Indonesia may not be the first place many people would think to go, but it is a truly hidden gem in Southeast Asia, even though it is a giant in size, having more than 17,000 islands with 240 million people!
You will find that many tourists love coming to Indonesia because of how beautiful and diverse this country is. Known to many as Wonderful Indonesia, it brings you the second-largest tropical forests, many pristine beaches with excellent dive sites and surfing waves, and amazing hikes to active volcanoes and wildlife.
Being a large country in size with such diverse cultures and covering many time-zones, one can find from mysterious Balinese spiritual to the fascinating Komodo Dragon. Indonesia is still very much off the radar of the travel map, except for Bali, with its infrastructures still lacking and development very much challenged. Backpackers can enjoy the thrill of exploring the unbeaten tracks, while luxury seekers may find that they do indeed have many choices as well.
NATURE: Indonesia has most of nature’s best, from pristine beaches and deep sea to tropical forests and mountains. Be wowed by idyllic beaches like the famous Bali, the emerging Lombok, the luxurious Nusa Dua, or the quiet Gili Islands. You may also find hiking here amazing as you can hike up the many active volcanoes, such as Mount Bromoand Ijen Crater in East Java, Mount Rinjani in Lombok, and Mount Batur in Bali.
Many tropical forests here are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Indonesia, like Ujung Kulon National Park in West Java and three significant parks in Sumatra. Not to forget is the famous Komodo Dragon found on Komodo Island and the permanent glacier at Lorentz National Park in Papua, a part of Indonesia that gives it an edge over its Asia counterparts.
CULTURE: For those interested in historical and cultural tourist attractions, Indonesia has a long history, giving birth to places like Borobudur in Central Java with its world’s largest Buddhist monument dating from the 8th century, Prambanan with its Hindu monument, and the famous Yogyakarta, all in Central Java.
FOOD: Diverse cultures bring amazing food of varieties and tastes. Try out all the delicious Indonesian food such as nasi padang, nasi timbel, nasi uduk, bakmi, kuetiaw, bakso, soto ayam, ayam bakar, gado gado, sambal, kue and fresh local fruits just to name a few. From street food to eating houses (restaurants) to higher-end dining, you can be sure to satiate your appetite in Indonesia.
Overall, Indonesia has a lot to offer, even for those who travel on a budget in Indonesia but are willing to take the extra time and effort to get to some places, which is good to know is worth it.
In summary, you should go to Indonesia for the untouched nature of beaches, tropical forests, active volcanoes and wildlife, the magnificent history of monuments, and excellent diving and surfing. But most of all, you should go to Indonesia to experience all it has to offer, from people to culture and food, which in the end, seal up what we would call a fulfilling and unforgettable trip.
