Breaking News

• Lady Gaga Indonesia concert may be cancelled
  2012-05-16
  Lady Gaga’s planned June 3 concert in Indonesia may have to be cancelled after protests from Muslim groups.
  Source - CNN

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Barong sculpture © Ingeborg Mehus

Indonesia Travel Guide

Colourful and exotic, the vast archipelago of Indonesia encompasses more than 17,000 islands spread across 3,000 miles (5,000km) of water in Southeast Asia, including popular tourist destinations like Bali, Sumatra and Java as well as roughly 6,000 relatively unknown but inhabited locations.

The mysterious islands of Indonesia each hold their own charms: the resorts of Bali offer nightclubs and beaches; the sprawling metropolis of Jakarta is a melting pot of Indonesian language, food, and architecture; the jungles of Sumatra are home to elephants, tigers, orang-utans and other wild creatures; and the palaces and monuments of Yogyakarta offer a glimpse into an ancient culture.

Ongoing unrest in Indonesia has had a negative impact on tourism in the last few years, but adventurous travellers still dream of a holiday in Indonesia.

Best time to visit Indonesia

Although the weather in Indonesia is pleasant for most of the year, the best time to visit Indonesia is in the dry season, between May and September. Monsoons can make more remote areas all but inaccessible in the wet months, but tourist hotspots like Bali, Java and Sumatra are always enjoyable. The worst time to visit Indonesia is the period immediately following Ramadan, when the resorts are crowded and prices are high. Read more on Indonesia's Climate and Weather.

Top things to see in Indonesia

- Visit Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple in the world.

- Get a feel for traditional Indonesian architecture at Indonesia Miniature Park.

- Hike to the colour-changing lakes of Mount Kelimutu on Flores.

- See the fierce stone carvings in Batubulan. Read more about Indonesia Attractions.

Top things to do

- Swim with dolphins off the coast of Lovina.

- Party in the busy nightclubs of Bali.

- Go white-water rafting in Sidemen Valley.

- Spot long-tailed Macaques in the Sacred Monkey Forest of Padangtegal. Read more about Indonesia Activities.

Getting to Indonesia

There are no direct cheap flights to Indonesia from the UK or the US, but connecting flights are available to Bali, landing at Denpasar International Airport. Get more information on Airports in Indonesia.

Read

Map of the Invisible World by Tash Aw, Twilight in Jakarta by Mochtar Lubis, and A House in Bali by Colin McPhee.

Listen

Langgam Jawa and Balinese Gamelan.

Watch

Eat, Pray, Love (2010) and The Year of Living Dangerously (1982).

Drink

Brem bali (Balinese rice wine)

Eat

Nasi goreng (fried rice)

What to buy

Batik or songket fabric

What to pack

Be sure to pack layers for a holiday in Indonesia: the cities and jungles can be swelteringly hot, while higher elevations will require a warm coat in the cooler months.

What's on in Indonesia

Get a taste of local arts and culture at the Bali Arts Festival, held each June and July. Bau Nyale is a summer seaworm festival with a surprisingly romantic origin. The Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival brings together artists from around the world each March. More information on Events in Indonesia.

Did you know?

Indonesia is one of the world's largest producers of nutmeg.

A final word

A combination of sunny beaches, dense jungle, colourful history and rich history combine in Indonesia to form an ideal holiday destination.