Top 10 Best Destinations in Indonesia

Indonesia is a huge country, in both population and land area, with significant cultural and

geological diversity. With 18,110 islands, 6,000 of them inhabited, it is the largest

archipelago in the world. The population of around 240 million people is derived from 300

ethnic groups who speak over 250 different languages. While Bali is usually the destination

most familiar to foreign visitors, there is a wealth of other top tourist attractions in

Indonesia to discover in this vast and varied country.

10. Lake Toba

Lake Toba on the island of Sumatra is an immense volcanic lake about 100 kilometers long

and 30 kilometers wide. Formed by a gigantic volcanic eruption some 70,000 years ago, it is

the largest resurgent caldera on Earth. Genetic estimates suggests that there were only a

few thousand humans that survived the catastrophe. The island in the middle – Pulau

Samosir – is the largest island within an island and contains two lakes. Besides visiting “a

lake on an island within a lake on an island” tourist also come here to kick back and relax

and swim in the volcanically warmed waters.

Tanjung Puting

9. Tannjung Puting

The Tanjung Puting National Park is located on the island of Borneo in the Indonesian

province of Central Kalimantan. The park is a popular ecotourism destination, with many

local tour companies offering multi-day boat tours to view wildlife and visit the research

centers. Wildlife include gibbons, macaques, clouded leopards, sun bears, pythons,

crocodiles and – most famously – orangutans. Unfortunately the park is heavily threatened

by illegal logging and forest clearing for agricultural uses.

Baliem Valley

8. Baliem Valley

The Baliem Valley in the highlands of Western New Guinea offers a glimpse into what was

recently a stone-age world. The valley was not known to the outside world until 1938 when

an aerial reconnaissance flight southwards from Hollandia (now Jayapura) discovered a large

agricultural population. Wamena is the starting point for most visitors who come nowadays

to marvel at the mountain views, roaring rivers, tribal villages and at the tough but sweet

spirit of the warm Dani people.

Mount Bromo

7. Mount Bromo

Gunung Bromo is an active volcano and part of the Tengger massif, in East Java. At 2,329

meters (7,641 feet) it is not the highest peak of the massif, but it is the most well known.

The area is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Indonesia and Java. The top of the

volcano has been blown off and the crater inside constantly belches white smoke. It is

surrounded by the Sea of Sand of fine volcanic sand. The overall effect is unsettlingly

unearthly.

Bunaken

6. Bunaken

Located at the north of the island of Sulawesi, Bunaken is one of Indonesia’s most famous

dive and snorkeling areas. The island is part of the Bunaken Marine Park where you can see

more than 70% of all fish species that live in the western Pacific ocean. The best time for

diving in Bunaken is between the months of April and November.

5. Torajaland

Torajaland (Tana Toraja) is a highland region of South Sulawesi, home of the Toraja people.

Torajans are famous for their massive peaked-roof houses known as tongkonan and

spectacular but gruesome funeral rites. After a person’s death, the body is kept – often for

several years – until the actual funeral ceremony which can last for several days. The

deceased is then finally buried in a small cave or in a hollow tree.

The Gilis

4. The Gilis

Lombok’s most popular tourist destination, the Gilis are an archipelago of three small

islands: Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. The islands are very relaxed and laid-back,

with countless little beachside cafes still playing reggae and no cars or motorbikes to disturb

the peace. Note that the name “Gili Islands” is rather redundant as gili simply means “small

island” in Sasak and there are many other islands around the coast of Lombok with Gili in

their names.

Komodo

3. Komodo National Park

The Komodo National Park is a national park located within the Lesser Sunda Islands that

includes the three larger islands Komodo, Padar and Rincah, and 26 smaller ones. The park

is named after the Komodo Dragon, the world’s largest living reptile that can reach 3 meters

or more in length and weigh over 70kg. Although Komodo dragons eat mostly carcass of

dead animals, they are formidable predators and will also hunt prey including birds, and

mammals. Attacks against humans are very rare.

Borobudur

2. Borobudur

Located 40 km (25 miles) northwest of Yogyakarta on Java, the Borobudur is the one of the

most famous Buddhist temple in the world. The Borobudur was built over a period of some

75 years in the 8th and 9th centuries by the kingdom of Sailendra, out of an estimated 2

million blocks of stone. It was abandoned in the 14th century for reasons that still remain a

mystery and for centuries lay hidden in the jungle under layers of volcanic ash. Today it is

one of the most popular tourist attractions in Indonesia.

Bali

1. Bali

Bali is one of the world’s most popular island destinations and one which consistently wins

travel awards. The varied landscape, rugged coastlines, tropical beaches, lush rice terraces

and volcanic hillsides all provide a picturesque backdrop to its colorful, deeply spiritual and

unique Hindu culture. The combination of friendly people, a magnificently visual culture

infused with spirituality and spectacular beaches with great surfing and diving have made

Bali the unrivaled number one tourist attraction in Indonesia.