara wood fire is an excellent choice for meat lovers, while the Osteria is a typical Italian restaurant suitable for people who miss a local pizza. At the Blue Door it is possible to have a good cocktail.
What to see in Indonesia: Komodo
Komodo nature park is spectacular! To get there you have to be based in Labuan Bajo, a small town on the island of Flores. There are various tours that take you to Komodo Nature Park. Personally, I chose the two-day long option, then spending one night on the boat-I was very happy with the choice! The highlights of the tour are trekking to the top of Padar Island (amazing views!), snorkeling at Manta Point (generally manta rays frequent these areas from November to March, but I saw as many as ten while snorkeling!), snorkeling at Pink Beach (the beach is really pink in color!), and visiting the Komodo dragons.
This last point deserves a closer look. Komodo is populated by as many as 1,700 dragons, which live only in these parts of the world. These animals can weigh up to 160 kilograms and have impressive characteristics: among others, mothers can eat their children. I saw two dragons on Komodo beach: I admit, however, that the sight of these dragons left me puzzled to say the least as they looked sedated.
Komodo is a paradise for divers! I did six dives and saw sharks, turtles, moray eels–a paradise! I recommend Uber Scuba and Blue Marlin: excellent operators! In Labuan Bajo I ate very well at La Cantina, Baccalร and Santeria. In addition, there are a few bars to satisfy beer cravings: Beer o’ clock and Seaesta Komodo. La Boheme Bajo is an excellent hostel, and it helped me organize the two-day trip to Komodo.
In the vicinity of Labuan Bajo there is a beautiful cave with salt water: Rangko Cave. It is possible to get there by moped to Tanjung Boleng (fifteen kilometers by road): from there, a boat takes you to the entrance (to calculate about 20 euros for the boat and 4 euros for the entrance).
What to see in Indonesia: Kelimutu
My debut in Flores, and what a debut! The Kelimutu volcano is not easily reached. The nearest airport is in Ende, about 50 km away (Indonesian roads are not easy, so you have to calculate at least an hour and a half transfer time). The nearest village to the volcano is called Moni: I slept two nights at the Bintang Tobias guesthouse, excellent!
From Moni, the best option for visiting the volcano is to rent a scooter and ride the 12 kilometers to the park entrance (entrance fee is 10 euros on weekdays, 15 on Sundays). Once you reach the park, you reach the viewpoint by walking for about half an hour. The view from the summit is sublime! In fact, you can see three totally different lakes. The color lake is called Elderly Lake: the souls of people who behaved well end up here. The second lake, of a dark blue hue, houses the souls in need of purgatory. The third lake, a light blue shade, is the Elderly Lake and is a kind of our hell.
Geological activity is constant and the color of the lakes is constantly changing. Kelimutu, located at an altitude of 1639 meters, is revered by the local people: on August 14 each year, the Lio people come in procession to ask for goodwill for the coming year.
In Moni I ate very well at Mopi’s Place and Good Moni. Three kilometers away from Moni are hot springs: at Air Panas Liasembe, in fact, you can relax (the hot springs are still used as laundry by the local people).
What to see in Indonesia: Raja Ampat
Last but not least, here is the Indonesian paradise! Getting to Raja Ampat requires a long journey. Personally, I first took a plane from Bali to Makassar and finally to Sorong. From there, a ferry takes you to Waisai, the ‘center’ of Raja Ampat.
A few guesthouses can be found in Waisai, such as the Papuarts Alternative Stay where I slept. To fully admire Raja Ampat one must take part in excursions. The hike to Piaynemo is definitely not to be missed: the viewpoint is truly sublime! The other excursions were organized by Olin dive center: diving between Sawandarek and Friwen islands, and finally to the most important places like Blue Magic and Cape Cry, was an unforgettable experience!
Raja Ampat does not have a better season than the others: these islands, located geographically in Papua, thus in Oceania, are characterized by a lot of rain, constant throughout the twelve months of the year.
Map of what to see in Indonesia
Here is a map listing what to see in Indonesia!
IN ADDITION TO WHAT TO SEE IN INDONESIA MIGHT ALSO BE OF INTEREST TO YOU….
Angkor Wat, the pearl of Cambodia!
USEFUL INFORMATION ON WHAT TO SEE IN INDONESIA
- Prices for a trip to Indonesia are relatively low. You can generally find a double room paying twenty euros per person, and you can eat by paying less than ten euros per meal. A large Bintang beer costs around four euros.
- You have to make a visa: paying 35 euros gives you the opportunity to stay in Indonesia one month. There is the possibility of extending the visa.
- In Yogyakarta and Jakarta I recommend using the Grab and Ojek apps as cab services.
- I don’t report any security problems-I always felt safe everywhere.
- Between Java and Bali I have always moved by transfer, arranged by the tour operator. However, I have known travelers who have arranged transfers independently: in this case, one must calculate more than three weeks of travel time to see the places described.
- As for the food, frankly it is a bit repetitive: rice, noodles, chicken are the great classics of Indonesian cuisine. My favorite dish is perhaps Nasi Goreng, which combines a bit of all of this. One of my absolute favorite places was What the Crab, near Tanah Lot: excellent crab!
- . My podium of things to see in Indonesia consists of Bromo, Komodo and Prambanan. Not putting Kelimutu and Raja Ampat on the podium makes you realize how great a trip to Indonesia can be!
CLIMATE IN INDONESIA
The best season to visit Indonesia corresponds to our summer. In particular, the dry season between Bali and Flores is from June to September. Sulawesi and Raja Ampat, on the other hand, have better weather from February to May. The climate in Indonesia is very unique and each island has its own climate: I recommend viewing this site for detailed information island by island!
