Indonesia Travel Guide

Top Things to See

Istiqlal Mosque
The modern Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Java (www.jakarta-tourism.go.id) is one of the largest in the world.

Prambanan temple complex
The Prambanan temple complex was built in honor of the Hindu gods Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. Do not miss Borobudur (www.borobudurpark.com), probably the largest Buddhist sanctuary in the world, which contains more than 5km (3 miles) of relief carvings.

Pura Besakih
Do not miss Bali's Pura Besakih, a temple that dates back originally to the 10th century and stands high on the volcanic slopes of Gunung Agung. Nowadays, it is a massive complex of more than 30 temples, and the setting for great ceremonial splendor on festival days.

Samosir
An inhabited island in the middle of Lake Toba, Samosir was once a volcanic crater, 900m (3,000ft) above sea level in Sumatra. The island is home to the Batak people, an ancient tribe who preserve many of their traditions.

Sulawesi
The beautiful Sulawesi (www.north-sulawesi.org) is a land of high mountains, misty valleys and lakes. In the south is Bantimurung Nature Reserve, which has thousands of exotic butterflies and a waterfall. The island has geysers and hot springs at Lahendong and Leilem.

Sultan's Palace
Don't miss the Sultan's Palace in Yogyakarta, a masterpiece of understated Javanese architecture, and still home to the sultan and his family.

Tanah Lot
Travel to the Sea Temple of Tanah Lot on the west coast (a short drive from Kediri), one of the most breathtaking sights of Bali.

Torajaland
Visit Torajaland, known as the ‘Land of the Heavenly Kings', on Sulawesi, and note the inhabitants' buffalo horn-shaped houses and custom of burying the dead in vertical cliffside tombs.

Tsunami Museum
This museum, in the province of Aceh (one of the areas worst hit by the 2004 tsunami), is an educational center that will also be able to serve as an emergency disaster shelter in case the area is hit by a tsunami again.

Top Things to Do

Canoe Ujong Kulon
Paddle in a dugout canoe through Ujong Kulon National Park at the extreme south western tip of Java in search of the elusive Java rhino.

Diving
Indonesia's coastline is reputed to contain 15% of the world's coral reefs. Bunaken National Park and Lembeh Strait, both in North Sulawesi, are magnificent. Beginners can even go wreck-diving to Tulamben Wreck off east Bali.

Jungle trek
Jungle trek through the Indonesian rainforest - Irian Jaya, Kalimantan and Sumatra offer the most remote and untouched terrain. The best trails include trips to Bukit Barisan National Park, a remote and beautiful peninsula in Sumatra and the Muller Mountain in Kalimantan.

Meet Orang-utans
Visit and give your support to the rehabilitation centers on Sumatra and Kalimantan that rescue orphaned, injured and captive orang-utans and return them to their habitat.

Puppet shows
Puppet shows are staged throughout Java, in which traditional wayang golak and wayang kulit marionettes act out stories based on well-known legends; performances can sometimes last all night.

Search for the Komodo
Take a boat to Komodo and Rinca islands in search of the world's largest lizard, the Komodo Dragon. But don't get too close as their bite can be fatal.

Surfing
The best surf spots are in Bali, Flores, Java, Lombok, Sumatra, Sumba and Sumbawa. Some well-known surfing beaches, such as Ulu Watu on Bali, tend to get overcrowded, and are for very experienced surfers, but organized trips to isolated areas are widely available.

TourMahakam River
Take a tour up the great Mahakam River in Kalimantan, Borneo (www.visitborneo.com), which is dissected by a network of rivers running from the mountainous interior to the coasts. Starting from the port city Samarinda, such tours continue deep into the upper jungle reaches, where tribal communities have largely preserved their traditions.

Volcanoes
Trek up an active volcano: on Java island, hike Mount Bromo, (the most visited of Indonesia's volcanoes) and Kawah Ijen crater lake (www.central-java-tourism.com). Take a boat trip to view Krakatoa located between Java and Sumatra. Dormant volcanoes include Gunung Agung in Bali, Gunung Rinjani on Lombok island (www.lomboksumbawa.com) and Keli Mutu on Nusa Tenggara Barat (www.ntb.go.id), which has lakes with different colored waters.