Indonesia Travel Guide
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At well over 3,000 miles wide, Indonesia has an untouchable place as the largest archipelago in the world. Here, in its more than 18,000 islands spread out across the equator, you’ll discover some of the best that Southeast Asia has to offer, from richly diverse cultures to an abundance of breathtaking natural wonders. With cities that find themselves in a constant state of evolution, the urban sectors of Indonesia are a marvelous clash of construction and technology, densely-packed populations with minimal affluence. That being said, the overwhelming majority of the island chain goes unexplored, providing opportunity to all senses of the adventurous traveler.
With a choice location on the equator, the weather situation is fairly stable when it comes time to plan out an Indonesia vacation, because instead of the typical four seasons most of the world is accustomed to, Indonesia only has two – wet and dry – with none of the temperature extremes you’d experience during summer or winter elsewhere. The majority of Indonesia’s wet season runs from October-April, with dry season coming in the opposite months. The rain tends to be delivered in downpours (although it can certainly rain nonstop for days), so you’ll want to be careful if visiting an area with mostly undeveloped roads, as mud can become a prohibitive factor. For dry season, other than slightly elevated temperatures, the only noticeable difference is the lack of precipitation. Peak tourist season tends to fluctuate somewhat between regions, but with Indonesia having the largest Muslim population in the world, the end of Ramadan (a traditional month of prayer and fasting) marks a sharp spike in domestic travel. Those wishing to book discount airfare to Indonesia would also do well by avoiding December-January, as this holiday period brings in both Australians from the south, and Europeans visiting the larger populated islands of the west.
Indonesia has an impressive variety of accommodation options to choose from, so finding one that fits both your needs and travel budget shouldn’t prove to be too much of a hassle, whether your goal is a luxurious five star property or one of the widely popular backpacker hostels. The island of Bali and city of Jakarta are two of the most popular (as well as populous) destinations within Indonesia, so expect rates and availability here to vary greatly; proximity to attractions, coastlines, and the city center are all large contributing factors to cost. When seeking out ultra-budget accommodations such as a hostels or the local losmens (campgrounds essentially), consider researching ahead of time, as the further you move from Indonesia’s urban areas, the more likely you are to encounter an unacceptable gap between price and quality.
Since only approximately one-third of the islands making up Indonesia are inhabited, the ecosystem has been extremely well-preserved, with an amazing 57% of its land still covered with rainforests. The forests of Sumatra and Java are popular tourist destinations, for their exquisite beauty and natural diversity. Indonesia also boasts one of longest coastlines in the world, measuring in at an impressive 34,000 miles dotted with numerous high-end beach and island resorts, as well world-class surfing. Hiking and camping throughout the mountain country makes for an amazing adventure activity, including many regions offering volcanic trekking tours. The culturally-minded will also be impressed with such destinations as Yogyakarta, a special province known for being at the center of classical Javanese arts and culture. Over time, Buddhist, Hindu, and Islamic influences in central Java have transformed Yogyakarta into a veritable melting pot of Indonesian culture.
If attempting to run the full gambit of experiences during your Indonesia vacation, you’ll find inter-island travel completely unavoidable. The only viable means of rapid long-distance travel within Indonesia is by plane. Garuda is a state-owned domestic carrier - as well as the largest in Indonesia - although private competitor Lion Air runs a close second. Recent years, however, have also seen a host of low-cost competitors springing up across Indonesia and might be worth looking into. Ferries have of course long constituted the most popular means of inter-island travel. The largest company, PELNI, has monstrous ferries that visit almost every inhabited island in Indonesia, but the lengthy journeys can sometimes take an exhausting two weeks from end to end. When limited to island travel, bus or train is highly preferable on the larger islands, as Indonesian driving habits leave much to be desired – the most notable thing being personal safety.