The hottest/best/top places to visit in Indonesia, and not include Bali? whaaaat! I have nothing against Bali. In fact, I have visited the island many times and found it to be friendly, culturally interesting and financially affordable. Not to mention the island certainly caters to any foreign visitors’ wants or needs. Great surf beaches; cafes; bars; international restaurants; shopping; entertainment; temples and of course friendly locals.
Bali is in close vicinity to the plethora of islands and cities that make up the rest of Indonesia we never hear much about (in regards to tourism in the media). Bali makes for the perfect transit zone to the top places to visit in Indonesia! If you are looking for your flights and accommodation to and around Indonesia, Traveloka offer great money-saving bookings!
Indonesia has 17,000 islands. I’m personally grateful Bali exists as a honeypot to keep the bogans, Chinese, influencers and shysters away from all the other beautiful places – quote seen on a reddit subforum.
Komodo Island
Komodo Island is home to Indonesia’s infamous man-eating Komodo Dragons. These majestic creatures are larger, heavier and faster than alligators, and capable of eating people. Sorry to ruin the thrill, but here at the Komodo National Park, the Komodo Dragons are trained to get their food from their handlers. Therefore do not seek to hunt or attack, but spend their days sleeping and relaxing (these guys are living the life).
Walking on the bushwalk tour makes for an adrenalin pumping activity. While keeping an eye out for dragons you’ll find yourself getting startled by wild pigs and deer. I was trying to keep as close to the guides as possible (as they are the ones holding the big sticks!).
Komodo Island can be accessed with a 90-minute flight from Bali to Flores. From Flores Island, you then take a ferry. Packaged trips that include a return trip to and from Flores Island to Komodo Island, National Park entry and tour. Such tours also include diving or snorkelling; visiting beaches; breakfast; lunches; dinners and an overnight stay on board the boat. Such trips can be booked in Flores.
Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta is known as the cultural hub of Java, and can easily be reached on a one hour flight from Bali. The magical sight of Borobodur – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Buddhist temple dating back to the eighth century – makes for a relaxing, magical and amazing place to visit, especially for photographs at sunset!
Not far from the Borobodur you can find the Hindu temples of Prambanan another must-visit.
Banyuwangi
Banyuwangi is in the eastern corner of Java – and luckily enough it can be accessed by ferry from Bali! A visit to Banyuwangi will have you exploring the scenic volcanic mountains, Ijen Crater – an amazingly beautiful sulphur lake, and the remote Alas Purwo National Park.
Bandung
Banding is nicknamed “Parijs van Java” (Paris of Java). You can fly from Jakarta with Air Asia and a few other airlines easily from Jakarta, however, Bandung is just 150km from Jakarta, therefore, driving the highway makes for a more affordable and scenic mode of transport.
A trip to Bandung will have you experiencing a different side of Indonesia. Explore the classic Dutch colonial-style architecture built in the late 18th century and the art deco designs from the early 20th century.
Kawah Putih, a strikingly beautiful crater is a tourism drawcard, located 50km from Bandung and makes for the perfect day trip. You can even rent a paddleboat and explore the crater from the water!
Kawah Putih
Lombok
Lombok can be considered Bali’s neighbour – making it a very easy and convenient transit. Take the ferry or just a 30-minute flight from Bali’s Denpasar Airport.
Lombok is for sun, surf and beach lovers. Basically – it’s Bali without the crowds and mass commercialism. A visit to Lombok will have you walking on some of the whitest sands, gazing at the crystal clear and crimson blue seas, and engaging with friendly locals. The vibe in Lombok is chill, local and welcoming. I must do is to climb Mount Rinjani, the towering volcano in the centre of Lombok.
Lombok, the must do is to climb mount Rinjani volcano
So as you can see, there really is a lot more to Indonesia than Bali. However, I do like a little bit of Bali every now and again 😉 The magical volcanic ranges, craters, lakes, breathtakingly beautiful beaches and of course, the locals are what make Indonesia such a magical experience.
