Indonesia Travel Guide

Weather - when to go

Although Indonesia is scattered across the tropics and enjoys warm weather, the hot dry season is generally the best time to go, occurring between May and September. The farther southeast you go, the later the rains arrive. Indonesia is a vast archipelago of islands that stretches from the Malay Peninsula, southeast as far as Northern Australia and this has a determining factor on when the rainy season arrives. Temperatures in the wet season are more bearable, but the rain plays havoc with transport logistics, and the humidity is a killer.

Highlights

Yogyakarta: this stately Java city is full of handsome attractions, but mostly serves as a base to visit the Prambanam Hindu temple complex and the ancient site of Borobudur.

Bali: recovering from the bombings, this paradise-like island of peaceful and friendly locals, perfect beaches and dramatic scenery was once a popular packaged destination and the jewel in the country’s tourism crown. Expect plenty of beer-drinking Aussie blokes and sheila’s mate!

Lombok: the next island east of Bali is where you go to escape the tourists, best appreciated on a chartered boat. Picture beaches all to yourself, azure waters and white sand.

Bukit Lawang: is a national park on Sumatra, 90kms northwest of Medan, in which adventurous travellers make a bee-line to seek out the orangutans and enjoy trekking, river tubing and a natural environment.

Lake Toba (Danau Toba): is a gorgeous lake on Sumatra formed in a volcanic caldera, with a wedged-shape island from the collapsed cone offering all sorts of leisure locations.

The lakes of Kelimutu: are one of the main attractions on Nusa Tengara, with multi-coloured waters formed in volcanic craters that seem to change like a kaleidoscope. Bizarre and unique.

Recommended Itinerary

Indonesia is huge – 17,000 islands making up an elongated land area of nearly two million square kilometres - and getting from one end to the other would take months. Visitors usually chose one or two main regions to visit. In three weeks, you could touch on some of the highlights and get a sense of the culture.

Two days in Jakarta as a base (if you dare).

Three days to explore the ancient sites of Yogyakarta such as Borobudur and Prambanan.

Five days to visit the best of the natural environments on Sumatra such as Bukit Lawang, Danau (Lake), Toba or Bukit Tinggi.

A week relaxing on Bali, soaking up the beauty and culture.

Alternatively, a week cruising the islands east such as Lombok.

Additional time

Spend longer on Sumatra or fly east to Sulawesi to truly escape to undeveloped paradises.

Health and safety

Indonesia is one country that doesn’t get the thumbs up from the travel advisory boards or websites, and Western/Caucasian travellers need to be alert. On the whole, most of the people are friendly and welcoming, but the risk of terrorism-related violence is high and the country continues to be blighted by bombings that have rocked Bali and Jakarta in the past. Consult your foreign office before going. Other than that, don’t drink the tap water, tell everyone you are Canadian not American, watch out for unhygienically prepared food and stay out of the tropical sun. Local driving is also reckless.

What’s cool

Showing your support by showing up in Bali, the unspoilt islands and beaches of Lombok, exploring the jungles of the islands in the east, seeing Sumatra’s orangutans and the ancient temples of Yogyakarta.

What’s not
Anti-western sentiment, Islamic extremists, bombings, the legacy of the tsunami in Aceh, hot humid weather, pollution and noise of Jakarta, coming face-to-face with a komodo dragon!

Main festivals

Indonesia is a vast country of 400 million people from all religions and there are countless traditional festivals occurring across the various islands and provinces. Here are some of the more fascinating or important.

March: Pasola is a colourful event celebrated in Sumba, with the highlight being mock horse battles.

June: the Festival of Borobudur is a chance to witness local culture, with folk dancing competitions, handicraft shows and sporting events.

June: the Arts Festival in Yogyakarta comprises of traditional dances, songs and many competitions.

July: Bali Arts Festival lasts for one month and has demonstrations of traditional dance, song and handicrafts, along with games and competitions.

July: Danau Toba in Sumatra is a grand competition of canoe races and traditional Sumatran dances and songs from the region.

August: National Day is on 17 August, and is a festive day of national unity featuring parades, marches, cultural dances, fireworks and other events.

November: Gerebeg Syawal Ceremony in Yogyakarta is a colourful and grand celebration with processions of the Palace Guards and other officials dressed in ceremonial attire or traditional costumes. Look out for large decorated floats.

Ramadan: varies according to the celestial calendar and lasts a month, during which time strict fasting changes the whole character of the country in a subdued manner.

Activities

Sailing: the waters of the archipelago from Bali to Lombok and north to Sulawesi, to find your own private paradise.

Feeding the komodo dragons: on Nusa Tengara. These prehistoric reptiles are unlike any other on the planet in sheer size or ferocity, but make sure you don’t become their breakfast!

Diving and snorkelling: on Sulawesi. Some of Southeast Asia’s best reefs are found at Bunaken and Togean, and you’ll enjoy some of Indonesia’s most pristine marine areas.

Partying: at Kuta Beach on Bali, where beautiful beaches and great bars are just meters away from each other.

Trekking: deep in the jungles of the remote islands of the east like Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Maluku.

Food and hospitality

Indonesian food, like in the rest of Asia, is rich and spicy, but it isn’t among the world’s favourites. In tourist restaurants, you’ll have a good choice of curries and local favourites such as nasi goreng (fried rice), gado gado (salad) and the popular satays (meat grilled on a stick). Within good hotels, the service is professional and hospitably comfortable, but it varies considerably depending on whether you want to stay in Bali (expensive) or go local in a jungle hut in Sumatra. There are plenty of places to stay, but not all are for the well-heeled.

Transportation

Jakarta and Denpasar (Bali) have only two long-haul international airports and are the most realistic entry points. Getting around is tricky due to the sheer geographical size and spread, therefore flying is the best option, with numerous local routes. Ferries connect Sumatra, Java, Bali and Lombok, with lesser sailings to Sulawesi and Kalimantan. Local buses run across the length of each island; they are fairly frequent but slow and hardly comfortable. On Java, you have the choice of VIP minibuses for a hassle-free journey as well as a train service.